The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1879-01-19
AN HLsTORICAL CI0AR.
ORION "GRAF BISMARCK AND HIS PEOPLE" by
HERR BUsCH.)

One of Bismarok's happiest touches is the
story Of the famous "cigar incident" of the DO
fanot German Band, wn'oh was additionally
Tnled by. the representative of the Austri an
siser. The Austrian presiding member
ruled the rest of the German amb assadors in q
very oh-haud fashion. At the military cpm.
mission sittings, for instance, the Austrian
presiding was accustomed to smoke cigar,
while the other representatives were too rnu CHI
overawed to attempt folio wing his example.
Bat Bismarck, when he was sent down to
frankfort, soon began to feel the absurd posi-
tion in which Prussia was placed. His method
of asserting his independence is amusing Iy
CHARACTERISTIC of the prince
las Prussian member of the Diet, called
upon Count Thun, the Austrian and presiding
member of our august assembly. When en-
tered be was in his study, working and smok-
Ing. He begged me to walt moment. I did
wait; but, when | thought the interview was
not even o Cigar offered me, took one from
the box before him and requt red him to give
me light. He looked dumofounded. but Dom
municated the desired spark. Buttbere is an
other story of the same sort. la the days of
Rochow. my predecessor as PrussiGn member
of the Diet. the Austrian presiding mem Der
had adopted the habit of smoking at the sit
tings OF the military special CON mic so n ,
Rochow, passion ately fond of smoking, would
have given his little fager to do the like, bot
did not dare. Now, when 1 came to Flank fort
longsd for my cigar at military com nissio n
sttiDgs, and. seeing no reason why should
not have il, politely asked the presidin : po wer
to give me u light. This demand was rec wed
with universal astonishment and disgus1. 1t
evidently was event in tae eyns of all
present. However, got the IIghr, and Aas-
tria and Prussia smoked. The other msm b =rs
present thought the incident momep tons
enough to report to their respective courts
But the question was too grave to be decided
in q hurry, so for six months running no one
smoked but Austria and Prussia. After the
expiry of that period the BAvsriao en- voy took
to asserting the dignity of his sovereign by
lighting his first cigar in assembled conclave.
We all noticed that Her Won Nostitz. the
Saxon representative, envied the Bavarian
Sohrenckh his delicious weed. But his court
had not authorized the deed, so he had to ab-
stain. When, however, at the next sitting we
witnessed the Hanover man, Bothmer, indulg-
ing in tobacco, we knew that special under
standing had been entered toto between
Guelph and Hapsburg. BJthmer was very
Austrian in his continents, and bad q couple
of sons in the Austrian army. Upon this
Saxony would not be left behind, aud boldly
kindled the audacioue spark. Now there were
only two members left who did not make
chimneys of their mouths-Wortemberg and
DArnstsdt. These unfortunstes, net being
addicted to the vice, could not join in {; but the
honor and independence of their States i'm
peratively required sacrifice. sAccordin gly
the next time we met the Wurtem berg gentle
man took out q oigar-I see it before me now,
o long, thin, straw like contre(dcom-and
smoked it half as holocaust made to Faith er.
land"