The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-10-08
UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN IN
WAR TIME.
By ]. e. Mcdaniel of Clemson Col


Gus turmoil; all its institutions, it's
business, it's very life seems to have
been revolutionized to meet the ex-
igencies of the situation.
Strange it may seem, but the
learned and conservative atmosphere
OF the universities has developed
anew, while all around is feverish
excitement This is true OF the uni
versities of Germany and of Austria
Hungary, and as far as can be learn
ed of the universities of France,
England and Italy also.
AS an example we find the Univer-
sity of Berlin, one of the largest and
best known universities of Europe,
in more or less normal condition,
comparing this last semester with
the semester just previous to the out
break of war. The enrolment was
about three thousand short, but as
there were still ten thousand stu
dents this loss was not apparent to
new foreign student.
AS to the spirit and life of this last
semester the University of Berlin
was pretty much the same as former
ly. The students came to lectures
discussing their problems in studies.
War news was scarcely heard on the
campus, except in the public reading
hall, where may be found newspa-
pers and periodicals from all over the
world. Curiously there seemed to be
a suppression of the war news on the
university grounds. Students pre-
ferred TO tell of some drama that was
being given at a theatre in the city.
or OF some fraternity meeting where
there had been much fun and merri-
ment. Between lectures there might
be seen students eating sandwiches.
drinking coffee, cracking jokes and
always characterized German uni
"ersity life. Enjoyment, rejoicing.
ard happiness dominate campus life
as much now as before the war. The
professors themselves look very
happy. and come as usual to the lee
ture hall fifteen minutes after the
hour Some professors now and then
take ten minutes or more reading
letters from former students of the
university who are now in the field.
These letters are usually anything
but sad; they are full of humor and
cause a great deal of laughter from
the audience. Occasionally a short
report is given Of former students
who have fallen. After the reading
Of this all rise together and make
solemn bow of respect, or the pro-
fessor says. Another has died for
his Fatherland." The seminary work
is carried on in the same minute and
scholarly manner as ever; individual
questions are asked and answered.
which indicate the most careful and
laborious research work.
The monthly meeting OF the sem
mar students with their professors
in some cafe is as usual. AT this
meeting there is music. singing or
university songs, speeches and jokes.
often in summer the professor meets
the seminar students i'll some suburb
OF Berlin. as Greenewald or Pots
dam, where the students may have
an eioyable gathering by lake or in
a beautiful forest. These meetings
usually consume half day, OF
which every minute possesses the
most intense interest. Formality is
! acquainted in a jolly. happy -go-luci:y
| way. Waen the gathering is held
/ near LAKE dozen or more row
| boats are engaged for the afternoon.
Thus the university has become al
( most devoid OF political news. In
/ the evening. however. there is always
a public lecture on the war by some
well-known professor. This lecture
is always we'll attended. At theil
conclusion the professor is given en-.
thusiastic applause. The most notice
able feature of these lectures is the
expression of JOY manifested on thu
face OF every one in attendance
All seem to have utter confidence il
the future of their country, and on
often hears the remark. "Wir habei
Erfolge gegen der Welt in diesen
I<rieg well wir dafur dieses morales
; sten Recht haben." We have success