Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-04-21

Bismarck's Second Son Riding the
Wave OF Popularity

New York sun)
Count William Bismarck has ridden
on the top wave Of the great Bismarck
revival IN Germany, and has landed
in the <oeuigsberg castle, from which
hereafter he will administer the at
fairs OF East Prussia as president In
chief, with a salary OF $3.50 a year.
Nobody In the while empire, excepting
the Socialists begrudgcs him his good
fortune. Even the Radicals are wish
Ing him luck and more honors, for
he is one of those universal good fell
lows who have endeared themselves to
the national German heart.
AS the second son, Count BIZ, as
his father calls him, never had an
equal chance with Count Herbert. The
embassies, the foreign ministry, the
high political honors at receptions and
conferences were Tor the elder brother,
and he was put Off with second class
offices and provincial ohscurity. He
took all this as n matter of course,
drank his two gallons Of beer and
wine daily. smoked his four foot pipe,
did his work and said nothing.
His hair dropped from his crown,
his muslache became sprlnltled Win
gray, and his eyebrows grew shaggy.
until one day, n few years ago, his
subordinate discovered that their chief
was the exact reproduction Of the old
chancellor as he appeared at the OPEN
ing Of his struggle with the Prussian
parliament In 1852.
Then his old college chWms searched
the record OF his dueliug corps, and
announced that In % meetings he had
not suffered a single defeat. They
found that when put on his mettlc he
had been not only a two-bottc man,
Ike his father, but even u thrce-bottle
man.
The next discovery was more Inn
portant although It appealed less to
German sentiment. Count Bill had
kept his official house in such order
II at while Socialism hourlshc1 like a
green bay tree IN other parts. his own
district was swept clean OF Social Dem
ccratio associations ana meetlnSs-
was. In fact, the model district Of the
empire. Thus, he got the reputation
Of a "Sociallst-ltiller," which helps a
German cnlcial more nowadays thAi
fine examinations or noble birth.
Meantime. Count Norbert had lmGdo
himself the most cordially 1iAlikcd
young statesman In the empire, He
had ridden rough shod over every man
unlucky enough to serve under him,
nud got three ambassadors by the cars.
had been snuhbcd by little Swlt2er-
land. and had been outdone in Samoan
affairs by the Americans. lie had Of
Tended half the women OF high nobility
In Berlin, and had become such an
/ unsufferable bore and prlg IN society
that young men and women fed be-
fore him at every reception that he at
tended.
So, although the elder son and the
rightful heir Of the bismarck dynasty,
Count Herbert cut poor figure be-
side Count Bin when the emperor de-
4 . 1,.. s.I H. "a
family with the gift Of n large official
plum during the birthday rejoicing.
The east prusslan presidency is now
the most important one in Prussia,
and Ii was given to Count Bill, who,
for a man In his forty-sccond year. has
now climbed high on the Prusslan OIL
cial ladder,
\ few persons In Germany have
asked why a Bismarck. who Is east
Prussla's president at AZ, may not be
Germany's chancellor at a. or 90, es-
pecially when he has shown the grit
OF the head OF the house, Their hopes
are not likely TO be realized. but II
they should be, visitors in the Wllhelm-
strasse would feel that the calendar
had been turned back % years. for
in the iron mans warkroom they would
see again the giant stature in the
kings coat the bald head the over
hanging eyebrows and the wrlnlSled.
determined face that was peculiar to
Count Otto Won Bismarck.
Count Bll's friends say he does not
worry his head about such remote
chances. As soon as the birthday cele-
bration shall be past he viii go TO
the chief presidents castle Ia Koenlgs-
berg. but stones throw from the
famous German House" where, in the
days Just preceding his civil service
organization. he left a drinking record
which the landlord still preserves IN
white chalk on his tavern blackboard.