Besides this, each Chore has its sign, or token; that is, certain
letters curiously interwoven, with which it signs its documents, and
which is known to all the other Chores. The number of these Chores is
not always the same in the universities. Now one dissolves itself on
account of the fewness of its members; and now a new one shows itself.
When a number of students find themselves together, who regard
themselves numerous enough to constitute a Chore, and are desirous to
become such, the first thing which they proceed to do is to elect their
leaders. These, as the representatives of the new union, appear before
the S. C.--that is, the senior convent, or assembly of seniors--which
is the highest tribunal of the students for the settlement of all
affairs occurring amongst them. This tribunal inquires into the
sufficiency of the aspirants, and if the result is satisfactory, gives
its consent. The Chore appears as such at the next _Allgemeine_. By the
_Allgemeine_ is understood the meeting of the whole united Chores,
which takes place from time to time in an _Allgemeine Kneipe_, or
general drinking company, in the same manner as each particular Chore
holds, every evening, its meeting, where the members drink, sing, and
entertain each other. In this _Allgemeine_, or general meeting, the
members of the different Chores have a fine opportunity to pick
quarrels with one another,--in student phrase, to _touchiren_ each
other; that is, to give offence, so that the swords may not rust. The
newly established Chore now takes the customary course. It strikes up a
friendly alliance with one of the already existing Chores, in which its
members find the greatest number of their acquaintances, at the same
time that it assumes a hostile attitude to another. It falls into
dispute with the hostile Chore, and what is called the _Chore-hatze_, a
regular Chore-baiting, breaks out; that is, there ensues a general
challenging between the members of the two Chores.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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