The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-02-14
AN HISTORICAL CIGAR.

AN HISTORICAL CIGAR.
BIAmarcb's Account oI the Famous "GI.
gnr Ineidenf.''
American Register.
One of Bismarck's hsppiest touches is
the story of the famous " cigar incident"
of the defunct German Bund, which was
traditionally ruled by the representative
of the defunct Kaiser. TIE Austrian
presiding member ruled the rest of the
German ambassadors in very off>hsnd
fashion. At the military commission
sittings for instance, the Austrian pre-
siding WAS accustomed to smoke a 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 in which Prussia
was placed. His method OF asserting his
independence is amusingly Characteristic
of the prince
As Prussian member OF the diet, l
called upon Count Thun, the Austrian,
and presiding member of our august
assembly. When I entered he was in
his study, working and smoking, He
begged me to wait a moment. l did
wait, but when thought the interview
was rather too long delayed, and, more
over, had not even cigar offered me, 1
took one from the box before him 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 as Prussian
member of the diet, the a austrian presid-
ing member had adopted the habit of
smoking at the sittings of the military
special commission. Roehow, passion
ately fond of smoking, would have giving
his little finger to do the like, but did
not dare Now, when I came to Frank
fort, l 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 a light.
/ This demand was received with univer-
sal astonishment and disgust. It evil
IDENTIFY 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
momerfous enough to report To their
respective courts. But the question was
too grave to be decided in hurry, so for
six months running no one smoked but
Austria and Prussia. After the expiry
OF that period the Bavarian envoy took
to asserting the dignity OF his sovereign
by lighting his first cigar in assembled
conclave. We all noticed that Herr Won
Nostitz, the Saxon representative, envied
the Bavarian Schrenckh his delicious
weed. But his court had not authorized
the deed, SO he had to abstain. When,
however, at the next sitting, we wit
messed the Hanover man, Bothmer, in
dulging in tobacco, we knew that E
special understanding had been entered
into between Guelph and Hapsburg
Bothmer was very Austrian in his senti.
ments, 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 Wur.
temberg and Darmstsdt. These unfor.
tunates not being addicted to the vice
could not join in; but the honor and
independence of their states imperatively
/ required sacrifice. Accordingly, the
next time we met the Wurtemberg gen.
tlemsn took out cigar-I see it before
me now, long. thin, straw-like cor.
trefacon-and smoked it half as a holo
caust made TO Fatherland."
Prince Bismarck's innovation was the
commencement of the struggle for supre
macy between Austria and Prussia
When he lighted his first sacriIegioul
Havana" in the federal committee-room
he gave the first blow to Austrian dig
nifty and supremacy in Germany. The
last blow was given at Sadowa. In thil
delightful anecdote, as Mr.. Kingston
remarks, " Bismarck hi off with
mssterly touch the ridiculous jealousie
that animated the petty German kinglet
and princekins of twenty years ago
Who cap refuse his sympathy to th'
worthy Suabian. heroically making him
self sick pro patria, and penetrated b.
the conviction that he was deserving
well of his country by Drawing all tn
horrors of nausea, lest proud Prussia o
arrogant Austria should boast that Wur
temberg had not dared to put itself on
smoking equality with the great Ger
man powersl" "