New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-10-25
PRUSSIA.
AN AFTERNOON WITH COUNT BIsMARK.

q AN AFTERNOON WITH COUNT BIsMARK.
From Our Special osrsspOpSsst s ,...1 % .
sr BERLIN Sept l3, ls66.
1 am tc-mpted 10 write you letter about a man
who is both well and i'll known in America, mean
Gount Bismark. 1t has happened that l have seen
him three times and enee at least, in way in which
suppose few other Americans have seen him. There
is much that should like TO tell about him that
would be of interest to all readers and which yet for
conscience sake, must forbesr to say. To put pri-
gate matters into print is an offense which do not
mean TO commit for any temptation. If do, on
some points speak freely Of Count Bsmark, and repeat
some things that heard from his lips, it is because
Count Bismark is historical character, is in public
life, and the public curiosity about him may properly
be to some extent gratifed If 1 wanted precedent
for doing this might find it in Emersons English
Traits with his sketches of Lander, Carlyle,
Wordsworth, and the rest If Mr. Emerson could
put them into a book which viii last forever, may
surely take an, equsl liberty in newspaper letter.
which to-dsyls and tomorrow is cast into the oven.
-, Anybody HAY see Bismsrk who will go 10 the
Chambee &c Deputies here on a day when matter OF
importance is debated, The Crown Ministers OF the
KiZs sit behind long raised desk facing the Presi-
Cent and Bsmark is 81 the right. The benches are
pastY upholstered WsIh scarlet throughout the room,
the light is dim, aud tho diplomatic gallery from
which looked down is ct the side OF the ball. so that
IA not EASY ~ scan closely this famous face. YOn
san see however that the portraits Of him are bad,
and then, hoping for better view at another time,
may betake yourself TO noticing what goes on IN the
Parliament Here are 300, more or less, OF the men
whom Prussia has thought htest 70 represent her in
critical period Of her history. Elderly men and
uaiddle-seed are most numerous. The President, Herr
Won FOrckenbeck, who enjoyed the distinction Of
having bis nome spelt three ways and all wrong, in
one paragraph Of the Pans papers that announced his
II. oof fba In
looks and likewise one Of the strongest, with his
forehead built out over bis eyes and going up high
and square. What proportion OF scholars who are
s0ch professedly, there may be here, do not Know
but the body has general air Of culture, thoughtiu
ness and good sense. L.,
The debate is not SO interesting to noe il would
beifI knew German, but diplomatic friend at my
aide gives the drift of it, and there language
neither English nor German, written on the faces OF
men, which, if you choose TO study II, Will tell you
much There were two good speeches, both from
Liberals, and both on the side OF the Ministry The
two Liberals who are such in every good sense OF the
word were SmsOn and DIR. Loewe, OF whom the latter
Is physician of large practice and high repue, who
In 16le was President of the German Parliament at
Frankfort This House is something like ours in its
inatbentOn to speaker Of no weight and one or two
mea gsbo have already spoken cannot get It's ear at
all athough each speaker makes set business Of his
hs1ngue By going up int tribune and reading from
q manuscript. Dr. LceWe speaks in compact, sin-
cerc public way, is knownfoT man who has opinions,
Rrey, with a face ID which benevoence and
&Jmness are equally nerbed, and beside being Q
2eader has q reputation ~ 9retOF-or 90 German
friend casscaly puts It, Q Rhetor- he got frequent
applause. Bisuk pays close heed TO his speech and
llrnm time 70 time mekes q note IN big hand on @
big sheet Of paper. Though Smson speaks in this
matter for the Ministry, he Is not partisan. and he
boldly demands that eovernment TO which he gives
NsuppOrt shsh abandon henceiorsh all attempts at
unconstitutional Legislation. Bismsrk looks ss II he
thought that might depend on ciTonmstaDeesss. for
that matter she King In his queer speech explicitly
declared 1t would The Count sits with hs right
on the railing of the 'desk, and occupies himself in
adjusting th6 full mustaohe which falls bis mouth.
The hands Areotoesby well shaped, white and Aexi.
bic, and whsn official papers are brought in, the long
fingers eXtriegte them from the large stif envelopes
with . dsft and silent greece, and you de-
cidey like 30 the pains which the great Minister
takes 70 avoid disturbing the speaker who Just at the
moment Is talking very Liberal politics There was
an expectation that BsmArk himself would speak.
bat We waited three hours in vain and came away
without bearing him. Next day saw the Count by
appontmentfora few minutes In the snte-chamber OF
the House asd again In theevenng at his residence.
If this private letter, 70 be read only in that
little that leads oUt Of the greet, room on the
leh shesid dell you Just how CHANGED to see the
Count, and abous his house. and how be looked and
talked and kat the whole, came 10 think Of tn
celebrated person. Probably that would give you q
better nOnOn,0f the than any formal letter that
written with the fear ofyour types before my eyes
, W. P<1odct oti. We wall pun tlE PUOhS oei"ct
and ysus 81. thsperil Il ryon print 20 you, don't
mind ssyg thst think It piece Of good fortune TO
have had this Interview, Tie Prussian Prime Minis.
ter Is the hnsest man in Europe, and ten minutes Of
his time are worth much. When kind friend, Who
knows Connt Biamark well, gave me cordial letter
of introducto1 thought 1t probable might get FIVE
minutes speech q him. with good chaitee 10 look
into bis face Instead Of which nearly sww hours
were granted Kle and without any questioning on nv
psrt--for there is etiquette in Europe shout sxch
Instters-Coum Bisxnark was good enough 20 touch
On many points Of Prussan and European policy and
Of bis own history and personal relation to theevents
Of the last four yeaTs ~ .'r.li Cd 80 s.lsf 30
Az attempts ct personal description might o. well
fieave unwiten, Gr. "a rule. there nothing gives
one 50 meagre q notion Of mans personal appear
ance Is On RFsntOry OF his festuresexcept photo.
graph. There are few sunali photographs Of his
mark none good. and q big lthogr4ph that Is
.suootbsd aud softened into a simPenng pnmness cs
aRlike tie original possible. You are az once
reminded OF Cromwell's fierce demand that be should
be painted AZ he was; " II yOu leave out single
sart OF wrinkle viii not give you shilling Groin.
TelIs lace csrtanly WAS not beautiful one, and
Lly, Ley y we're, uigbtbe excused, but BHnark's
@e ) Tar better one than any Of the pictures make
O. Not regular at ait scored with deep lines, brOws