To him who has gone so far, and received the Doctorate, several privileges are granted.  He has claims on the State, claims for a position that will give him a means of subsistence, if only a scanty one.  With talent and industry and much enduring toil, he may reach the highest places.  He belongs to the aristocracy of learning,—­a poor, penniless aristocracy, it may be, yet one which in Germany yields in point of pride to none.

We proceed to the Professors.  It is within the power of all to attain the position of Lecturer in a university.  The diploma once obtained, the farewell-dinner, the comilat, and general leave-taking over, the man’s career has commenced in earnest.  If he turn his attention to education, he may find employment in some of the many schools of the State.  Does he look more directly to the University, he undergoes, when duly prepared on the branches to which he wishes to devote himself, the Examen Rygorosum, delivers a trial-lecture in presence of his future colleagues, and is entitled to lecture in the capacity of a Privat-Docent.  As such be receives no remuneration whatever from Government; his income depends upon what he receives from his hearers, two to six dollars the term from each.  All who aspire to the dignity of Professor must have passed through this stage; rarely are men called directly from other ranks of life,—­though eminent scholars, physicians, or jurists have been sometimes raised immediately to an academical seat.  After a few years, five or more, the Privat-Docent who has met with a reasonable degree of success may hope for a professorship,—­though many able men have remained in this inferior position for long years, some even for life.  If their hearers are but few, they resort to private lessons, to book-making, anything that will aid them in maintaining their position, always with the hope that “something must turn up.”

The Privat-Docent system, though condemned by some, has been much extolled by many German writers.  It is, say the latter, a warranty for the freedom of teaching, no slight point In a country where all is subservient to the political rulers, forming men for the professorship, and giving them a confidence in their own powers, as they must rely exclusively for their support on the income they receive from their hearers.  From among their number are chosen those constituting the regular faculties; and thus there are ever at hand men ready to fill the highest places upon any vacancy, men not new or inexperienced, but whose whole life has been one training for the position they may be called to occupy.