Wichita eagle., 1889-04-20
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The IRON CHANCELLOR.
Pen Pictures from the Letters of
John Lothrop Motley.
A Much Pleasanter View OF Bismarck's
Character Than That Which Has Be-
como Familiar to the PubIic-His
Interesting Home Life.


character than that with which the public
q has been made familiar. Here, says the
Pail Mall Gazette, is picture of Bismarck
I at Frankfort il July, 1855:
The Bismarcks are as-kind as ever-I
am there all day long, 1t is one of those houses
where every one does what one likes. The
show apartments where they receive formal
company are on the front of the house. Their
living rooms, however, are a salon and dining
room at the back, opening upon the garden.
Here there are young and old, grandparents
and children. and dogs all at once, eating,
drinking, smoking, piano-playing, and pistol
playing Tin the garden), all going on at tho
same time. tits one of those establishments
where every earthly thing that can be eaten or
drank is offered you-porter, soda-water, small
peer, champagne, burgundy or claret are
about all the time, and every body is smoking
the best Havana cigars every minute.
AS companion picture here is sketch
>of visit TO Varzin:
We had an hour and halls drive from the
station to Varzin. AS the position sounded
his trumpet and we drove up TO the door, Bis
rarck. his wife, NJ, and H, all came
out to the carriage and welcomed US in the
most arectionate manner. / found him little
changed in appearance since "a, which sur
prises me. He is somewhat stouter, and his
ace more weather-oeaten, but as expressive
and powerful as ever. Nine. de Bismarck is
bat little altered IN the fourteen years that
have passed since ! saw her. They are both
most kind and agreeable to Lily and she feels
already as II she had known them all her life.
III is pretty girl, with beauti-
ful dark hair and gray eyes-simple, unaffected,
and, like both father and mother, full Of fun.
The manner Of living is most unsophisticated,
es you will think when tell you that we were
Snarched straight from the carriage into the
q ning-room (after a dusty, hot journey by rail
md Of nj DO
6own and go on with the dinner, which was
about half through, as, owing TO a contretemps,
we did not arrive until an hour after we were
expected After dinner Bismarck and had
long walk IN the woods, he talking all the time
In the simplest and funniest and most interest
Ing manner about all sorts of things that had
happened IN these tremendous years. but talk
ing OF them exactly as everyday people talk of
everyday matters-without any afectation.
The truth is he is SO entirely simple, SO full Of
- 'sseZ -aller, that one is obliged TO be saying
ones self all The time: This is the great Bis
Irck-thc greatest living man, and one of
greatest historical characters. In
lie evening We sat about most promiscuously
some drinking tea some beer, some settler
water; Bismarck smoking pipe. He smokes
little now, and only light tobacco in pipe.
When last knew him he never stopped smok-
Ing the strongest cigars Now he tells me he
gould not to save his life smoke single cigar.
the irregularity OF the hours is great. usually
came downstairs as well as Lily, between niue
and ten. Mime. de Bismarck, NJ, and the
sons came in promiscuously and had breakfast
with as. Bismarck came down about eleven.
His breakfast is very light-an egg and cup
or coffee-and then he has meerschaum pipe.
While he is sitting there and talking TO
al Of US his secretary hands him the
piles of letters with which he is goaded
IN his retirement and with lead PEN
ell about a foot long makes memoranda as to
the answers and other disposition TO be made.
Meanwhile the boys are playing billiards in an
other part of the room, and a big black dog
called Sultan" is rampagfng generally
through the apartment and joining in every
bodys conversation. After breakfast
Bismarck and / always took q long walk, dur
ing which he was always talking-generally
about the events of the French war. I have
gwen so many specimens in my letters to you
and Susan and Mary that it would be foolish to
attempt sending any more small bricks as
specimens of the house. The nominal dinner
hour was three but We rarely sat down earlier
than q quarter to four. No dinner dress ng or
evening costume. Dinner always good and
simple; wine excellent.
In letter dated April, 1868, Bismarck
wrote:
hate politics. but, as you say truly, like the
grocer hating figs, am none the less obliged
10 keep my thoughts increasingly occupied
with those figs l never thought that
h my ripper years should be obliged to carry
Dr. such an unworthy trade as that OF Par
Lamentary Minister. AS envoy, although
only oracial still had the feeling OF being
gentleman; as Parliamentary Minister one
Is helot. have come down in the world, and
hardly know how. l am sitting again
In the House OF Phrases; hear people talk non
sense and end my letter. Your battles
are bloody, ours wordy; these chatterers really
ran not govern Prussia. Now, an affec-
Eonate farewell
Here is Mr.. Motley's description of the
Empress Frederick, whom he met as Crown
Princess At Vienna:
The young Crown Prin cess OF Prussia (Prin-
cSss Royal OF England) was here for three days
n little while ago. The morning after her ar
rival received note from my colleague, the
Prussan Minister, in whose house she was
staying, informing me she was DESTROYS of
making my acquaintance, having been lately
ding my works, etc, and requesting me to
caIl that morning. This accordingly did and
was received kindly by the young Princess and
her husband, and spent an agreeable half-hour
with them quite alone. She is rather petite,
has fresh, young face with pretty features,
fne teeth and a frank and agreeable smile, and
an interested, earnest and intelligent manner.
Nothing con be simpler or more natural than
her style, which should say was the perfec-
mourning. She said many complimentary
things about my writings, and, indeed, l may
Say that heard from others-Lord Bloomfield
and Baron Werther, for instance-that she
was one OF my most enthusiastic readers. i
say this because i think it will please you.
She had also been reading Froude, whom she
much admired 1 told her that he was a friend
OF mine, and that L too, entertained the high
est opinion OF HIM as historian, although he
nad by no means converted me to his faith in
Henry VIII. The Princess was evidently dis
posed 70 admire that polygamous party, and
was also great adorer OF Queen Elizabeth.
Whence concluded that she had not read nv
last two volumes as she would hardly have
expected entire sympathy from me in this re-
spect told her that although / had great
respect for Queen Elizabeth's genius and &C.
complshments and energy, was not one OF
her thick and thin admirers. She spoke Of
Carlyle's las: work. mean his History OF
Frederick the Great" 1 said that Carlyle's
works seemed 10 me magnificent wonderful
monuments of poetry and imagination pro-
found research and most original humor.
AtnDugfcLrS