The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-28
GERMAN Universities
DEP0PUlATED BY WAR
dent Body nj Front Graphing
With Their Country's Foes.
MANI AMERICAN SCHOLARS
United states Largely Represented
in Empires institutions OF Learn
inw-Gcnuinc Democracy In the
Great Schools.

Washington, March 2T.-The war In
Europe, while not completely closing
Gersnany's twenty -one great universe
ties has practically depcpuiated their
classrooms and their professional
chairs. These institutions had. before
ais war. a total OF more than 5o,ooo
yaatriceiated students the one AT Ber-
lin having nearly lo.ao0 alone. The
Part riayed by the German universl-
ties In national and international HE
~ described by the National Geosra-
shic Society IN the following short
ykssch
Among the faculties OF Germany's
c~enty-one universities were scat
tered. 81 the beginning Of the war In
EUROPE many 81 the biggest men IN
tAe weird Of learning. The German
university Was thoroughly oosmopii-
tsn cot1I1l unity. all nations, all man
re- 81 customs and All habits Of
tAoaght being represented. Ameri-
cans have been represented at German
universities aimee Benjamin Franklin's
day. The great printer statesman- phi
iesopher to looked upon as the founder
CT the American Colony AZ Goettingen,
a loosely organized student corporation
with "A wealth OF tradition extending
over more than lGo years
Disarrsas~s stud~nt~' Fianm.
Hundreds Of young Americans at
tended tae universities OF Germany
each year. and the wars interruption
OF ths plans OF this student stream
Will not be the least OF the hardships
that the great struggle il forcing us
TO share The influx Of American stu
de;sts regularly began in the early
part OF April and continued through
che summer untll the opening OF the
autumn semester. At such universe
ties as Berlin, Letpslc, Munich, Heldet-
berg and GoettiaRer The student CON
Gngert from the United states forms
D. considerable body.
The q ermau university is an i'm
periam In imperio-a State within Is
State. Upon being mstriculated IN one
o. these universities the student be
rores a member Of an ideal republic of
learning. lac is responsible alone to the
heads OF this republic. and they are re
wpeusible for him 10 the state The card
OF membership which the university
authorities issue TO him is his pass
port. II protects him from arrest and
from the impostiors OF tradesfnen.
and establishes HE identity beyond
question before all servants OF the
State. This card also procures theater
and concert tickets for him at slguif
cant price reductions, Furthermore, II
establishes his credit with local trades
men.
FROM before the beginning of mod
err times Germany has held foremost
educational ranks. Her universities
have enjoyed international renown
since the middle ages, while many OF
fl.e names most prominent In the peda-
Eogicai world are German. Today the
Fatherisud Is distinguished both for
"a diffusion Of knowledge through all
classes. a diffusion that has practically
eliminated iiiiteracg, and for the au-
periority OF Its specialists In tho va
TiouS fields of learning.
ReEardeA A. Meat and bread.
Education in Germany cost less than
daily fare; in fact. 1t 10 regarded by
the Germans as necessary as bread and
meat. The tnatricuiAtion fee at "A
German university Is eighteen marks.
about 4.5o. The lecture courses, as a
rule. cost from si.25 to $500 accord
Ing as there are one or four hours G
week Laboratory fees are extra hut
reasonable: and the classes held by the
professors are generally gratis Since
1914 the scale OF prices have been
Increased somewhat for students from
foreign lsnda but they arc stilI more
easily borne than university charge.
outside or Germany
There is no more genuine demo
cracy ia the world than that prevail
ing In the German university com.
fnunity During his student years tn.
German puts away the irksome re-
sponsibilities and the outward con
ventions of caste. and lives and chooses
his friends according TO his fancy But
he seldom carries this democracy be.
FOND his university years
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