The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-21
GENOA. Mar. 10. 1875.

GENOA, Mar. 10, 1875
Probably the name Of no one man has fig
ured more prominently in the press of both Eu'
rope and America during the few months just
passed, than that of Count Won Arnim. The
distinguished Count being at present a sojourn-
er in Geneva of course he is the observed of all
observers. / started out the other morning
armed with bran new note book and well
whitfield pencil-and / started with the best of
ntentions-honorable and innocent. Those in
tentons were to repair to the Grand Hotel de
la Paix, the headquarters of Count Arnm, and
acquaint His Excellency with the naodus ope-
randi of an ''interview'' according to the rules
and orders of Yankee reporters, and submit
ting the Count to all its terrors My inten-
tions you see were good, but am sorry to write
that right at this point the interview" ended,
that is, so far as Count Arnim and your corre-
spondent is concerned.
[ did have very brief "interview" with
a very fat descendant of Abraham whom
l met at the hotel. 1 presume he was propre
tor for he was reclining in a easy chair smok-
ing very poor cigar, (while twenty cents was
the lowest mark 1 noticed on the case before
him) and l detected pen holder just sticking
out behind his ear, enwrapt in head of grizzly
hair or cross between that and juniper
bush. This functionary, very politely am
bound to say, informed me, when L had COM
municated to him my errand, that Count Ar
MIN came to Geneva to recuperate, and that
being bored by hungry news correspondents
would not be likely to further that end; he also
informed me that the count had a happy fac
uty of turning the tables, and becoming the in
terviewer himself, leaving timid and modest re-
porters in an embarrassing position l had
heard of modest ministers and modest school
marms and timid men in many professions and
callings, but modest newspaper reporter I
drop a tear as 1 write it, but I was
taught from almost infancy up, that they were
more than like an oasis in des-
ert, and since 1 have been so unfortunate as to
cast my lot among them, have found that
sweet quality as rare as black swans. I smiled
blandly when he mentioned it, but the only
reason why l didn't 'fnteryiew" Count Arpim
was because was positively refused an oppor-
tunity. Perhaps it was as well, but there is
one consolation, and that is that bigger men
than Count Arnm will soon be along and,
DlOuOo0J VIII th9 ~ 0Soih' 0WAt6OAiahu 10 SuOu
free little spot that We all can look at the
Count when he is out for an airing, and com
nit no offence
You may have formed the same ideas about
Arnims personnel as I did, if indeed you formed
any, but if you did, you are greatly mistaken.
L supposed he was great overgrown, stoutly
built, heavy framed man, having head as
round and as large as Dutch prize cheese,
two big eyes round like saucers, that moved to
and fro with great precision, and that his nose
was immense and highly colored at the tip
knowing that Rhine or any other sort of wine
is common beverage with counts in Germany
In all this l was wrong. When look at
Count Arnm l see man who has seen up
wards of forty years, of quite tall stature. a
well.knit, sinewy frame, (not very stout, with
the pottled belly common among big guns in
the Vaderand) but of nervous temperament
His skin rather dark and bronzed his facs
thin, nose somewhat raised and aquiline. His
eyes small and black as the Egyptian night,
which shine with changing lustre He has
high, recedng forehead, noble head with
collection of the right sort of bumps. His step
and mien ate sedate but not naughty. l de-
tect nothing in his makeup TO betray Teutonic
origin. Should have met him in America
should set him down as a native of one of our
Western states. RI ally Count Won Arnm is
very amiable, social, common sense looking
man, and seems like one who would not appre
ciate score of titles and medal attached to
every square inch of his waistcoat and outer
garment. Then TOO, the plain sober hue of his
dress adds TO the impressive effect of his quiet
couutenance and stately form. The count is
accompanied in Geneva by his family and
suite, the former consisting of wife and two
daughters. the latter very modest retinue.
He is hale and hearty, and though much fa-
tigued, does not betraY any marked effects of
the seige he has passed through at his long
tiial in the German capitol. nor has he from
outward appearances, suffered bodily or mental
injury by enduring that terrible punishment
which you know was the sentence.
Well. mad hoped 10 dish up to your readers
what Count Arnm lad to say about the pres
eat status Of political affairs in Europe, the
relations of the different powers to each other,
and the Catholic problems which are now
agitating the whole continent and making
lively times in Germany, where the recent
papaI DEGREES have led 10 open warfare be-
tween church and state, between His Holiness,
the Pope, and His Mightiness, Kaiser Will
helm. l should have epdeavored to draw out
his ideas on the ''tender nlercieS' of Bismarck,
although had the "big talk been permitted,
doubtless L should have fo1nd this delicate
ground, and that Won Arnim would hardly
care TO give his opinion on the now stale ques-
ton as to whether Bismarck would resign or
only retire from governmental direction tenn
porarily, much more to touch upon the general
condition of state affairs in the empire.
Notwithstanding the great progress of the
age the abolition of absolutism adoption of
a parliament, the establishment of constitu.
tiCn and all the rest of it, the laws of Prussia
are not at all lepient or do they seem 10 Gs
Republicans able to be borne. Because the
editor of a Berlin paper committed the heinouS
offence of copying FROM an American jourua
and publishing without comment an article
containing remarks derOgatory to the charac-
ter of Prince Bismarck, be was sentenced to
pay damages and lie in jail one month. rec
ollect another instance showing "the tender
mercies' of Bismarck. In Kuln-Prussan
Poland-tweye school teachers are now serv-
ing term of fifteen months imprisonment for
having given religious instruction in the Polish
language, Certainly Germans have much TO
learn before they arrive at true conception of
the meaning of the terms "cvil and religious
liberty" aud freedom of the press"
France has at last established ard ratified
her Constitution. which is the fifteenth she
has had since 179l when in that one was COM
bined monarchy and democracy. Her consul
tutlons have succeeded one another at regular
intervals during these 81 years, on an average
OF one TO nearly every five years. 1here Is
good reason to hope and believe teat the era oI
prosperity and advancement Whlch uaWEed
nnon the unhappy country simultaneously with
The Republic, will not only be continued but
Greatly increase. American students in, or
those interested in any degree IN French poll
sirs must have noted and remarked the heroic
efforts of NJ. Duval in the Assembly. His
amepdments to a senate bill intended to pre-
vent the passage of law that really pleased
nobody save a few partsans. were praisewor.
thy; and one was very important according 10
American ideas. M. Duval proposed that no
constitutional project voted by the assembly
should have the force OF law until it had been
approved by the people This was wise, and
the best of republican doctrine, but that pecul-
lar Assembly OF peculiar French Republicans
voted the proposition down.
A few weeks ago L was in Marseilles There
we're one day immense throngs on the streets
bunting was prOfusely displayed, aud conspicu-