The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-05
A Prophecy.

One hot afternoon In tho month of Au-
gust, 1867, three men sat around u table
In n private parlor mt the Hotel Darm-
stadi, in Ems, Germany, taking such COM
ing such comfort rs they could derive
from Rhenish grape and pack Of cards.
Tho most conspicuous figure Of tho group
was u large man with bald head. grey
ish.blue eyes, n heavy light-colored NOUS
tache, and an air about him that would
have done honor to the imperial purple.
This parsonage had even then achieved
some fame, and was tolerably wcll-known
to reading people by the name Of Bis.
niarck. Next to him sat another bald
headed individual, inferior TO Bismarck In
stature. with border of black hair about
the base of his skull that looked like the
rim of an old felt hat (ruthlcssly robbed
of Its crown), condemned to remain there
as permanent fixture. During the Cri-
mean war tho father Of this man figured
ut the cabinet councils In St Petersburg
rs Count Nesselrode, but the son was only
know rs clever gamester and an habitac
of tho fashionable European watering
places. The third member of the party
was little fellow ESQ little that his feet
scarcely touched. the floor), with dark,
piercing eyes, swarthy skin, and vivacity
enough for half dozen ordinary men.
At the time of which VIC speak he was
the French consul Mt Stuttgart. All of
them had been partaking freely of wine,
and each In turn shuflled the cards with u
vim that the generous grape imparts even
to tho phlegmatic temperament. The
Frenchman, in the interludcs of the play
kept up running fire Of conversation,
skipping from topic to topic with facill.
ty which only Frenchmen enjoy, until,
warming rs he went on, he ventured the
declaration that France would enc day
mark her boundary by the Rhine from
Basle to the sea.
"a hundred Fredcrics TO fiftyP" ex-
claimed Nessclrode, "that she won't"
"Done," rejoined the Frcnchman, land
let the game be the iortune.teller."
They shuflled the cards, and the French.
man lost.
"Another wagcr!" said Nessclrode,
with glance at bismarck, who eyed his
two companions calmly, without uttering
q single word.
'Another wager! Two hundred and
fifty that within five years France and
Prussia measure swords, and that France
yields Alsace and the whole disputed bor-
der"
"Cea impossible ~ excitedly responded
tho consul.
Again tho cards wcre shufllcd. At the
fourth play Bismarck and the Frenchman
had each taken two tricks. II was the
Russians lead. lie threw the Queen Of
Clubs upon the table.
"King !" shouted the Frenchman In tri-
umph rs he covered Nesselrode's card, and
extended his hand to seize tho prize.
"Not so fast" "coolly remarked the Prus-
sian Premier. 81 believe the game Is
mine." and casting the ace. he leaned
back In his chair and laughed heartily.
mon Dieur' shouted the disconilited
player. ..but cards always were liars"
and unable TO conceal the chagrin and
excitement that overmastcred him. he
rose from the table and quilted the room.
Three years have scarcely elapsed since
the little incident here related (an incl
dent which Ncssclrode told with hearty
satisfaction in the Ems cafes that sum.
mcr), and now the big cloud Of war
that hovcrs over Europe may burnt to
prove that cards are not such liars after