Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-24
BISMARCK AT HOME.
The Plain House on His Fine Estate,
Friedrichsruhe,

Friedrichsruhe, the second of the two estates
presented to the German chancellor by CRATE
full sovereign and country, cost about ETC, 000
which was set apart for the purpose by Kaiser
Wilhelm out of the French war indemnity.
Varzin, the gift Of which dates Immediately
after the German Austrian war cost but third
Of that amount. The title of Duke of Lauren
burg is suggested by the fact that the estate is
situated in the duchy on which in 1864 the then
Count Won Bismarck tried his prentice hand"
at annexation.
The gates Of the demesne are but short dis
lance from the station of the same name on the
line between Berlin and Hamburg. There is
nothing monumental or INTELLECTUALLY grand
about the house itself. The two wings, built
at right angles, of which it consists, are ex-
ternally as bare Of ornament as q barrack.
magnificent lawn, thickly dotted with cente-
marian trees, leads to the front entrance. An
enormous tract of meadow land extends be-
hind the house Jar the eye can reach,
where 1T joins the Sachsenwald Saxon forest).
Not flower or parterre anywhere, and deep,
deep silence relgns around.
The simplicity of the interior is in thorough
keeping with the baroness of the exterior
The enormous hall Is like a couple of hospita
wards thrown into one, with whitewashed
walls, without a stucco cornice or a center orna-
ment on the ceilings, a few gigantic antlers
-,
and a table without tablecloth. On the table
are white earthen ware nkstand. couple of
pens, the holders of which seemed to have been
fashioned out of bits of a five-barred gate
they clumsy and long-and a blotter
without blotting paper. Prince Bismarck dis
trusts blotting paper. He himself never uses it
and as he knows that in his hurry a visitor may
write communication intended for him only
and still leave copy of it on the innocent pink
sheet, the modern substitute for pounce pow
der is vigorously excluded from the hail.
DECORATIONS OF THE ROOMS.
But if the walls and ceilings are bare, not so
the floor, which is thickly carpeted everywhere.
Passing through the hall one enters a second.
somewhat less freezing, which leads to the room
where the chancellor transacts his business
with less familiar callers. The first thing that
strikes the visitor is a large pastel portrait of
Lord Beaconstield, with the statesman's name
written underneath in Prince Bismarck sprawl
ing hand. Facing it hangs duplicate of Bon
mats famous portrait OF Adolphe Theirs. In a
corner stands a bronze bust of Count Won Moltke
who looks as if he had been bonneted by a too
enthusiastic admirer. for the laurel crown with
which he is coiffe descends low down upon
his forehead; above this a magnificent like
ness in oil of Prince-C Cardinal Hohenlohe.
On the mantelpiece on one side is a reproduce
ton Of the statue of the grand elector Fred
erick the Greats grandfather) by Schluter, on
the other plaster cast of an equestrian statue
supposed to be the original portrait Of Charlie
magne.
OF furniture in the ordinary sense of the
word there is very little. glazed cabinet
full OF carabines and pistols, another full of
maps a round table and three chairs, and that
is all. OF course the reception rooms and pri-
vate apartments of the rest of the family are of
less Spartan character, but in those OF the
prince himself the ornamental has had to yield
absolutely to the useful.
INDIFFERENCE TO ART.
With the exception of music, Prince Bis
marck is utterly Indifferent to art. Some years
ago, at an ''at home," lady reminded Bis
marck that she had been his eicerons during
his early student days in Berlin. True" he
said; and then he introduced her to his wife
and daughter in the following terms: "This is
the lady to whom l owe the greater part Of my
artistic education, for it was in her company
that went to the Berlin Museum-the first and
only time in my life." With regard to music,
he is very fond of listening to it, though, like
the great Napoleon, he sings horribly out OF
tune and out of time. Life is serious and art
is gay" he wrote at the back of the we'll known
photograph of Pauline Lucca; and that appar-
emily Is his reason for not spending much time
in the pursuit OF the art.
LINGUIsr AND READER.
Different is 1t with regard to literature. The
man is not only magnificent linguist albeit
orous reader. His own room 10 absolutely
Uttered with books, novels included. While
there are no knick- knacks, no cunningly con-
trived shelves or artistically arranged what
nots for the display of porcelain and cloisonne,
three or four enormous, cumbrous mahogany
tables almost bend beneath the weight Of doc
uments, blue books, &c. Near the window,
facing the south, are huge writing desk with
a bronze inkstand, u bowl of blue ,pounce
powder, a couple Of gigantic quilts and
perhaps half a ream of foolscap-the chan
cellor detests steel pens-and chair without q
back. In one of the recesses is more modern
writing table, above which hangs the portrait
of the late emperor. At the other end of the
sanctum are several couches and arm chairs
and in one corner a bundle of long German
pipes with huge porcelain bowls. On the walls
above are the portraits of his wife and children.
This is the favorite nook where Bismarck takes
his rest The bed room il never shown to any
visitor but it contains three pieces Of furniture
only-an enormous wash hand stand q small
camp bedstead and bootjack. There used to
be q couple of hair brushes. Take them
away" said the prince few years ago; "a
towel will do to part my hair nowadaya"
Rev. E. W. Jenkins, q Universalist preacher
of Norwich, Conn, has written to the board of