The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-08-12 00:00:00

A POET IMPROVED.

itt Wean the smile from partial Beauty won,
gay, at were Life? A World iitthout San :
1C MA we've 'wen trying, and it 11.1 ftm.—Punek.

PRINCE BISMARCK AT HOME.

A o,rue.p4.li.lent of the Vienna l'regge gives, deseription
of Prince estate at Varito and • ti the Chancellor's
mode of living there, from whielt the following is all ex-
tract:

"Aftsr a long journey through the arid and sandy
plain, the betithwood on the berthes id' which Varzin
is situated breaks suddenly upon the view of the
traveller. The iiisge lies nothing striking about it,
but, after climbing it hill, we reach the court, of the
country seat which Prince Bismarck has chosen for his
faVoutlte retreat. It is a. simple dwelling house neither
better not worse than those of the landed gentry
ef the district. No :esthetic:ll architeet has been
employed to wnament it. It seems as if ne one had
been bold enough to attempt ti • rival the attractions of
the park behind the house. K., dOeli 110 t Sllll/aSB it
in beauty, nor 110 TOICY awl St. I; ermain equal it
In grandeur. It WWI this park which induced Prince
Bismarck to purchase Varzin. ('lose behind the house
the undulations of the soil begin and the park gra-
dually merges into the woods, anti forms with them
one broad green ocean of foliage, which seems here
and there lisiken into forest waves. Grand beeches,
ancient oaks, pines, firs, and bireh-trees lend variety
to the view. In the midst tof them lies the estate. Its
soil is neither very good nor very bad ; it produces
average harvests of rye, and the Baltic sand, the bane
of the husbandman, only shows itself here and there.
Such pieces of g,rountl have long lain fallow. It takes
six hours t•• drive round the estate, and Chomitz, where
there wa.s formerly a glasshouse with Bohemian wi A-
men, also belongs to Varzin. The Whipper flows
Om sigh a part of the di 'main, and forms its Isimularies
in other places. It adds both to its beauty and its
value, as the rapid stream, which is well stocked with
trout, is used to float the timber of Pomerania to the
Baltic. Prince Bismarck, I 'WM toll, mly allows trees
enough to be felled to let suffit lent air and light into MA
wools • His letters to his sister show how dearly he
loves farming and limiting, the forest, and the quiet life
of a country gentleman. Lothar Bucher is tile only
official person who has accompanied him. He gees
thisingh all the important nape's which are forwarded
from Berlin, and prepares them for the signature of the
Chancellor. Lothar Bucher, who refused to pay the
taxes in 1848, and was, therefore, long an exile on
British soil. is exactly suited to Bismarck and Varzin.
He lived for many years ill Stolp, in Pomerania,
and was returned by that place to the Berlin Na-
tional Amembly. The brightest anti the saddest
memories of his life are connected with thatiittle town.
This year Varzin wears a more tranquil aspect than
in 1810. The Prince and his family live a retired life,
and keep all those whose curiosity brings them into the
neighbourhood at a distance. After breakfast the most
pressing business is dispatched by the side of the
pond, behind the iIOU,C, ill the Ala& of the 'steel-
trees, and then the Chancellor hastens into the
forest, generally on horseback, to inspect the im-
provements which are being made. He is noted fi,r
his kindness to the villagers. The landed gentry of
the neighbourheod frequently visit the family, where
they always find a hearty welcome, and the rela-
tions and friends of the Prince, many of whom live in
the province, often spend several days with him. The
house, thoneh it cannot be called handsome, is
spacious, amithere is reom enough in it for twenty or
thirty guests. In the course of time Prince Bismarck
will probably Tel mild the haute and make it into a kind
'of castle. In the park of Varzin there is a large
Iheronry. The herons are the first birds to come with
the spring, awl the last to leave with the fluturan. The
I males fly twice every day to the seashore in search
of food : they are the sacred birds of Varzin. The
I woods abound in wild swine. Herds of from twenty
to thirty may frequently be seen. Other game is
also plentiful, and this year I hear it is to be hunted
. with the ehassepot. Thus the touts change. Hitherto
Prince Bismarck has retired to Varzin for the purpose
of recruiting his health, by a quiet life among the tir-
woods. This year the period of rest was less indispen-
sable than formerly. The campaign in France has
restored Mni to vigour, and made him seem fresher
and stronger than before. Politics are a forbidden sub-
ject in the house, with the exception of the interesting
lepisodes of the last war, which are often related and
chscusserL"