Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-06

realistic novelists of that country. In his
younger days he was great gambler, and
| it is on record that he has not bet on card
| for many day. He is great smoker and
prefers the old-fashioned pipe to cigar
| In personal appearance he is very stoop-
| shouldered, and when walking leans heavily
| on his cane His clothes are i'll fitting, but
| his eve is clear and the firm mouth is easily
discerned through a gray mustache that
hardly covers his lips.
There is scarcely anything remarkable in
his house at Friedrichsruhe. 1t is abso-
lutely plain. The furniture is of the sim
plest character. There are evidences here
and there of the handwork of woman, but
no great paintings decorate the walls, and
his library is filled with choice but mex.
pensive assortment of books. Portraits Of
his wife, his daughter and his sons, of Won
Moltke, of Cardinal Hohenlohe, OF
Thiers, of Beaconsfeld, of Gladstone
whom he has served decorate his walls.
THE CHANCELLoR's HOME.
A recent visitor to Bismarck's home, in
describing the place, says that although
some of the rooms contain much that is
plain, others show evidences of luxury and
of decidedly historic Importance. In the
drawing room the floor is covered with a
rich carpet, there are three freplaces here,
where, as soon as the cold. weather sets in.
blazing logs light up the room and make it
warm and cheerful. There is an abundance
of couches, sometimes two and three in one
room. The dining room is severely plain.
Its chief adornment is the bronze statue of
the Emperor given by himself to Bismarck.
There is bronze imitation of Niederwald,
which stands in fine oak cupboard in the
smoking room. A leafet is attached to it,
with the following words written in the
Emperor's own hand: christmas, 1883.
The crowning stone of your policy A fes-
tival destined chiefly for you and which
you unhappily were not able to attend.
W." In Bismarck's study there is a
small card table bearing brass plate, on
which is an English inscription to the effect
that on the table the preliminary peace be-
tween Germany and France was signed at
Versailles in 1871. When opened there ap-
pears the central round of green cloth with
the verv candle spots that were there when
Bismarck and Favre put their names under
the treaty. Bismarck often laughingly ex-
plains how he became possessed of this curl
osity. 1t required some diplomacy even on
the part of the great diplomat. The landlady
of the house, who owned the table, obstinate
ly refused to part with it tor any considera-
tion of money, so as a last resort Bismarck
called In a cabinet maker ond ordered him
to make another table exactly similar. When
the twins were put side by side the landlady,
womanlike, decided in favor of the new and
shiny table. and Bismarck triumphantly
carried off the old one. Ii the Chancellor's
study and bedroom is plain to severity, the
guest rooms, situated on the first floor, are
distinguished by comfort, ease and luxury.
A SILENT MAN.
1t is happy home, as those who have
been entertained there will testify. In it its
owner forgets, so far as he can, all strife
The torch of hate is put out. There is no
thought ofwar, but instead there is feasting
and music the prattle of children's voices
and an air of quiet and peace that bodies
we'll for Germany. The silent man, the man
of blood and iron, the man who has put the
standard OF craftsmanship and diplomacy so
high that his successors will have great diff
fcultv in reaching It, the most hated and best
loved man in Europe. is nearing the end,
disguise it as much as his friends will
What his thoughts are amid the scenes of
revelry in which his children ard his grand
children take part no one can tell, for he has
few confdants, if any. If his life had been a
failure in every other respect, he would still
be great, for he has taught one magifcent
lesson to statesmen, which is the value of
silence. FREDERIC SANBURN.