Chapter XIII

General System of German Education.--Glance at the progress of
popular Education, from the ancient Nations and Times down to the
present--Popular Folks'-schools of the Middle Ages--Gerbardus
Magnus--his Institution at Deventer---his ideas followed out by
Montaigne, Bacon, etc.--the Burger class erect Schools--the
Reformation--School of Conrad Celtes, for the restoration of
Classical antiquity--Services of Erasmus, Reuchlin, Dalberg,
Agricola, Pirkheimer, etc.--the origin of the plans of Pestalozzi
to be found in the writings of Ratich and Comenius--Services of
Fenelon, Spencer, and Franke--Improvements by Ziedler, Hein, and
Sulzer--Influence of Locke, Rousseau, Crousatz, in developing the
modern School-systems--Description of the German School-system,
and what is taught in each class of Schools, viz. the Elementary,
or Proper Folks'-Schools; the Real Schools, called also Middle
Schools, Higher Burger Schools, etc; the Gymnasia; the
Universities

CHAPTER XIV.

Song, an indispensable requisite to the Student, as to all
Germans.--Song and Poetry a necessity to the German--the Germans
rich in Popular Songs--Universal singing of the Common People--A
popular Song at any crisis passes like an electric flash through
the whole People--"Prince Eugene," a specimen of a class of Songs
very common amongst the People--All classes, in town or country,
have their peculiar Songs--the Student is affluent in Songs--the
Commers-Book a collection of them--Sing in their Kneips--their
Songs often heard on summer evenings in the open air with fine
effect--one of the finest "From High Olympus," etc.--the
Roundelay--the Student has his Songs of Love, Wine, Fatherland,
and Friendship--Student-life regarded as a joyous season that
comes but once, therefore they sing and rejoice in it--Accompany
their Deceased Brethren to the tomb also with Song--"Gaudeamus
igitur"

CHAPTER XV.

Drinking Customs of Student-life, ancient and modern.--The Author's
opinions on festive drinking--Song of Old Noah--Master Schluck's
persiflage on the Burschen-Comment, or Student Code of Drinking
Laws--Notice of some of the chief of the different classes of
Student Songs--"The Maiden Song" as formerly sung--account of it
in Zacchariae's Renommist--Drinking Customs of a past age in the
Universities--anecdotes of these--Phrases collected by
Lichtenberg descriptive of a Drunkard--the General Beer-Code of
Heidelberg

CHAPTER XVI.

The Commers.--The Commerses, general and special--their social
Festive Meetings, held on various occasions--Description of the
General Commers--certain Songs sung, as "Heidelberg live thou,"
etc.--the Singing of "The Consecration Song, or Landsfather," and
singular ceremonies attending it--the Ceremony of the Smollis--
Smollering constitutes a Brotherhood to last for life--Drinking
Laws of the Commers--Herr Schluck's Comments on a Commers--the
Excesses of the Ancient Commerses abandoned

CHAPTER XVII.

The Special Commers.--Description of a train of Students going out
to a Special Commers in the country--their arrival there--
description of the Room and mode of holding the Commers--Ceremony,
and Song of "The Prince of Fooling"--Frolics and Gambols of the
Students the next day in the village--An old ballad describing
these in 1650--the Commers over, they return often by water, with
music and fireworks--close it with drinking Crambambuli--the Song
of Crambambuli--The Lumpin Bell

CHAPTER XVIII.

New Year's Eve.--Spent by the Friends at the rooms of Freisleben--
Conversation sallies--Glee-wine made, and the English song, "Down
with the Sorrows," etc., by Mrs. Howitt, sung by Hoffmann to the
guitar--"The Song of Wine"--"The Table-Song," by Goethe

CHAPTER XIX.

New Year's Eve, continued.--Sketch of the History of Heidelberg
University--A Salamander rubbed to the honour of the Professors

CHAPTER XX.

New Year's Eve, continued.--University Stories--Singular Story of
the feats of activity, strength, and eccentric humour of Von
Plauen--his Banishment from the University--his Imprisonment and
Escape--Story of the Student Schwartzkopf, who became the
celebrated robber, "The Black Peter;" with his deeds, capture,
and strange final escape--Story of the Student Stark--Fire-arms
announce the entrance of the New Year, and the friends rush forth
to witness the Procession of the Students to give a "Vivat" to
their chief Professors--this described--Breaking up of the ice on
the river--the exploit of the Red Fisherman