New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-19
HAIL BISMARCK +!
THE IRON CHANCELLoR'S sEvENTIETH
BIRTHDAY.


Tho te.tiv,ties In honor of Prince Bismarcks
sev.ntieth birthday bore the character OF Ma
tjona festival and the people seemed to feel that VI
doing honor to the Iron Chancellor they reloiceo
at the Same time in the establishment OF INC
Fmpirc and of Germanys unity and greatness
The programme had been discussed for n long time'
and presents had been arriving for whole~ecA
before tie great day came. The oyations pegah vi
the eve of Bsmarck's birthday. In the course Oh
the afternoon all the streets through winch .ho
torchlght procession was to pass were aecoi"'ou
with eyergreens and fags and the huge STANDS wero
over-flled long before dusk. The hrst 10 ouei
their CONGRATULATIONS were tho veterans. 5000 In
number most of them representing soldier societies
in all parts of the Empire. The majority wore even
ng dress but each bore a sword and gun. Inc nag
bearers and the music bands entered the 'front.' gar
den of Prince Bismarcks palace, and the Wacht
am Rheia was performed Bismarck. followed oy
his family. came out to them in his curasser cloak
and helmet and thanked them for their kindness.
But when the first man in heartfelt words described
Bismarcks merits lie refused to accept the praises
and told them all was due to the Emperor, who was
the true founder of the Empire.
When darkness had set in, began the torchlight
procession, which was beautifully organized, so
that il traversed the streets in perfect ORDER al
though it was formed of no fewer than 10000
torchbearers. the greatest number that have ever
been seen together in Germany. AS they passed
the Imperial palace. they saw the aged Emperor al
the window, and the 10000 cheered him enthusi-
astcally. The procession was healed by heralds-
alarms In picturesque dress, who blew trnmpets'
and were followed by large number of elegant
carriages containing Populations of students from
the Universities of Bonn. iBresau. Frieburg, Gics-
seu, Greiiswad Halle. heidelberg. jena Kcl.
Konigsberg. Leipsic. Marbnrg Munich, Munster
Rostock, Strasburg and Wurzburg. AT the first,
sound of the trumpets Prince Bismarck appeared at
the window IN his helmet and cloak. smoking long
pipe. Tho numberless torches waving past In
broad masses made most imposing picture The
most striking feature of the procession was large
galley bearing figure of Germania. before whom
the German peoples from North and South. from
East and West, do homage. Tho galley was pre-
coded and escorted by students on horseback by
heralds and torchbearers, and was drawn by SIX
tall horses. The wheels of the cart upon which 1t
was placed were concealed by purple draperies and
the arms of German cities On deck. there ewcrc
several groups of men and women in National
costumes soldiers and students with flags and EN-
blems of war; and tho whole was surmounteh by
splendid Gernania. throned under purple canopy
surmounted by a gilt spread eagle of colossal
dimensions Then followed group of soldiers in the
dress of the Thirty Years War, colonial group
with CAMERON negroes dancing to the sonnd OF
drums AMI cymbals and African explorers with their
escort Of natives and camcls. The Chancellor
laughed immoderatey at this practical allusion t.
his colonial politics, but his attention iH;nedi-
ately afterward monopolzed by the representatives
of the trades and industries the thirty five gudso Of
Berlin for the most part dressed in MEDIEVAL cos
tunes and with cmblems Of their work. among
which noted a colossal horses head. and a large
pane of glass with inscriptions in brilliant coorS.
Last in tAe procession a crowd OF factory men
who bore magnesium torches. which gave a much
better light and had none Of the inconvenience Of
the old pitch torches with their smoke and dirt and
SCOT. Prince Bismarck concluded the eve OF his
birthday with n hearty supper, TO which the
Princess had invited all the officers Of his regiment.
On the following morning the Prince was up be-
timeo to receive first of all the congratulations OF
his wife, his two sons, his daughter the Countess
Rantzau. with her three little boys. In tho mean
time carriages began 10 stop in front OF the house,
and when the Chancellor was ready to receive
them, hundreds OF persons eager to offer their
heartfelt good wishes were assembled in the large
dining hail. the walls OF which were half-conceaed
behind the numberless presents offered by CRATE
full Nation. On one wall was hung a colossal pict-
ure concealed behind a curtain. As tho Prince was
converting with tho Grand Duke OF Baden the ar-
rival Of the Emperor. the Crown Prince and all the
Princes of the Imperial family then present lat
Berlin. was announced 10 him. The Chancellor
FASTENED TO meet his Emperor halfway on the
stairs and taking his hand, bowed low 10 kiss IL.
But the Emperor threw both arms round his neck
and kissed Independently. at the same time sobbng
aloud. When they had re-entercd the room. the
Crown Prince drew back the curtain frum the
picture covering an entire wall which was the
- r.. d.. all
1t is copy by Professor Werner of his picture of
the proclamation of tho Emperor at Versailles and
gives good portraits Of all the celebrities OF the time.
The next 10 appear were the Generals of the Army,
who had been ordered by the Emperor to be
present although Bismarck Is not even n General.
Then followed a deputation from the Berlin Uni
yersity One of the last 10 step forward was Prince
Ratisbon. who gave tho Prince n simple portfolio,
saying at the same timo that the Nation was proud
TO return to him his ancestral home, after he had
returned to the Empire Alsatia and Lorraine Tho
portfolio contained the deeds Of purchase OF
schoenhausen, which was bought for million and
a half of marks of the man who fifty years ago
bought IL In troubled times of Bismarck's father.
The portfolio also contained receipt for 100000
marks deposited in q bank, and placed at Bis
marck's disposition TO DO devoted to some public
purpose Bismarck thanked heartily all around,
and told tho Emperor that what pleased him most
was the gift OF his forefathers' homo-because he
was now no niger only schoenhnusen in name but
was mastor nf it in good earnest.
When tho Emperor had departed. Bismarck In
yited all his vistDr3-thby were more than six hun
dred in number-to luncheon, or to use his own
words to 4 morning pint which was taken in
rare good humor IN the great conference hall. The
Emperor and Prince Bismarck were the toasts. and
the students present gave vent to their feelings by
drinking to Bismarck's health in the peculiar
fashion called a D." saamander" which Is stimuli
taneous rubbing and humping of the glasses upon
tho table. Tie Princess was much amused by this
scene and smiled at her husband, and when State
Minister drank TO her health, rominling those
present Of what sue had been to her lord in dark
and in sunny times. Bismarck took his wife In his