Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-25
BISMARCK THE BOLD.
YoYHooD, STUDENT LIFE, AND EARLY
BERLIN DAYS.
Hardening Young otto-A Spirited Youth
and skilled swordsman-Kis
Life at Gottingsn.
lphilsdeiphia Rocori.]

Otto Won Bismarck, 10 his own great
snd lasting regret, was sent to school at
Al earlier age than it is usual to remove
9 German boy from the kindly influence
OF the home circle. His father had i'm
bibed certain notions about the value of
the hardening process in education,
and young Otto was sent TO the Plamann
Institute, in Berlin, at that time
famous school. The system in vogue.
however. was almost uncomfortable to the
sensitive boy, and he has confessed of
late wears that the sight OF laborers work.
lnC in q plouehed field, or anything that
reminded him of his homo in Pome-
rania, would set him TO weeping.
The masters, who were followers
O. old jain. were especially disliked by
lin. They forced him 10 take part in
athletic exercises which were beyond his
strength, and believed that low regi-
uca and exposure would tend 70 harden
lim nor were they any the less rigorous
because Of his noble birth. The proud
la3 rcbelled against such treatment, aud
spohe with contempt of the democratic
doctrines of the masters ; nor does he
seem at this time to have made many
trends among his school-fellows.
Later on he entered the Frederick
William Gymnasium, where he at
tractcd the attention of the distin-
ruisled Dr. Bonnell, who never lost his
Asiug for the bright-faced boy. After
ward ne WAS transferred to the Berlin
gymnasium, aud thence TO the Graue
ostsr. where he remained until be left
ie capital for the University of Coffin
c,n. During the last years OF his school
.ie he was an inmate of DIR. Bonnell's
t.use. and the kind Professor has him
ee.i told how much he was interested in
tie hoy. "This is q nice boy; I'll keep
my eye on him, the professor had said
o. himself on first seeing young Bis
m4rck at the Frederick William Gym
rasium, and in after DAYS he wrote
60 In every respect he was an attractive
hoy. He seldom quilted us of an eve
mig, and II | was absent, as sometimes
Mppened. he would converse in a con-
& ling and innocent manner with my
WIFE He showed strong love Of do
nestle lie and won our hearts
BY HIS BoYIsH ADVANCES"
The good Doctor lived to see his pupil
ecome famous man and Prime Minis
tcr If Prussia; nor was he or his family
FORGOTTEN by Bismarck. The weary
statesman used 10 look up at the window
ol the little room he had occupied while
lie lived with Professor Bonnell, no
doubt dreaming of old days and lost
companions but changes have been
made in the house and the window is
now built up.
As schoolboy Bismarck seems to
have displayed marked preference for
the study of history, more especially for
that Of his native Prussia and the other
States Of the old German Confederation.
He wrote Latin with considerable facili-
*. though with but a moderate degree of
correctness. The decision on prize es-
say written by him in 1892, at which
time he was sixteen years Of age, was,
CRATIC est lucids &C Latina, sed non
salts castigata" The language is clear
and Latin, but stands in need of correc-
tom
Like all true schoolboys, young Bis
narck lOnged for the freedom of a holi-
iay. and even accepted the dangers of
cholera with the philosophic hope that it
might release him from his studies. In
1881 there was general cholera mania
in Germany. and Bismarck's father had
written 10 him to return home as soon rs
the first case should appear in Berlin.
This was an order that young Otto was
only too anxious 20 obey. and that he
might anticipate the advent Of the dis
ease. he hired horse and several times
rode ont toward Frederick's Field, dis
trict in which the doctors expected
the cholera TO make its first APP
pearance. On returning from one OF
these excursions, however. his horse fell
with him and he was carried to Professor
BOnnells house with a sprained leg.
The boy was put to bed, and, to his in
tense disgust, WAS forced to lie there and
quietly await the approach OF the dreaded
disease, his happy visions of holiday
il Pomerania fading away from him.
When he became convalescent and was
finally strong enough to undertake the
journey 10 KniephOf the most stringent
had been taken 70 prevent the
spread Of the cholera, and to the light
hearted schoolboy the incidents OF the
trip were of the
MOST LAUGHTER-PRoyoKIEG CHARACTER.
Travellers by stage, for instance, might
uot alight in the towns where a change
was necessary; but the coaches drove
s.io hy side until their doors touched,
and the passengers were thus transferred,
while the local watch paraded with pixies
and halberds. in a manner that reminded
tie bow Of Falstaff and his recruits. In
one village where refreshments were
scryed TO the hungry travellers he was
allowed TO descend from the coach, but
rot 10 enter house, a table having been
spread IN the open street, at which the
bow breakfasted on bread and butter
and tea. while the terror stricken IN
aabitants watched him from n dis
lance. When yourg Bismarck called
~ a waitress to pay for his meal she
turned and fled from him, wildly scream
Ing. and he was forced 10 leave the
money living on the table. The doctors
themselves had lost their heads, and
when the schoolboy reached Naugard he
vas put into quarantine by being locked |
up IN the police Office, and he was SUD !
ec,ed 70 q repetition OF this treatment
ca arriving at his native place. On |
fnany reaching his home he found that /
bic mother had placed the entire estate !
under the severest quarantine laws and !
had engaged a retired military surgeon /
named Geppert, who had treated cases |
g cholera In Russia, 10 look after her own /
household. Holidays such as these were I
20: 10 young Bismarcks liking, and be
was rather glad when he was permitted
10 return TO bis studies at Berlin and the
kind care Of DR.. Bonnell. i
II Bismarck had been a gentle ana
7bediept boy, the true spirit OF Junker
made itself manifest as soon as he be.
zane a student at Gottingen and good
DR.. Bonnell, if he had heard OF his for,
ner pupils mad ways Of living, must
have had grave
FoEEBoDrHGs AS TO HIS FUTURE.
Before the freshman had made any nc
luaintances among the students ne gave
. Marty 10 a number of non-uniyerslty