Foreign Correspondence

vm. Berlín, Gehmanv, Nov. 29, '86. To the Coürieb : There are a nuinber of regulations regardlng the contluct of students wliile at Che l'iii vtTsity, but many are a dead letter. For lntance,proloQ2ed absence froni the city is forbidden, but one can elect his courses, go to Home to speud the winter, return in March and receive credit for his semester's work, and no one be the wiser. Duelling is also strlctly prohibited, even as spectator one is subject to discipline. Uut while talking with one of the professors on the subject of duels, he remarked that the professors and authorities of the Uuiversity never trouble theinselvcis about such things. I'iinislimeiit for breaches of discipline, as íhih in the book of regulations are: Keprimand, fines not to exceed twenty nnrks, iinprisoiunent not to exceed two weeks, 110 credit for the current semester, thre;it of suspension, suspension, expulsión. The last can be given only to one con vieted of some criminal act, and it is Imponible for one who is expelled to obtain admission into any otber Germán uwiversity. The prison here is for student riots, et cetera, and is seldom used. All student societies are required to give to the Héctor a copy of their constitution, rules and regulations, to notify him of any cliauge in the gaine, and to furnisb complete lists of ofticers and meinbers. For improper behavior of members, or any olher good cause, the coutinuauce of a society may be forbiddeu by the Uuiversity at any time. The consent of the Reetor is necessary for all student gatheiinjis, testivities, public parades, and for the aiiuouncement of all such meetings. The iiumber of student societies at the University, including turn-vereins, scient tic and litemry clubs, Is about uiuety. I'erhaps thirty may be, in some respecta, hkened to the Greek letter fraternities. They are supposed to be non-secret, but of coun-e have their secreta. They are more secret th in Delta Upsilou, for a professor would not renture to atteud a meeting without au invitAtiou. Fightliig duels is much less coininon in Berlín thati at the smaller universities. The honor of haviugone's face all hacked updoi'S not8eem to be so highly esteemed heie, and most of them who wear the scars reoeived them at other universities. One is wliolly unable to comprehend how ü handsome yoimg fellow can be so fooltafa as to huut up another man to cut these terrible gashes in a smooth and rosy cheek. Occasionnlly you will meet a young man one side of whose face is rtguratively speaking, only one great scar. If duelling is less in favor here than at the smaller universities, on the other hand woinen.and wine - nn, women and beer - or at least the former, have a stronger grasp iu a city like Berlín. As a body the students are well-behaved, and always polite. They are very courteous to one another, acquaintances always lift their bats on meeting and on putting, and generally shake hands bcsides. Last summer I read an article In a LondoD paper stiiiimj that the professors attend some of the students' meetings, especially the scientltlc and philological societies. If this is so, it must be very ¦eldom. Three professors told me they bad never been, and knew of no one who diil altend. All the student societies, whatever may be its nature, scientilic, philosophical, or what not, are for little else than a social time over the foaming beer mug. The only student gathering I know of that the professors are accustomed to honor with their presence is the Gommen. The flrjt one of the year was held last Friday at Philharmonic Hall, and was very entertaining. The Commers was given in honor of Professor Zeiler, to celébrate the fiftieth year of his university service as teacher and professor. The Hall Is well-fitted for such an occasion. The whole of the parquet is level and bas movable seats; on three sides are boxes, and a gallery. The gullery and boxes are occupied by the gentlf men and lady frlends of students and professors, and "the press." I obtained two box tickets and weut, with Mrs. B., ís a spectator. The hall was beautifully Jecoriited with the banners and colors of the different societies. Over fourteen Iniiidred students and lorty or flfty proFessors were present. The students sat at rows of table9 with offleers at each, nlne jflicers or members of the committee on ;he platform, and the professors at a row rf tables through the center of the hall. All the table were bare except the ones for the professors. Amone the professors were the Rector Kleinert, the Greek Historian Curtís, the celcbrated Virchow nul olhers. The bright-colored sashes nul caps o( the Hu.ltnu increased the Lirilliancy of tlie scène. The Oommer was openert with a Salamander to the Euiperor. The Salamander LscxeciUed in tliu lollowing inanner. All who wear swords strike them in unisón tliree linies upon tbe table; all the students rise, each holding a glass of beer; the ch.iiimtiii eounts one to three and down gncs the beer. Then all rattle tlicir irln-scs as loud as possible on the bare Ublt'8, the clminnan couuts one, two, ainl :ill the glasses cotne down with a crash logether. Ni.'At carne a grand chorus froun the whole li'Mly of BiiidouU: "Auf, auf, lhr lliüdcr, ttia M OUMium Mund ! " Then aeulogyoii Piot ZWler, by the chairman, and another Salamander; next anotlicr song, "Stoeit an ! Berlín toil Leötn '1 followed by n speech by Prof. Zeiler, ex pressing his thanks, and speaking o( the prosperily and liopes of tlie university The rest of the time till twelve o'clock was varieil with speeches by professors, song, nmsic by the orehestra, and Salamanders. At twelve tlie oll'u-ial pari U8ually doses, and the professor? retire but those of the studcnts who wish, remaln, and enjoy till nearly iuorniiiLr, tin "Fidelitits," wlncli is probably niostly salamander. We lefl at a quarter pat eleven. Smoking ia allowed after eleven The system ia foree mnong Germán universitiesof allowing a student to study at whlchever university he ploases, and to go to a different one every semester il lie likes, causes the student populaüon at any one place to c'iange of ten. Al)out two-flfths of (he students here during one seniester leave at tlie close, and othent come to take thelr place. The number of students in the University of Berliu is niui'li larger ia the winter th.ni in tlie slimmer. The Germán student, being, as a rule, a gay and íetive youth, ioes io suminer to Heidelberjf, and otiier universities, where lie can inikc pleasant ext-ur8iuns, and wauder o 11' ainl lose himself in the coiitemplation and beauties of nature. Last Slimmer the nuinber herc who were giveu tlie permission to attend lectures was 5,766. Tlie precediug wiuter it was 6,752. The behavior of (tudent during lectures is remarkably gooil. Tiiey are very qulet, geldom move, and aluiost never whiser. If the professor don't speak loud enough, they make a nolse by shoving their fcet ahuut on the Hoor, but never interrupt by shoutiiijr, "louder!" nor by askin; a question. If ariyone disturbs the lecture by coming in late, the students hiss, or shove the feèt. It i possiMe for n student to go to sleep in a Gemían professoi's lecture room, as we il as In itiy one else's. Several times I have seeo