New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-05

HIS ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES.

Personal REcoLLEcTIo,NsSs B., OF " W y s;SIp.
land PIP. 4lG. ID. Appleton q 90.
There Is an ar of smiling candor In Won
Siemens's autobiography which makes IL at
tractive reading. The vigorous man OK many
years. conscious of all the difficulties oil MS
life and Of his triumphs, speaks to others WIN
the thought that 'it will be instructive ana
stimulating to the coming generation u NC
shown plainly how young man, "l'hou' III
herited resources and influential supporters nay
even without proper preliminary culture may
solely through his own industry RISE ana 10
something useful in the world. But whhe lie
does not minimize the value or MS own eAei
tions he takes also a humorous pleasure In OBJ
sarvinp that his achievements seemed often a
dro, matter of luck This continual struggle
with altogether unexpected difficulties and I'M
,uckv accidents which in the commencement
usually hampered my undertakings ne says
"but which / mostly by good hap succeeded IN
overcoming William Meyer, the dear irehd Oh
nv youth and faithful companion. very 1orci-
blv described in students slang as Sau penn
Pech' dad luck coupled with ASTONISHING
fukes) / must admit the correctness OF 'his
view, but still do not believe that 1t was only
blind fate. when the wave of happiness and I'M
happiness, on which our life is tossed cariieo
me so frequently to the desired goals
He is convinced that the most fortunate turn
Of his early life was that which sent him into
the Prussian Army. This was Que TO MS
fathers political sagacity, trait whlch the SUI
inherited to a considerable extent the plan Oh
getting an appointment in the frussiah Ar'i-
lery was suggested to him at school IN LuepecK
nv b,s instructor in surveying. The boy may
v.,fIt fory Hfa
than Of the varied possibilities which might open
to him as a scientific investigator. But when
bo mentioned the matter to his father, the lat
ter gave almost enthusiastic acquiescence FOR a
statesmanlike reason. 1.-The present condition
Of things in Germany" said he, cannot pos
sibly last A time will come when everything
will he turned topsy -turvy. The only fixed
point in Germany is however the State OF Fred
er,ck the Great and the Prussian Army. and in
such times it is always better to be hammer
thar anvil" Now that was very acute re-
mark and it turned out to be exactly correct in
view of later movements in Germany. Many
years later but still long enough before the
Franco-Prussian War, the son took his turn at
a political prediction, and not without success.
II was lust after the little skirnish with Dem
mark over the Scheswg Holstein question. In
which Germany was successful. To patriotic
Germans it was point Of delightful signih-
canoe that the tone Of the great newspapers In
England and on the Continent was now changed
We had hitherto been accustomed to read in
English and French newspapers much we'll
meant praise Of German science, German music
and German song as we'll as compassionate ut
terances on the goOd-natured, dreamy and I'M
pra ctical Germans. Now there were FURIOUS ar
ticles on the conquest-seeking, the war-loving.
nav the bloodthirsty Germans. j must confess
hat
siderable pleasure My self-respect as Ter
man rose higher with each OF these expressions.
The Germans had for so long been only passive
material for the worlds history. Now one might
read for the first time in black and white that
they had Of their own accord entered INTO 1ts
course. and thereby excited the wrath OF tnose
who hitherto had considered themselves alone
entitled to the honor In my intercourse with
Englishmen and Frenchmen during the cable
layngs / had often had painful occasion to be
| convinced in what slight esteem the Germans
were held as nation by other peoples MAD
| long political debates which always came 20
this that the Germans had neither the rgh,
nor the ability to form an Independent ana
united state Of their own.
''well what then do the Germans exactly
WANT" asked the highly respected director
| general Of the French telegraphs and former
! companion in exile of the Emperor Napoleon
| NJ de Vougie. after long conversation or
the reviving national aspirations Of Germany al
the close Of the Prusso- Austrian war
"a united German Empire" was my answer
"And do you think" he replied that France
would suffer a State united and superior II
numbers to itself as next-door neighbour
NO" was my answer: I'VE are convinced tina
we shall have to defend our unity agains
France"
What an idea" he said that a united Ger
many would fight us. Bavaria, Wurtemberg
all South Germany will fight with US agains
| Prussia
mot this time. answered 1.-THE first French
n-shot will make Germany one. We have
no fear therefore. Of French attack, but avail
1t cheerfully."
The aged Won Siemens smiles complacentl,
at his foresight, and adds: IN. de Vougie will
have thought OF my prophecy when. with hi
Emperor, he had to retire before German troop
entering France In triumph. The first Frencl
csrnon-shot had In fact made all Germany one
Doubtless much OF his own enthusiasm Oh tn
subject was due to his Prussian military training