The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-22
Prince Bismarck.


4 pES-PIcTURE OF THE GREAT STATESMAN.
A writer in BtucicUoods Magazine mus
describes Prince Bismarck:
He is a powerful man. That is what
strikes at once every one who sees him for
The first time. He is very tall and oil enor-
mons weight, but not ungalnly. Every part
of his gigantic frame is we'll proportioned-
the large, round head, the massive neck. the
bread shoulders, and the vigorous limbs.
He is now more than sXty-thrce, and the
burden he has had to bear has been I'M
usually heavy; but though his step has be-
come slow and ponderous, he carries bis
head high-looking down even on those VINO
are as tall us himself-and his figure is still
erect. During these latter years he has SUI
fered frequent and severe bodily pain, but
no one could look upon him as an old man
or as one to he pitied. On the contrary,
everybody VINO sees him feels that Prince
Bismarck is still in possession OF immense
physical power. Photography has made his
features known TO all. 1t is strange face,
which would attract attention anywhere,
even il we did not know that it belonged to
a man whose doings have changed or
modern world. 1t is face never to be
Yorgotten-by no means handsome but
still less an ugly one. It was remark
ably bright, full OF humor-of .mer-
ry mischief even-in days long gone
bv. 1t has now become serious-almoSt
solemn-with an expression OF unfiinching
energy and daring. The bald, round fore
head-an object Of admiration for the phre-
nologist--is OF quite extraordinary dlmen-
sions; the large, prominent blue eyes seem
as il they could look into the sun without
blinking. They are not quick-they wan
der slowly from one object to another; but
when they rest on a human countenance
they become so intensely inquiring that
many people, when they have to undergo
this searching look, feel uneasy; and all,
even Bismarck's equals or superors, are
made aware that they arc in presence OF
man with whom it would be wise to play
fair, as he would probably discover the sub
tlest tricks. His thick, well-set eyebrows
are singularly long and shaggy, and they
add not little TO the stern, and at times
somewhat fierce, expression OF his counte-
nance. The nose is of ordinary sze-not
as long, perhaps, as might be expected from
the rest of the face; the chin is large and
massive. Prince Bismarck has said OF him
self, that he was "the best-hated man in
Europe.'' He has. indeed, many furious
enemies in various parts OF the world; in
his own country, to begin with, among the
Particuarists, the Catholics, and the Social
lists; and again at Rome, in Austria, and in
France. He has not often been heard to COM
plain OF this; still bright intellect cannot
possess the knowledge Of such fact without
being saddened by it. Prince Bismarck is
by no means lioht-hearted man. Sorrow
and care have taken up their abode with
him. They throw shadow on his brow,
and make themselves felt in the sound OF
his voice and the freqnent bitterness OF his
hesitating speech. He is no longer young
he fully realizes the fact that the best part
Of his life is gone, that his greatest battles
have been fought; and maybe in his inner
heart there is the feeling that while he has
achieved much for the greatness OF his
country. he has done but little for his own
happiness. Sometimes, when he is sitting
among bis personal and intimate friends-he
has, besides his family, some five or six OF
these-frec from all restraint, smoking his
long pipe, l,atting the head OF his huge dog,
attending lstleSSly to conversation gong
on around him in subdued tones, there
passes over his cold face something like q
soft, transp sparent veil, behind which his hard
features relax and take an unlooEed-sor eX-
preston of wistful sadness. After all, Otto
Won Bismarck, child OF the Marches, where
his family has been known since the thir-
teenth century. is 4 thoroughbred German.
Though one Of the most matter-of-fact men
the world has ever known, he carries within
his breast hidden vein OF deep feeling
and though that feeling is not certainly OF
the kind which gives birth to morbid SELL
timentallty, and it is difficult to believe that
young Bismarck ever addressed his com.
plainings to the moon, still it enables him
70 feel keenlv all that q sensitive heart has
to endure during passage through life.