The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-07-25

.SSZg Bismarck's favorite
fTT8i painter, cause for
E,< divorce directs
public attention
afresh to Schwen-
myers unsayory career. A more gen.
orally offensive and blatant man than
Schweninger probably does not live in
Germany. He was found guilty, long
before bismarck knew him, OF an
atrocious act in a public place. His
offence was against the widow of his
best friend; and II was committed ut
the grave TO which she had gone with
flowers. His character, as well as his
reputation, was therefore n matter of
record when Bismarck went TO him to
have his increasing weight reduced.
Schweninger reduced IL. Just how
Schweninger induced Bismarck TO for
get the past has not been made public;
at all events, he did wbeedle him into
forgetting or forgiving it and into
making him, the despised and re-
preached Schweninger. q regular pro-
lessor in Berlin University.
The announcement of Schweninger's
appointment was the signal for a
fierce onslaught by the faculty and the
Berlin press on both Bismarck and his
protege. The professors protested
against being forced to associate with
a man of Schweninger's character
They interested Parliament in their
case against the intruder. The Prus-
sian Minister of Public Instruction was
asked in Parliament to explain how a
man, convicted OF an atrocious act in
a public place, as Schweninger had
been, could be honored with a place
among the honorable men of the Ber-
lin faculty; also, how II was possible
that a man OF such character could be
elevated to place OF influence over the
German youth.
A person reading, even today, the
parliamentary record of this interpret
lation and the answer, Is impressed
with the apologize humility, almost
shame, which was evident in Herr Won
Gossler's explanation. Ii was all true,
he said Schweninger had done the dis
graceful thing charged; the record OF
his disgrace was TO be found in Mu-
nich's criminal court; but he had re-
deemed himself by curing Bismarck of
fairness. For this great service his other
shortcomings should be overlooked.
SO Schweninger's appointment was
maintained, despite the cutlery OF pro-
fessors, editors and deputies, and he
was forced upon the Berlin faculty to-
be the associate of men like Mommsen
and Helmholtz. and Treitschke and
Scmoller. 1t is doubtful if Schwen-
niger ever got any satisfaction out Of
the storming and capture of the pro-
fessor's chair. He was in the faculty,
to be sure, and Bismarck stood behind
him to prevent his being pushed out.
yet the faculty did not turn out
to be all Schweninger had hoped
to find it. Whichever way he
turned he faced social boy
colt. He called on professor after pro-
lessor, as is customary with new
member OF a German university fac
uity, and was received by each with
each house for the women--the pro-
fessor's wife and daughters-wa an
swered in every case with the stony,
unadornsd insult: They are well, but
beg to be excused"
Under these circumstances even the
brazen face of Schweninger was down.
cast Il is not known that he ever
essayed another round of calls. It Is
certain that he never achieved even the
most modest social success in the uni
versity circle. Hc held fast to Bis
marck, however, and Bismarck was not
squeamish about holding fast to him..
Since the Princes retirement from the
RadZiwill palace 20 Friedrichsruh,
Schweninger has been with him most
of the time. He has watched the old
Chancellor faithfully, and probably but
for his painstaking and ceaseless care
Bismarck would have succumbed ere
this TO any one OF three or four dis
eases that have plagued him. But while
conspicuous for his gratitude to his one
powerful friend, Schweninger has not
ceased to distinguish himself for vul-
garity and impotence. Some three
years ago, when Bismarck was, ailing
| seriously, Schweninger refused to an
swer Emperor Williams dispatches Of
inquiry as to the Princes condition,
| finally announcing in newspaper in
| terview that he was no lackey or gov
| eminent official to be sending REPORTS