New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-22

- regret to decline, but / am Obliged since
have been in the Foreign Office, to make 1t rule
to refuse invitations except to Court 1 never
know at what moment / may be wanted The
business of the State before everything-that is
the motto in Germany.
What heard from such persons likely to know
as have met here is that Count Herbert, who
began late, has developed the most extraordinary
aptitude for work, and especially for that varied
aud difficult work which has been his fathers
for SO long time and which can only be called
governing an Empire 1t is sometimes SAID IN
England that next after the Prime Minister, the
most powerful man in the kingdom is the Prime
Minister'S private secretary. lie knows every
thing, he is in ell the secrets his influence with
his chief must be decisive on vast NUMBER Oh
questions, personal questions especially. Well
Count Herbert is Prince Bismarck's private secre-
tary in this English sense, as well as his colleague
in the Ministry. The conduct OF foreign AFFAIRS
which is his special department. is Of course, shared
with the Chancellor, who, indeed, may be said TO
be for many purposes sole Minister. Cabinet IN
the English meaning of the word, there is none
An English Prime Minister may be, and sometimes
is, voted down in his own Cabinet. The mag
ination refuses to picture Prince Bismarck as the
hero OF such scene He is much more in the
position Of the President of the United States,
with group Of able clerks about him, adorned
with the title of Cabinet Ministers. The VIII
which impresses itself on Germany is the Will OF
single man. For the dispatch Of business moth
ing could be more convenient than this confidential
relation of father and son. You can have no
idea' said an Ambassador, how quickly things
are done in the Berlin Foreign Office. 1t is only
because Count Herbert is SO close to the Chancellor
knows his mind, knows what he wants and docs
not want, and can and does If in doubt, consult
him instantly" heard from Count Herbert him
self sort of converse to that remark lie was
speaking Of Mr. Pendleton. We see much less
of him here at the Foreign Office than we should
like. Our relations with your country are so
friendly that the interests of Germany and America
require little discussion, and Mr.. Pendleton is
man of business. and the discussion is soon over"
And 1 heard with pleasure, which all Americans
will share, that Mr. Pendleton's diplomatic reputa-
ton and social position in Berlin were alike all
that he or we could wish
OF America, Count Herbert Won Bismarck spoke
in the tones of that friendship which is traditional
in German diplomacy. With him. at any rate,
it is also hereditary for Prince Bismarck has often
expressed it-yes, and proved it more than once.
He spoke Of the five millions OF
Germans in America-nay, he was more
accurate than that" nearly five millions was his
phrase-with double affection they were both his
countrymen and ours. He spoke Of the late En-
peror and the present. of his father; Of his own
friends in England; Of the tributes that had come
from abroad to the memory Of the late Emperor,
which he warmly acknowledged and Of many
other things, all which must pass over in silence
The stream flowed on full and strong for an hour.
He sat at his great desk in the large audience and
business room-for it is both in one-masses OF
To- aI,nuf fair
but all the while talked with his whole mind and
with complete absorption in the one subject that
occupied him for the moment He resembled in
that every very able man have ever met There
can be perhaps no very able man In public Life
deficient in that power Of entire concentration OF
thought. What he had to say he said with the
energy, the deep sincerity which alone makes any
serious talk ever effective. Once or twice as he
turned in profile the almost hidden mouth and the
curves of the sculptured chin had a likeness to
Napoleon's-the real Napoleon's. deep fire
burned in the dark brown eyes. He used words In
a way which few foreigners ever attain to,--the
Emperor's malady, for example, was such cow
ardly dlsase."
Over and over again, thought rs
I listened and loOked-Who would recognize
the Herbert Bismarck of English drawing-rooms Of
few years ago Grcnt duties great responsibilities
have sot their seal upon him, elevated his charac
ter brought out his inner qualities and capacities,
done him that service they do to every man whom
they do not crush He may or may not have in
him the transcendent genius, the commanding
nature and gifts of his father. Time will show,
and Count Herbert is still young. But this will
say, that after having met most Of the first men
in Europe, it seems to me the list has now to be
enlarged to include the name of Count Herbert
Won Bismarck. ! saw him on such terms that for
the liberty / take in this account Of my visit,
owe him excuses. II he will remember that,
whether in private or public he is great figure
in the Imperial life Of Germany, yet still unfamiliar
to those in America for whom write, he WILL
trust, forgive my indiscretions G. w. s.