Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-05

OF GOVERNMENT WORK - PLAIN LIVING At
MISREPRESENTATION he Has TAUGHT TIE
YOUNG EMPEROR TO OBEY HIN.
Correspondence Of TIE EvExno srAn
BERLIN, Sept. 2O.-Of all the old men Of
Europe there Is none whose personality is
stronger or who attracts more attention than
Bismarck, the man Of blood and Iron. The
American stranger within Germany's gates for
the nrst time sees much Of interest Is well as
amusement. But the presence OF the soldier
everywhere draws attention to the fact that the
latch string is on the inside. and that those
within seem to expect war at any moment 1t
makes little difference where you 60 lin Germany,
or at what hour YOU 60. the soldier is ever pres
ent. You will see them In Cologne scores Of
them on the Rhine boats and trains, and a great
many thousands Of them at Mayence. Frankfort
on-the- Main. COblenz, Strasburg, Heidelberg.
| and they swarm the Utter den Linden at all
hours Of the day and night. They are big.
oroad-shouldered fellows. straight as American
| Ind ans, unobtrusive 10 manner, and apparently
| always on the alert for the unexpected. They
90 marching through the streets or saunter
Idly through the beer gardens and concert halls.
while the women of the family toll In the fields,
mend and SOW; in fact, do all the work that Is
| done about the house and farm. But these
women DO 1t uncomplainingly. l asked one
the Rhine If she did not think it mistake that
| her husband and sons were gaily dressed and
| wasting their time looking magnificent while
she toed SO hard She shook her head and
| replied 10 German that she was proud that the
nation wanted her husband and sons. She was
glad to give them up to it. She considered it
| her duty to do SO, and II she had had dozen
sons she would have given them up as uncOm-
Flainingy. l saw numerous evidences of the
| magnificent training and discipline of the Ger
4 IN a = nlyxAav 49, lnn
mon soldier whether the officer who meets him
belongs to his own regiment or not, or what the
circumstances, he comes to the full military halt
and salutes his superior promptly and properly
and remains 10 that position until The officer sa-
| iutes the soldier and passes on.
GERMAN SOLDIERS.
If there was nothing else worth seeing in
Germany, thousand OF these big, broad-shoul-
dered fellows on parade would repay the time
and money spent in the journey. Nowhere else
In the world will you see such magnlicently de-
veloped and well-drilled soldiers. The soldiers
OF France are like pgnies compared with them.
The soldiers Of Italy look like boys In soldiers
| clothes, and even 10 England with its bOasted
men OF great physique, they cannot compare to
the army of Germany. Some Of the English
regiments, like the Horse Guards, composed of
picked men. and the Royal Hghlanders, also
composed Of picked men, to be sure would as
tonsh the German generals. But there are not
many Of these. In Germany all the soldiers are
orawny fellows and seem to have been born to
march and fight.
1t is this great army of Germany that Bismarck
looks after as a mother treats spoiled child.
The chancellor Is quite feeble now, but. like the
sturdy oak. he may break. but seldom bends.
He has changed his views a great many times
upon great many topics, but his political creed
Is the same today as it was in the beginning.
He believes In Germany and the confederation
under the leadership Of Prussia. And he be-
lieves in the German soldiers.
What sort of q man IL Bismarck?
Much has been written about him, vet even in
Germany his personality, his method of life, his
method OF work and his own peculiarties are
known only to those who surround him.
VIEWING HIS OWN WORK.
may say that he is no longer q worker in
the sense that Americans mean work, for he has
passed that time Of lite. The hewing OF wood
and drawing OF water he leaves to others. He
simply looks on Low with satisfaction at his
own work, with the magnificent prospect Of
Germany; smiles at his adversaries, leads the
young emperor along the road he should take,
looks him calmly in the face and knows that his
sovereign believes 10 him and all Is well. He is
an early riser. All great men seem to have that
unfortunate popularity. Some Of Us who are
not great like to lie abed late In the morning.
Neither Bismarck nor Gladstone Is of these.
daylight the chancellor Is awake. He seems to
consider himself a sentinel on duty. He begins
his work early, but only such m alters as are Of
the utmost Importance are brought to him.
The details OF unmportant work he leaves to
Others. His son, Count Herbert Bismarck who
bids fair to become great diplom at some day.
shoulders most of it. But the old chancellor's
usefulness Is not over, aud when he wants to
he Is capable Of doing as hard days work as
any one In the empire.
HIS MIND AND HIS BODY
His body Is feeble, but his mind is still as Wig
orous as Il was when he kept all the great states
men OF Europe awake, thinking what new plot
he would spring on them. He sleeps in an un-
pretentious and plainly furnished room. Like
the old emperor, who has been laid away for
ever, he likes a military cot or iron bedstead.
Those who have seen his room say that 1t is so
unpretendng as to be almost uncomfortable In
these days of luxury There are none of the
modern cODveniences which are considered nee
essary even by those who are not quite well to
do. His morning meal Is a plain one and Is
usually taken In his room. After this such
business OF the nation as 1t Is important for him
to see and decide upon Is brought to him. If
there be important documents that need his sip-
nature or a conference Of ministers or heads of
departments. or If there be any episode of a ma
tional or International character he informs
himself thoroughly about 1t and discusses it
| frankly with his son and then with his chosen
advisers. After this he spends an hour or more
with the emperor. The old man has so nodded
the character OF the young man who now sits
upon the throne that only work or a look ia
necessary for royal approval. If anything were
needed to show that Bismarck Is man of iron.
1t Is found in the fact that he was one of the
few persons who looked so far into the future az
to see that William Ill would some day be en-
peror.
BISMARCK NODDED HIS CHARACTER
| to suit himself. and in doing so he taught the
boy to despise his own mother and England and
all that was English. The unfortunate ex-Em-
press Frederick, 1t may be sal d, has left Berlin
forever, unless the death Of Bismarck and the
return OF her sons love and respect should call
her thither. 1t may be all we'll enough to saw
| that the emperor loves his mother aud to point
to the TACT that he eagerly embraced his rOyal
grandmother upon his recent visit to Epgland
and TO give other evidences OF loyalty to his
mothers country and her family: but those who
know the facts well know that it 10 onIy for
show. Bismarck not only hates England with
all the ardor of his great nature but he mates
every other country 10 Europe, and he has
taught his emperor to do the same William III
loves and respects Bismarck. They are like
father and son. The young man does as he ia
told. He has never taken the bit in his mouth
yet, and he probably never will. Bismarck's
influence over him is really remarkable He
controls him In every way In O word. the
emperor is puppet In the chancelor's grasp.
STRONG REGULARITY.
One of the strong peculiarltes Of Bismarck
Is that he never forgives nor forgets The word
mercy Ia unknown to him. He had none even
for his empress when the Emperor Frederick
Law diving: he has even lAss for thoso uybc h..o