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RKMtNISCENCES OF STUDENT LIFE IN GERMANY. 

 NO. II. STANDCHEN. 



Among the peculiarities of the Burschen-Leben may be reckoned 

 their manner of testifying regard for a Professor. The presentation of 

 a vote of thanks for his valuable services, or a complimentary letter 

 would be quite too lifeless for them. The cordiality of the German 

 character is particularly prominent in the student. It pervades the whole 

 University-life, as will be seen from the facts developed in these remi- 

 niscences, if they be continued. 



As I was sitting one evening in my snug little room on the second 

 floor of No. 6, Kurstrasse, preparing to appreciate the lectures of the 

 following day, by the careful study of the sections of Genesis, Psalms, 

 and Matthew, that came in course, Herr Michaelis, my obliging friend 

 who took so much pleasure in showing me all the Merkwiirdigkeiten 

 of Berlin, burst in upon me with the news that the students were just 

 about bringing a Standchen to Prof. Neander, and I must come along at 

 once. We found a great crowd collected about the house, and could 

 scarcely edge our way into the wide arched entrance that led from the 

 street to the inner court. " Come," said my friend, " they will surely 

 not take me for a Philistine for I have mounted a cap," and with this 

 dragged me into the midst of the crowd of students. They had pro- 

 cured a marble-bust of Neander, and through a delegation from their 

 number were presenting it to him, whilst the whole throng in the open 

 court below were singing at the top of their voices a familiar hymn. 

 His acknowledgments were presented from a window, and responded 

 to by a Lebehoch ! and the old students' song Gaudeamus igitur. "Now 

 follows the punch," says my friend, as the whole mass began to flow up 

 the broad flight of steps leading to the Professor's residence overhead, 

 "and the sooner we get out of the way the better." "Punch ? " replied 

 1. — "To be sure," said I\l., to whom my anti-drinking principles afford- 

 ed infinite amusement, " and at the Professor's expense ! So machen 

 Sie es gewiss nicht in America?" " Nein, wahrlich nicht!" 



Not long afterwards my friend K. informed me that the students, 

 who had attended the lectures of Dr. Strauss, (who is second Court 

 Preacher and Professor of Ilomiletical and Pastoral Theology) intend- 

 ed to pay him a congratulatory visit, and invited me to accompany him. 

 At 8 o'clock we assembled in the inner court of the University edifice 

 and marched to the Professor's residence. Having heralded our design 

 through a committee, we were admitted into the house. Throwing our 

 caps and cloaks into the arms of servants who stood at the foot of tlie 



