New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-13
COUNT HERBERT.
THE OBSTINATE BISMARCK NO. 81

Late on the evening of the Authors ball. neid
in the hall of the Central Hotel man entered
who was soon the centre Of attraction. ne WAS
giant in frame, standing fully six feet ana .nree
inches in height. A heavy mustache covereu MS
lip, which would have been an oinamcnt even IN
the DAYS when 10 was customary to speak Oh tps
boards OF the Germans, and correspondents IN i'e
blonde color to the luxurant locks OF curly nair'
His eyes were blue and projecting. ABOVE 'nen''
two iuttino eyebrows met, lending the face an
exnression determined and fierce His nose was
straight. well formed and prominent, his ioreheaa
low and without that breadth which pnyaoe
nonists require as feature Of high intellectuany
But the chin was full of power. Ills Dearins
was soldierly and his dress-suit htted nm WIZ"
the faultlessness of Prussian UNIFORM feopie
bowed before him, others fastened to pay moic
intimate and friendly greeting, and al turneu "
look at him. 1t was Count Herbert Bismarcis .ne
oldest son of the Chancellor. He received tne
introductionsnwhich followed in q patronizing WY
and showed an easy motion, tine bearing OF ~
aristoorat And yet one did not resent 1t. The
imperious manner seemed the natural ornament OF
a man gifted SO remarkably by nature
Greatness came suddenly 80 Count Herbert
Bismarck few ytars ago his name was rarely
heard People meeting him upon the street did
no6 know hiru from any other hne-loolung Ter
man But he Is to-day as much talked OF as MS
father. and Familiarity spoken OF 81 bismarck
No. O." In the promenades along the Linden
which Is the measure Of Prussan statesman
popularity, he attracts many sightseers AZ
royal scion, and the greetings are reverent ana
cordial He will soon enter his fortieth year he
studied at the gymnasium of Frankfort-on-the-
Main. where he was not particularly distinguished.
and took no honors In the graduating class lie
entered the First Dragon Guards to serve his
year voluntary" rs it is called, and was soon
after mustered into active service. For twelve
months, despite tho fact that he was the Prus-
sian Minister'S SON and the scion of SO noble
house he remained common private. " You see'
said Prince Bismarck, in speaking Of this " how
little nepotism there is with US. He has not been
promoted while others. who have not served one
month, are already ensigns." But at the battle
Of Marsla-Tour his regiment charged with brilliant
success the overpowering numbers OF the FRENCH
he displayed much bravery and was shot three
tdmes, being wounded In the thigh He was found
by his father in farmyard, bleeding profnsely,
and was removed to the Princes, headquarters
al Pont Mouson. Soon after he was created
an officer and given sub-command Of company
The Chancellor extremely proud Ut the strengan
OF Herbert and often tells Of visit TO his camp
during the war and Of finding the boy carrying
huge pig from the stable of neighboring farmer.
After the war; Count Herbert entered the Uni
yersity Of Berlin, and devoted himself 10 jurlsuc
branches Subsequently he went to Bonn, where
he took his degree. As student he inherited
the tastes of his flasher and was brilliant fighter
in bis corps. The marks Of those conflicts ne
still bears as diploma of bravery upon his cheek
His beerdrinlirg records are fully % famous as
those OF the toller Bismarck" Upon gradua-
ton the Count returned to Berlin and was at once
attached to the Prussan Embassy In Munich In
1876 he went to Berne In the same capacity, con-
tinuing, however, to act in way as his fathers
private secretary. In 176 he was assistant secre
tary TO the Congress of Berlin, and his statue, as
SUCH ever stands among the famous diplomats, IN
Berljn's Madame Tussaud's After serving with the
Garman embassies at London and st. Petersburg,
he was sent as Minister 10 The Hague, preliminary
TO his appointment in May, 1888, as Under Secre-
tarv of State for Foreign Affairs, and recently
Secretary OF State, with the title Of Excellency
Tins IN twelve years, Count Herbert has risen
from the unimportant post Of an attache TO the
highest position. save one In the gnu
of the German Emperor. Such Advancement
has up to the present ume' oeen
denied even TO princes OK the oiooo'
This exception was naturally due to the neporsm
OF Prince Bismarck The Chancellor waited iof
several years before deciding which OF his boys
should follow him. They were both secretaries
In his office But he finally decided upon Her
her, as the more capable Of the two. and began
his education.
Prince Bismarck is opposed to divulging State
secrets TO new and untried persons, and was de-
sirous OF having his son In q position whsre he
could act as his mouthpece, and this appointment
Of Count Herbert was welcomed by the Conserva-
"a fO ClancellOrS 3,
the greatest sinecurc in the State, bringing the
holder 10000 marks, together with dwelling
and additional perquisites The Prince himself
has hut 1900, with the famous palace in the
Wilhelmstrasse.
Young Bismarck has shown himself Schon-
hansen in independence and force. He Is as
stron owilled and even more obstinate than MS
father. when once he has TAX stand he is
| what the Germans call schneidig.' He Is am
bitious beyond measure, and 1t was with deep re-
gret that he learned Of his fathers declining the
ofrered dukedom He prefers the title OF Duke
% Prince. which he will doubtless one day be-
come although at present the title has not oeen
made hereditary, and he is simply Count his
| influence over the present Emperor, however, Is
oors,derablc and IL is his dream that history may
| saw ~ him that he was to Emperor William IL
what his father was TO the Emperor William l.
He has long been upon intimate terms with the
Emperor, who as Prince. was one Of his compan-
ions often, when riding ont, be would salute
Young Bismarck with that familiarity which be-
traved the relations between them. That too,
is result Of the Princes far-seeing policy. But
the similarity in the characters Of the two has
eemented their friendship, begun for political pur-
poses.
Count Herbert has long been member OF the
Reichstag where I remember him chiefly as
silent listener, rather than an active participant
in the debates He was regular attendant
however, and was always treated with the respect
which his name inspired He sat near Count Won
Moltke and the two became close friends. but
his silence was sphinx-hke. For that reason the
recent debate in the House where he represented
his father has been called his maiden speech. 1t
ups n surprise to the large audience which heard
i ..aad ~ 4ha corner ~ the MiniSfnr'R