The Student Life of Germany Part 7

_Schiller_.

The youth of Germany has awoke out of the dreams of Burschenschaft freedom; and the sounding rush of steam-engines will probably not permit them easily to fall again into this giddy trance. The bond of an universal Burschenschaft no longer embraces the whole body of German students, but the professors of every political as well as religious creed move amongst each other in manifold circles. Like _ignes fatui_ flicker here and there yet, Burschenschaft ideas, but their flame has seldom strength to burn, and soon expires again for want of fuel, which, in fact, is diligently withdrawn: still has its flame, ever and anon, in recent times, hoisted on the mountain tops, streamed up a lightening fire-pillar of Freedom; but the rulers of Germany have speedily smothered it, anxiously watching lest the political fabric raised with so much toil, should become, with all its stockwork and timbers, a prey to the devouring element. They have also taken care that the youth shall not, forgetting his original duty, fall into this labyrinth. During his period of study, only too often is he reminded by the everpresent sense of the government examination, that he is a citizen of a German state. Is it to be feared, that we have fallen into the opposite extreme; that the zeal for the political and literary freedom of Germans is extinguished; and that a stupid and creeping slavery has taken its place? No, thank G.o.d, we are not yet come so far as that. A striking testimony of this, is the sentiment which just recently has made itself felt as the common spirit of Germany against France, glowing with the enthusiasm of former years, and to which that new Rhine song of Bekker--"They shall not have it!"--owes its origin.

So far as regards academical freedom, it is not to be denied that in some states an overstrained severity of government examinations of students begins to display a mischievous influence.[9] The young man having this image of terror perpetually before his eyes, prosecutes his studies in a manufacturing style, which crushes every freer, fresher aspiration after human improvement. Yet one comes back to one's self by this means, from that abortive condition of a false and overdriven anxiety for the common good; and, on the other hand, the governments were wise enough to perceive, that the freedom of the universities could not be too much circ.u.mscribed without damage to the pursuit of knowledge itself; for this freedom is universally recognised as the ground on which an active pursuit of science most flourishes.

Experience has sufficiently proved this: those universities which possess that freedom in the most perfect degree, having always stood the highest in academical reputation. All mal-practices have been properly put down; many things have been necessarily held to be illegal because of their connexion with other things, and which yet have been tolerated, and thus in this middle way have the best results been arrived at. Strip the universities of all their privileges, and they will fall, together with the schools, to the ground, and no longer furnish so fine a bridge to the service of the state. Especially necessary to their free condition appears to be the possession of their own court of judicature, which has the peculiarity of leaving a wide scope of discretion to the judges; since it might be very unjust to punish a student, were it ever so slightly, who enjoys so much more freedom than a citizen, precisely according to the laws of the schools, as a citizen who is so little permitted to step over the laws is punished by the laws which relate to him. Germany may be proud of the const.i.tution of its High Schools, and must feel grateful to the governments for this protection of academical freedom, as it is bound to be for its political const.i.tutions, through which a beneficent and honourable freedom is secured.

Much complaint has in former years been made, that the young people who were just come from the schools, hurried on by Ch.o.r.e life and their companions, become so engulfed in a whirlpool of dissipation, that during the first half-year, or even the whole year, they never perfectly recover themselves from this course of wild pleasure. This destructive and so much dreaded course, and a certain constraining influence supposed to proceed from the unions, and which uniting itself with the fascination of _Renommirend_, or playing off, determined _Die Neulinge_, newlings or freshmen, to enter into such unions, were made grounds for putting down such unions all over Germany; as if Ch.o.r.es were necessary to such a time-killing career of dissipation. Others have insisted that the newlings must be compelled, by stronger regulations and a certain school restraint, to a more diligent attendance of the lectures and of their private studies.

Apart from the question whether one may and can compel a young man of that age to unceasing application, it may be further asked, whether, after all, this half-year spent in the free enjoyment of life must be an actual loss, and to be reckoned an absolute deduction from the amount of study? By no means. Truly, if study consisted in learning a ma.s.s of facts by rote, then might we reasonably reckon literary and scientific acquisitions by days. But let any one reflect how a youth comes from school. There he had a daily task, which he completed as a more or less industrious day-labourer does his. He had also favourite occupations and favourite studies besides, but entirely apart, which he pursued as pleasant recreations, which had nothing in common with the tedious school labours. Not that there are no exceptions to the rule, but thus it is commonly. The time now approaches that he must undergo a rigorous _Abiturienten-examen_, or final examination, before the doors of the High School will open to admit him; an examination which he puts out all his strength during the last half-year to pa.s.s, as he sees with transport the university years presenting themselves before him.

Suddenly he becomes a wavering skiff, abandoned by its experienced pilot, to drive forth into the midst of the agitated sea of university life. His whole existence must from this time forward tend to one ultimate object, of which he is not himself yet clearly conscious; even his recreations and pleasures shall only serve every day to accomplish him, or to give him new strength for toil. His intellectual labours shall henceforth bear the stamp of knowledge; but the transition is so sudden, the s.p.a.ce in which he has to move is so vast compared with the narrow bounds which have hitherto circ.u.mscribed him! His sight must sharpen itself, that rapidly making himself master of the manifold objects that surround him, he may reduce them to one regular scale, and so magically diminish them as to inclose them in his own bosom. And to this labour, which appears to him gigantic, he comes exhausted by the exertions of the time just past, wearied out with all the old school business. He exerts himself to comprehend that world of novelties, but sinks finally overwhelmed by their oppressive greatness, and probably exclaims with the scholar in Faust,--

All is confused, a stunning pain, As whirled a mill-wheel in my brain.

Despairing of science, he throws himself into the arms of pleasure. He drinks with full draught from the cup of joy, and finds himself with exultation again conscious of his youthful strength. Full of proud and lofty feeling, he now rushes forward in the new and open path, often bursting through all bounds. This is called the lost time. But it is not lost. If the man is not to be overwhelmed by the excess of external influence, if he is to be borne through all without loss of his independence, he requires in the mean time such a period of rest; in which, from an undisturbed point of view, he can look back into the past; can there weigh what he has so far accomplished; can look forward, and acquire a clear consciousness of his future purposes, and can gather strength for the necessary enterprise. Thus, in the transition from the school to the university, this introductory laziness is a necessary crisis for the majority, in order to shake off the old school dust, and to awake to a new existence. That very dissipation must throw the youth back upon knowledge. He has now learnt, out of the mult.i.tude of things, to choose and appropriate those which befit himself, his character, and designs; he has learnt to maintain his independence in the midst of the in-streaming outer-world; and, finally, by a.s.sociation with so many companions who, though equally with himself gay of heart and enjoying life, are still happily prosecuting the acquisition of knowledge, he has arrived at higher views of life, and of individual study. He is now first ripe for the university.

We have in other places spoken of the advantage which a young man derives from a.s.sociate life with so many others. He who desires to rule or to exercise an influence over men, must first learn to live amongst many. He who studies a science will not perpetually confine himself to one work, though it be that of a most celebrated master, but will compare as many as possible, that amongst all their theories he may select that which most meets his approbation, or may create a new one for himself. Of the numbers, moreover, who find themselves at a High School, if some lose sight of their true object, and sink in the slough of sensuality, yet the far greater portion pursue the path of knowledge with zeal, and push forward on the direct course, though they may occasionally diverge into the smiling and blooming fields that lie right and left, to gather odorous nosegays to bear with them on their earnest track. Every one of these wanderers has his individual theory of life, of morals, of religion, and of every department of science and literature; and it betrays a self-punishing conceit, when an individual regards his own views as so exalted that they need no comparison with those of others, and when he can learn nothing from this intercourse.

Youth seizes upon every thing so freshly and with such force, and endeavours to defend it against the encroachments of strangers. Shall a young man only educate himself under the instructions of experienced teachers? Certainly not. He must live amongst those who will hereafter be his fellow-labourers in life. But as the age exerts an undeniable influence on the greatest men that it produces, and even, when in other respects they shoot forth far beyond their time, binds them fast to the time with the strong bonds of prospects and prejudices; so also place operates materially on men through the influences which are bound upon the place.

The ton which predominates in a High School leaves not its scholars untouched, or that ton could not otherwise perpetuate and firmly maintain itself there. But this ton is the product of many contingencies, and pervades every thing which comes in contact with it.

We noticed the ton which distinguishes the university of Heidelberg when speaking of its advantages. This has always been the same; and those of Jena and Leipsic have been described, according to their individuality, at an earlier period by Zachariae. In his comic-heroic poem, as Goethe himself has testified, every man will read with pleasure how his Renommist was conquered by the love of the gallant city of Leipsic:--

My song the hero sings, whom courage, sword and fighting Made terrible in Jena, in Leipsic quite exciting; Who oft whole hosts a.s.saulted when his wrath was hot, As hero out of Jena went, but in Leipsic conquered not.

We have also a drawing of four universities of Germany, of about the year 1730, which was intended to indicate their peculiar characteristics at that period. In this drawing one sees first a student of Leipsic, a young gentleman very delicately and smartly dressed, who is turning as towards a maiden, and saying daintily,--"Dulcimene, thou hast made me quite in love with thee." Near him stands one from Halle--and let the reader call to mind that August Hermann Franken's[10] death had occurred about three years before that time--he is dressed in black; he speaks with depressed heart, and glancing at the former students, sighs forth, "Him will G.o.d chastise;"

which at that period truly, here and there, many a so-called Waisenhausler--Orphan-Houser--out of an extravagant and fiery zeal, and on the principle of a false devotion, had continually in their mouths.

To him succeeds a gay student of Jena in uniform, with huge c.o.c.ked hat, and very imposing mustachios, high jack boots with pounded spurs. He grasps his duelling sword fiercely, and exclaims wrathfully, "The thunder shall blast him that dares an insult." At last, and completing the group, stands a Wirtemberger, with a full cup of the winking kukkuk (cuckoo)--that is Wirtemberg beer--with winking eyes singing, and dancing on one leg--ex pleno poculo.

We have already stated in what manner a newling is received as an academic burger, or is matriculated. This matriculation in the early and ruder times was preceded by a very peculiar ceremony, which was called the deposition. This deposition during the first half of the seventeenth century extended over the majority of the German universities, Catholic as well as Protestant. From the description which Arnold has given in the Appendix to the History of the High School of Konigsberg, extracted from the dissertation "de Ritu Depositionis" of M. Sehme, we learn the following particulars. In the university where the deposition was customary, the newly-arrived student, the so-called "Branen," or Bacchant, announced himself to the dean of the philosophical faculty, and prayed that he might, through the deposition, be received amongst the number of the students. When the Branen or Bacchants amounted to a certain number, the dean appointed a day in which to celebrate the deposition, and summoned besides the Branen, the depositor with his instruments, and an amanuensis. They appeared on the appointed day before the dean. The depositor in the first place put on a harlequin dress, caused the Branen to attire themselves in the same style, and put on them other ludicrous articles of costume, especially hats or caps with horns, and distributed amongst them the instruments with which the deposition should be executed; coa.r.s.e wooden combs, shears, augers, axes, hatchets, planes, saws, razors, looking-gla.s.ses, stools, and so forth.

When now the Branen were properly equipped, the depositor marshalled them in rank and file, placed himself at their head, and conducted them to the hall where the deposition should be performed, and there addressed a speech to the dean and the spectators, who consisted of students. The depositor commenced the deposition by striking the Branen with a bag filled with sand or bran, and compelling them to scamper about with all manner of laughable gestures and duckings in order to escape the strokes of the sand-bag. He then propounded to them certain questions or riddles, and they who did not answer them quickly and well, received so many strokes with the sandbag, that tears often started from their eyes. When this trial by question and riddle was finished, then must the Branen give up the instruments which they had hitherto held in their hands, and lie down on the ground in such a manner that their heads nearly touched each other. The depositor then planed their shoulders as they thus lay, filed their nails, pretended to bore through and saw off their feet, hewed every limb of their bodies into shape, cleaned their ears, knocked off their goats horns, and tore out of their mouth with a pair of great tongs, the satyr's teeth stuck in for the purpose. After the Bacchants were thus properly hewn, planed, unhorned, and unfanged, they were caused to seat themselves each on a stool with only one leg. The depositor put on them a dirty napkin, soaped them with brickdust, or with shoe-blacking, and shaved them so sharply with a wooden razor, that the tears often started from their eyes. The combing with the wooden combs was equally rugged, with which in some places the depositor commenced, and, on the contrary, in others ended. Their hair, after the combing, was sprinkled with shavings. After all these operations the depositor drove them out of the hall where these scenes had taken place with his sand-bag, took off his grotesque attire, put on his proper costume, and commanded the Branen to do the same. This being done the depositor reconducted them to the hall which they had just quitted, commended the young people in a short Latin speech to the dean, and prayed in their name for a certificate of the deposition. The dean answered in a Latin speech, declared the ground and intention of the custom of the deposition, and added all kinds of admonitions. Finally, the dean gave to each of them as a symbol of wisdom a few grains of salt to taste, scattered in sign of joy some drops of wine over their heads, and handed to them the certificate of the accomplished deposition.

From this rude custom, which here and there expired in the beginning of the eighteenth century, is derived the circ.u.mstance that a new student, still, before he can be matriculated, must take out his certificate of deposition. In Altorf, the deposition was enacted for the last time so late as 1753, and was, in fact, to oblige a gentleman of high consideration who brought his son to enter him of the university, and wished to revive a lively remembrance of his own youth-time by seeing the deposition of his son.

If, in past times, while manners were so rude, the teachers of the High Schools could practise so barbarous a custom towards the freshmen, it may well be supposed that the students did not conduct themselves towards the Branen more gently. These had many hardships and indignities to suffer at their hands; and, as was the case in many of the schools in past times, must perform for them the lowest offices.

Lycurgus himself could not create for his laws a more implicit obedience in his age, than the old Houses demanded from the new-comers, who are now no longer denominated Branen, but Foxes. As already observed, the name boot-fox was derived from this fact, that these freshmen must black the boots for their more advanced comrades, the old Houses of the Ch.o.r.es.

The freshman, or fox, is now bound to perform many little, but by no means degrading or injurious services. He must conduct himself discreetly, may not mix forwardly in the conversation of the old Houses, and his purse is laid under frequent requisitions. Amongst the students who belong to no union, this is not so much the case, and is restricted princ.i.p.ally to this, that the fox conducts himself not too a.s.sumingly, and now and then _ponirt_ something, that is--to give this slang phrase by an English one--_pods down_ something; that is to say, he gives an excursion or entertainment to them, a _Kneiperei_, or occasion of social fellowship and enjoyment. This he can the better do, as the superior experience of the older students in all the regulations of University life, and in particular in the best laying out of his course of study, are of the greatest service to him. In the aristocracy of the Ch.o.r.es, this subordination is, indeed, more despotic. There is quickly heard,--"Silence, fox! speak not when old bemossed heads are speaking!"

We have mentioned the general services which the fox has to perform, but he has also to suffer at the hands of terrible old Houses. There comes perhaps, a bemossed head from a distant university, in a shockingly broken down condition, something like the student in Hauff's story, who travelled with Satan. Already known by his hero deeds, the moment that he arrives he is received with a jubilee of acclamation.

"Wurger! thou faithful old House! cry the sons of the Muses, and rush down the steps into his arms. The smokers forget to lay down their long pipes, the billiard-players still hold their cues in their hands. They form a body-guard singularly armed, around the arriver."--_Hauff's Memoirs of Satan_.

And now, scarcely has the old House made it understood that his trousers are not the best in the world, or that his boots are no longer waterproof, than it would be taken very ill indeed of a fox should he hesitate to supply his wants to the very best of his power. He must feel himself particularly honoured if he gets back the borrowed garments in a month or two, just in sufficient condition to be able to make a present of them to his shoe-black.

For a long time, a terrible swordsman belonged to one of the universities, whose mother resided in the place, and was what the students term a _Fra.s.s philister_, or eating philistine, or who in other words kept an eating-house for the students, as is very common in the university cities. Her table could promise very little satisfaction, even to the least delicate and artistical stomachs; in fact, it required a strong dose of active exercise before dinner to enable its frequenters to make an attack upon it, and another as active after dinner to conquer the dyspeptic symptoms that rapidly followed her viands. Yet this table was always crowded. The unhappy foxes had much rather try their teeth on the culinary productions of the mother, than fall under the pitiless sword of the son.

The same worthy was also accustomed to borrow ball-dresses, as he by no means approved of swelling the profits of tailors; and, at the end of the season, sent them back to their right owner in a condition fit only at the best to be forwarded to the Jew.

In earlier times, the foxes were expected by the old houses to write out their college notes; and hence arose the anecdote, that one of the most terrible of the old houses, observing a blot, which the poor copyist, in utter fear, had made upon the paper, asked grimly, pointing to it, "Is that _Douche_, fox?" To _douchiren_, or _touchiren_, is equivalent in meaning to giving such an offence as will require a challenge. _Douche_ is Indian ink, and perhaps it would be in vain to inquire how Indian ink came to be a synonyme for a challengeable insult; the horrified and innocent youth, however, who understood this meaning, answered with precipitation, "Pardon me, it is ink." That is, not _douche_, or Indian ink, nor any thing meant for offence.

When a fox forgets his part, he is, in their language, immediately sent to rest. Thus it happened that an old Bursche, who probably had two dozen college half-years on his back, at a Kneip, fell into a dispute with a conceited fox. The fox finally felt himself insulted by various expressions, and in student-phrase, gave him the _Dummer junge_--in literal meaning, _stupid youth_, but in their language a challenge. The old Bursche coolly replied, "_Stupid_ I may be, but I am not _young_."

A general laugh arose at this repartee, and the fox was so much pleased with it, that he instantly recalled the challenge.

Another anecdote connected with the same custom, is this. A fox suffered himself to become the bearer of a challenge; an office which, according to Ch.o.r.e laws, by no means belonged to him, but to the Ch.o.r.e-Bursche. He stepped, full of self-complacency on account of his important commission, but yet with some anxiety, into the lodging of the bemossed head, and spoke. "Watzman sends you a _Dummer junge_--a _stupid youth_." "Yes, I see him," coolly answered the challenged, glancing contemptuously over his shoulder at him, and proceeding with his writing at his desk without condescending to give to the dumbfounded fox another look.

The student receives different names, according to the duration of his abode at college. While he yet vegetated in the gymnasium he was a _Frosch_--a frog. In the vacation which lay between the time of his quitting the gymnasium and entering the university, he chrysalized himself into a mule, and on entering the university, he becomes a _Kameel_--Camel. This happy transition-state of a few weeks gone by, he comes forth finally, on entering a Ch.o.r.e, a _Fox_, and runs joyfully into the new Burschen life. During the first _semester_, or half-year, he is a gold fox, which means, that he has _foxes_, or rich gold in plenty yet; or he is a _Cra.s.s-fuchs_, or fat fox, meaning that he yet swells or puffs himself up with gold. In the second half-year he becomes a _Brand-fuchs_, or fox with a brand, after the foxes of Samson. The fox year is then over, and they wash the eyes of the new-baked _Young Bursche_, since during the fox-year he was held to be blind, the fox not being endued with reason. From Young Bursche he advances next to Old Bursche, and then to Bemossed Head, the highest state of honour to which man can attain.

As the student has given to these different periods of the Burschen life different _termini technici_, so he has generally created new words for so many new circ.u.mstances; for the same cogent reasons that new Latin terms must be created for many modern things; and the creations of the Bursche stand very little in excellence behind those of the new Latinisms. We could readily furnish a small lexicon of those terms, which, however, we may very well spare the reader, as he can easily select such as please him out of the number of regular student expressions which will occur in these pages. We will here give a few examples from the learned dissertation of Herr Schluck, with his sagacious and humorous explanations.

_Burschen-Comment_--The rule of life which every honorary Bursch must follow. To live according to the _Burschen-Comment_, means to be bound by the laws of neither G.o.d nor man, and to consider oneself as better than all other men.

_1st Proof_.--Students are the sons of the Muses. The Muses are G.o.ddesses. G.o.ds and G.o.ddesses are bound by no laws; therefore neither are their sons.

_2d Proof_.--It belongs to unlimited power to decide with the sword.

But the students decide with the sword, therefore have they unlimited power. Unlimited power is one of the highest prerogatives. Princes possess only the highest prerogatives; therefore the students are princes. Princes are exalted above the law, so also are the students.

This sentence is perhaps, strengthened by the old song:--

Burschen are kings, And the proof is here: They drink all their mothers'

Pennies in beer.

which, however, were to prove, and not easily to prove, on which account I doubt not that every one will perceive the force of the reasons I have a.s.signed.

They consider themselves better and greater than all other men. At least they are firmly persuaded of it. But a firm persuasion is the same thing as conviction. He who is convinced, speaks the truth; therefore the students are better and greater than all other men.

_To make a Randal_, or to open a Randal, means to kick up a row.

_Schisser_, from the French word _cha.s.se_, one struck in flight, whence _Scha.s.ser_, or, in corrupt speech, _Scisser_, means a fearful and barefooted man. Hence also comes the technical phrase "to be in _Verschiss_," which indicates the most extreme condition of contempt.

He who is in _Verschiss_, is shut out of all respectable society, and is compelled to go amongst the _Knoten_, or lowest of the low.

_Fuchs_, or _Fox_.--This name is derived from the cunning and slyness of foxes, since these look about as slily and cunningly, and regard every one as their enemy and a.s.sailant, till they are rendered tame by necessity and habit. The term is not injurious as applied to a Freshman, but is an insult to an old Bursche.

_Mucker_, _Stubensitzer_, _Kopfhanger_, _Kessel_, _Wurzel_,--_Saint_, _Stay-at-Home_, _Head-hanger_, _Kettle_, _Root_.--These words are nearly synonymous, and indicate a man who scarcely dares to breathe, or to step over the door-sill; who from anxiety, or sanctimoniousness, goes with his head hanging down, or sits as continually over his books as a turkey-hen upon her eggs, or a kettle over the fire.

_Pflaster-treter_, _Pavement-treader_; _Quark_, _Curds_.--These are names of the men who are natives of the city or its vicinity.

Pavement-treaders are those who were born on the ground and site of the university, and therefore, from youth up, have trodden the very same street-pavements. The pavement-treaders are also generally styled _Patent-schissers_, since they must conduct themselves in all propriety, being under the eyes of their parents; must go about in gloves, and frocks, or untorn coats, and not smoke in the streets.

_Curds_ are so called because they come only a few miles from the city, and to whom, therefore, their mothers, as their darlings, can send, if they please, a dish of curds to their suppers.

_k.u.mmelturk_.--Is a compound of _k.u.mmel_ and _turk_, and denotes the cla.s.s of Braggadocios and Boasters, who, at the first onset, rush upon the enemy with furious outcry and riot, but at the smallest show of real danger leap back like k.u.mmel, c.u.min-seed, which a person attempts to mix with melted lard. This name also has the same meaning as _Quark_, or Curds.

_Couche_, _Re-couche_, _Contre-couche_.--These are French terms, with which silence is commanded; but as they are terms commonly used to hounds, they stand properly amongst the verbal injuries.

_Dummer Junge_, _Stupid Youth_.--Is the highest and most cutting insult, since it implies a denial of sound manly understanding and strength of capacity of him to whom it is applied.

_Schuppen oder Rennen_.--To scale, as you'd scale a fish, or to run--meaning that poking with the elbows, when two meet and neither will give way. This is a real injury.