biography of this interesting student, but merely to present to their notice a few fragments of the most remarkable incidents of his career, we shall pass over many of the minute details recorded in our note-book. Our readers will, therefore, be good enough

to bear in mind this explanation of what might otherwise appear unconnected. Availing ourselves, therefore, of this privilege, we pass with a bound to what forms the subject of the next chapter.

Ir was upon a certain fine frosty evening, towards the end of January, when the palatinate looked for all the world like a piece of frosted weddingcake, that the festival or foundationday of Franconia was to take place; for several days previous to this interesting and festive occasion, it was the custom of the students to parade the streets, with orange chore-caps, ribbons, and costly dresses of a similar colour. Visitors arrived from all parts, who received the most hospipitable entertainment-huge flasks of Bocksbeutel were uncorked for the mid-day potations, and in the evening

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grog," a lovely sort of mixture, first invented by the Halle students, was placed upon the festal board.

All

was banqueting and revelry; but nothing was ever seen like the celebration-day: the sledges, decked with many-coloured ribbons, were assembled after dinner, in which they seated themselves, two by two, in order to make the train more imposing-The Foxes rode on horseback, in polished boots, white-leather breeches, and "sturm-huts." This stately procession paraded the narrow streets, to Lingesla, a village at some little distance, accompanied by the joyous sound of horse-music, the ringing of bells, and the cracking of whips-the upper-story of that ancient and respectable hostelry, which rejoiced in the name of "the Thick James," was adorned for the festival, with bouquets and garlands of surpassing splendour; and in the principal "saal," the eye of the spectator was dazzled by an immense escutcheon, whereupon were emblazoned, with many a tasteful device, the arms of Franconia and Mar

cia. Towards evening the commers began with card-playing, and uncorking of bottles; but few of the students felt any inclination to spoil their appetite for supper, for which meal they waited with some impatience.

Our friend Rappelkopf, who was backward upon such occasions, was greatly elated by the request, that he should act as chairman, which office he filled with a dignity, and with an air, so self-satisfied and conceited, that a poor-law commissioner, on boardduty, or an officer of the board of works, in his levee-dress, could scarcely have exceeded him in importance.

Soon after midnight, the music and the singing ceased, for a very suffi cient reason-the members of the choir having got into a state of excessive joviality, the result of their deep and frequent potations of the glee wine. Each man as he became "ripe," dropped off, and so as the Todten Kammer* began to fill, the "commers saal" grew empty in proportion the transparencies waxed dim-the emblazoned escutcheon of Franconia cast an uncertain and doubtful glimmer-the clinking of glasses was only interrupted at intervals by the growling of some inveterate old toper who, still keeping his ground, would complain that his neighbour was not drinking fair-"papsts,t" and those other huge vessels which are usually drained at a draught, were filled, and set down empty, and still the carouse went on, receiving a fresh stimulus by the reappearance of some form which, spectre-like, would rear itself darkly from the "todten kammer," finding the society there became disagreeable, and come reeling towards the festive board.

Still the revel went on, until the struggling beams of morning began to penetrate the shutters.

Upon assembling the next morning at breakfast, heads were counted; and the muster-roll having proved correct, they went to work to drive away the katzen jammer under which many of them were labouring, with strong wine and well-seasoned foods; and they soon contrived to get into sufficient condition to be able to return. Their arrival, however, was by no means the same brilliant cortege as their departure. With exhausted frames, throbbing temples, and depressed spirits, each man returned to his lodgings as he best could, and soon forgot his physical and mental katzen jammer in refreshing sleep.

It forms no part of our present purpose to follow our friend Rappelkopf through the various phases of his undergraduate career; suffice it to say, that at each successive step he acquired fresh laurels, until in process of time, he became one of the most conceited and self-sufficient fellows that ever plagued the authorities of a university. Overbearing, presumptuous, and bullying, even to the most intimate of his associates, and ready to fight upon the smallest provocation, he acquired a reputation by no means enviable; it was one, however, which pleased him, and that was enough. But a circumstance, about this time, took place, which exercised so important an influence upon his career, that he became less frequent in his attendance at the kneipe und fechtboden, and was observed by a certain member of his own chore to steal quietly after dusk into the Baierischen Hof, the first floor of which, it was well known, was inhabited by the university Tanzemeister, who lived in a certain square apartment, hung round with pipes. In fact it was rumoured abroad, to the great wonder and admiration of Halle, that Master Rappelkopf was taking lessons in the polka, from which circumstance the not unnatural inference was drawn that he had fallen in love. The premises for this conclusion, it must be admitted, were rather slight. If every young gentleman who takes private lessons in dancing, when twilight has set in, was,

upon such evidence, to be convicted of love, it would be a very harsh and arbitrary proceeding indeed: but so it was with our friend Rappelkopf.

The fox major was absent this time, "au carosel;" for not only did he enjoy this title and the respect which was attached to it, but he was also the bodyguard of the grand Duke of Krollwitz.* to which place he had raised himself by his capacious swallow: and besides, without doubt, he was one of the first "Marker renonce," beloved by his friends, and in some degree respected by the more moderate and judicious of his foes. His pride and self-conceit still increased, when, soon after his first feat of arms, the entrance into the Marcian chore was offered to him with the unanimous desire of the membersan honor which was rarely conferred upon foxes-and still more rarely upon those who had not undergone the ordeal of the mensur. delighted Felix now saw himself at the summit of his fortune; in spirit he beheld himself already the senior in brilliant in a carriage and six horses, all eyes fixed on him; he pictured

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himself a senior, and heaven knows what else. But it was not enough that he had risen step by step in the student's commers, fortune smiled upon him. The bold rider, and tall student-the rich heir had found favour in the eyes of a certain beautiful young lady, named Mienchen, who had seen him vis-a-vis upon several occasions at a certain assembly held at weekly intervals, in a hostelry known by the name of the Bierkelder Hof, where music was provided for the company gratis, and an abundant quantity of excellent liquor for baares geld, or ready money down, as the saying is.

But ere we proceed further, let us make our reader acquainted with the precise locality of this celebrated house of entertainment. About a

mile from the town, a sequestered path round the base of the river, leads to a quiet little cluster of housesone can scarcely call it a hamlet-so beautifully situated, that it is well worth the while of any traveller in search of the picturesque, to visit it. Planted in the very centre of a knot of mountains, wooded to the summits, the only object of interest which one

can perceive from this secluded spot, is the blue river, which glides gently along. Piles of mountains rising on its opposite bank, almost as high as those by which the hamlet is surrounded. The Bierkelder Hof, where this weekly festival is celebrated, is a curious old mansion, built half of brick and half of wood, such as one sees in an ancient English manor-house; creaking wooden verandahs traverse its sides, which are covered with luxuriant pines, amid the dark-green foliage of which might have been seen peeping many a rich purple cluster of ripe peaches. A stone fountain stood in the yard before the house, whence leaped incessantly a fresh sparkling rill of water, that flowed, bubbling into a large reservoir, in the depths of which, a curious eye might observe sundry large fishes gliding to and fro, waiting with exemplary patience, until it was the pleasure of the worthy inhabitants of the Bierkelder Hof to take them out, for the purpose of being fried. At some little distance lay the celebrated fish-ponds, each rising higher than the other, like the locks of a canal, and all of them abundantly supplied with water from a stream which came sparkling down from the mountain's side. There was a spacious court-yard before the door of the hostelry, where benches and tables were scattered at intervals, each of which was agreeably situated under the cool shadow of a spreading linden tree. Such was the place wither the students, each Saturday evening, were wont to assemble to meet the village beauties, who liked nothing betterthan skipping about in the eternal deux temps valse, to the sound of a number of marvellously ill-tuned fiddles. Rappelkopf was seated with his party, at one of these oval tables, covered with a profusion of beer-glasses and pipes, when his attention was attracted by a young lady, the uncommon loveliness of whose face excited universal admiration, as she swept round in the graceful circle of the waltz with a burgher of the village. It is the custom in Germany, and one which we cannot help thinking more honored in the breach than in the observance, to have, in every dance, what is called a "frei tour," which means, that upon a certain signal made by the musician, every dancer may be at liberty forthwith, to

leave the partner with whom he is engaged, and going up to any other gentleman's partner whom he chooses to fancy, claim her hand for the dance. And so it came to pass, that our friend Rappelkopf, observing the fiddles about to make the preliminary flourish, jumped up in a terrible hurry, and overturning in his progress a large flagon of beer and several glasses, he drew up to the fair fraulein who had captivated his fancy, and bore her off in triumph, to the manifest displeasure and chagrin of her disconsolate partner. The disposition of our friend Rappelkopf, unfortunately for himself, bore a remarkable similarity to that of Lord John Russell. He thought there were few actions, practicable to human nature, which he could not perform, and that his surpassing genius was of power to overcome every difficulty; in this instance, however, he discovered that "he was not strong enough for the place." It had never occurred to him that he had not learned to waltz, and as every one is aware, that, like most other accomplishments, this is not to be acquired without some trouble and much practice, the very natural consequence was, that Rappelkopf grew at first embarrassed, afterwards entangled, and his foot having caught in his partner's dress, he tripped, and eventually fell with a great crash, drawing the unfortunate fraulein after him. This incident was sufficiently mortifying, but the disconcertment of Rappelkopf was greatly aggravat ed by the observation, that the lady's former partner was laughing exceedingly at his misadventure. However, he managed to extricate himself from his embarrassment, and the waltz proceeded, until the frei tour was over, when the burgher very naturally thought that he should be able to regain his interesting partner, but this arrangement by no means suited the purposes of Rappelkopf. He refused to give her up-an angry dialogue ensued, and at length it was referred to the fraulein herself to decide as to which of the two candidates for her fair hand she would accord the preference. She, with many modest blushes, admitted that she would prefer dancing with the student, which confession raised the wrath of the burgher to such a degree, that he gave him a dummer junge on the spot.

"Really," replied Rappelkopf, "you are such an uncommonly pleasant fellow when you are drunk, that I should have much pleasure in making your acquaintance when you are sober."

This he said with an air of such cool effrontery, that the burgher seemed for a moment speechless with rage; at length, however, he found his tongue, but it was only to add an epithet still more opprobrious, in the student's code of honor, to the imper. tinent delinquent.

"You are," said he, boiling with fury, "a hundsfuss."

Rappelkopf cast a glance for a moment round the apartment, to ascertain what amount of help he could count on, in case of a row, and then, without adding another word, coolly knocked the burgher down.

This was the signal for a promiscuous onslaught, and a furious battle began.

Had the rash Rappelkopf better calculated the powers of his opponent, this eventful blow would never have been given. On his side were only fifteen or sixteen, while those on the other were innumerable, and might well amount to ten times as much. Still the sons of the muses bore themselves bravely, standing together against this formidable array, they struck out with their fists, with sticks, and bottles, and, regardless of death or mischief, threw them wildly. But

this could not last long; their ammunition was expended, their strength exhausted, they were set upon singly, and the fight was soon over. savage Knoten triumphed in a wild jubilee.

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Sad was the fate of the beauties of the vale, who saw their adorers thrown down and pitifully handled; howling and abusing each other, they sought to fire them by words-nay, to defend them with their fair fingers; then, feeling their weakness, they beat a retreat, and left, in their flight, their shawls, knitting-bags, gloves, and other trophies, in the hands of the conquerors, not without many a push and blow, not intended, but which, in the tumult and crowd, were plentifully showered upon them. They made for the door, where an unexpected obstacle intervened it was found locked; so they sought another mode of exit. Clothes were torn, shawls

lost, head-dresses destroyed. At last they found an exit through the refreshment room; but the stairs were crowded, and there raged the thickest of the fight. The mild light of day no longer illuminated the bloody field— the moon was hid the lights were thrown down. Dense darkness ensued. Friend pummelled friend. The ladies had to thank their white dresses alone for any respect they received; but at last they found a place of refuge on the lower story, or in the court yard through the passage, which, fortunately for them, was at last cleared.

It fared ill with the commencer of the fray, the poor Rappelkopf, against whom the assailants were particularly exasperated. The brunt of the battle fell upon him; he was seized by the thick cords of his frock-thrown upon the ground trampled upon with their feet; he counted, afterwards, fifteen kicks upon his lacerated person. His hair was torn and dishevelled, and his face disfigured by the blows of fists, and of the legs of stools and tables. Mienchen was inconsolable, sobbing and lamenting. She wished to protect him with her fair hands-savage barbarians tore her away, and cast her into the crowd; she was obliged to retreat, and Rappelkopf saw her no more.

Tired of the tumult and conflict, the "Knoten" thought of a truce. As this was arranged only on one side, and as the fight had resulted in the total rout of the enemy, so the unfortunate vanquished, shattered in spirit and body, could neither make nor oppose conditions. Several among them lay completely insensible, others bleeding, others pretending to be defunct. For an hour they had not fought, but had been kicked, trampled upon, and treated with every species of savage indignity. Some ruffians made the proposal of casting the lifeless bodies into a neighbouring ditch, and so to get rid of them. Who knows what would have happened, had not the scene suddenly changed?

It has never been clearly explained whether, in the beginning of the fray, a student did not run off to bring help and rescue to his companions, if not with his body, at least by his speed; or whether a friendly Philis. ter, attached to the students as a Schlepp Fuchs, evacuated the place. It was, at all events, the fact, that the sons of the muses who were sitting quietly

in the various kneipes, were speedily informed of the danger of their companions. All enmity disappearedburschenschafts, landsmanschafts, camels, and all that could be gathered, united around themselves as well as they could in the hurry. It was by this time dark. With rapiers, schlagers, daggers, and stakes torn from the hedges, they swept like a whirlwind to the field of battle. The first column consisted of from fifty to sixty, eagerly bent on revenge, among which some gigantic burschenschaft, unfortunately for themselves, were conspicuous, and distinguished themselves in storming the house ; for as soon as the conquerors had perceived from a distance, and the arrival of a breathless scout, that their companions were coming, every one thought of a hasty retreat from this menaced resentment, and on saving themselves from vengeance. One party hastened off through the gardens, another hid themselves in the neighbouring house, the bravest determined to fortify themselves in their entrenchments, and proceeded to barricade the door of the house ; the luckless victims, who were thought dead, took fresh heart, yet did not dare to raise themselves-they could more advantageously break forth at a later period from their awkward position with the slight pulse of life which still remained. The first troop of assailants reached the gate and demanded admittance ; the house and court seemed deserted— no one stirred. The besiegers, increased by other reinforcements, proceeded to storm the door, which resisted stoutly; so they went through the garden to the neighbouring building, and came before the barricaded house, in which a great bustle was observed. New crowds came flocking in around them; and above three hundred students arrived, eager to avenge the beaten and to assist the besiegers. Some had already succeeded in effecting an entrance through windows which they had broken: the gate of the court gave way, and every post of exit was blocked up. besieged saw their desperate condition, and the vengeance which awaited them; and in their hour of need they turned themselves to the prisoners, who gradually had arisen, and besought them to intercede with their companions. The unhappy landlord and his son, who had treated the stu

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dents in the most merciless manner, knelt in the court before the assailants, protesting their innocence, and begging for their lives and for the safety of his property. The hypocrite was believed, and no harm was done him. The besieged, too, who could have cruelly treated the prisoners, and could still have long defended the building, especially the narrow stairs, were promised mercy on condition of an immediate surrender, and thus escaped with moderate chastisement. They proceeded with wild joy to the rescued; windows, doors, stoves, tables, benches, and stairs, were so recklessly and speedily demolished, that some enraged students, who carried on the same work on the roof, were obliged to descend on ladders, and those who could not wait until they were procured, had to spring from the first floor. Some of the students tore down the roof, in the wild spirit of destruction, broke the laths, and smashed everything about the premises, without being deterred from the attempt by the repeated falls. At last every. thing was totally destroyed. wounded, who were unable to walk, were carried, and they moved off with shouts of exultation and songs of freedom. The policemen who were present did not dare to oppose them, but marked the ringleaders. It occurred to some of them to pursue some of the flying bravoes, who had escaped with impunity. This was agreed upon, and they turned back and visited the houses in parties; but few of the ag. gressors were found-they had made themselves scarce with wonderful expedition. Those who had not been recognized by the policemen, boldly faced the "poodles" on the second day, when the matter was brought before the authorities; those who were recognised were summoned; most of them were found guilty. Rappelkopf, in bed, with cold bandages to his many wounds, was one of the first to be summoned. It was not for several days he was able to appear before the academical tribunal, which he did with much difficulty; he was, however, deprived immediately of the pain of returning, by an immediate consignment to the "carcer."

Rappelkopf found, on his entrance into his furnished apartments, many of his companions who had preceded him, and had already comfortably estab