I may come across as a spoilsport, but may i point out that a "Kneipe" 
-- now used for locations rather than the tradition -- was an 
exclusively student corporation activity, that Twain's description of it 
is pure satire and doesn't have anything to do with how such an event 
was conducted historically, and that the Octoberfest is a Bavarian 
thing? One of the cruellest hoaxes  perpetrated on German culture in 
cultural history is its Octoberfestization in the U.S. Stands on a par 
with what Disney did to the Brothers Grimm, in fact it is part of the 
Disneyfication of world cultures in the name of commerce.

Best,
Wolfgang Hochbruck

Effgen, Alex Brink schrieb:
> Mark Twain Forum:
>
> In Chapter 4 of Twain's A Tramp Abroad, our author describes Heidelberg stu=
> dents, and a tradition among their social organizations called a "kneip."=20
>
> "Kneips are held, now and then, to celebrate great occasions--like the elec=
> tion of a beer king, for instance. The solemnity is simple; the five corps =
> assemble at night, and at a signal they all fall loading themselves with be=
> er, out of pint-mugs, as fast as possible, and each man keeps his own count=
> ...When the candidates can hold no more, a count is instituted and the one =
> who has drank the greatest number of pints is proclaimed king."
>
> This coming month marks the convergence of Mark Twain, Germany and/or beer =
> not once but twice! In Elmira a couple weeks from now on Twain's travel wri=
> ting, AND Oktoberfest at the Mark Twain House and Museum this Friday (TOMOR=
> ROW!).
>
> For those of you who are local to Connecticut (and for those who are not bu=
> t willing to travel) I cannot recommend a more surprising time than the MT =
> House and Museum's Oktoberfest. As a beer drinker I love their local select=
> ion of microbrews while I wander through the museum exhibit upstairs. I sti=
> ll use the commemorative glass one year after my first visit, and can't wai=
> t to add to my collection.
>
> So grab a pint in Hartford, then bring your copy of A Tramp Abroad to Elmir=
> a two weeks later. I hope to see you there!
> Alex
> =20
>
>