The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-24
PRINCESS BISMARCK IS A TERROR.
She Prevents a Reconciliation Between
the Prince and the Emperor.

When people talk of the mere possi-
bility of a reconciliation between the
Emperor and Bismarck they are igno-
rant of the conditions under which
they parted, says the Marquise de Fon-
tenoy. With regard to the latter's
irreconcilable attitude toward the En-
peror and his administration, few per-
sons outside the immediate court circle
at Berlin are aware to what extent
Princess Bismarck is responsible for
her husbands present sentiments.
While the Prince was in Office she
made point of keeping in the back
ground, and is but little known to the
outside world. Only once, to the best
of my knowledge, did she abandon her
reserve, revealing herself as the coun-
selor of her husband, and as a woman
of extraordinary strength of mind and
character.
The occasion will be well remem-
bered-indeed, it never can be forgot
ten-by those who were privileged to
be guests of the Prince at his official
farewell reception. There were pre-
sent several of the members of the
cabinet (among them poor Won Boet-
ticher, who had been forced all along
to act as buffer between Emperor and
Chancellor. and who not seldom was
abused on both sides), the whole staff
of the Foreign office and large num-
Der of dignitaries of state.
Bismarck was usually silent, and
apparently in a mood of grief rather
than resentment. The Princess on the
other hand was almost beside herself
with rage.
She exclaimed in a loud voice: at
was l who advised my husband to bear
no longer with the Emperor's petty
interference in matters which he does
not understand, but to accept my hus-
bands resignation was an act of in
| fanny which the knave shall repent to
me. He shall recall my husband on
| his bended knees. To dare to treat
Germany's greatest man like that!
Woe upon him!"
The word which / have translated,
for want of better Interpretation,
with knave was "Bube," the most Of
fensive term in the German language
if applied in the sense of anger to a
man; and the threat against the En-
peror was conveyed by the following
words: "Das soil mir der Bube bus
sen."
There was a moment of awful 81
lence, and then followed stampede,
led by the Ministers, who rushed out
of the palace as if the pestilence were
upon them; and in an incredible short
time the Bismarck family found them
selves alone in the brilliantly lighted
salons.
j was the Princess, too, who was
responsible for the trip to Vienna, with
all it's sensational developments, and
who interfered just before the Princes
departure for the south to prevent him
from obeying the command of the En-
peror when the latter, while travelling
from Hamburg to Berlin, stopped his
special train for an hour at the Fred
richsruhe station and sent to invite
the ex-Chancellor to visit him in his
salon carriage.
The Prince was about to proceed
thither, and had already donned his
uniform for the purpose. when at the
last moment the Princess appeared
upon the scene and induced her hus-
band to remain at home and to send a
message to the Emperor to the effect
that his health would not permit of his
obeying his Majesty's commands.
The Princess pointed out to her hus-
band that he was too great a man to
be treated with such scant ceremony
by the young monarch, and that, mas
much as his dismissal and disgrace
had been of a public character, the
reconciliation must be equally so.
Princess Bismarck, who is nearly 7C
years of age, has snow-white hair, a
gaunt figure, high cheekbones, and is
almost as tall woman as her husband
is man. Very decided and energetic
in her tastes as in her opinions, she re-
sembles her husband in refusing tc
, brook contradiction of any sort.