The Student Life of Germany Part 15

Even the fair ones have divided themselves into two parties, and one detachment wheels off with the overpowered body that they may enjoy the happiness of wandering homewards on the arm of the Bursche.

This burlesque student song on the Handwerksburschen is very descriptive of these scenes:

G.o.d GREET THEE, BROTHER STRAUBINGER.

G.o.d greet thee, Brother Straubinger, I'am glad to meet thee though; Perhaps it is unknown to thee, That from Heidelberg I go.

The master and the mistress, Of them I can't complain, But with these gents, the students, No mortal can contain.

I lately bought me in the fair, A band, red, black, and golden, And hung my watch to it, that there From falling 't might be holden.

Fierce as a horse a Bursch appears, And at me right he batters; He dashed the watch about my ears, The riband tore to tatters.[23]

And as I in the Faulen-Beltz[24]

Was with my sweetheart sitting, He nicknamed me a Knotenpeltz, For such fat Besom fitting[25]

As in the dance I whirled about, They 'gan to stamp and rumble; The Senius stretched his leg so out,[26]

That I must o'er it tumble.

I'll off by Zurich unto Berne, And there I think to stay, so; And if my sweetheart false should turn, She may write to me, and say so.

I must be stupid as an a.s.s, Or as three oxen, fully, If I should suffer such a pa.s.s From this Studenten bully.

We, in conclusion may mention among the summer pleasures of the student, the game at nine-pins, to which the son of Minerva devotes many an hour. Yet to describe the various kinds of this game, would prove, probably, a little wearisome. The student uses the same as all the other cla.s.ses of people in Germany, and which are, perhaps, already familiar to the foreigner.

CHAPTER XI.

WINTER AMUs.e.m.e.nTS OF THE STUDENT.

He who lives out of himself, always does better than he who lives in himself.

_Seume_.

Let us now devote a few pages to the pleasures of winter. If we give a distinguished place amongst these, to the amus.e.m.e.nts which the Museum, and many private circles afford, we must at the same time admit that particular circ.u.mstances prevent the students to any great extent seeking the latter. But as these circles are easy of access to the well-bred student even without letters of introduction, if he is at the pains to seek that introduction himself, we can by no means omit their mention. In the houses of professors and other leading families of the place, the student is hospitably received. Reading, music, social games, and the dance, here furnish an inexhaustible source of entertainment. Here he finds an opportunity to accomplish himself in social habits, and by polishing the rough outside to discover that solid interior which can best be strengthened and perfected by a union of active intercourse with knowledge; and who will deny that this desirable condition is alone to be attained by the society of refined and accomplished women?

With softest persuasion and gentlest prayers, The sceptre of manners sweet Woman still bears; Extinguishes discord, which ragingly glows-- Teaches wild powers that malignantly fight.

Themselves in her own lovely form to unite, And combines what in nature else separately flows.

_Schiller's Duties of Women_.

The student the more gladly joins these circles, as he is sure always to find some of his companions already there, for the dance-loving host continually recruits its members from the sons of Minerva. On the other hand, the Museum presents manifold points of contact between the students and higher cla.s.ses of the inhabitants of the city. We again avail ourselves of some remarks exactly to the point, out of the Halle Year-Book. The author of the article says, "Heidelberg is only a city of moderate size, but it contains sufficient elements for a superior society. In the next place, it has formed itself into various small circles, into which also the student of good disposition and accordant taste readily procures admittance, and where he finds himself received with simple cordiality. Most of the professors, are very accessible to individual students, and throw in their way opportunities for a more close literary intimacy; many of them thereby frequently collect round them large social circles.

"In the next place, many English families, which have taken up their abode for a time in Heidelberg, offer desirable points of union to various lively social circles there; and with them vie other strangers, possessors of estates in the immediate vicinity of the city, amongst which in this respect is particularly well known the hospitable Stift Neuberg. Many of the substantial burgers of Heidelberg also endeavour to furnish those students that seek their acquaintance by letters of introduction, or otherwise, with the amenities of social exhilaration and improvement. These opportunities for a worthy enjoyment of life are accepted by a great part of the students in the best spirit, and to evident advantage. Walks in company and excursions into the surrounding country in summer, and musical entertainments in winter, bring the students into amalgamation with city society, subject their freedom of thought to the wholesome restraints of good manners, and give to their enjoyment of life at once scope and modification. But all these different circles find themselves included and brought together into a comprehensive social unity, in the Museum. This establishment founded as a joint-stock property by the inhabitants and professors of the city, is of high value both to the social life of Heidelberg in general, and in particular to the student world. For a moderate yearly subscription, the student becomes a member of this union, and through that a partaker of its social pleasures; enjoys the advantage of access to a rich collection of political, scientific, and literary periodicals, and new works; and is even ent.i.tled to a certain co-operation in the affairs of the union; a portion of the ball-directors, for instance, being elected from amongst them. The s.p.a.cious and handsome suite of apartments in the Museum, which are always open to the members, give the most preferable opportunities to the students for having a common table, and for other social meetings, and by this means brings about a more extensive intimacy and acquaintance amongst these young people. But especially is the independent manner and estimation with which they see themselves received in such a union, an incentive to them to maintain this position with urbanity and moderation; and the social equality with their teachers which here prevails, far from diminishing their respect for them, serves only, through the confidence reposed in them, to elevate and enn.o.ble them. Inconceivable is the auspicious influence of the Museum on the conduct of the students, and their good understanding with the professors, and with the whole of the best society of the city; and the cases are rare in which any one by a wanton disturbance of the general enjoyment, loses sight of that discretion which the company expects from him. Truly not all the students have the taste for these n.o.bler social pleasures, which are offered to them in so friendly and disinterested a manner. They who regard the established rules of social manners as a restraint, incompatible with the enjoyment of their academical freedom, seek less select circles, where such rules are more freely dispensed with. The society of the middle cla.s.ses of Heidelberg, though decent and lively, yet wants that higher finish which elevates the young man, while it compels him to watchfulness over himself. The student feels himself above the society of such circles, and, as only too frequently happens, he makes them feel his superiority in an unbecoming manner, making them the b.u.t.ts of his wit, and the objects of his wanton humours. The Heidelberg citizens have had repeated occasion to rue this overbearing spirit of the students, and they have never, and can never be able to establish a more satisfactory and secure relationship with such society."

But the life of a large city comes near enough to the Heidelberg students. The Mannheim theatre is chiefly filled by persons from Heidelberg; the saloons of Mannheim society, in which the exclusiveness of English high life, and of German aristocracy, appear softened by French urbanity and South-German good-nature, are not impa.s.sable to him; and the more favoured may, in the little court of the widowed Grand d.u.c.h.ess Stephanie, become acquainted with the fine yet easy manners of a circle distinguished by birth and accomplishment.

Many a romance weaves itself here in the intercourse of the social circles--in the crowd of the ball-room; and strong chains of love often become fabricated, which conduct the maiden far from the walls of Heidelberg, and teach her to forget, on a distant hearth, her beautiful native home. If on a lovely summer's night we linger late on the castle height, we often, as we return, become the partakers of the enjoyment of a serenade, the offering which a son of Minerva brings to show to his chosen one his watchfulness. At a distance we listen to a beautiful song, whose delivery, full of tenderness and feeling, is supported by the accompaniment of a guitar.

TRUE LOVE.

When in the gloomy midnight deep My solitary watch I keep, I think on her I left behind, And ask is she still true and kind.

When I was forced to march away, How warm a kiss she gave that day; With ribands bright my cap she drest, And clasped me to her faithful breast.

She loves me well, to me is kind, Therefore I keep a cheerful mind: Through coldest nights my bosom glows Whene'er on her my thoughts repose.

Now by the dim lamp's feeble light, Perchance upon thy bed to-night Thy thoughts to thy beloved are given, With nightly prayer for him to Heaven!

O, if thou weep'st by grief distressed, To think of me with danger prest, Be calm, G.o.d keeps me every where, A faithful soldier is his care!

Or we follow with insatiate ear the accord which sends to us through the stillness of the night a full concert of wind music. There, under the window, see we scattered light glimmer, and by degrees perceive the separate music-desks, round which the dark figures have ranged themselves. But the third piece is ended, and all sinks back into the stillness of night. Many a son of the Muses is detained in Ruperto-Carolo, fast bound by bonds of gentle witchcraft, till the father's stern behest compels him to tear himself from this paradise.

THE DEPARTURE.

What rings and what sings in the streets so down there?

Open the windows, ye maids so fair.

'Tis the Bursche, away he windeth, The Comitat him attendeth.

The others go shouting and wave their hats round, With ribands and flowers all glowingly crowned; But the Bursche, he loves not this riot, In the centre goes pale and quiet.

Loud clash now the tankards, bright sparkles the wine, "Drink out, and again drink, dear brother mine!"

"With the farewell-wine there outfloweth, What so deep in my heart now gloweth."

The very last house which they go by-- A maiden looks down from the window so high; Fain hides she her tearful gushes With wallflowers rich and sweet rose-bushes.

The very last house that they go by The Bursche there lifteth up his eye; Then sinks it, his pain betraying,-- His hand on his heart now laying.

"Sir Brother! and hast thou then no bouquet?

See, flowers there are nodding and waving so gay!

Hillo! thou loveliest dear one,-- Of thy nosegays now fling us here one!"

'Ye Brothers! what can that nosegay do?

I now have no loving Liebschen like you.

In the sun it will droop and wither;-- The wind blow it hither and thither!'

And farther and farther with clang and song!

And sadly listens that maiden long.

"O, wo! and the youth removeth, Whom only my heart still loveth.--

"Here stand I, ah! in my love profound, With roses and with wallflowers around-- And he for whom all I would sever, He's gone--and gone for ever!"