seven o'clock
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 .