A German Degree.

It may be of interest for some to know of the ceremonies attendant upon acquiring the degree of Ph. D. in Germany. A title which not a few of us hope to obtain. The main requirements are that the student write an extensive thesis in the study of which he makes his specialty, and that besides he be prepared to pass an oral examination in any two other subjects. For instance a medical student would write his thesis on a medical subject and stand prepared in Philosophy and Chemistry, or any two other subjects, akin to his main study.

Three years is the usual term of study, but no limit is set to the time when a man may make application for his degree. Nor is there any date on which the degree is awarded. As soon as the student has finished his thesis, the faculty arrange a meeting and decide his fate. As is well known, there are no examinations, neither "Semis" nor "Annuals" in the German Universities, and practically all the work of three or more years is "ground up" in preparation for his final test.

The evening before the examination the expectant candidate invites his most intimate friends, and the night is spent in merry toasts and numberless bottles of champagne. Herein the German student shows how superior is his mind to that of our college man who sits up all night with nothing to cheer him but a cup of cold coffee and a wet cloth around his aching head. Arrayed in dress coat and white gloves, the candidate, followed by several of his friends, appears before the august assembly of professors. After an interchange of civilities in Latin and profound reverential bows, the student is invited to read his thesis. Suddenly one of his friends will jump up and express his doubts as to the truth of a certain assertion. A dispute then ensues between the two, in which by some mysterious dispensation of Providence, the candidate always comes out ahead. To one uninitiated into the great secret, the sudden interruption is startling, but when we learn that this whole scheme was hatched at that convivial gathering of last night, that the friend was carefully instructed what objections to make, and by what arguments to back his assertions, we cannot help laughing. The "victorious" candidate has finished reading his thesis and the professors talk more Latin at him, examine him in his "Neberfaecher" (side-studies) and make him the happy possessor of a degree. There upon the whole party, professors as well as students, adjourn at a banquet given by the smiling neophyte in the ranks of profession.