Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-24
His Very Affection Bears the Character
OF the Iron VIII and Hand

Berlin Letter to the London Times.
Without being avaricious. Prince Bismarck
is as fond Of order. economy and regularity as
the Great Frederick. and enters into details Of
housekeeping to which one would naturally
suppose him a stranger. l have heard him
relate. with the broad hnmor characteristic of
him, that one of his former Wallets had begged
him for a lease of an inn on his property at
VarZin. LAS soon as he became the tenant"
said Bismarck, ''of the inn, which used to
yield 2.0OOm.. he betook himself, in the capacity
of my ex-valet, to the study of politics. He
subscribed to all kinds OF newspapers, and
passed his time sitting in a large arm chair
reading them. When guests arrived he treated
them insoently for disturbing him. He soon
fell into disrepute as surly landlord, and tray
elers took care not to enter the inn. He now
earns scarcely enough to pay for his newspapers.
AS to myself. shall have to evct him. tor he
has long ceased to pay his rent"
And YOU could see that the loss of the rent
affected him. Yet the tone was not that of q
miser but that of discomfort at having his cal
Culations deranged Prince Bismarck leads
very methodica life, and in the country, as in
town, no event is allowed to interfere with its
regularity. His grand dinners are abundant,
with mathematical sufficiency, without stint or
waste His daily meals are those of good
family burgher. and the servants are methOdi-
cal, attentive and silent. None of his household
ever commits the mistake at table Of speaking
before the master Of the house has, so to speak,
tactly given him leave. All wait to see whether
the prince is in a conversational mood and
when he Is pleased to speak all are hushed not
to lose one of his words To this, in part. is due
the large number OF words, anecdotes and dia-
lOgues attributed to him, for it has already long
been customary for his listeners to treasure I'D
every word he utters.
One of the Princes characteristics is his love
tor some large dog which he makes his con-
slant companion, and feeds himself-a dog, for
instance. like the one that so terrified Prince
Gortschakoff. The dog follows the chancellor
into his dining-room and stretches itself on the
carpet. In the course Of the meal the butler
brings large piece of boiled beef on one plate
and bits Of soaked bread on another The
Prince in person cuts up the beef and prepares
the food for the dog, which stands by, grave
and attentive, pending the solemn preparation
OF Its food. The Prince dog is never fed in any
other way. There Is something noteworthy in
the habits OF this man, who personif1es the Prus-
sian race in its most elevated character
Ii Bismarck is not close, he is not generous
either. He does what he deems right and ex-
poets every one to do also what Is right by him.
Generosity, in the ordinary sense of the term, is
too mild. unrefiecting, effeminate a quality to
enter into this colossal, rough-hewn nature.
he treats men too much like figures to be ad-
ded, multiplied and divided at WILL to entertain
any tender feelings towards them. He asplres
less to rule them by gentleness than by the Wig
orous ascendancy of his genius, and he would
not be greatly battered by an affection uumiXed
with dread and admiration. Even on the rare
occasions where, in other men, what is called
the heart comes into play in him the master
nav, almost the tyrant-is to be found His
very affection bears the character of oppres-
sion. and no glove is thick enough to conceal
the iron hand beneath it.