As the student has given to these different periods of the Burschen life different termini technici, so he has generally created new words for so many new circumstances; for the same cogent reasons that new Latin terms must be created for many modern things; and the creations of the Bursche stand very little in excellence behind those of the new Latinisms. We could readily furnish a small lexicon of those terms, which, however, we may very well spare the reader, as he can easily select such as please him out of the number of regular student expressions which will occur in these pages. We will here give a few examples from the learned dissertation of Herr Schluck, with his sagacious and humorous explanations.
Burschen-Comment--The rule of life which every honorary Bursch must follow. To live according to the Burschen-Comment, means to be bound by the laws of neither God nor man, and to consider oneself as better than all other men.
1st Proof.--Students are the sons of the Muses. The Muses are goddesses. Gods and goddesses are bound by no laws; therefore neither are their sons.
2d Proof.--It belongs to unlimited power to decide with the sword. But the students decide with the sword, therefore have they unlimited power. Unlimited power is one of the highest prerogatives. Princes possess only the highest prerogatives; therefore the students are princes. Princes are exalted above the law, so also are the students. This sentence is perhaps, strengthened by the old song:--
Burschen are kings,
And the proof is here:
They drink all their mothers'
Pennies in beer.
which, however, were to prove, and not easily to prove, on which account I doubt not that every one will perceive the force of the reasons I have assigned.
They consider themselves better and greater than all other men. At least they are firmly persuaded of it. But a firm persuasion is the same thing as conviction. He who is convinced, speaks the truth; therefore the students are better and greater than all other men.
To make a Randal, or to open a Randal, means to kick up a row.
Schisser, from the French word chasse, one struck in flight, whence Schasser, or, in corrupt speech, Scisser, means a fearful and barefooted man. Hence also comes the technical phrase "to be in Verschiss," which indicates the most extreme condition of contempt. He who is in Verschiss, is shut out of all respectable society, and is compelled to go amongst the Knoten, or lowest of the low.
Fuchs, or Fox.--This name is derived from the cunning and slyness of foxes, since these look about as slily and cunningly, and regard every one as their enemy and assailant, till they are rendered tame by necessity and habit. The term is not injurious as applied to a Freshman, but is an insult to an old Bursche.