The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-04-01
BISMARCK IN COUNCIL.
Pen Picture of the Famous German as
no appears in Parliament.

Every political gourmet must enjoy hear
Ing Prince Bismarck speak. He is no eIe.
giant orator, rather the contrary, but he can
lead debate like no one else, Only few
days ago he spoke seven times in one after
noon, each time with more energy and
spirit, proving that his health is indeed
restored. Suddenly soft bells are heard in
all parts Of the House. The electric belh
in the reading room, in the committee
rooms, journalists room, are sounded to
announce the arrival of the Chancellor, who
has shown that he will speak presently, for
with one of his pencils, more than foot
long, he has noted down something on the
loose quarto sheets before him, with letters
not less than an inch deep, and this is a
safe sign that he intends speaking.
The President bows to him, and Prince
Bismarck rises to g take the word" He is
certainly more than six feet high over his
powerful chest and broad shoulders rises a
strangely rounded, well shaped head of
enormous dimensions, with no hair upon
it, SO that it looks like dome of polished
ivory. Thick white brows hang over his
eyes like two icicles. These brows give his
face dark and frowning expression, and
the look which glistens in his eyes is cold
and somewhat cruel-at least in Parliament.
His mustache is also thick and gray and
conceals the mouth entirely. The whole
face is covered with folds and wrinkles,
broad rings surround his eyes, and even his
temples are covered with small wrinkles.
When he begins TO speak the color of his
face changes from pale to red and gradual
ly assumes light bronze shade, which
gives his powerful skull the appearance OF
polished metal
II is surprise to hear Bismarck speak
for the first time. The soft almost weak,
voice is out of oil proportion with his gigan-
tic frame. Il sometimes becomes SO soft
that we fear it will die out altogether, and
when he has spoken for while it grows
hoarse. The Chancellor sometimes speaks
very fast, sometimes very slowly, but never
In a loud tone. He has no pathos what
ever. Some of his most remarkable words,
which in print look rs if they had been
spoken with full force, as if they must have
had the effect of a sudden thunderbolt on
the audience, are in reality emitted in an
ordinary tone of we'll bred conversation.
Personal attacks upon his enemies are
spoken by Bismarck with ironical polite
ness, and In such an obligng tone as if they
concealed the kindest sentiments. But II
his anger cannot be heard it can be seen I;
his face gradually grows red, and the veins
on his neck swell in hn alarming manner.
When angry he usually grasps the collar OF
his uniform, and seems to catch for breath.
His brows are lowered still more, so that
his eyes are almost invisible. His voice
grows shade louder, and has slight me-
tallic ring in it. The sentences drop from
his lips in rapid succession He throws
back his head and gives his face hard,
stony expression.
But it is difficult to discern when his an-
ger ia real and when it is artificial. The
Chancellor has been seen trembling with
rage, and more like the elements let loose
than like anything else. Once, when he
thought that the word g Fie! ~ had beer
said by one of the opposition party, he had
one of his attacks, which would have 81.
fenced the House had every one been speak
ing at once. With trembling nostrils, with
his teeth firmly set, with eyes that emitted
FIRE. and clenched hands, he jumped from
his place to the side where the word had
been sounded. If ample apologies and ex-
plantations had not been offered who knows
how this scene might have ended?
Bnt except upon such rare occasions Bis
marck the orator is always q well bred man.
He does not bawl or shout any part of his
speeches, but while giving them their full
share of pointed sarcasm he always
maintains the form of political con-
versation between gentlemen. He had a
method of his own for waging war with his
opponents. He regards his opponents
speech MS ball of wool, the last sentence
spoken being the end which he takes in
hand first, and with which he begins to un-
wind the whole speech as he would unwind
the ball of wool. But it is easy to see that
while his tongue is speaking his spirit is
far in advance of it.-London Daily Neos.