The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-05
GREAT MILITARY MAN.
Field Marshal Moltke Is Dane. A

Gated at the expense OF the State IN the school
OF cadets, CoDenha0en. u ing handsome,
far-haired, rosy-cheek I'd youth. he WIS readily
admitted among the y lges OF the King OF Dem
mark but he displayed little tbs for the
nneries OF the roval court and hts early biogra
pliers Depict him = thorough hater Of tho fair
sex un II his marriage. Although not quite tho
grand taciturn parsonage OF to-day, he was even
then a very serious young man, Athrst for
knowledge aud reader OF big books, strictly
moral and decl red enemy u frolckine. He
know by heart III tnrch. Cesar .nd Tacltus. II
the sight OF woman left him Indifferent, on the
contrary the glimpse OF cannon made his eye
sparkle, the touch OF a sword thrilled him.
Arms had for him an Irresistible attraction and
with pressing urgency he requested to have his
livery OF a PAGE changed for military uniform.
Upon DOMINIC the latter, he remarked to his
companions " l looked like girl now at last
am mani" But, as the Danish army offered
only slim chance of rapid Advancement. and
moreover Us no was perfectly conscious Of hav-
ingseven-lesgue boots on his feet, he emigrated
to Berlin. Here, after attending the military
academy three years, he was attached to the
Grand stan and, seven ye RS later. having ac-
CURED an extensive notorlety, he received a call
from Con'iantinople to reorcanize the Turkish
army After the battle OF Nezib, he seeded
'ph hht WHO ndu TeIuseu TO necu
his advice and had been defeated by the enemy.
During his -oIourn In the Il ,st he wrote soma
very remarkable letters on Oriental life to hls
sister. who was married TO nm Encllshman Of
the name OF Burt residing in Holstein. These
letters on being received were usually read
aloud In Mr.. Burt's family, whereurou Miss
Mary, his Youngest daughter by first marriage,
became very particularly interested In their con
tents and finally grow 70 think only OF the sh-
inv officer as OF her beau ideal hero crossing
deserts aud batteaelds at a gallop. Upon his
return the future Field Marshal visited his sis.
ter's hone, where Miss Mary, only sixteen, quite
conquered the grave warrior. In company with
his wife he left 1olstein for Italy, whittier the
Prince. upon whose stan he had received an ap-
pointment, had gone To re.ile. In the States OF
the Church he remained two entire wears, and
while there drew up plan OF the Eternal City
aud ofthe Campagna. Upon returning to Ber-
lin he was promoted to the rank OF Lieutenant
Colonel and placed at the head OF the Grand
stan, where he still reiRns supreme.
As TO his physical appearance. It m Nv be said
that after all his military nardshlps and cam
paigns he bears his years well. and he is as old
az the century. He Il very ~. lean. but fresh
and tough-ookng although slightly STOPPING.
His face Is small and sharp, its features regular
" marked, and evincing unusual intelligence
and WILL Around his rather long neck Is worn
constantly black stock, from which hangs the
cord Of the iron cross. the only decoration he To-
dulges in. when In Berlin he Invariably re-
sides IT. the ONCE OF the Grand STAFF, which Oils a
very large building on k0nigsplatz. The mar
bic stairs leading up to his apartments are large
enough to accommodate a small army; but the
Field Marshal prefers to use little private wind
lug staircase entering from Motkestrlsse (the
.aaf ffar Al Al.
study. the nrst room passed through Is the
dining hall, which IA furnished not only with
military but with patrlarchal simplicity. Four
chairs-not single one more. The next room
Is the concert room (musu.zfmmcr). which Is not
asr ngc thing In such building, when one re-
fleets that the military, from time immemorial,
nave been ppers aud dancers rs well a. dgbters.
Dlvans covered In red SILK extend oil around
the walls, oil noise OF footsteps Ia smoth-
cred by plush carpets. and carved on the white
panels Of the doors are e.nb ems OF music
The furniture l. In the early Pompadour
style, stlll fashionable In Germany, aud
the piano IA kept wide open, as II the lady
OF the house hal Just stopped PLAYING 1t
though, alas seven years have passed since the
death OF The charming woman. who fell en-
Enthusiastically In love with the elderly warrior.
Just Dettina, glrl OF sixteen fell 10 love with
Goethe at sixty.
But mere we are In the lions den-ths Field
Marshars workroom. 1t Is very spacious well
~ up by three high windows, and looks directly
on the "a are and the trlumphal column reared
70 commemorate the victories Of the last yy,rs
On the table around which the stat debates the
military affairs OF all Europe, books, ne wspapers
pamphlets and maps are piled high. A fragment
OF she'll bearing the inscription: "K0nlr.eratz.
3Jui. 1884," serves as a overweight with which
Ne.N.
WochcnbIdtt, Is kept IN good order. The walls are
decorated with strange fresco paintings, some
OF tho subjects having been worked up from the
recent campaigns. Teuton warriors are repre-
scented, for Instance, making short work OF
Zpuaves and Iurcos In good welssenburg style
heralds are trumpcting the triumph Of Germania
to the four quarters Of the universe; and the
Field Marshal himself Is figured under various
military costumes OF different periods In Prus-
sian history,
Tue bedroom adIoins his study; its only uten-
sils are small iron bed and little table upop
which Ia a portrait OF his deceased wife. An
this strict ABSENCE not only OF luxury but OF
common comfort is characteristic of Moltke's
economical principles. 1t is said that after the
siege OF Paris, the Field Marshal, July booted
sDurred and sabred, arrived at Colmar, on the
frontier, where, In the expectation Of staying
military authorities for quarters. or course
they gave him tue best to be had. The high
honor OF lodging him fell TO the lot OF Madame
r.. who, not over anxious In those troubled
times TO have In her house one OF tho abIest. ~
not most implac able, enemies Of her beloved
France, bundled him OF Dag and baggage to .
hotel. Reaching the hotel In question, he chose
the best suite OF apartments on the arst floor
ordered meals lavishly, gave set dinners to bis
subordinate brothers-in-arms, and caused all
the champagne In stock to burst Its cerements
of cork. At the end OF the third day the hotel
keeper thought proper to inform the gentleman
that bis ticket was up. /" Very we'll" was the
grim reply. The warrior then had his tr,ps
gathered up and carried 10 a little room on the
fourth story; and, until his departure, d.ned at
the hosts common table at sixty cents, includ-
ing wine.
Every time the Field Marshal passes under the
Brandenburg gate, ono OF the triumphal en-
frances 20 the capital, the drums beat add a small
army Of guardsmen turn out TO do him honor
Tho uproar, OF course, attracts many admirinR
eyes TO the neighborng windows and balconies,
pedestrians flock around, and the old gentleman