The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-01
BISM ARCK'S CIGAR.
The Beginning Of the Contest Between
Prussia and Austria for the SUI
premacy In Germany

Ono of Bismarcks happiest touches lsthe
story of the famous Cigar incident" of the
defuuct German Bund, which was tradition
ally ruled by the representative OF the Aus
trlan Kaiser. The Austrian presiding mem
Der ruled the rest Of the German ambassadors
In very off-hand fashion. At the military
| commission sittings, for instance the Aus
TRAN presiding was accustomed to smoke n
cigar, while the other representatives were
too much overawed to attempt following his
example. But Bismarck, when he was sent
down to Frankfort, soon began to feel the
absurd position i'm which Prussia was placed
His method OF asserting his Independence ia
amuslngly characteristic Of the Prince:
AS Prussan member of the Diet, | called
upon Count Thun, the Austrian and presid-
ing member of our august assembly When
| entered he was in his study. working and
smoking lie begged mo to wait moment
! did wait. but when thought the interview
was rather too long delayed. and, moreover.
had not even cigar offered me. ! took one
from the box before me and requested him to
give me light. He looked dumbfounded, but
communicated the desired spark But there
Is another story Of the Same sort. In the
days Of Rochow, my predecessor MS Prussian
member Of tho Diet, the Austrian presiding
member had adopted the habit of smoking at
the sitlings Of the military special commits
sion. ROChOw, paSsiOnately fond of smoking
would have given his little finger to do the
like. but did not dare. Now when came to
Frankfort longed for my cigar at military
commission sittings. and. seeing no reason
why should not have it, politely asked the
presiding power to give me n light. This de-
mand was received with universal astonish-
mont and disgust. 1t evidently was an event
IN the eyes of all present. However | got the
light and Austria and Prussia smoked. The
other members present thought the incident
momentous enough to report to their re-
spective courts. But the question was too
grave to be decided i'm hurry SO for six
months running no one smoked but Austria
and Prussia. After the cxpiry Of that period the
Bavarian Envoy took TO asserting the dignity
OF his sovereign by lighting his first cigar in
assembled conclave. Weal noticed that Herr
Won Nostitz, the Saxon representatives, envicd
the Bavarian SchrenckH his delicious weed
But his court had not authorized the deed so
ne had to abstain. When, however, at the
next sitting we witnessed the Hanover man,
BCthmer, indulging i'm tobacco we knew that
special understanding had been entered into
between Guelph and Hapsburg, Bothmer
was very Austrian in his sentiments and had
couple OF sons In the Austrian army. Upon
this Saxony would not be left behind, and
boldly kindled the audacious spark. Now
there were only two members left who did not
make chimneyS Of their mouths Wurtem- |
berg and Darmstadt These unfortunates,
not being addicted to the vice, could not Join |
in; but the honor and independence Of their |
States imperativcly required u sacrifice Ac-
cordingly, the next time we met the Wurtem- |
berg gentleman took out a cigar-I see IL be-
fore me now, n long, thin, straw-ike contre-
fdcon- and smoked 1t half as a holocaust
made to Fatherland"
Prince BiSmarck's innovation was the com
mencemeDt of the struggle for supremacy
between Austria and Prussia When he /
lighted his first ''sacriIegious' Havana in the |
federal committee room he gave the first blow |
10 Austrian dignity and supremacy In Ger
many. The last blow was given at Sadowa.
In this delightful anecdote, as Mr.. Kingston /
remarks, Bismarck hits off with a mastery /
touch the ridiculous iealouses that animated /
hn matt Iii,
twenty years ago Who can refuse his sym
pathy to the worthy Suabian, heroically
making himself sick pro pdtria, and pene-
rated by the conviction that he was deserv-
ng well OF his country by Drawing all the
horrors OF nausea, lest proud Prussia or AFRO
CANT Austria should boast that Wurtemberg
lad not dared to put itself upon q smoking
quality with the great German powers !"