The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-25
BISMARCK AS MAN AND MINISTER.

very entertaining sketch of Bismarck in
the North American Reuiep:
did you personally meet Bismarck
What do you think of him ?" "rhese," !"
says Mr.. Kasson, ''are the questions
promptly addressed oevery notable per-
son returning from Germany to the els
atlantic continent. Though the speech
be of Germany, the thought is always
of Bismarck" Mr.. Kasso1 says that
he had the honor of the German Chan
cellor's personal acquaintance, and
thinks he can avoid doing any positive
injustice to this industrious and busy
life."
At the start, he sums up Bismarck,
the public man, in this manner
Intense personal convictions OF duty to
king and fatherland, combined with
moral fearlessness which compels admira-
ton, have created historic figure which
is destined to remain long in the popular
memory. The world has at last discover
ed man, and still stands looking at him
in sort of maze. 1t would fain touch
| him to see if he is of human flesh and
blood, or whether he be an ogre, in
whose arteries flows molten fire, whose
hands are of iron, and whose heart is of
granite. Is that towering form, sur
mounted by its magnificent brain, alto
gether human or altogether super-inhu-
man? An italian at the close of the war
of liberation might answer one way, a
Frenchman, at the end of 1871 another
way and the Germans themselves, at this
moment, both ways.
Bismarck, it appears, was born ''at
the plain family seat of Schonhausen,
on the 1st of April, 1916" All Europe
was then at war. England, Russia and
Prussia were striving to crush Napoleon.
So "the earliest influences that made
an impression on the youthful mind of
Bismarck were those of bold and self
sacrificing Prussian patriotism, with
sharp hostility to the French" and of
the glorious services of Blucher at Wa
terloO.
At the age of six years, he was sent
to school at Berlin, to prepare for a uni
versity course in law. AS child he
was kind and affectionate, and was
''rarely amenable to censure.n AT
seventeen, he went to the University of
Gottengen. AT that time 'he was tall,
rather slender, carried himself erectly,
1 aKithzans air which did not inHitaf fa,nil.
iarity, but which neither then repelled,
nor now repels, those whose intercourse
with him is marked by self-respect and
respect for him." At the university
the wild liberty of the student life took
possession of him. He neglected the
lectures, but fought twenty duels during
the first three terms" At the time of
examination he gathered himself to-
gether," and managed to take his de-
gree. Then came his service as clerk
of the city police, and in certain judi
cial and administrative capacities. In
1888 he entered the military service
For time in early manhood, he was
undoubtedly wild" and was even
called mad Bismarck" But, in 1S47.
he married, most fortunately and hap
PLY, and settled down finally to his
great career.
Mr.. Kasson tells this interesting story
of Bismarck's first decoration -
While he was serving in the Uhlan
Cavalry in 1S42, his groom who was the
son of forester on his estate, rode into
the lake to give the horse BATH Miss
ing his footing, the rider was thrown and
disappeared in the water. Bismarck was
standing with group of officers on the
bridge, and saw his sinking groom. In
an instant his sword and uniform were on
the ground, and he leaped into the lake.
He found the struggling man and seized
him. But in the blind agony of drown
ing man he clung so tightly to his master
that Bismarck, helpless, was obliged to
| dive with his burden to loosen the hold.
1t seemed both we're lost. But, soon
after, bubbles rose TO the surface, follow
ed by Bismarck, who in the depths had
| detached the grip of the man, and now
appeared dragging his groom with him,
and swan to the shore The inanimate
form was restored to life and on the fol-
lowing day to duty. For this act he
received the Prussian medal for "Rescue
from Peril" which was his first decora-
ton, and he proudly wore it when he had
no other. Nor has he since abandoned
it, for it finds its place still amid the
highest orders which European mon
archs have since showered upon his
breast. His friends are fond os telling
his answer to much decorated diplo-
matlst who, seeing this lonely medal on
his young colleagues coat, inquired what
decoration it was. Herr Won Bismarck,
who at that time had no title and had
earned no courtly decoration, looked
him hard in the eye and said: ~ ala in
the habit sometimes of saving a mans
life.
Bismarck has a strong religious nat
ure, and pertinaciously insists that
Christianity should lie at the founda-
tion of government. Mr. Kasson quotes
thus, from one of the Chancellor's let
ters to his wife: