, 1886-12-15
agRMANY's SILENT COUNT MoLTkE.


A Palmer Man Dos, Not Wafk tine streets
OF BerIin-severaI Aneedu,as.
On his beautiful estate OF Krei-au. 30
Silesia, purchased with the thousands
presented to him By a grateful p,oplu
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
26th 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 Gross" about his neck
he is a frequent and beloved sight. He
ha lost, il is true, his military bearing,
yet considering his advanced age. his
comparatively unbent figure is a matter
of surprise. Though not of imposing
appearance like the giant chancellor,
man. The high forehead, the earnest,
cold gray-blue eyes the aquiline nose,
the thin, wrinkled, closely-shaven face
are in perfect unison with the well-knit
and why 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 "A adjacent to a private insane
asylum with the intention of inspecting
them. lie 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 maj
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 secdy
stranger. Great was the anxiety AMI
profuse were the apologies of the direc.
tors, who visited Moltke to extend Il
special invitation for an inspection of
the asylum; entreaty was less effective
than command.
A similar story is related of Moltke in
Re%gensburg two years ago in the old inn,
now a famous hotel, where Don John OF
Austria, the hero of Lepanto, was born
more than three centuries ago. A quiet
gentleman in an old-fashioned suit ar
rived late n evening and asked for
lodging. The clerk. believing him poor
from his appearance, sent him to the top
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 n meaning smile crossed Moltke's
lips II he renowned the attic-room for
the best chamber in the house. 1t was
immaterial to him where he sta yed; 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 rs his sword. Such effeminacies
%aggravate him, as opposed to the char
acter Of the soldier. The young men re-
fuse to ride in any but iirst-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 his
would be successors. With this vehicle
he drives up and down the Linden,
keenly enjoying the shamefaced looks of
su%bordinates who pass him behind more
fiery chargers. If | am not mistaken,
Mollke is the only army officer who
holds Il %reichstag mandate. There is no
more conscientious member of parlia-
ment than the aged soldier; and "a
early us the session may be he is invari-
ably found i'll his place, rarely occupy,
ing the corner sofas and lobby-rooms,
even during the longest sittings. lie
follows the tedious debates with n will
ing ear, though he himself seldom speaks
unless the military budget is before the
house, which will happen in the coming
reichstag, OF upon some question on
nected with the army. There he is
naturally authority. lie is, however.
wofully non-eloquent; his sentences are
the short, pithy utteranccs of the sol
der, free from rhetorical beauty and
rounded periods; but logical and on
vincing.-Berlin Cor. New York Trib
une.