three men on the bummel(三个闲逛的人)-第51章
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Germany； rather than be bothered with it。
〃No； no；〃 my teacher would explainhe was a painstaking gentleman；
〃you say it as if it were spelt K…i…r…c…h…k…e。 There is no k。 It is。〃
And he would illustrate to me again； for the twentieth time that morning；
how it should be pronounced； the sad thing being that I could never for the
life of me detect any difference between the way he said it and the way I
said it。 So he would try a new method。
〃You say it from your throat；〃 he would explain。 He was quite right；
I did。 〃I want you to say it from down here；〃 and with a fat forefinger he
would indicate the region from where I was to start。 After painful efforts；
resulting in sounds suggestive of anything rather than a place of worship； I
would excuse myself。
〃I really fear it is impossible；〃 I would say。 〃You see； for years I have
always talked with my mouth； as it were； I never knew a man could talk
with his stomach。 I doubt if it is not too late now for me to learn。〃
By spending hours in dark corners； and practising in silent streets； to
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the terror of chance passers…by； I came at last to pronounce this word
correctly。 My teacher was delighted with me； and until I came to
Germany I was pleased with myself。 In Germany I found that nobody
understood what I meant by it。 I never got near a church with it。 I had
to drop the correct pronunciation； and painstakingly go back to my first
wrong pronunciation。 Then they would brighten up； and tell me it was
round the corner； or down the next street； as the case might be。
I also think pronunciation of a foreign tongue could be better taught
than by demanding from the pupil those internal acrobatic feats that are
generally impossible and always useless。 This is the sort of instruction
one receives：
〃Press your tonsils against the underside of your larynx。 Then with
the convex part of the septum curved upwards so as almostbut not quite
to touch the uvula； try with the tip of your tongue to reach your thyroid。
Take a deep breath； and compress your glottis。 Now； without opening your
lips； say 'Garoo。'〃
And when you have done it they are not satisfied。
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CHAPTER XIII
An examination into the character and behaviour of the German
studentThe German MensurUses and abuses of useViews of an
impressionistThe humour of the thingRecipe for making savages The
Jungfrau： her peculiar taste in lacesThe KneipeHow to rub a
SalamanderAdvice to the strangerA story that might have ended sadly
Of two men and two wivesTogether with a bachelor。
On our way home we included a German University town； being
wishful to obtain an insight into the ways of student life； a curiosity that
the courtesy of German friends enabled us to gratify。
The English boy plays till he is fifteen； and works thence till twenty。
In Germany it is the child that works； the young man that plays。 The
German boy goes to school at seven o'clock in the summer； at eight in the
winter； and at school he studies。 The result is that at sixteen he has a
thorough knowledge of the classics and mathematics； knows as much
history as any man compelled to belong to a political party is wise in
knowing； together with a thorough grounding in modern languages。
Therefore his eight College Semesters； extending over four years； are；
except for the young man aiming at a professorship； unnecessarily ample。
He is not a sportsman； which is a pity； for he should make good one。 He
plays football a little； bicycles still less； plays French billiards in stuffy
cafes more。 But generally speaking he； or the majority of him； lays out
his time bummeling； beer drinking； and fighting。 If he be the son of a
wealthy father he joins a Korps to belong to a crack Korps costs about
four hundred pounds a year。 If he be a middle…class young man； he enrols
himself in a Burschenschaft； or a Landsmannschaft； which is a little
cheaper。 These companies are again broken up into smaller circles； in
which attempt is made to keep to nationality。 There are the Swabians；
from Swabia； the Frankonians； descendants of the Franks； the Thuringians；
and so forth。 In practice； of course； this results as all such attempts do
resultI believe half our Gordon Highlanders are Cockneysbut the
picturesque object is obtained of dividing each University into some dozen
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or so separate companies of students； each one with its distinctive cap and
colours； and； quite as important； its own particular beer hall； into which no
other student wearing his colours may come。
The chief work of these student companies is to fight among
themselves； or with some rival Korps or Schaft； the celebrated German
Mensur。
The Mensur has been described so often and so thoroughly that I do
not intend to bore my readers with any detailed account of it。 I merely
come forward as an impressionist； and I write purposely the impression of
my first Mensur； because I believe that first impressions are more true and
useful than opinions blunted by intercourse； or shaped by influence。
A Frenchman or a Spaniard will seek to persuade you that the bull…
ring is an institution got up chiefly for the benefit of the bull。 The horse
which you imagined to be screaming with pain was only laughing at the
comical appearance presented by its own inside。 Your French or Spanish
friend contrasts its glorious and exciting death in the ring with the cold…
blooded brutality of the knacker's yard。 If you do not keep a tight hold of
your head； you come away with the desire to start an agitation for the
inception of the bull…ring in England as an aid to chivalry。 No doubt
Torquemada was convinced of the humanity of the Inquisition。 To a
stout gentleman； suffering； perhaps； from cramp or rheumatism； an hour or
so on the rack was really a physical benefit。 He would rise feeling more
free in his jointsmore elastic； as one might say； than he had felt for years。
English huntsmen regard the fox as an animal to be envied。 A day's
excellent sport is provided for him free of charge； during which he is the
centre of attraction。
Use blinds one to everything one does not wish to see。 Every third
German gentleman you meet in the street still bears； and will bear to his
grave； marks of the twenty to a hundred duels he has fought in his student
days。 The German children play at the Mensur in the nursery； rehearse it
in the gymnasium。 The Germans have come to persuade themselves
there is no brutality in itnothing offensive； nothing degrading。 Their
argument is that it schools the German youth to co
