The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-17
The Man OF the Hour.

y
ago. Popular Opinion had not then found
out what a bundle of straw it was that
was called by the latter name. 1t had
not been tossed down the steps OF the
Empires dubious throne and kicked
about in public places by contemptuous
feet, whose owners had at last been dis
covered that there was no man in the
straw. Louis Napoleon was having his
day then, and Bismarck had not yet
fully begun to have his.
Four years ago he was as unpopular
in Berlin as Louis Napoleon is today in
Paris-so unpopular that no voice and
no hand were raised against his would
be slayer. If Karl Blind had but been
a spice-cooler but one degree more calcu.
lating, now much further might not
Germany be from unity to-day? For of
German Unity Bismarck will be the en-
forced, if not willing apostle, by reason
Of the turn which he has given to Euro
pean affairs, though with motives far
different from those Of selfappointed
champion of the Vox Populi!
At this moment he is the most power
ful man in Europe, and in his hand is
the fate of Paris, the Beautiful.
This is the age of Theorists; and ceatain
classes of people are in the habit Of
taking stock of mans personal appear
ance; from it inferring his character, and
then trying to predict how he will act
under given circumstances. Let then
the phrenologist, tie physiognomist, and
the Psychologist look upon this pen and
ink portrait OF the man who, when
young, was known as "Mad Bismarck"
and whose NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that
he is older-has settled into hardhead
edness of the sternest kind:
He is six feet two inches tall-but
slightly bent-and wants only some
thirty-five or forty pounds OF a good
three hundred in weight He is some
what afflicted with fat, but it is OF
bilious, uncompromising sort-not ruddy,
sound, good natured fat-and does not
in the least detract from the appearance
of great mental and physical strength.
which is the foremost impression con-
corning him that you get. And, wthal,
he is so well made and so fairly proper
toned that he does not seem as tall and
as feshy as he really is. There is moth
ing vulgar about his corpulence. He
has been likened to Ben. Butler, Of
Massachusetts,, in expression and aspect
Or, rather, Butler has been likened to
him-but the difference between the
general looks of the two is about a.
great as that between small bulldog
and a fat old mastif. He is almost en-
tirely bald, and his ponderous lower face
is bare, but for a greyish and grizzled
moustache, which is most decidedly
Prussian style. If there were any eX-
oh mo
should expect it to be similar to that OF
Bismarck's heavy, sullen, uncompromiS-
ing, somewhat sinister--telling no tales
till the right moment comes. Just such
a nose as men Of his build and con
formation always have; the primitive,
masculine nose of the Greek Hercules-
short, broad, indicative of strength and
strong passons-showing sensitiveness
and culture only to certain degree in
the well.opened and moderately flexible
nostrils. A jutting brow and over
hanging grizzly eyebrows. Ears that
are not inviting, that are imperious and
also somewhat sinister. A chin so UNI
moving that it might have been carved
out of grey stone. A clouded and bill
ious complexion. lie is to European
politics what Dore is to art.
Phlegm, and strong, but not warm,
passions struggle so tenaciously within
this man that it is possible, in view Of
the impending condition of things in
Europe, that he may some day die OF
sheer chagrin, or pass suddenly in tit.
For his ideas, his hopes, his wishes his
resolves, are altogether antagonistic to
that estate to which Germany sooner or
later must come.
His intellect is of the cold, hard, indie
fatigable order In his grasp of great
subjects he does not neglect minute
matters and small details. His mind
takes in all, because he is destitute OF
that enthusiasm which magnities the
proportions Of some things and renders
others invisible to the minds eye. A.
an instance of this comprehensive men.
tai activity: Only short time since he
looked up from his schemes before Paris
to correct Russell, Of the Times, III his
report of the conversation between
King William and Louis Napoleon
And when he went back to his work he
did not become so absorbed in it q, to
forget to give "the Situation" (Jowno()
a taste of his mind about the forged Ma.
poleon III. letter; and very soon after
that we find him in communication with
Reuters Telegraphic Bureau, for the
purpose of giving the lie to the state
ment of a Mr.. Maid, concerning his
views and sentiments on the subject of
Republicanism.
Bismarck is probably nearer sixty than
fifty, but appears somewhat younger
than he is That he is but human, spite
of his Teutonic powers, he has been
made to feel very sensibly during the
last few years. 1t depends entirely upon
his recuperative force and his powers OF
self.possession and self-control to decide
whether he shall live to see the great
change which, during the present cen.
tury, is likely to pass over the face OF
Europe. HOWARD GYNDoN.
A FIGHT WITH INDIANs.-The Ralston
correspondent of the Santa Fe Post, UNI
der date of Jan. 25, gives the following
A week since fifteen men left this place