Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-05
CURIOUS FEATURES OF ACTUALLIrE
Bismarck's Manner Of Speaking and
Mode Of Showing Anger.

From the London Daily News FebruaryIA
He is no elegant orator, rather the contrary.
but he can lead a debate like no one else. Only
few days ago he spoke seven times In one
afternoon, each time with more energy and
spirit, proving that his health is indeed re-
stored. Several members had already spoken
and the house was still empty, when suddenly
members filed in from all the doors, and the
benches began to fill. A rumor had been circu-
lated that Bismarck would appear, and shortly
afterward narrow door near the presidents
chair opened, and the tall figure entered. sud
denly soft bells are heard in all parts 80 the
house. The electric bells in the readiu. room,
In the committee rooms. and in the journalists
rooms are sounded to announce the arrival 81
the chancellor. who has shown that he viii
speak presently, for, with one OF his pencils,
more than a foot long. he has noted down some
thing 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 Bis
marck rises TO 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 di-
mansions, and with no hair upon il, 50 that IL
looks like dome of polished ivory. Thick
white browS hang over his eyes like two iciclcS.
These brOwS give his face dark and tr0wning
expression, and the look which gliStens in his
eyes il cold ANA somewhat Cruel-at least in
parliament. His maustache is also thick and
gray, and concealS the mouth entirely. The
whole face is covered with folds and wrinkles,
temples are covered with small wrinkles.
When he begins 10 speak the color of his face
changes from pale To red, and gradually as
sumeS a light bronze shade, which gives his
powerful skull the appearance Of polished met
al 1t Is a surprise to hear Bismarck speak for
the first time. The soft, almost weak voice il
out of all proportion with his gigantic frame Ii
sometimes becomes So soft that fear ii will
die out altogether, and when he has spoken for
awhile IL grows hOarSe. The chancellor some
times speaks very fast. sometimes very slowly,
hut never in a loud tone. He has no pathUs
whatever. Some of his most remarkable words,
which in print look as if they had been spoken
with full force as if they must have had the eff
feet OF a sudden thundcrbOlt ON the audience,
are in reality emitted in an ordinary tone OF
well-bred conversation.
Personal attacks upon his enemies are spoken
by Bismarck with irOntcal p0iitCneSs and IN
such an oh!iging tone as II they concealed the
kfndest sentiments. But If his anger cannot be
heard II can be seen; his face gradually grows
RED. and the veins on his neck swell liz an alarm
my manner W hen angry he usually grasf,s the
collier OF his uniform, and seems to catch for
breath. His browS are lowcrd still more, 50
that his eyes are almost invisible. His voice
grows u shade .Ouder and has "A slight metallic
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 ii is difficult To. discern when his anger
is real and when il is artificial. The chancellor
has been seen trembling with rage, and more
like the elements let loose than like thing
else. Once, when he thought the word"Fie,'' had
been said by one of the opposition party,
he had one of his attacks which would have
siienced the house had every one been speaking
at once. With trembling nOstrilS. with his teeth
firmly set, with eyes that emitted fire, and
c!enched hands, he jumped from his place To
the side where the word had sounded. II apollo
gieS and explanations had not been offered who
knows how this scene might have ended?
But except upon such rare occasions Bismarck
the orator is always weli-bred man. He does
not bawl nor shout any part "a hiS speeches, but
while giving them their full share or poiDtcd
sarcasm he always maintains the form of a
political conversation between gentlemen. He
has a method ofhis own for waging war with his
opponents He regards his opponents speech
as ball of wool, the last sentence spoken being
the end which he takes in hand first. and with
which he begins 10 unwind the whole speech aS
he would unwind the ball Of Wool. But it is
easy to see that while his tongue j. speaking his
spirit il far in advance of il. He heSi,ateS in
his speech, then suddenly recalls himself and
puts forth number of clear thoughts, which 1t
Is easy to see occurred To him at the moment.
One of the great charms of Prince Bismarck $
speeches is hat he never follows any given form
or method but that all he says l. inspired at the
moment lie commands kunOr and sarcasm
to a high degree, and often at time when they
are least expected, 50 that even his bitterest
enemies are not rarely moved to laugh ter by his
words.