Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22
FRAU BISMARCK.


The Ruler Of the Man of Blood and Iron
Prince Bismarck has been made much Of
during his visit to Kissingen, the students Of the
town taking especial delight in honoring the
man Of blood and iron" outwardly there is
no indication that the German statesman out
Of a job" is pining; indeed, there 10 little time
for him to do SO, for he ID . very busy man,
with his large brewery and pottery, both Of
which are profitable enterprises. In his travels
Prince Bismarck is accompanied by his wife,
whose practical nature q sore irritation 20
the old Emperor William, who would have been
pleased had the wife of his prime minister pos
sessed q soul above pots and pans and
cheeses. The princess, however, worships
her husband and treats him ss IL he were q
demi-god. Princess Bismarck. about whom
notwithstanding the fame Of her husband. but
little has been written, has, in spite of-possi-
bly, ii should be said because Other domes-
ITCHY, always possessed q very considerable in
duence over the great man, and 10 one Of the
most bitter enemies Of the present German
emperor For she is unable 70 forgive or un-
| derstand either his want Of appreciation Of the
ex-chsncellors services his ingrstituds to-
ward the man who has really made Germany
what ii is today.
Of sixty. has snow-white hair Q gsunt figure,
high cheek bones, and IL almost as tall o yoman
as her husband 10 man. Her face 10 lighted
up by kindly expression and she IL very popu-
lar with those who know her well. Very de-
cided and energetic in her tastes as well % her
opinion, she resembles her husband in refusing
to brook contradiction of any sort. Her voice
is pitched in a somewhat high and loud kew
her conversation is Of o moot vivacious and
| amusing kind and she has . vast fund Of stories
and anecdotes which she 10 very fond Of re-
lating.
On certain subjects nevertheless. the old
princess has the most peculiar notions-notions
which are by no means agreeable to her sntour-
age. For instance, she Is absolutely crazy on
the subject Of draughts and the moment she
sets her foot IN q house. no matter IL il IL the
warmest day in summer, she insists that every
door and window shall at once be hermeticslly
| closed.
Another of her peculiarities, not TO say faults
IL love Of economy which verges on avarice
When the prince was In Office and living at the
ministry Of foreign affairs on the Wilhelm
strasse at Berlin the princess managed tho
house with such psrsimony that il aroused the
indignation Of Q people who cannot be accused
| of q love for extravagance in money matters.
| Everything was scrupulously plain in the pri-
waite apartments, and the furniture Of the draw
| ing rooms was SO old fashioned and insufficient
that the old emperor several times sent the
court upholsterer to the princess begging 20
| be allowed to present her with new set OF
furniture which would be more in keeping with
| his chancelors lofty situation. But Mime. Bis
| marck regularly dismissed the unfortunate hof-
Tolerant, declaring that it was perfectly useless
| TO spend penny Tor seneeless snow sno that
| she did not care at all whether she had TO sit
| on horsehair sofa instead Of on plush one.
1 IF am surrounded with all the eimcracks
/ Of modern luxury" added she, ingeniously,
| "rll have to dress twice as we'll, give fine
dinners and change al my habits- 30 il can.
not be thought Of"
One of the principal and only ornaments, Il
II may so be called, of the princess bed room
is to this day huge and splendid safe. Once,
not very long ago, Prince Bismarck, who WAS
showing friend round his house, said, laugh
| ingly pointing to the ponderous and forbid
ding iron chest: You see, il 10 my wife who ID
| my cashier, and II il an infallible way of max
/ ing economics and Of saving money 20 trust
ones better half with ones financial interests. -
Every year the princess makes Q point a
staying few weeks at Homburg, and on thsse
occasions she 10 wont to spend much u her time
poser Of that pretty French song. Isl yous
| navez rien . me dire" The subject Of thsis
interminable conversations 10 music, an art Of
| which the princess 10 immensely fond, and their
discussions on the subject are - long and very
nearly a. noisy - Q Wagner opera
The princess 10 Away complaining Of delicses
health and 10 persuaded that she suffers IRON
acute dyspepsia But the chancsllors phys
clan, who 10 often summoned 10 give advice, u
utterly unable to make her follow his numer.
| ous prescriptions-another point In which she
resembles her husband. Her favorite beverage
Il well-iced champagne. which abe absolutely
refuses TO renounce Notwithstanding the doe
tors sntreatiss and even orders on the sub
ioct.