The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-10-10
BISMARCK'S FAMILY.
How He Has Trained Ills Children and
Ethe Service They Have Been to Him
His Dog Bad One.
q Follow Students Account.

N Fellow Student y Account
The mode of living of the Bsmark fam
ilv is in every way peculiar. The sons
evidently have not Inherited their fathers
genius; this much must be said, however,
that they have as yet had no opportunity
of showing what they are capable of.
But it is certain fact that their father
has succeeded in infusing into them a
portion of his own energy, and coached
them so successfully in diplomatic affairs
that they have been his most useful col
leagues. That, at any rate, is the opinion
which Prince Bismarck himself expressed
in Il conversation which he had on this
subject not long ago with Professor
Gnciss
This is only the carrying out Of the
wcl-known principle of Louis NV,
namely, that State secrets should be con-
fdcd to the smallest number of persons
possible Bismarck consequently never
confided his State secrets to any but the
members of his own family, in whose dis
crction and devotion he could put implicit
trust; and it must be added that he is
more severe in expecting tlis from the
members of his own family than from
any one else.
Not only, however, has he utilized his
sons services, but lie has impaired thor
ough diplomatic education to the Countess
Won Rantsau, his daughter, who possesses
an intelligence of the first order. In the
matter of writing and deciphering cipher
dispatches, indeed, this lady is said to
have attained TO degree Of clevcrncss
surprising any of the employees Mt the
foreign Office. She is, besides, of Il very
lively disposition, exceedingly witty, and
happy and prompt at repartce. 1t is
stated that even in his moments OF
gloomicst melancholy the cx-ChahccllOr
has never been able to keep from laugh
ing at his daughters flashes of wit,
The eldest son, Count Herbert, has been
model of punctuality i'll the public SER
vice, and an amusing tale is told in Ger
many in this connection.
The incident occurred some time ago at
Frcdcricksruh. The Prince had invited a
certain number of people to dinner, ac-
cording to custom. The soup had just
been served, and the repast bid fair to be
IL pleasant one, for the host was in the
best of humors, and the life and soul OF
the company. At the moment when the
party was about to attack the soup tclc-
gram from Berlin was brought in.
Bismarck left the table instantly, to the
great establishment of the guests, and OH
his return, after few moments absence
one of the company vcntured to make a
remark on the subject The reply which
he elected WAS the following:
II daresayyou think the dispatch was one
of the greatest Importance. 1t was moth
ing of the kind. But ! lost no time III
replying to it because it came from my
son Herbert If had kept him waiting
only a very short time he would have sent
off another telegram marked Urgent. He
is Il great lover of punctuality and prompt
itudc, and he is right. If, when | was
young, had only worked half so hard as
my son has, ! should have attained tc
something greater than | am.
Everybody has heard of Bismarck's big
dog, the "Rcichshund" Tyras.
Although not very tender toward hi:
fcllow-men, Prince Bismarck forgives hi:
dog everything. When the latter ha:
committed any offence his master give:
him good scolding (Which the ANNA
perhaps takes but very little notice Of.
and sometimes apologies to the victim o
Of the dogs illtemper.
One day friend, who came to congrat
ulatc Prince Bismarck on. the marriage o
his daughter with Count Won Rantsau, hat
his hat torn into fragments by Tyras, ant
the only remark made on this occasion
was:
"The rascal will end by making all IN.
friends fall out with me-
Tyras is getting old now, like his mas
ter. The animal, however, intended to re
place him has already been looked out
but the new one will hardly receive al
an official cognomen like his predecessor