Part 19 (1/2)

GERMAN STUDENT LIFE

The town of Heidelberg nestles in one of the loveliest valleys in Europe The Neckar winds between a series of steep, high, thickly wooded hills

It is amid such pleasant scenes that the famous university is situated, and that several hundred Gerathered to pursue their studies

One ofwas to see the university, and to observe the curious student customs of which I had heard so much; and my journey was amply repaid by what I saw

The university itself was far less iined; coe palaces of Oxford and Cae, or even with our own cosey Harvard and Yale edifices and greens, it sees occupy a cheerless square in a central part of the quaint old Ger The lecture-rooms are on one side of the square; in the rear are theroom, while opposite the lecture-roo, confectionery, and other shops I was most interested, however, in the students and their ways

As soon as you enter the town and pass up the roups of the students here and there You are at once struck with the contrast they present to Alish students Very odd to American eyes are their dress and manners Let me describe one to you as an exa student is a rather large, heavy-looking felloith round face, broad shoulders, and a very aard gait His hair is cropped close to his head, and on one side of the head, in jaunty fashi+on, he wears a senerally do It is of red or blue or green, and worked with fanciful figures of gold or silver thread

On his feet are heavy boots, which rise, outside his trousers, nearly to the knees His body is covered with a gay frock-coat, of green or gray or black As he walks the street with his collegepipe, the bowl being of porcelain, on which is painted sorand old castle So In his hand he carries a cane, or rather stick (for it is too short to be used as a cane), with soure for a handle

[Illustration: GERMAN STUDENT]

Many of the Heidelberg students are attended, wherever they go, by a companion who is apt to produce fear and dislike in those who are not accustomed to him This is a s, with red eyes and snarlingclose to their heels, and ready, at an instant's notice, to defend their masters

[Illustration: CASTLE AT HEIDELBERG]

Als to one of the social societies, of which sos,” and others ”Corps;” and the caps they wear designate the particular societies of which they are members

These societies are both patriotic and social The lory of the Fatherland;” and they pledge themselves by oaths to defend and aid each other

Besides the cap, the students betray to what society they belong by various colored ribbons across their breasts or hung to their watch-chains There is a great deal of rivalry a the societies, which results in frequent difficulties

The pasti students are alood tis,” in which they , make funny speeches, and perform certain curious ceremonies

The students often make excursions to a beautiful spot on the Neckar, called ”Wolfsbrunnen,” where they obtain trout fresh from a pond, and eat them, nicely cooked, on tables set out under the trees near the river-side

Another frequent recreation is to attend the peasant fairs in the neighboring villages, and to take jaunts to the lovely Swetzingen gardens, or to the top of the Konigsthul hill, back of the castle, from which a most beautiful view of the Black Forest and Hartz Mountains, with the broad valley of the Rhine, is to be seen

On this hill is an inn where many resort to drink whey Many of the students are too poor to enjoy the pastimes of the others, or even to live at the university without doing so about the country in vacation ti money from the kindly disposed, hich to pay the expenses of their education As you pass through Gero about ive theave fros The first was

GAUDEAMUS

Let us then rejoice, ere youth Frorasp hath hurried; After cheerful youth is past, After cheerless age, at last, In the earth we're buried

Where are those who lived of yore, Men whose days are over?