Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-06-14
BISMARCK AT HOME.
The Daily Life at Frederiok's Rest-A
Modest Home in a Forest.

Modest Home in a Forest.
In my last letter, writes a correspon-
dent of the New York Tribune, l told
you 1 would write description of
Friedrichsruhe and the daily life of
Bismarck in that residence, if the rum
ors about his resignation were confirmed.
So they are now, and the greatest of all
Germans will now live as a private
citizen at his castle of Friedrichsruhe.
"Frederick's rest," was originally a
hunting rendezvous, built in 1853 by
Count Frederick Won Lippe Sternbery
and Schwabenberg Near by was an
ancient hostelry, called Frascati by its
proprietor, a retired valet of the Berlin
princes.
When Emperor William, who owned
the place in his quality of Dnke of Lauen-
burg, made a present to Bismarck of
the domain upon which Frascati stood,
the Iron Chancellor remodeled the hotel
and made it his country residence, to
the great annoyance Of the Hamburg
bourgeois, who used to come there for
picnics. There are no neighboring cot
tages around, and Bismarck is not dis
turbed on his estate. At some distance
from the castle stands the inn of the To-
cality in the midst of few houses which
form the village There are no peasants,
but only some forest-seekers, letter car
riers, railroad employees, the workmen of
the saw mill owned by the prince,
blacksmith. tailor, miller, the land
lord and the walters of the hotel.
Tta ~ft Iot
colony is the forest-keeper of the Sach-
senwald, who is also mayor of Fried
richsruhe, and the manager of Schwarz-
enback, small estate near Friedrichs-
ruhe belonging to Bismarck, and of the
farms and titled lands of Silk and Schoe-
nau, which also belong to the prince.
The latter does not disdain to have fire.
quent and friendly talks with his chief
forest-keeper. Bismarck is fond of ask
ing all sorts of practical questions, and
he listens with pleasure to the progress
made in wood-cutting and the profits to
be expected therefrom.
Friedrichsruhe is as isolated as any
solitary hermit could desire, though
reached in one hours time by express
train from Hamburg The forest called
Sachsenwald (Saxons' wood surrounded
the estates entirely. The railroad passes
from one end of it to the other 1t is
little frequented by hunters, and troops
Of deer are to be seen from the windows
OF the express train, quietly feeding on
the very embankments of the railroad
track. A small brook, the Au, flows
across the forest under the foliage of the
trees, and when it comes out from the
wood it gives the motive power to the
saw mill belonging to Bismarck. The
fact is that the chancellor's home is the
last place where affectation and posing
are allowed
1t is quite family home, without any
pretense to dignity. Dolly and Bichette
are the friendly nicknames given to Prin-
cesses Furstenberg and Radziwill great
friends of the house, and Madame Bis
marck's aged friend is familiarly called
Mother Boltzmann. The prince is never
SO happy as when he can afford to stay
children around him.
The house at Friedrichruhe has only
two stories, and is painted yellow. The
first story is occupied by the chancellor,
the second by his wife and daughter,
the Countess Won Rantzan, whenever
she comes on visit to her parents. 1t
is not likely that Bismarck will change
much in the daily routine of his life,
with the exception that he will reside
all the year round at Friedrichsruhe,
and devote to his own private affairs the
time he used to consecrate to those of
the Empire. He begins the day by work.
ing at his desk, and afterwards takes a
ride or walk, which is never shorter
than five miles. AT the second break
fast all the members of the family ap-
pear, and sometimes there is a distin-
guished visitor. The afternoon is spent
in working and in short promenade.
AT 7 dinner is served, after which the
prince retires to his smoking-room.