The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-08
AN EVENING WITH BISMARCK
How the Great Chancellor Enjoys Him.
self in Society and with Friends.
His Easy and Familiar Treatment of Public
Men-The Man of Blood and Iron
in an Affable Mood.
ShanJers' Journal.

The surprises that await the deputies and rep
Resentatiyes of the North German League when,
after hard days work and late supper, they
return, wearied'in body and mind to their Ber-
lin penates, are not, as rule. of a very cheer
ing description. They generally consist of large,
unwieldy packets of printed matter which con-
tain the orders for the next days imperial Diet,
and a mass of amendments on the coming
motions, ETC. Letters also, especially home ones,
form no small portion Of the evenings recrea-
ton. One may judge, therefore, of the general
surprise when among the pile of evening cor
;respondence short note appears from Prince
Bismarck to the effect that he would be greatly
obliged it Deputy or Privy Councillor So-and So
will give him the pleasure of his company every
Saturday evening at o'clock, commencing from
the oath of April, as long as the session of the
imperial Diet lasts"
AS everything connected with the Diet is car
ried out with military precision. SO here, also,
the hour of had hardly finished striking ere the
guests began to arrive at the we'll known, mod
est two-storied building in the Wilhelmstrasse,
which the Prussian government assigns to its
Minister for Foreign Affairs as his official resi-
dence, and which Prince Bismarck inhabited in
his three-fold capacity of Minister for Lauen-
burg. Prussian President Minister. and Chan
cellor of the North German League Here, on
the ground floor of the long, unadorned build
ing, are the work of the Prussian minis
terial officials On the first floor are the work
and reception rooms of Bismarck, as we'll as his
private family apartments At the back of the
house, where the noise and turmoil of the great
busy city never penetrate lies one of those beau
4iful old shady timbered parks, such as the royal
crown OF Prussia possesses, between the Will
helmstrasse and the Koenigstrasse, and, also, be-
tween the latter and the ENTHUSIASTICALLY
all, about a hundred acres.
At the entrance are the Inevitable constables,
saluting the guests as they arrive. Numerous
1ackeys in black and white livery hand the Wis
itor up the broad fight of stairs into an elegantly
furnished ante room. where those who wait to
see the Chancellor on business can, while in the
midst of the most harmonious surroundings Of
rich carpets, silken hangings and luxurious
seats, speculate as to what possible connection
the stuffed hare, standing so prominently for
ward on the sideboard, can have with the family
Of Bismarck.
more interesting sight. however, now
greeted US. The Chancellors wife. a tall, aristo
cratic looking woman with decided but pleasing
features and III an elegant though simple toilet
received each guest as he arrived with gracious
2ffability. Standing close beside the open por
there's past which the eye glanced into the fam
ally living rooms. she was true type of the po-
eition she holds both in home and public life A
mobile wife and mother. she has faithfully stood
by her husbands side from the very commence
ment of his public career. A Chicago paper de
ciares that Bismarck's wife is her husbands pri-
Tate secretaryi How far this statement is true
we do not pretend to say; but old friend of
Che family has repeatedly told US that, during
She saddest time that Germany has witnessed for
the last fifty years, when Bismarck, disheart-
@ned and disprited, retired to his email property
of SehGnhausen, there to vegetate as small
Prussian nd-owner, while brooding moody
over all his grand political schemes, his wife
never for moment lost ntart. hut mas- able to
inspire her husband with everfresh courage
aud hope
Those who have only seen Bismarck in pict
nres or heard him speak in the Diet, or even
met him in his walks, only know him from his
Official side and as the great statesman and dig
gnitary. But here, inside his own four walls,
with ample leisure, and surrounded by celebrated
and patriotic men, who all, more less, have
helped to advise, combat or further his work.
oue learns to know and recognize in the Prince
the real man and intelligent companion whose
mighty intellect Yields the affairs of nations
1--WE have often heard visitors who were present
Sat the sittings of the Diet declare that nothing
surprised them SO much as the information and
tpathos of Bismarcks voice when speaking. His
height his brows, his forehead, his chest, his
speeches, were all far greater and more power
fui than they had imagined; but his voice, either
Ewhen giving utteranoe to the dryest details, or
when startling his audience by some passionate
appeal, had something marvelousy soft and
winning in it. And they are not far wrong
Zone can always tell from the Princes words, by
Ehe sound of his voice, what his feelings are at
Ithe time, no matter how moderate his speech
may be- ard never vas this more distinct and
vivid than on these Saturday evenings
! Now he approaches our circle. II wished
much to see you here, gentlemen. 1t is so
much easier to talk and understand one another
here than in the Diet house' and he shook
hands all round Besides now, if YOU want to
interpellate me. or one of the Deputies or Prvy
Councillors you can do so quietly and at your
ease in a corner, and settle the whole affair in a
few minutes"
The Prince was right. Never before had the
necessity of familiar and friendly interc curse
been more apparent than during this session.
From various untoward causes the most crying
discord had arisen between the deputies and the
Diet, chiefly owing to neither party thoroughly
understanding the other.
From amid the rows of Deputies and Council
Ors emerged the porty form of the brave sRed
Becker" red in hair well as opinion-a living
proof that even Unborn democrat and agita-
tor can attain very comfortable rotundity
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 railway matters. had drasticaly
described the frightfu misuse, on the part of
the princey houses of Germany, of their right
ITO free carriage and telegraph. He had shown
Ehow the whole of the royal bill of fare had been
photographed free of charge; how endless tele-
graphic milliners' aud dress makers orders had
been sent free between the German courts and
Paris while the citizens dispatch on which
probably hangs both life and property, must
wait till the royal cook has ordered dollars
sworth of parsley by telegraph how, after that
all these huge parcels have to be sent carriage
free to their destination; and finally, he had
proved to the amusement of the house, by the
genealogical almanac, that in Lppe alone no
fewer than sixty princes and princesses had this
enborn right to postal freedom.
He now placed himself directly in front of the
Chancellor, in his favorte attitude. with his
hands behind his back. and looked mn 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 shamefuy
abusedP
But Bismarck only laughed heartily saving:
my dear Becker. believe me, / know of far
worse things
sTa1aadf pray than tall ,,s rovr1 ->... n,