The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-08-30
Prince Bismarck at Home.

L IlllGS DlS4iulCh DIT 1lOluOG
a correspondent of the Vienna
Pressc gives a description of Prince
Bismarck's estate ut Varzin, and the
~chancellor's mode of living there,
from which we take the following:
After a long journey through the
arid and sandy plain, the beech wood
on the borders of which Varzin is sit
uatcd breaks suddenly upon the view
OF the traveller. The village has
nothing striking about it, but, after
climbing the hill, we reached the court
of the country seat which Prince Bis
marck has chosen for his favorite re-
treat. 1t is Il simple dwelling house,
neither, better nor worse than those OF
the landed gentry of the district. No
asthetical architect has been employed
to ornament it. 1t seems as if 40 one
had been bold enough to attempt to
rival the attractions of the park be.
hind the house. Kew does not sur
pass it in beauty, nor de Iolcy and
st. German equal it in granduer. 1t
was this park which induced Prince
Bismarck to purchase Varzin. Close
behind the house the fluctuations of
the soil begin, and the park gradually
mergcs 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 produces average crops Of rye, and
the Baltic sand, the bane of the hus-
bandman, only shows itself here and
there. Such pieces of ground have
long lain faliow. 1t takes six hours
to drive round the estate, and Gro
mitz, where there was formerly a glass
house with Bohemian workmen, also
belongs to Narzin. The whipper
flows through Il 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 Pomerapia
to the Baltic. Prince Bismarck.
was told, only allows trees enough Ia
be felled TO let sufficient air and light
into the woods. His letters to his sis
ter show how dearly he loves farming
and hunting, the forest, and the quiet
of n country gentleman. Lothar
Bucher is the only official person who
has accompanied him. He goes thro'
all the important papers that arc for
warded from Berlin, AMI Prepares
them fer the signature of the chancel
lor. Lothar Eucher, who refused to
pay taxes i'll 1913, and was, therefore,
long an exile on British soil, is exactly
suited to Bismarck and Varzin. lie
lived for many years in Stolp, in 70
mcrania, and was returned by that
place to the Berlin National Assembly
The brightest and saddest memories
of his life are connected with this lit
tie town. This year Varzin wears a
more tranquil aspect than in 1870
The and his family live a retired life,
and keep all those whose curiosity
brings them into the neighborhood. at
a distance. After break FAST the most
pressing business is Ills patched by the
Side of the pond, behind the house, i'll
the shade of the beech trees, and then
the chancellor bastens into the forest,
generally on horseback, to inspect the
improvements which are being made.
he is noted for his kindness to the
villagers. The landed gentry of the
neighborhood frequently visit the fam
lily, where they find a hearty welcome,
and the relations and friends Of the
Prince, many of whom live in the
Province, often spend several days
with him. The house, though it can
not be called handsome, is spacious,
and there is room enough in it fol
twenty orthirty guests. In the course
of time Prince Bismarck will probably
rebuild the house AID make it into 4
kind Of castle. In the park Of Var
Yin there is a large herOnry. The
herons are the first birds to come III
the spring, and the last to leave with
the autumn. The males fly twice every
day to the seashorc in search of food;
they are the sacred birds of Varzin.-
The woods abound in wild swine
Herds of from twenty to thirty may
frequently be seen. Other game is
also plentiful, and this year [ hear ii
is to be hunted with the chassepot.-
Thus the times change. Hitherto
Prince Bismarck has retired to Varzir
tor the purpose of recruiting his health
by a quiet life among the fir woods
This year tic period of rest was les:
indispensable than formerly. The cam
paign of France restored him to vigor
and made him seem fresher anC
stronger than before. Politics is E;
forbidden subject in his house, witt
the exception of the interesting cpl
sodes of the last war, which are Otter
related and discussed.