Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-05
Prince Ris,narcI,,s Home.

| a correspondent OI all AuSlIlhU lOuIUdl gives
description of Prince Bismarck'S estate at
| Varzn, and the chancellor's mode of living
| there. He writes: "The village Of VarZn has
nothing striking about it, but when it is passed
the road turns to the right and after climbing
| hill we pass between the COW sheds and the
| barns, and thus reach the court Of the country
seat which Prince Bismarck has chosen for his
| favorite retreat. 1t is simple dwelling house,
neither better nor worse than those of the
landed gentry of the district. No Rsthetical
| architect has been employed to ornament it. 1t
| seems as if no one had been bold enough to at
| tempt to rival the attractions of the park be-
| hind the house. Kew does not surpass it in
beauty, nor do Torcy and st. Germain equal it
| in grandeur.
at was this park which induced Prince Bis
marcb to purchase Varzin. Close behind the
| house the unduations of the soil begin, and
| the park gradually merges into the woods, and
| forms, with them, one broad green ocean of
| foliage, which seems here and there broken into
forest waves. Grand beeches, ancient oaks
| pines, frs and birch trees lend variety to the
| view. In the midst OF them lies the estate. Its
| soil is neither very good nor very bad; it pro-
| duces average harvests of rye, and the Baltic
sand, the bane Of the husbandman, only shows
itself here and there. Such pieces OF ground
have long lain fallow. 1t takes six hours to
drive round the estate; and Chomitz, where
there was formerly glass house, with Bo-
hemian wOrkmen, also belongs to Varzin. The
| Wiper flows through part of the domain
and forms its boundaries in other places 1t
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 Pomernia to the
Baltic.
prince Bismarck only allows trees en- ough to
be felled TO let sufficient air and light into his
woods. His letters to his sister show how
dearly he loves farming and hunting, the forest
and the quiet life of country gentleman.
Since the first Napoleon no one has made so
much noise in the world, and yet by nature he
c inclined q pOOtaODlotiVa HGa fhor
Butcher is the only official person who has ac-
companied him. He goes through all the i'm
portant papers which are forwarded from Ber-
lin, and prepares them for the signature of the
chancellor. Lothar Butcher, who refused to pay
the taxes in 1898, and was therefore long an
exile on British soil, is exactly suited to Bis
marck and Varzin. He lived for many years in
Stop, in Pomerania, and was returned by that
place to the Berlin national assembly. The
brightest and the SaddeSt memories of his life
are connected with that little town. He writes
so well that it is pity he should not often de-
vote his pen to journalistic purposes, but it was
this TALENT together with his clear insight and
his large store of information, which induced
Prince Bismarck to take him from VOLTS tele-
graph office and find place for him in the min
iStry.
"This year Varzin wears q more TRANQUIL
aspect than in 1870. Then the chancellor had
just retreated from the world, and was begin
ming to enjoy the sweets of repose when the
however, thought of preparing to leave the
country. On his return from short excursion
Prince Bismarck found dispatches awaiting HIM
He entered the sitting room with the words, In
half an hour we must start But where are
we going, and why so soonp TO Berlin and
then farther; they're getting insoent again.
"On the afternoon of the following day Bis
marck was in Berlin. Butcher packed his pa
perS together and arrived two days later, When
he went to the ministry, at nine O'Clock on the
n uror dapI orpH md priy, IL
marck had just returned with the king from
Brandenburg, to which place he had FASTENED
to meet his majesty, Now there Is no reason to
fear that the quiet OF Varzin will be disturbed
by similar occurrences,
"The prince and his family live q retired life
and keep all those whose curiosity brings them
into the neighborhood at a distance. After
breakfast the most pressing business is dis
patched by the side Of the pond behind the
house, in the shade of the beech trees, and then
the chancellor haStenS into the forest, generally
on horseback, to Inspect the improvements
which are being made. He is noted for his kind
ness to the villagers. The landed gentry of the
neighborhood frequently visit the family, where
| they always find hearty welcome, and the rela-
| tiYeS and friends of the prince many of whom
! live in the province, often spend several days
| with him. The house, though it cannot be called
handsome, is spacious, and there is room enough
in it for twenty or thirty guests, In the course
of time Prince Bismarck will probably rebuild
Iue HOuSe ana make III INTO Il KIM OF castle. In
the park of Varzin there is a large heronry
The herons are the first birds to come with the
spring, and the last to leave with the autumn
The males fly twice every day to the sea.shQre
in search of foodI they are the sacred birds of
Yarzin. The woods abound with wild swine
Herds of from twenty to thirty may frequently
| be seen. Other game is also plentiful, and this
| year hear it is to be hunted with the chase.
| pot.
'lhus the times change. Hitherto Prince
Bismarck has retired to Varzn for the purpose
of recruiting his health by quiet life among
| the fir woods This year the period of rest was
less indispensable than formerly. The campaign
in France has restored him to Vigor and made
him seem fresher and stronger than before.
Politics are a forbidden subject in the house,
with the exception of the interesting episodes OF
| the last war, which are often related and dis
cussed. There is no stiffness at Yarzin; that
would be opposed alike to the character Of the
| host and the fine tact of the hostess. | believe
her chief wish is that the time may not be far
distant when they will be able to retire atogeth-
| er from the noise and hustle of the busy world
to the quiet enjoyment of Vazn And the
| 'Pomeranian squire as he often calls himself,
would have no objection to the change"