The Wahpeton times., 1886-02-25
BISMARCK.

BISMARCK.
Recollections of an Evening with the
Great German Statesman.
Journal.
Those who have only seen Bismarck
in pictures or heard him speak in the
diet, or even met him in his walks, on
ly know him from his official side and
rs the great statesman and dignitary.
But here, inside his own four walls,
with ample leisure, and surrounded
by celebrated and patriotic men, who
all, more or less, have helped to ad-
wise, combat, or further his work, one
learns to know and recognize in the
prince the real man and intelligent
campanion whose mighty intellect
wields the affairs of nations. We
have often heard visitors who were
present at the sittings of the diet de.
clare that nothing surprised them so
much as the intonation and pathos
of Bismarck's voice when speaking.
His height, his brows, his forehead, his
chest, his speeches, were all far great
er and more powerful than they had
imagined; but his voice, either
when giving utterance to the driest
details or when startling his
audience by some passionate ap-
peal, had something marvellous
~ soft and winning in it. And they
are not far wrong. One can al.
ways tell from the princes words, by
sound OF his voice, what his feelings
are at the time, no matter how mod
crate his speech may be, and never
was this more distinct and vivid than
on these Saturday evenings.
Now he approaches our circle. II
wished much to see you here, gentle
men. It is so much easier to talk and
understand one another here than in
the Diet House!" and he shook hands
all around. Besides, now, if you
want to interpellate me, Or one OF the
deputies or prlvy councillors, you can
do so quietly and at your ease in q
corner, and settle the whole affair in
q few minutes"
The prince was right. Never before
had the necessity of familiar and
friendly intercourse been more appar-
ent than during this session. From
various untoward causes the most
trying discords had arisen between
the deputies and the diet, chiefly ow-
ing to neither party thoroughlyunder-
standing the other.
From amid the rows ofdeputies and
councillors emerged the portly form of
the brave "Red Becker" red in hair as
well as in opinions living proof that
even an inborn democrat and agitator
can attain a very comfortable rotund-
ity. Becker had surpassed himself
that morning in the diet. He, as the
permanent reporter of the chamber of
deputies and the diet, on all postal,
telegraphic, and railroad matters, had
drastically described the frightful mis-
use, on the part of the prlncely house
of Germany, of their ri ght to free car
riage and telegraph. He had shown
how the whole of the royal bill of fare
had been telegraphed free of charge;
how endless telegraphic milliners' and
dressmakers' orders had been sent free
between the German courts and p Paris;
while the citizens dispatch, on which
probably hangs both life and proper
ty, must wait till the royal cook has
ordered a dollars worth of ofparsley by
telegraph; how, after that, all these
huge parcels have to be sent carriage
free to their destination; and finally,
he had proved to thegreat amusement
OF the honse, by the genealogical al
manac, that in Lippe alone. no fewer
than sixty princes and princesses had
this inborn right to postal freedom.
He now placed himself directly in
front of the chancellor, in his favorite
attitude, with his hands behind his
back, and looked up at him with an
expression which seemed to say:
"Now had you any idea that this royal
prerogative of free post and telegraph
had been so shamefully abused?"
But Bismarck only laughed heartily,
saying: "My dear Becker, believe me,
I know OF far worse things"
s'Indeed! Pray, then, tell us some,
your excellency!' said "Red Becker"
with great animation.
''Nay; that l cannot do" replied
Bismarck. "My information comes
from the postmaster general at Phil
lipsborn, and he knows far worse things
than do"
,Agoup OF people had now come in
between us and the speakers.
A servant handed round tea; but
strange to say, there was no rum, so
little has Bismarck imbibed of Russian
habits and tastes, in spite of his long
sOjourno at St. Petersburg.
Here, again, in front. of one of the
cOuches, lay the head and skin OF a
splendid elk, another trophy of Bis
mArck's prowess as q sportsman.
The walls of this room were hung with
GLOW Gobeli ms Of sChiI.ase patterns"
nd furniture to correspond. By de-
grees all the guests had gradually con-
Megated in this room-deputies,
cOuncilors, ministers, admirals, secre-
taries, all mingled together There
WAS none of that reserve and strict
etiquette with which ministers usually
loyo to surround themselves, like q
wall OF division between them and the
people representatives, none of that
e0xclnsiveness and national party
spirit which, as q rule. is always pres
sent ii tho Diet, Very few uniforms
Nsre vsibis among the guests. The
n0Oks and corners, in which, accord
,f1g To Blsmaxck's b own words. the
4t affairs Of the state could be set
lssd s,s,Sa s,.i 4 - -