The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-24
A Great Statesman.

When, during the Austrian war. the
German generals desired to push on and
invade Hungary, Bismarck strenuously
opposed the project; but his arguments
were in vain. Chagrined at his failure
to convince them, he suddenly left tho
room, went into the next, threw himself
upon the bed. and wept and groancd
aloud. After while he says. .'there
! was silence in the other room. and then
the plan was abandoned" His tears
had conquered where his arguments had
failed.
His mode of life is peculiar. Being
often sleepless, his usual hour of rising
is 10 in the morning. His breakfast is
simple, consisting generally of cup Of
tea. two eggs and piece of bread. At
dinner he eats and drinks like true
Pomeranian. copiously and freely. His
princely appetite. indeed. is described
rs being truly voracious. His table
groans with Il superabundance OF rich
and indigestible food, and dizzy con-
coctions OF champagne and porter,
sherry and tea. The German people,"
said he on ono occasion. abiding To the
many hampers of his known favoritc
meats. fish and fruits sent him from all
quarters. '.are resolved TO have a fat
chancellor.
Sometimes, like lesser folk, Bismarck
has fits OF tho blues and of broodino;
which can scarcely be wondered ut when
we consider his self indulgence at the
table On these occasions he distresses
those around him by the most forlorn
reflections. Once he declared that he
had made nobody happy by his public
acts -.neithor himself, nor his family,
nor his country. II have had" he went
on, gloomily, "littlo or no pleasure out
of all | have done--On the contrary,
much annoyance. care and trouble" In
brighter moods. he takes all this back,
and rovcls, with almost boyish exulta-
ton, in the splcndor of his state strokes
and the new face he has put upon the
world's events.
"Where is my dog?" was Bismarck's
first exclamation when, on his last visit
to Vienna. he alighted from tho railway
train. Never did man cherish q fonder
affection for the brute creation than this
king maker and world mover. He
watched by the side of his dying Sultan
rs he might have done over favorite
child, and begged to be left alone with
him in the final hour. When the faith
full old friend gasped his last breath.
Bismarck, with tears in his eyes, turned
to his son and said: "Our German
forefathers had kind belief that, after
death, they would meet again, in the
celestial hunting grounds, all the good
dogs that had been thcir faithful COM
panons in life. wish | could believe
that For children Bismarck has an
ardent fondness, and his bright little
grandchildren are the very Joy of his
old age. On every occasion he seems to
take delight in humoring and pleasing
the young. Curiously commingled in
his large nature are sentiment and
satire, Kindness and humor.
There can be no doubt of Bismarck's
sturdy personal courage. One striking
incident in his career has proved that to
all time One day in 1866, as no was
returning from the palace through the
Inter den Linden. he was shot from be-
hind by IN assassin He turned short
seized the miscreant. and, though feel
ing himself wounded, held the man with
iron grasp until some soldiers came up
He then walked rapidly home, sat down
with his family and atc a hearty dinner.
After the meal was over he walked up to
his wife and said; You see am quite I!
WE'LL" adding, "vou must not be anx-
ious my child. Somebody has fired at
me; but it is nothing, as you see. II
was the first intimation she had of the |
attempted tragedy. - Brooklyn Eagle.