The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-09-07
Tur Fa..co- PRUs.I.s w.n-A PnOrHrcr-Tbe

The FRANco- PRUssIAs WAR-A PRoPHEcY.-Tbe
New York Commercial Advertiser has the following
One hot afternoon in the month Of August, 1867,
three men sat around table in private parior at
the Hotel Darmstadt, in Ems, Germany, taking
such comfort as they could derive from the juice OF
Rheuish grapes and pack of cards. The most con-
spicuous figure OF the group was large man, with
bald head, grayis- blue eyes, heavy, lighcolored
moustache, and an air about him that would have
done honor TO the Imperial purple. This parsonage
had even then achieved some fame, and toerably
well known to reading people by the name of Bis
marck Next to him sat another bald-headed ind
vidua 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 ruthlessy robbed of
its crown, condemned to remain there perma-
nent fixture During the Crimean war, the father
of this man figured at the Cabinet Councils in St.
Petersburg as Count Nesselrode, but the son was
only known a clever gamester, and an hGbitHe of
the fashionable European watering places. The third
member Of the party a little fellow, $50 little
that bis feet scarcely touched the hoor) with dark,
piercing eyes swarthy skin, and vvaciiy enough for
half dozen ordinary men. At the time of which.
we speak, he was the French Consul at stutigardt.
All of them had been partaking freely of wine, and
that the generous grape imparts to the most phleg
matte temperament The Freuchman, 10 the inter
ludes of the play, kept up running fire of
sation skipping from topic to topic with facility
which only Frenchmen enjoy until, warming as he
went on, he ventured the declaration that France
would one day mark her boundary by the Rhine
from Basic to the sea.
"A hundred fredericks to ffiy" exclaimed Mes
selrode that she won't"
Done" rejoined the Frenchman, land let the
game be the fortune teller"
They shufled the cards and the Frenchman lost.
Z" Another wager" said Nesselrode, with glance
at Bismarck, who eyed his two companions calmly,
though never uttering single word. "Another
wagerl Two hundred and fifty that within five
years France and Prussia measure swords, and that
France yields Asace and the wkcle disputed border"
a" C'est impossible" excitedly responded the Con
sui.
Again the cards were shuffed. At the fourth play
Bismarck and the Frenchman had each taken two
tricks 1t was the RUSSIANS lead. He threw down
the Queen of Clubs upon the table.
king !" shouted the Frenchman, in triumph as
he covered Nesselrode's card, and extended his
hand to seize the prize.
Not so fast" coolly remarked the Prussian
Premier. 81 believe the game is mine" and cast
ing the ace he leaned back in his chair and laughed
heartily.
Mon Dieu ~ shouted the discounted player,
but cards always liars" and unable to con-
ceal the chagriR excitement that Over-mastered
him, he rose from the table and quilted the room.
Three years have scarcely elapsed since the little
incident here related ian incident which Nesselrode
told with hearty satisfaction in the Ems cafes that
summer,) and now the big cloud of war that hovers
over Europe may burst to prove that cards are not
such liars after all.