Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-12-31
GERMANY'S SILENT COUNT MoLTKE.
A Palmer Man Does Not Walk the Streets

A Palmer Man Does Not walk the Streets
of Berlin-Several Anecdotes.
On his beautiful estate of Kreisau, in
Silesa, purchased with the thousands
presented to him by grateful people
after Konniggratz and Sedan, Count
Moltke celebrated his seth birthday. An
enemy of all ostentation and pomp it is
Moltke's custom to flee the city on the
Goth of October in order to preclude all
demonstration of love and homage. A
palmer man does not walk the streets of
Berlin. Clothed in his field marshal's
uniform-a title which only he and the
crown prince bear-with the highest or
der of the Iron Cross" about his neck
he is a frequent and beloved sight. He
has lost it is true, his military bearing,
yet considering his advanced age, his
comparatively unbent figure is matter
of surprise. Though not of imposing
appearance like the giant chancellor,
Moltke is certainly remarkable looking
man. The high forehead, the earnest,
cold gray-blue eyes the aquiline nose,
the thin wrinkled, closely shaver face
are in perfect unison with the well-knit
and wiry frame. But upon many peo-
pie these characteristics make little i'm
preston.
A few weeks ago, while in the neigh
borhood of Dresden, Moltke entered the
grounds adjacent to a private insane
asylum with the intention of inspecting
them. He being in civilians dress-and
that anything but the latest London
make-the attendant, not knowing him,
ordered him to quit the place. With
the true instinct of the soldier the mar
shall at once retracted his steps without
deigning to reveal his name or rank.
But one who knew him noted the
occurrence and repaired to the institu-
ton to reveal the identity of the seedy
stranger. Great was the anxiety and
profuse were the apologies of the direc-
tors, who visited Moltke to extend a
| special invitation for an inspection of
the asylum; entreaty was less effective
than command.
A similar story is related of Moltke in
Regensburg two years ago in the old inn,
now famous hotel, where Don John of
Austria, the hero of Lepanto, was born
"A
| gentleman in an old-fashioned suit ar
rived late one evening and asked for
lodging. The clerk, believing him poor
from his appearance, sent him to the tor
| floor. He mounted the wearying steps
with no word of complaint and entered
the dark, unfriendly room, where he
quickly made himself at home The
waiter who had accompanied him re-
turned, expressing the suspicion that the
stranger was Count Moltke. The hotel
register was at once sent up according to
German fashion and it confirmed the
suspicion. Intending apologies followed,
but a meaning smile crossed Moltke's
lips and he renounced the attic-room fol-
the best chamber in the house. 1t was
immaterial to him where he stayed; the
discontinue of mine host" only amused
him.
The dandy officer with his monocle
tight trousers and bracelet, is the scape
goat of Moltke's wit, as cutting and de
structive as his sword. Such effeminacies
aggrav ate him, as opposed to the char
acter of the soldier The young men re-
fuse to ride in any but first class cabs
fearing to lower their dignity. YET
Moltke, the next in command to the
emperor, almost invaribly chooses a sec
ond- class "Droschke" to rebuke hii
would be successors. With this vehicle
he drives up and down the Linden,
keenly enjoying the shamefaced looks Of
subordinates who pass him behind more
fiery chargers. If l am not mistaken
Moltke is the only army officer who
holds a reichstag mandate. There is nc
more Conscientious member of parlia-
ment than the aged soldier; and as
early as the session may be he is invari.
ably found in his place, rarely occupy.
ing the corner sofas and lobby-rooms
even during the longest sittings. He
follows the tedious debates with a will
ing ear, though he himself seldom speaks
unless the military budget is before thu
house, which will happen in the coming
reichstag, or upon some question con
nected with the army. There he il
naturally authority. He is, however
wofully non-eloquent; his sentences are
the short, pithy utterances of the sol
der, free from rhetorical beauty anC
rounded periods; but logical and con
vincing Berlin Cor. New York Trib
une.