Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-05-27
FOR THE STAR.
SKETCHES FROM GERMAN LIFE.
X.-Prussian Nobility.

| Kind hearts are more than coronets
And simple faith than Norman blOod.r
When Germany's numerous states were
governed by petty princes, each keeping a
| little court OF his own, the land was most
plentifully besprinkled with royalty; now
that these states have gradually come under
one Prussian government, the ranks OF no.
bility have been wonderfully thinned out
and beyond the immediate roy al family very
little is heard Of them. doubt IL there is
any other country under the sway of q
crowned head where there is less talk of
roy atty than in Prussia; its nobility are ad-
mired as men, as natures noblemen, and not
for the position to which they were born.
There are certain classes of people in
many countries to whom the word ne.
bility suggests no other idea than that
OF highly favored and enviable rank
whose members are by their outside polish
and fine breeding an ornament to the land,
but In Germany, though you converse on
this subject with an ignorant peasant you
will find that as he re- CARDS his honored EN-
percr as one who is every inch a man, and
measures by this standard all the nobility
SO is this the spirit OF the whole nation II
is not powerful argument with the G er-
mans in favor of prince that he has fasci-
mating manners, noble bearing, can preside
gracefully over feast or bring out a fine
toast, they appreciate all this well enough
In him, but there has got TO be something
back of 1T, something solid and honest, a
man who has worked AID is working for the
good OF his country. Taere is nothing thew
commend go mucn IN q nobleman as prac-
teal common sense. Not the most bril-
Liant court in all Europe would impress them
as do the simple tastes and plain living of
their
KAISER WILHELM.
They talk with the greatest pride OF the
plainness with which the Crown Prince is
bringing up his little family, OF how he has
placed bis eldest sou, who may one day sit
upon the throne, in school, where he
VIII not allow him to be favored, titled, or
treated ANYTHING m xuit &c
plebian schoolfellows. Prussi an royalty
as 1t stands at present, is certainly some
thing for the land 10 be proud Of Not but
that it has Its serious weak points, which
may one day cause the vast empire TO topple
and fall to the ground; but where do we fnd
government without them, or one unmarried
by human frailties, which may eventually
drag 1t down.
Whatever may be said OF Germanys great
men, that they work zealeusly for the good
of their country must be granted them; and,
moreover, much in their character which
looks forbidding to foreigner finds the
greatest favor in their own land.
NOW BISMARCK,
whose influence is over that of even the EN-
peror himself, is thoroughly appreciated in
Germany, whatever other nations say OF
him. Foreigners, though they admit his
wonderful mind and executive abilities,
speak loudly against his tyranny and abuse
OF the great power he has gotten into his
hands; but Prussia feels that She can never
cancel the debt OF gratitude she owes his
gigantic services during and since the late
war. sat one day at table dh0te next tn a
| famous German juggler, who, when Bis
marck was shot at in the summer of IA,
Knocked aside the would be assassin's hand,
| and so saved the great hero's life. The con-
yersation of the whole table turned upon
Bismarck, and most exciting contest OF
| words ensued. 1t was impossible TO keep
track OF hall that was said, for though the
general conversation was German-good
| bad and indifferent-the interesting little
side talks were in the various tongues
aicrFn Hr1t
| of enthusiasm with which the Ger
mans present defended their great favor
lite from every charge brought against him,
| was simply astounding. / venture TO say
| that their antagonists on that occasion will
never attempt another argument of CRITICS.
ing the Bismarck order with patriotic Teu-
ions. They Will not hear a word against
| him, and in the very towns whese he perse-
| cuted the Catholics he has been afterwards
| most heartily received, SO there remaios not
much for foreigners TO say against his man.
| agement Of home affairs at least. Ii his
sternness and severity find favor among the
very people to whom they are extended, that
settles the matter, and l am sure ali who
read some OF bis private letters. lately pub
| llshed In the New York Herald, must have
caught glimpses of far more geniality and
kind heartedness 10 his character than is
ger orally accredited him.
Directly facing the market place In Wies.
baden stands palace which serves as
THE EMPERoR'S RESIDENCE
| during imperial visits to the city. 1t for
merly belonged to the Duke OF Nassau, but
| in common with all bis property, fell into
| the possession of the crown, and for a short
season every spring the old Kaiser brightens
| IL with his presence. Between these royal
visits the palace is daily thrown open to
strangers. We went through IL directly az
ter IL had undergone a thorough renovation,
which the Shah of Persia's short residence
there had made necessary. 1t was laughable
10 hear the porter who showed the building
| tell with such disgust of the destructiveness
OF that eccentric monarch and his host of
~ &c -. nrr4,,
| that the well trained, tidy German servants
Of the palace were nearly distracted by the
nasty Oriental habits OF the visitors; for the
were very much soiIed and injured. All the
damage, however, had been remedied when
| we visited IL, and 1t looked none the worse
| The grand stairway is the most imposing
| thing in the whole palace. 1t runs from
the entrance up to the second floor,
| being used as servants quarters. A bright
| coloTed light from above falls upon the mas
| sive marble staircase robbing 1t somewhat
of its ghostly cathedral look, but the heavy
bronze banisters were tied up in linen and
| the several life sized images wrapped around
| In sheets so that 1t did look startlingly spec
trail when we first went in. The porter took
these coverings off and hobbling up and
down the stairs began illustrating how "the
Kaiser came out of this door and the Crown
Princess out of Thai and they both went down
| the stairway together" IL was not very
| easy to catch in the old mans comic minicry,
| the Emperor's soldIerly bearing, nor to hear
| in his shuffiing footsteps the slIppered tread
| and rustling silk of the Crown Princess, but
| all that was left for our vivid Imagination.
| Through the main building and the long ex-
| tending wings there is perfect maze of
| beautiful rooms opening into one another.
The floors are cleverly and prettily inlaid
| with eight different kinds OF wood, In round
| and octogan shaped rooms the patterns are
| particularly artistic. This wood work is
| SO highly polished that the gilded
| spindle-legged chairs and antiquely
| carved furniture cast most clearly denued
shadows on its CLASSY surface, and the pro-
| spective of 1t through the long extending
| suite OF rooms is particularly fine. The har-
mony of color In each apartment is perfect,
| the furniture corresponding with the general
style of interior decoration. Some of the
| walls are of finely painted and frescoed stuc-
| co work, some are of lnlaid marole, and 9TH
| ers ornamented by panels OF silk brocade.
| In every apartment there is q clock OF diff
| ferent design and the marvel was that they
| were all going. We inquired If there were
| not an especial clock tender employed, and
| were surprised to have the porter answer in
the negative. A most embarrassing num-
Der of mirrors confront you at every turn In