The Student Life of Germany Part 8

Dissertatio de Quomodone seu von den Burschen Comment edita ab renommista rerum Bursicosarum experientissimo eodemque intrepido horibilique Martiali Schluck.

If the newly arrived students are no longer subjected by their teachers to such uncouth customs, as this deposition was, yet they are by no means spared certain ceremonies by their fellow-students, if they wish to lay claim to, and arrive by degrees at, the t.i.tles of honour connected with the different degrees of standing in points of seniority in university life. Yet these are neither so barbarous as the deposition, nor is a single student compelled to take part in them.

They consist of some merry formalities, to which those who choose submit themselves, and which, though solemn age may smile at them, may be readily excused in happy and careless youth. To these belong the _Fox-ride_; the burning of the incipient Brand-Foxes; and the drumming in of the young Burschen, who then and there ripen, without further trouble, into old Burschen.

The celebration of the initiation of the Foxes, Brand-Foxes, and Young Burschen, takes place on one and the same evening, at a Commers appointed for the purpose. This Commers is always fixed for one of the special Kneip evenings, and the Ch.o.r.e to whom the Kneip-room belongs presides on the occasion. The candidates for initiation announce their intentions to this Ch.o.r.e; and the other Ch.o.r.es also a.s.semble with it on the appointed day. Their place of meeting is one of the most s.p.a.cious rooms used for such purposes, which is embellished as on other Commerses, and moreover also, graced with the insignia of the presiding Ch.o.r.e.

After the customary singing of _Der Landesvater_, the Land's-father, the a.s.sembled throng disperses itself in a circle on tables and chairs in order to greet the expected train. At the long table, at which they are accustomed to drink beer at their Kneips, sit others, especially those of the presiding Ch.o.r.e, and at their head the president, the drawn sword lying before him. All the spectators are well provided with beer and pipes, that they may be able to enjoy the spectacle the more agreeably. The doors of the hall now open, and an old Bursche, seated in a chair with its back before him, rides in. He is in while leathern breeches and jack boots, and wears also the hat of a postilion. He is commonly clad in a polonaise, and at his left side hangs the postilion's horn; in his right hand he carries his sword.

Sometimes, as a variety, he rides in high gala dress, in frock and huge shirt-collar,[11] and seated on an a.s.s, carrying also his highly-polished and glittering sword in his hand. With solemn a.s.sumption of grotesquely well-acted dignity, he thus leads up the procession of a.s.sembled Foxes, who, also in leathern breeches and jack-boots, ride on chairs in the same style, after the Old House. The moment that the leader of the train appears, the whole a.s.sembly breaks out singing:--

THE FOX RIDE.

The Ch.o.r.e-- What comes there from the height, What comes there from the height, What comes there from the leathern-a height, Si sa! leathern-a height, What comes there from the height!

The Leader-- There comes a postilion;[12]

There comes a postilion; There comes a leathern-a postilion-- Si, sa! postilion-- There comes a postilion.

The Ch.o.r.e-- What brings the postilion?

What brings the postilion? etc. as above.

Leader-- He bringeth us a Fox; etc.

The Foxes Sing-- Good evening, gentlemen: Good evening, gentlemen: Good evening, n.o.ble gentlemen: Good evening, gentlemen.

Ch.o.r.e-- What doth the Herr Papa?

What doth the Herr Papa?

What doth the leathern-a Herr Papa?

Si, sa, Herr Papa-- What doth the Herr Papa?

The Foxes-- He reads in Kikero;[13]

He reads in Kikero; He reads in leathern-a Kikero-- Si, sa, Kikero-- He reads in Kikero.

Ch.o.r.e-- What doth the Frau Mamma?

What doth the Frau Mamma?

What doth the leathern-a Frau Mamma?-- Si, sa, Frau Mamma-- What doth the Frau Mamma?

The Foxes-- She mends the Father's hose; etc.

Ch.o.r.e-- What doth the Mamsell S[oe]our?

What doth the Mamsell S[oe]our?

What doth the leathern-a Mamsell S[oe]our?

Si, sa, Mamsell S[oe]our?

What doth the Mamsell S[oe]our?

The Foxes-- She cooks the Father's broth; She cooks the Father's broth; She cooks the Father's leathern-a broth; Si, sa, leathern-a broth-- She cooks the Father's broth.

Ch.o.r.e-- What doth the Monsieur Frere?

What doth the Monsieur Frere?

What doth the leathern-a Monsieur Frere?

Si, sa, Monsieur Frere-- What doth the Monsieur Frere?

The Foxes-- He sits at home and oxt;[14]

He sits at home and oxt; He sits at home and leathern-a oxt; Si, sa, leathern-a oxt; He sits at home and oxt.

Ch.o.r.e-- And smokes the Fox tobac? etc.

The Foxes-- A little, gentlemen; A little, gentlemen; A little, n.o.ble gentlemen-- A little, gentlemen.

The Ch.o.r.e-- And doth the Fox drink beer? etc.

The Foxes-- A little, gentlemen; etc. as above.

While this is singing, a pipe is handed to such of the Foxes as have not come provided with this smoke-machine, that every one may give proof of his ability. Gla.s.ses of beer are also a.s.siduously handed to the poor foxes, in order to accustom them to the n.o.ble juice of the barley. The foxes in the end beginning to feel squeamish under the acc.u.mulated powers of smoke and beer, sing forth in the same style the sense of their uncomfortable feelings; on which the Ch.o.r.e, singing, gives them good advice, and presently afterwards they acknowledge in another stanza that they feel themselves better.

After the singing of all, or only some of the verses of this n.o.ble song, according to the decision of the president, he gives the sign that this ceremony is complete, and the new Foxes are perfectly initiated.

Then instantly commences the initiation of the Brand-Foxes. These have in the mean time made themselves fire-proof. They have put on great wigs of tow, thoroughly saturated with water. The moment that they appear in the hall, they are pursued by the a.s.sembled Burschen, who stand with huge spills ready lighted in their hands. Here and there fly the poor Foxes before their pursuers, who chase them like so many fiends from below with the flaming spills, and without mercy strike them over the head and face wherever it be possible. When the paper is burnt out, the fury of the pursuers ceases also, and the Fat Foxes are advanced to the rank of Brand-Foxes; a dignity which, in another half-year, they will change for that of Young Burschen. Then follow the ceremonies which they will at that time have to pa.s.s through, and which they who are already Brand-Foxes now pa.s.s through. It is this. Each Brand-Fox aspiring to _Pawk_, or drum, or fight himself into the rank of Young Bursche, chooses an old Bursche, who while officiating on this occasion is styled a Pawk-Bursche, and sitting down by his side, awaits the proceeding of the Commers. The president determines what song shall be sung; but he chooses one with numerous strophes. The following is the one generally sung in Heidelberg:--

FREE IS THE BURSCH!

Stosst an![15] Heidelberg live thou! Hurrah hoch!

The Philistine to us most kindly leans; He sees in the Bursche what freedom means.

Free is the Bursch!

Stosst an! Black--red--gold.[16] live ye! Hurrah, hoch!

He who guides the stars where on high they glow, 'Tis he who our banner bears below.

Free is the Bursch!

Stosst an! Fatherland live thou! Hurrah, hoch!

To our fathers' sacred customs be true, Yet think on our successors too.

Free is the Bursch!

Stosst an! Country's prince lives he! Hurrah, hoch!

He hath promised to guard our ancient right!

Therefore for him will we live and fight.

Free is the Bursch!

Stosst an! Woman's love! live it! Hurrah, hoch!

Who honours not woman and woman's mind, To friend and freedom is ill inclined.

Free is the Bursch!

Stosst an! Man's strength! live it! Hurrah, hoch!

He who can neither drink, love, nor sing, How scorneth the Bursche so mean a thing!