The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-08-23
Bismarck at Home.
ILondon World.l

A century ago, when Berlin was sur
rounded by walls which continued to
exist until about 1860, the upper portion
of the Wilhelmstrasse was the quarter of
the town chiefly affected by ministers
and diplomatists. Bismarck's residence
lying exactly half way between the
Leipziger and Wilhelmstrasse, is a one
stored building, devoid of every ex-
ternal ornament. The frontage is ex-
t~ensive, and embraces about twelve
windows. The entrance to the house is
on the right hand side. After having
crossed through the large portico, n
arrives at a staircase, symbolically
guarded by two sphinx's heads. On the
ground floor are the official bureaus, and
up stairs the private rooms of the
Chancellor. These apartments, fur
nished at the beginning of the century,
consisting of a large drawing-room over
the gateway and four large drawing
rooms reserved for the reception of guests
and other social purposes, look out upon
the street. The large lofty library or
study of the Chancellor is situated at
the back, and commands a view of the
magnificent garden. Since Bismarck left
intercourse with foreign diplomatists to
Baron Billow, the Secretary of State, he
seldom appears within the chambers
really constituting the Foreign Office.
Private telegraph wires keep him in
formed of the course of affairs, and he
issues his instructions accordingly.
Formerly the hours chiefly devoted by
Bismarck to work were in the night.
Latterly, however, an increase of his
neuralgia pains has warned him not to
turn night into day. Imperatively adj
monished by his physicians, he no longer
INDUCES in the heavy Enthusiastically,
porter mixed with champagne-which
used to be his favorite beverages. At his
meals only the lightest and most digesti-
BILE dishes make their appearance. He
himself draws up every morning with
his chef de cuisine the menu for the day;
and even if ambassadors are waiting in
the ante-chamber, the cook is received
without delay. AT table he notes down
such critical expressionso on the dishes as
A." hOp cult" spas tendre," for the instruc-
ton or reproOf of his cook. His kitchen
is overwhelmed by his admirers with
special delicacies of the season, and pro-
auctions in which various provinces ex-
eel, such as Westphalian ham, Zauer or
Frankfort sausages, Strasburg pates. A
lively and entertaining host, he possesses
the gift, rare in Germans, of cauSerie;
and whilst in Parliament on public occa-
sions his speeches are delivered with
manifest effort, he is in private an easy
an unconstrained conversationalist.
Bismarck leaves Berlin for a spa or his
favorite country seat, Varzin, which he
purchased after the wal of 1866. In the
capital he is rarely met beyond the pre-
cincts of the Foreign Office gardens.
His constant companion in his walks is
Sultan, a splendid Danish mastiff, pre-
sented to him by a friend in South
Germany. His growing co%rpulence-
not, however, disproportionate to his
height-has compelled him to give up
riding. His personal presence is almost
too well known to need description.
Small feet and hands, bald head, lofty
brow, small gray eyes in deep sockets,
almost hidden by bushy eyebrows, and
martial mustache, now nearly white,
which covers his mouth, are the features
chiefly noticeablein the man. He usually
wears uniform-for the most part that of
the Seventh Cuirassiers-which consists
either of a white coat, with a cuirass
and a large helmet, or a blue undress
coat, with a yellow collar. He only
appears at court on state occasions, alleg-
ing, as excuse for his absence, that stand
ing fatigues him. The more correct ex-
PLANTATION is that among the leading
personages in the encourage of his
Majesty are several of his bitterest
personal and political foes. More than
Once he has almost come to blows with
some of his fellow-courtiers in the
ante-chamber, and an alteration three
years ago with Count Nesselrode, the
Lord High Chamberlain of the Empress,
a staunch Catholic, was followed by
mutual challenges to a duel, which the
interference of the Emperor alone pre-
vented.