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And to this diffusion and recognition of the claims of knowledge, to the scattering abroad of science amongst the people, what has more contributed than the foundation of our universities? Out of them go forth the distinguished men who guide the helm of the state with circumspection; out of them the teachers of the pulpit and the folks-schools,--to diffuse light and improvement throughout society.

GENERAL VIEW OF STUDENT-LIFE.

"Free is the Bursch!" exclaims a beautiful student-song--a song beaten so threadbare with continual singing, that now we seldom bear it sung by the student himself. And true is the cry; or tell me who is freer than he? Where see we the idea of freedom so beautifully realized as in the German student-life? He who has learnt to know this life, may even doubt the truth of that otherwise so true expression of Schiller's--

Freedom is only in the realm of dreams.

The life of the university is an admirable school, which brings the young man quickly to a sense of self-dependence, which in a few years brings him to manly knowledge, and builds him up to a fitness for intercourse with other men. The freedom which the student enjoys in a high degree, is truly a strong touchstone,--a dangerous rock, on which many a one splits,--but it is the only ground on which genuine knowledge can attain its noblest bloom. Suddenly liberated from the fetters of school, from the strict oversight of parents, steps the young man into this life. He is distant from the friends who, as it were, shaped his early being,--from his nearest relatives. His whole life's plan must be now fashioned after his own judgment; he may enjoy his pleasures with a freer, choice, and pursue his studies in a great measure according to his own discretion. He stands free to choose his friends from his numerous fellows; and it is only by his own qualities and endowments, that he can convert them into friends. When entering on this new scene of life, may he never forget the words of Goethe--

No single thing can suit itself to all. Let each look to his ways, Where he goes, and where he stays; And he that stands, take heed he do not fall.

The academical freedom is a possession dear to the student. He has defended it with zeal from the ancient times; and a conceived encroachment upon his privileges has often occasioned general risings of the whole student body against the infringing power, which though they may not be wholly commendable as excesses, were always highly remarkable, and indicate vividly the spirit of student life. We allude to the marching forth from the university cities, and the denunciations which the students have sometimes pronounced, as a severe bann upon them. But of this more anon. This freedom has the most beneficial influence on the prosecution of the study, and the manifold accomplishments of the students. This has become perceived and acknowledged by the greatest men; and it has made itself conspicuous that exactly in those colleges which enjoy the highest degree of freedom, amongst which Heidelberg is numbered, there also prevails the most active pursuit of every academical advantage. This free associate-life of the students has, moreover, the most decided influence on the general cultivation of mind and manners. Flowing from different countries, these diverse elements meet in the most varied points of contact, and mutually impart their experience and their customs. The author of the article on Heidelberg in the Halle Year-Book, speaks of Heidelberg in this respect, thus:--

He who would dispute the great advantages derived directly from the social life of the students--to which belong not only different nations, but different faculties, especially in rapidly developing the intellect--would deny the advantages of social life altogether; but wo to the man who is disposed to act upon such a notion, and lead an eremitical life in accordance with it; such one-sidedness of judgment must inflict upon him the severest penalty. The necessity for social union has always been the more sensibly felt, since countrymen and friends who pursue different studies, are thereby much separated from each other. The division into such unions, according to nations and landsmanships, was the dictate of nature herself. Their existence was acknowledged by the state, and honoured by it as a very ancient arrangement. Out of these combinations sprung, about the end of the sixteenth, and beginning of the seventeenth century, the so-called Orders. When at length their aim began to appear not wholly pure, they met with government opposition; and in their place again stood forth the landsmanschafts, similar to the early national divisions, but so far different, that to the landsmanschafts belonged not only the students who were actually natives of the country whose name the union bore, but all who chose to enter the same, and submit themselves to its regulations, were received by it. All these landsmanschafts from 1815, amalgamated themselves into one common Burschenschaft; till the bloody act of Sand, in 1819, drew the attention of government upon that union, and became the occasion that the greater number of persons withdrew from the burschenschaft, and again resolved themselves into particular landsmanschafts; or, declining to belong to extensive unions, lived politically isolated. Those societies which had in the course of time assumed so many different forms, now began to frame their own laws, and to choose their own leaders. The members of each association had their peculiar badge of distinction, others wore their colours; and in the very nature of things, the constitution of such unions became more elaborate; their regulations increased in number; and ceremonies, in order to give to the whole exterior pomp and circumstance, could not be long wanting. The rulers of an earlier age saw with approval that the studentships showed themselves in the greatest possible splendour on public and solemn occasions; and the services which in times of war the student youth rendered to the state, increased their consideration. In those days, the carrying of weapons was conditionally permitted. So is it declared in an early ordinance published at Heidelberg:--"But it is expressly forbidden at evening, and after the tolling of the bell which calls the night-watch to their duty, to go about the city with arms." To which is added the menace, "that if any one dares to transgress this regulation, neither the rector nor the high school shall be allowed to liberate or to defend him."

The people, on all occasions, have delighted especially in investing public acts with pageantry; as for instance, in the conferring of the doctoral degree. This was attended with great ceremony, and without sparing of cost. The costume of professors and directors was a peculiar one; and the latter even in recent years, in many of the High Schools, were expected to appear in black silk stockings, short breeches, a two-pointed hat, and a sword by the side. We see a remains of this ceremonial yet in the public solemnities of the universities, as in Heidelberg, on the birthday of the Grand Duke. On this occasion a procession, composed of the academical professors and of a deputation from the students, proceeds from the hall of the universities to a public solemn service in the church, and afterwards concludes the festival by a dinner.

But to return to the unions. Thus were these sanctioned by the state, and their rules acknowledged by it. This relation betwixt them and the state yet continues in Bavaria, where the Chores are bound to join themselves to the public processions in foil costume, in order to enhance their splendour. We have alluded to the original division of these into natural landsmanschafts; to their combination into one burschenschaft, or burschenship; but in all these, recent times have produced a great change. The greater part of the German governments have strictly prohibited the existence of any unions whatever, bear what name they may. The ground of this prohibition we will inquire more nearly into in another place. We will not here inquire whether the teachers of the universities were at all secretly concerned or concurrent in this measure; whether it be possible, at once, to extirpate, trunk and stalk, these unions, which are as fast rooted as the duel itself. We will not ask whether these unions do not yet continue to exist in secret; and whether in Heidelberg, with whose students we are seeking in these pages more particularly to make ourselves acquainted, this possibly be still the case. But, as in other universities, they actually do yet exist, and as it is so recently that they have been generally forbidden, we will, for once, regard them as existing, and notice more particularly their constitution.

This constitution is become by degrees very elaborate, and that necessarily so, in order to uphold the tottering fabric, since Chore life no longer retains the freshness of its early days. In the olden time, when every academician belonged to these unions, they stretched the authority of their laws over every student. But this is no longer the case. Now, the smaller proportion of the students only enter into these unions, which nevertheless represent, to a certain degree, the studentship; and wherever it becomes necessary to defend the interests of Studentdom, the whole body is ready to join them. Certain of their laws, whether descending from the early times, and which are, therefore, faithfully maintained by the Chore members, or those which have been enacted in modern times by the Chores, yet equally extend to the whole body, and possess an influence which can be denied by none, since it is equally exerted by the Chores over all.

It is only through these greater organized masses that it is possible for studentship to proceed in its oneness. The internal arrangements of a Chore possess, on this one account, an interest, and deserve our attention the more, inasmuch as we have already said these Chores exert an influence over the rest of the students; and this renders it incumbent that before we speak of the students at large, we should acquaint ourselves more intimately with the present Chore life.

THE CHORE.

The different Chores have adopted their names, exactly like the early landsmanschafts, from the different German nations. Yet are these, as we have already hinted, no longer so scrupulous in the reception of the new members as those were, to which none could belong but the actual natives of that country whose appellation the union bore. If any man would still persuade himself that the ancient practice is yet continued, he must construct in his own head a very peculiar geography. As these unions bear the names of the different nations, so the members of each wore publicly their respective colours, which, since the interdict against them, of course, is no longer the case. These colours were not only displayed on the cap, but also on a broad band which was worn over the breast. The prohibition of the Chore colours was a severe blow to the unions, and the students sought in various ways waggishly to surmount it. Instead, therefore, of one student, as before, wearing the three united colours, as it might be green, white, and black,--each Chore having, for the most part, like its nation, three,--now went three students arm in arm, each of them wearing one of the three colours, so that the whole three colours were combined in three friends. This attempt, however, led its authors no further than into the student-prison.

The principal of the regular Chores are--

The Rhenish, whose colours are--blue, red, and white. The Hanseatic, " " white, red, and white. The Westphalian, " " green, white, and black. The Swabian, " " black, yellow, and white. The Nassau, " " blue, white, and orange. The Swiss, " " green, red, and gold. The Sachsen-Borussen, or Prussian, white, green, black and white. The English, in Leipsic only.

THE BURSCHENSCHAFT.

But nothing comes up to our pleasant self-satisfaction, when we erect ourselves into judges of the high and the distinguished, of Princes and Statesmen; find public institutions clumsy and absurd; observe only possible and actual impediments; and acknowledge neither the greatness of the intention, nor the co-operation, which in every undertaking are to be expected from time and circumstances.

THE SWORD SONG.

Sword on my left side gleaming, What means thy clear eyes' beaming? Thou look'st with love on me, And I have joy in thee. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

A soldier bears me dearly, Hence beam I forth so cheerly; I am a free man's choice, Which makes the Sword rejoice. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Good Sword! yes, free I hold thee, And in hearths love enfold thee, As if thou wert allied To me, a lovely bride. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Already it is tendered, To thee my life surrendered; Ah! were we so allied; When wilt thou fetch thy bride? Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

The bridal night's red morning Breaks to the trumpet's warning; When cannon peals begin, Fetch I the loved-one in. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

O sweet embrace! untiring, I tarry still desiring; Then bridegroom fetch thou me, My garland waits for thee. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Why in thy scabbard ringing, Thou Iron-joy art springing In such wild battle-glow? My Sword, why ring'st thou so? Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Ah! in the scabbard ringing, I long to be forth springing, Right wild with battle-glow; Hence, soldier, clink I so! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Wait in thy chamber narrow, What wouldst thou here, my marrow? Wait in thy chamber, wait; I'll fetch thee, ere 'tis late. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Leave me not long in sadness, Thou garden of love's gladness, Where blood-red roses breathe, And blossom flowers of death. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Unsheathe thee then, thou treasure, Of soldier's eyes the pleasure; Come forth, my Sword, come forth, On! to the father's hearth! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Aha! the glorious wedding, Here through the free air treading! How flames in sunshine bright, The steel so bridal white! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

On, on, ye brave contenders! Ye German true defenders! And if your hearts be cold, The loved-one to them hold! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

While on the left side sitting, Shy are her looks and flitting; But on the right, the bride Trusts God in all her pride. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

To iron mouth love-glowing, The bridal kiss bestowing, Be every lip applied; Curst he who leaves the bride! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Now let the loved-one sing forth! The dazzling flashes spring forth! Fast dawns the marriage tide, Hurrah, thou Iron Bride! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

THE GERMAN'S FATHERLAND.

Which is the German's Fatherland; Is't Prussian-land? Is't Swabian-land? Is't where on Rhine the red grapes hang? Where o'er the Baltic sea-mews clang? Oh no! oh no! oh no! oh no! His Fatherland must wider go!

Which is the German's Fatherland? Is't Styrian, or Bavarian land? Is't where the Marsen's herds do wind? I'st where the Markers iron find Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland? Westphalian, or Pomerian land? Is't where the sand from sea-down blows? Is't where the Danube foaming flows? Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland? So name to me the mighty land. The land of Hofer?--or of Tell? Both land and people love I well. Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland? So name to me that mighty land. The Austrian land it sure must be, With glory crowned and victory! Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland? So name to me that mighty land. Is't what the Princes' hollow theft, From Emperor and from Empire reft? Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland? So name me finally that land! Wide as the German tree tongue springs, And hymns to God in heaven sings! That shall it be! that shall it be! That land brave German's giv'n to thee!

That is the German's Fatherland, Where oaths are sworn by grasp of hand; Where in all eyes clear truth doth shine; Where in warm hearts sits love benign. That shall it be! etc.

That is the German's Fatherland, Where foreign folly scorn doth brand; Where all that's base 'neath hate must bend; Where all that's noble name we Friend. That shall it be! that shall it be! That whole, the German land shall be!

That whole, the German land shall be! O God of Heaven! hither see! And give us genuine German soul, That we may love it high and whole. That shall it be! etc.

The general excitement in Germany received a palpable point of demand in the thirteenth article of the Act of Confederation. In most of the German states the anxiety for a representative constitution displayed itself in such a manner as rendered in the highest degree difficult an accordance between princes and subjects.

In Prussia especially, the constitution of the monarchy opposed so many difficulties to the establishment of a national representation, that its postponement was inevitable; and passionate discontent saw in the impracticability nothing but an evil disposition. In the other German states, the steps made towards the passing of a constitution conducted to as little result; the princes and popular representatives could not agree, since the first were as sparing in their concessions as the latter were unbounded in their demands. But the spirit which was in Germany striving after the constitutional organization of states, had not every where confined itself within due bounds. The secret unions which were formed during the ascendency of Napoleon still continued. The excitement of the public mind, which at an earlier period had been favoured even by the government itself, so far from having subsided, had rather received a new impulse, and as it had now necessarily lost its outward tendency, it sought to take effect in the heart of Germany. The government saw with suspicion the drift of the secret unions, and their influence on the Gymnastic schools and universities; they heard with astonishment, the bold language of the rising generation approximating itself to political fanaticism. The German Confederation satisfied not these heads on fire with ideas of one and a free Germany. The restoration of the empire, in connexion with one of the prevailing theories of conformable national representation, was the master desire of a numerous party, which was spread wide through Germany, and rendered the universities the seminaries of their doctrines. The youth entered with pride into the idea, that they were called to work out their salvation, from the circumstances to which their fathers had reduced them. Political notions of the Middle Ages mingled themselves in the heads of the student youth, with the revolutionary doctrines of modern times, and received, moreover, from religious enthusiasm, a dark addition. Thus degenerated the Burschenschaft, in a manner most deeply to be deplored, and demonstrated in a melancholy degree how near to each other lie the boundaries of truth and falsehood. Noble patriotism metamorphosed itself into a gloomy fanaticism,--zeal for religion and morals, into a hollow hypocrisy, and into a still more dangerous pseudo-philosophy. The landsmannschafts became continually weaker in the German universities, and the young men every day added themselves to the burschenschaft in greater numbers. Truly the greater number of them never dreamed to what lengths such a political fanaticism could lead them; and only by degrees and unobserved mounted the arrogance of an inconsiderate youth, till at length it persuaded itself that it alone had fought out the liberation war, and therefore was now called to give to Fatherland a new constitution.

These perilous imaginations grew continually faster and faster into that horrible avalanche which threatened to overwhelm every thing. What a difference between the years 1816 and 1817, when one compares the celebration of the peace anniversary of 1816, with that of the celebration of the October days of 1817!

On the 18th, 19th, and 20th of January, 1816, Jena, amongst other universities, celebrated the peace-festival in a style and manner, which, say the newspapers of the time, deserve to be published and handed down to posterity.

The report of this festival stands thus:--On the 16th day of January was issued from the grand-ducal police commission, and the city council of Jena, a public programme in regard to this festival. In pursuance of its ordinations, on the 17th, all the bells were rung at noon. Before and after the ringing, mortars and cannon were fired at the outer gate. At eight o'clock in the evening the Landsturm beat tattoo with music.

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