The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-30
from the Boston Traveller
Life and Character Of Bismarck

From the Boston Traveller
| Life and Character Of Bismarck.
| Mr.. ToWle opened his course of four lee
lures on great men of the day, last evening a
Huntington Hall, his course being the sixth
which has been delivered in the Lowell In
stitute courses this season and his subiec
being bismarck. There was very large au
dlence present, every seat being occupied
An outline of Mr.. Towles scholarly and en-
tertaining lecture follows;
Carlyle says that great men are priyil-
egedcompany, and their history is the history
OF the world. We cannot look on the record
of great man without gaining something by
it. and he isa living light which it is pleasant
to be near. In describing the four ablest men
who in our own day are shaping the worlds
destiny, the speaker said he should deal less
with politics and laws than with the perso
nal qualities and career of these men, avoid
ing as far as possible dates, description o.
parliaments, illusions to political measures
and other tedious details Of legislation.
The purpose of the lecturer was to bring
these men before his audience as vividly a:
possible, in their personal and individual
characteristics, as living breathing men, en-
endowed with those natures which give then
human kinship with US. In his description
of the birthplace of Bismarck, the lecturer
said Far down in the green depths of The
Brandenbergen forests, many miles from cit,
or town, approached through verdant pas
lures, by fields thick with lime blossoms il
summer time, the course of the meadows
guarded by lordly elms, stands an old man
sion, and at no great distance flows the his
toric Elbe on its course to Hamburg.
Everything about the old house and its sur.
roundings suggests antiquity and wealth, and
within the staircases, rooms hung with rare
tapestry, the fire places with their rich and
massive walls adorned by relics of old impe-
rial days. There lived here a race of sturdy
mobiles, which has transmitted from genera.
ton to generation, tall, sinewy forms, with
soldier hearts, chivalrous as well as of a stub
born nature. They were the descendants oil
a grim warrior. Here was born about G.
years ago the greatest most powerful and ia
nous of all the stalwart heroes of this line
not the greatest of his race alone, but take
him for all in all, the most towering figure
of our age.
His nod can affect the exchanges.of Europe
and he holds the destinies Of the nation in his
hand. What the hardships of low birth, O
poverty and of the stern struggling of mankinc
Tor existence are, he never knew, and his child
hood was passed amidst the brightest anC
pleasantest surroundings Hehad handsome
cheerful, witty father, but in his mother anG
grandfather he had a stronger and more amb
tlous nature, and lie showed this characteristic
IL his early years in his love OF splendor anc
empire, which showed how surely he had beer
taught the lesson, and he was one of those
great men who have had their first Indictment
to lofty inspiration impaired by an ambitious
mother.
In describing the characteristics of Bismarck
Mr.. Towle alluded to his eagerness to ride the
widest steeds, his firm friendship when once
formed, his line memory, generous heart, anc
10 the fact that at school and at the uniyersit,
his impetuous nature gained him the title O
MAD Bismarck" At Gottingen University
he sowed his crop of wild oats He drank
hard and rode hard
But he had, too, his loves like sentimental
giant. In vacation in the Tyrol, he met ant
became enamored with lovely young peas
ant girl, and, in accordance with his peculiar
nature, went at once to her father to ask hel
hand in marriage. but was refused because h,
was Protestant, and, in later years, upon th,
marriage of the girl to one of her own sphere
Bismarck remembered her and sent her fin,
wedding present. Bismarck was destined very
early for military career, aud in his earl,
military experience he derived much knowl
edge OF war. He discussed politics with hi.
father, fought duels at Gottingen, and would
ride ten miles to attend a political meeting ,ant
many had to listen to his interminable ha
rangues on the political questions of the day
Before thirty he took his seat in the Prussia1
diet, and soon let men know what he though
about political principles He showed him
self to be an aristocratic royalist in ever,
respect.
But his big, staggering ways provoked
peals of derisive laughter, and his ideas of {
united Germany were scorned as impossible
How far away this was can be Judged by
rapid survey Of Germany and Europe at til
time of his dream. Prussia was only fift
among the European powers, France, England
Russia and Austria were Prussia's superiorl
France had recovered from its abasement a
Waterloo, and looked with jealous eye upol
the rising kingdom which had sent Butcher t
the timely aid of Wellington. 1t was weight
problem at the outset with which Bismarc
had to deal, and his dream of a united Prussi
seemed wild and visionary Those who laughe
at him knew not the man. He was preparin
for position more powerful that any man ha
taken upon the worlds stage since Napoleon
1t finally began to dawn on the ruling spirit
of Prussia that this wild Bismarck might b
useful to the state, and he began rapidly to b
promoted.
His first services were at Frankford then a
Vienna, and several years later he was ambas
sador to St. Petersburg, and in 1862 he wa
promoted to the diplomatic theatre of Par
and soon after he assumed control of the de-
TIMES of his kingdom During this perio