St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-12-11


be furnished by st. Johnsbury band
and chorus. Tickets will be on sale
at Bingham's and Spencer's Monday.
Mr. TOwIe's Lecture.
The third entertainments of the Y.
NJ. C. A. course took place in Music
hall last Tuesday evening being a lee
ture by Geo. Makepeace Towle on
Prince Bismarck. The subject was so
ably handled that it proved unusually
interesting to the large audience pres
ent. The speaker having been consul
tn France and Germany at a moment
Gus period in the history of those pow
erful nations, he had ample opportuDi-
ty to study their political and physical
characteristics, and as we'll their fore
most leaders. Events that have tran
spired during and previous to the last
decade in foreign diplOmacies made
the lecturers opening ,.liusion to his
subject us the foremost living emperor,
strikingly fOrceful. His description of
Prince Won Bismarck's stately home
stead and surroundings, the influence
of good father and the pleasantest of
mothers, who was not alone ambitious
but queen of society, left no doubt
in the minds of his hearers of the effect
on Bismarck's youthful visions of fame
and power. His naturally indOmitable
will, iron constitution and severe edu-
cation, has marked his whole upward
career and makes him the most tower
| ing figure of our age, and at once the
Moses and Joshua of united Germany.
the resentment world and history
maker of the 10Th century. The speak
er dwelt at considerable length on
Bismarck's physical and intellectual
makeup, his feats at fencing and ath
letic sports affording most vivid pict-
nre of his real character. Among his
friendships which, though few We're
lasting, the name of Geo. Bancroft, the
historian, was mentioned. Bismarck
possesses a keen appreciation of wit
and Il fund of dry humor and is en-
dowed with mighty appetite.
Early in life Il military career had
been decreed for him which has since
stood him in good stead. From the
first he was politician and had fought
duels over heated political contrcver-
sizes, being an aristOcrat and n royalist
to his bones, with a supreme and lofty
contempt for the masses of the people
and their rights. He even advocated
at one time the destruction of large
cities to prevent leagues and conspira
cies of rebellion. During the time of
his wild harangues before the Reich
stag he was looked upon by his coun-
trymen and those acquainted with him
with derisivc laughter; still that mag
nilicent dream-a united Germany,
which appeared so impossible, with
himself the chief dictator, uniting a
hundred divided states into Il most
powerful natiOn-he kept steadily in
of his purpose, which has made him,
despite his mad ways, the pre-eminent
figure since the days of Napoleon the
Great.
Might he not have tOres4en and plan
ned that great military triumph over.
France four years in advance, during
the royal parade and banquet in Paris
at which the heads of Europe had been
invited? The speaker had beheld the
stolid Bismarck as his memorable eye
fell upon the fatuous French, with the
stern vigor and dauntless spirit of Il
conqueror, with an intellect of Il ruler
among men, that mayhap added fresh
impetus to his great dream.
Bismarck cannot be classed as an
orator. His will over the emperor is
supreme, ut times amounting tn um-
scrupulousness, ferociously assailing
opponents and treating constitutional
prerugatives as a dead letter. At the
close of the Franco Prussian war,
which left treasury filled to overflow
ing with the spoils of conflict subject
to his disposal, he applied himself to
"finishing off" the stately empire, and
with an iron persistency, to the sup
preston of socialism and like disturb
ances. Shall it be said this colossal
work which has wearied a giant states
man has retarded political liberty at
least a generationG
Bismarck as man, the speaker con-
! Guided, was more pleasing picture to
contemplate From this standpoint he
seemed quite human, writing to his
family when absent in IA graphic, pleas
ing, epistolary style. 4. His zeal and
ardor to his religious procliyities the
speaker deemed worthy of emulation.
Without my belief in God" he once
exclaimed, "let me put life away like
soiled robe"
Throughout the lecturer was elo-
quent, with an easy, flowing style that
did not fail to impress his hearers with
Ihc uoihihdHI pIe-tinihShCS W the
statesmanly genius of the 10Th century,
which forcibly brought to mind the
| inevitable truth contained in the lines
of Grey: "rhe path of glory leads but
to the grave"
"WhO Is Wy NeighbOr :"
/ President Brooks of rillotson insti-
tute, Austin. Texas, spoke at the North
church Sunday evening on the needs
of the colored race as he had observed