STUDENT r.IFF, IN' GERMANY. 209 



firmly to one, and handling the rest as necessarily wrong in the main. — 

 But he supposed that by identifying himself first, with one and then 

 with another, he would by and by hit upon the right one ! The fresh- 

 ness of his notions was sufficiently apparent, and the judicious counsel 

 was promptly given to examine well the foundation upon wliich he 

 stood. Just such is the feeling, and just such is the ntter instability 

 with which crowds of German youth enter the University. They see 

 in the Theological Faculty, almost every shade of opinion from the 

 strictest orthodoxy to the merest Pantheism. Into which current shall 

 they fall } Choose which they may, they will still be within the pale 

 of the church. Their fate depends, in no small degree, upon the direc- 

 tion of the letter they carry in their pocket. If they have been recom- 

 mended to a man of God, who feels for the tender youth, takes an in- 

 terest in their future course, they will most probably choose him, and 

 others of his stamp, as their preceptors. They listen to his lectures, 

 they visit at his house, accompany him in his walks, they fall in with 

 his Richtung and are safe. Mutatis mutandis — they are lost. 



I attended but one of their convivial meetings, and that was the last 

 in the session. The whole society assembled in the large room in the 

 rear of a public house. At one end of the room was suspended a bril- 

 liant transparency— a sword encircled with palm branches, surmounted 

 with the arms of the Association, consisting of a quartered field, con- 

 taining respectively an altar and two clasped hands, a harp and notes, 

 two books pierced by a pen and guarded by an eye, and an anchor with 

 a bundle of rods, the whole surrounded by a circle of stars. The sim- 

 ple repast was introduced by a Segen-gesang, i. e., by singing grace, and 

 was soon despatched. The supper was not the object of the meeting, 

 it was a mere accompaniment. This over, the order of the evening 

 seemed to be, every man to his pipe! When all had been duly filled and 

 lighted, a farewell address was delivered by Riigge, the more touching 

 passages of which were enthusiasticully received, amid a great ringing 

 and stamping of glasses, to say nothing of the potations. A new mem- 

 ber was then received and welcomed by a cordial grasp of the hand all 

 round. Songs and toasts followed, in rapid succession. I was surpri- 

 sed to find none of the current song-books in use, but was informed 

 that particular pains were taken to keep out all vulgar and improper 

 pieces, and each member kept a manuscript note-book for the purpose 

 of collecting all the approved airs. Some of the pieces were capital, 

 and the popular choruses made the walls ring again. A history of the 

 Society was now read, which shovved it to have passed through some 

 severe persecutions. Upon one occasion heavy charges were brought 

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