1895.] Some Phases of German Student Life
In the intercourse outside the college walls the social side of the
man is not overdeveloped, the literary receiving much attention.
Various societies or “ Vereins ” have been instituted for this pur
pose, and they accomplish much good. These student unities are
divided into four general classifications. First of all comes the
“corps,” very select in membership, few in number and very
mysterious in their workings. They are the sole remaining relic
of the original German student unions. With them originated
the practice of duelling and many other customs in vogue to-daj r .
They all wear vari-colored caps and a band of ribbon of the colors
of the ‘ ‘ corps ’ ’ on their breast. Their intercourse with other
societies, or even with another corps, consists in most places in
challenging to a combat. Next to these comes the “ Verbindung”
or brotherhood, with caps of but one color, and more numerous
and inclusive than the first mentioned. Thirdly, we will reckon
the ‘ ‘ Tandsmannschafts ’ ’ or union of men according to residence
in the kingdom, every political division of any size having a repre
sentative body in the institution of learning. These at times wear
colors, but the custom is not universal. Lastly comes the
“ Verein ” corresponding to our literary society. Each depart
ment in the university has at least one of these among its students.
Among all these the rules and order of meeting is the same in
general. All have ‘ ‘ Kneipes ’’ at least once in a week. At all
of these ‘ ‘ Kneipe ’ ’ we can see the natural tendency of the youth
cropping out, and student life is here as it has been for centuries.
The boys let themselves loose at these meetings and crack jokes
by the hour, while the atmosphere becomes vitiated through
smoke and beer flows like water. The best man is he who can do
away with the most glasses of this delectable fluid. The amount
of this liquid refreshment an ordinary student will put away is in
credible. We are taught to regard the capacity of the stomach
as three pints, but this seems far from reality after attending a
“ Kneipe,” Where twenty or thirty, four-tenths of a liter, glasses
is a usual proportion. In spite of this fact intoxication' among
the “ conker eipants ” is seldom seen.
In spite of this jolly good fellowship that prevails duelling still
holds sway, though greatly diminished in extent and popularity.
In this civilized period bosom-friends will make of themselves
targets for each other. The brutal two-edged sword will still
deface the fairest features.. Physical courage is not wanting
among the students, for it takes, in my estimation, an unlimited