The Washington critic., 1888-03-31
roRRBoDrNes AS TO HIS FUTURE.


versity men,and during the feast bot
tie was thrown from the window. The
next morning young Dominus de Bis
marck received a summons to appear
before the dean. Attired in a costume
that made him the wonder even Of
his fellow-students, and accompanied
by huge mastiff, he called on that
severe official The dog itself was IL
legal as the possession of student,
and Herr Otto was at once fined five
thalers. Then the dean wished him
to explain the manner in which that
bottle had flown out of the window,
endangering the heads of the good
burghers of Gottingen. Bismarck as
sured him in the coolest possible way
that it was tossed out, and that he
himself had thrown it. After listen
ing to a lecture from the dean and
paying the fine, he sauntered back to
his chambers, his long dressing gown,
in connection with riding boots and a
tall hat, exciting laughter and COM
ment among the lounging students in
the street, to none of whom he was as
yet known. Young Bismarck took
umbrage at this, and turning to four
Hanoverians he declared one of them
to be dumme Junger. In return for
this compliment he had the pleasure
of receiving four successive chal-
lenges, surely enough to satisfy
even this Pomeranian Hotspur.
Having at this time no swords
of his own he borrowed weapons
from the corps of Brunswickers and
began practicing with his customary
energy. In the meantime, however,
a llanovcrian, who lived in the same
house with young Bismarck, had dis
covered that he was formed of true
stuff and would make fine chum. 50
he therefore induced his four com
panions to revoke their challenges,
and Freshman Otto became member
of their fighting corps. This, though
Bismarck had acted in ignorance of
the code, was a grave breach of eti-
quette, and the Brunswickers
WERE IN A GREAT RAGE,
The consenior of their corps felt
called upon to challenge the Pome-
ranian freshman. The challenge was
accepted with alacrity; the two com
batants met at the appointed time,
and after some vigorous sword play
the cousenior was led away with q
slash across his cheek. This victory
gave young Otto an immense prestige
among his fellow students, which he
maintained by taking part in twenty
seven other duels and coming out of
them without wound, the scar which
may still be seen on his cheek having
been caused by the breaking of an ad-
versary's blade. Ithas been said that
the persistent opposition of the
diminutive leader Of the Clerical party
IL the Reichstag should be attributed
o his recollections Of old fencing
bouts rather than to his dislike Of the
Chancellor's policy.
If at Berlin there had been less use
made of the sword than at Gottingen,
here did not follow any improvement
II his habits of study. He even ne
elected the lectures of the famous
Savigny, and the other pro-
fessors knew him not. How he
passed his State examination so
treditably it would be diff
cult to explain; probably he read
in private during the last semester,
and thus mastered the common tech
nicalitics Of the law. AS an auscultator
he more than once succeeded in aston
ishing the court to which he was
attached. On one occasion Berlin
citizen was giving testimony in a
peculiarly tedious and trying manner.
and was inclined, moreover, to be
somewhat sarcastic in his reference to
the court. AS he was not vet schooled
in patience, young Bismarck lost his
temper and said: "If you do not give
your testimony more clearly and di-
rectly | will kick YOU out of court"
"Herr Auscnltator," mildly inter
posed the Judge,
THE KICKING OUT rs MY BUSINESS" F"
The testimony was continued, but
the witness proved to be one of the
incoIrigible sort, and the hot-headed
auscultator felt called upon to admon-
ISL him Il second time.
Witness" he cried, "if you don't
give your testimony in different
manner ] will get The court to kick
you out of court.
This kicking aside of an obstacle is
thought by many persons to be still
characteristic of the great German
statesman.
Like almost all ancient families, the
Bismarcks are the fortunate possess.
ors of ghost-an intangible pres
ence that glides about the halls oil
Schonhausen in the lonely night
hours, disturbing the slumbers Of the
Chancellor and his guests. He is as
deficient in originality, however, as il
is possible for q shade to be, anc
merely tramps audibly about the ole
house or throws himself heavily dowr
upon the floor, as though weary of tn,
part he was forced TO perform in thii
sceptical age. He is said to be ghos
with leaning toward literature, anC
passes the greater part of the night ii
the library, whore he probably de
votes himself to works in the deaC
languages. During the absence o
Prince Bismarck and his family, whci
Schonhausen is sometimes left il
charge Oft single servant this aristo
cratic shade becomes less decorous il
manner, and performs pranks thai
would do credit to the maddest Junk
ers. A German in Il livery coat has
usually served for many years in the
army, and is not likely to be maj
whose nerves are easily shaken, anC
the Chancellor's old retainers accep
the ghost with stolid resignation
When he awakens one Of them, in tn
dead waste and middle of the night
by breathing chill breath upon th
sleeper, the veteran merely grumblc
something about the atmospher
of the better world, and turns owe
and goes to sleep again
Either out of respect for his higl
abilities. or because he knows th
Chancellor does not require II ghost l.
keep him awake, having been 70
many years sufferer from insomnia
the master Of Schonhauscn is usual
| left IN peace: but on one occasion tn