Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-19
BISMARCK'S HOME.
The Mecca Of German Statesmen.

lnere Is scarcely anything remarka-
BILE in the chancellor's house at Fried
richsruhe except its absolute plainness.
Jewish plutocracy may gloat in display
ing gorgeous tapestry and rare bric-a-
brac, but Bismarck, after all, is only
poor man. His state appointment is
not worth even $4,000; Schonhausen is
valueless; Varzin does not yield much,
and the estate of Friedrichsruhe, al
though estimated at f150,OOO. brings at
the most $4,000. 1t is true that this is
no reason why his walls should be
whitewashed, why his furniture is of
the simplest description, why his art
treasures consist of comparatively
worthless photographs and paintings of
his daughter and his sons. of Moltke.
of Cardinal Hohenlohe, of Theirs, of
Beaconsfield, of Friedrichsruhe itself.
Yet there are several objects of luxury
and ease, and others of decidedly his
toric Importance. There is the rich
carpet, extending through hall and
rooms; the number of chimneys, where,
the whole winter through, fires burn
perpetually, and an abundance of
couches, sometimes two or three in ono
room. On the chimney-pieces are the
bronze bust of Moltke, crowned with
huge laurel wreath, a plaster cast of
Charlemagne, and small copy Of
Schluter's Great Elector. The dining
room is adorned with the bronze statue
of the Emperor, given by him to Bis
marck in 1881. But particular men,
ton is due to the bronze imitation of
the Niederwald monument, which
stands on fine oak cupboard in the
smoking-room. A leahet is attached to
it with the following words, written by
the Emperor himself: Christmas,
1888; the crowning-stone of your poll
cy; festival which was destined chief
ly for you, and which you unhappily
were not able to attend.-W."
Not less interesting as a historical
curiosity is a small card table in the
Princes study. When folded up it
presents on the top board little inlaid
brass plate, bearing the inscription:
'On this table the preliminary peace
between Germany and France was sign
ed the 10th of February, 1871, at Ver-
sailles, Rue de Provence, No. 16."
When opened there appears the central
round Of green cloth with the very can
dle-spots of yore, when Bismarck and
Favre put their names under the treaty.
1t wanted good deal of diplomacy on
the part of the chancellor to possess
himself of it. His landlady of the Rue
de Provence obstinately refused to part
with it for any consideration of money
until the prince at last called in a cabi-
net-maker, ordering him to make
another table exactly similar to that
one. When the twins were put side by
side the landlady of course decided in
favor of the better-looking of the two
and allowed Bismarck to carry off the
original one.
The princes own room is not only
one of the largest in the house, but ev-
erything it contains bears due proper
tion to the size of its inmate-the gi-
gantic mahogany writing table, the
huge inkstand, the militia Of immense
goose quilts and large pencils. Even
the far stretching view from the win
dow is in harmony with the discursive
mind of the man who is reclining on
one of the couches, while giving ample
scope to his thoughts. The guest
rooms are situated on the first floor. 1t
need scarcely be added that they are
distinguished by comfort, ease. and
luxury from the Spartan nakedness of
the rest of the house. 1t bodies peace
and friendship to the state whose rep
resentative is invited to oFriedrichsruhe.
Here Bismarck puts out the torch of
hatred; for the hosts duty he considers
to be to cultivate under his own roof
amity and good understanding. Prince
Orloff and NJ. de Giers stayed there
when the difficulties on the Balkan pen
insula, between Russia and Austria,
were made up. Again, the visit of
Baron Courcel. the French ambassador,
was the harbinger of the present entente
between France and Germany. On the
other hand, Lord Ampthill died with
out having ever seen the chancellor, at.
least for the last eight months of his
life. The moral of this is, perhaps, that
when Sir Edward Malet is on his way
to Friedrichsruhe we may safely con-
clude that an anglo-German under
standing with liberal cabinet in
Downing street is no longer a CONTRA