The herald., 1894-04-01
Prince Bismarck's Eighty
First Birthday.
The Celebration of the Event
Already Begun.
Letters and Gifts Pouring In on the
Ex-ChancellOr.
One Hundred Thousand Women Join in
q Testimonial to the Founder of
German Unity-Unboundsd
Enthusiasm.

BERLIN, March 31.-Ths eighty-6rst
birthday OF Prince Bismarck occnrs to-
morrow and will be celebrated with
great enthusiasm and more generally
than ever before. Tbs ex-chancellor's
reconciliation with Emperor William
has given an impetus to the celebration
which may be said to have commenced
today and will last until Monday. Every
train brings letters and gifts to Friede-
richsruhe, and these come not only from
all parts of the empire but from wher-
ever German is spoken. The gifts srriv-
ing are more handsome and numerous
than ever and include the customary
plover egg from Jever.
THE LADIES' TESTIMONIAL.
A feature OF the festivities will be the
part the German ladies will take in
them. As commencement 12 ladies
yesterday presented Prince Bismarck
with an illuminated address upon
which was the inscription: ITO
the Founder OF German Unity"
The address was signed by 100000
women and maidens of Hesse, Baden
and Palatinate. 1t was incloeed in an
artistic casket, and was accompanied by
gift of SEQ bottles of wine of the rarest
and oldest vintsges. Prince Bismarck
in return thanked the ladies, aud de-
cl~Fed the lively interest taken by women
In politics was atAp forward in the
path of progress, At the conclusion of
the ex-chancellor's response, the ladies
competed for the honor OF filing his
pipe, q proceeding which cansed. appar-
emily, the greatest delight to the man OF
blood and iron.
A DUSSELDORF DEPUTATIoN.
Deputy Beaumer on Thursday last
headed deputation from Dusseldorf.
which presented the prince an address
stating the new life boat, at the island
of Noorderne, in the North sea, would
bear Prince Bismarck'a name. The ex-
chancellor, in his reply, delivered q
lengthy speech, reminiscent of his visits
to various seaside resorts, and covertly
defending the criticism upon the part of
his newspaper organs of government
measured, which criticism, he said, was
so far from being incompatible with
monarchial sentiment that it would
purify and promote monarchic feeling.
The prince then invited the deputation
to luncheon and chstted freely on vari-
GUS topics with it's mem mbers.
A GRAND BANQUET.
The 5000 tickets to the grand Bis
marck banquet held at the Philharmon-
ic hall here tonight were all sold before
Friday, and the greatest enthusiasm was
displayed by those present at the ban
quet. Several members OF the reich
stag made speeches in which Prince
Bismarck wac most sympathetically al
luded to, all references to the aged
statesman calling forth loud applause.
THE KAIsER's CONGRATULATIONS
Emperor William has not forgotten
the ex.chsncellor's birthday and is send
ing his adjutant from Abazzia to convey
his congratulations to the prince, and as
a further mark of the reconciliation
which has taken place between them
two forts on the heights of Quentin,
near Metz, will by the emperor's order
be named Bismarck Heights, amidst
great public rejoicing.
All the members of Prince Bismarck's 3
family have arrived at Friederichsruhs
in order to take part in the birthday
celebration. So many deputations have
been announced to arrive at Prince Bis
marck's home tomorrow that it has been
found necessary to courteously intimate
to them that the prince will be unable
to receive all who desire to call upon
him.
A ToRCHLIGHr PROCESSION.
FRIEDERIcHsRUHE, March 31.-A torch
light procession in honor of Prince Bis.
marck and in anticipation of his birth
day tomorrow took place here this even
ing. Over 5000 persons took part in the
parade, which was reviewed by the
prince from a window. Seven bands of
music were in the procession.
During the day the electoral commit
tee of Hamburg, headed by Herr Woer-
mann, congratulated the prince upon
his recent meeting with the emperor,
saying this was cognizant with the feel
ings of all persons. Prince Bismarck g
word, he added, was heritage. [Great
applause
Prince Bismarck, replying, said that
since he had retired from Office, the
kindliness with which his friends re-
garded him had increased yearly, and
probably never before had minister
who had vanished from the scene for
four years been so treated. 1t was not
be alone, however, who effected the
uulby VI 00Inhuy. ~ uSOOLupildA tuab,
the good feeling of his countrymen was
necessary. That feeling had been ever
reciprocated.
Prince Bismarck concluded with call
ing ior cheers for the prosperity of Ham
burg.
He afterwards received the political
students of Darmstadt, Stuttgart and
Carteruhe, smoking and chatting with
them hall an hour.