New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23

AUGUST BEBEI.
protection Of the workingman ani until you can
offer him something better than We TO- our SIC
is certain and sure"
il has recently been my privilege 10 meet the
mos; famous OF these Socialstic propagnnfists-
d!nand August Bebcl. lie lives IN Berlin ana rs
home : model little Nat IN one II the laig" apari
meni-houscs which are springng up rapidly In
the western part o, the city When Parliament is
sitting. Herr Rebel has only to take almost d.
rect road to the Reichstae building lie has been
member Of the Reichstag. excepting one or
Two shor; interruptions. ever since the foundation
~ the Empire. and II IS here that he has struck
the strongest blows FOR his principles. Up to l'eo
he allowed IN Berlin during sessions OF Parla-
mont only and It's dismissal Wa compelled to
take the next train FOR Saxony. bat since the re-
peal OF the Socialist law AL this IS changed. and he
may and 10 ~ lik"s
Ny object IN calling him merely n have
friendly talk. but hoped that this would lead 10
explanation his part Of certain questions lis
cusecd at the late Socialists Congress A. Rr'-iau.
4 common friend arranged the meeting ard one
evening word received that Herr Behs. would
expec; visit the following afternoon. Al the ap-
pointed time his wife welcomed me AZ The door.
She comes. Ike Pebcl himself from the hardSork-
Ing classes. bat takes active part in politics she
deems IT her mission TO make comfortable home
FOR her busy husband daughter. the only enid
IN the family helped her IN these duties FOR num-
Der Of years. but she * married to a physician Ia
Zurich and is now studying in rs university.
HERR BEBELs PERSONALITY
Herr Behcl waiting IN Lis study lie
sitting his desk looking over some Official papers
He rose and greeted his caller most cordially tn
recent change In his appearance IS striking Five
years ago he seemed the platform az least.
comparatively young man. and be Is now but little
,.-.r 80 nf f,tif be al hat
have become quite gray. and the delicate aspect
which has always been natural to him is now more
pronounced than ever. HIS sharp gray eyes. how
ever. are az bright a. over: and when he spoke the
same strong voice could bo recognized that helps 20
make him a iorcble public speaker. His study .s
a simple room facing the SOUTH and = furnished
mainly with tables and bookcases Above the books
are PORTRAITS OF his fellow Socialists. among them
Mar. L!chknecht ana Eng,lA Everything IA the
room simple. and nothing wa 20 bc seen which
could prove the charge 50 often made by the enc
mics OF tn" German Socialists that they are ariso-
Gratis at home.
Herr Bebc a, tho outset said frankly that he could
not discuss party matters. a French Journalist
has Just been here" he SAID ITO interview about
the Congress In Brcsdu. bat had 10 refuse him.
You see. Socialists. and especially here In Ger
many have TO be careful about what y, say 10 ouf-
sdcrs party matiers ior the newspapers turn our
vor's into all manner OF meanings. and have
frequently H'' H'-i 'iif'l''+''iS w. 'l-
c.ded Two years ago NOT to allow ourselves to he
interviewed about our party. and am afraid that
! can make no exception Tor you. What appears In
the United statesis also read here. ana If should
say anything which could possibly DE mise instruct
it certainly would be"
II is well known that Herr Bebel began his career
az a simple turner. and every body wonders how b..
has had the tine TO read and learn much. He
looks more Ike professor than an artisan. Asked
about his ifc and how he was led 10 Socialism. lie
said:
IL born In Cologne in 1870 My father Il
corpora. in the 18th Regiment Of Infantry, and died
when ! was three years old. Ny mother being 4
Wetzlarin. We removed Wcizlar after my fathers
death. and was sen, to the common school tn
my fourteenth year. Then / apprcnticed t. a
turner and when had served my time trampei
about the country. mainly in Southern Germany. as
a wandering Journeyman. THIS you know. is the
custom with artisans here in Germany In 1850
settled down I'm Saxony. and in 1864 succeeded In
putting up a shop of my in Leipsic. Since loe;
have been active In the workingman's movement
but not always "A Socialist
AT the start merely n Liberal, and counted
myself one Of that party Lasa.le. for instance
who became prominent about then as Soclalstic
agtatOr, had more determined opponent than I
was. and did my best to counteract his influence
upon workingmen. The more l combated him.
however. the more | forced to study his writ
| began to read him in earnest. His work had a
great influence me. and. as saw that tie LIB
erals not doing what had expected them to
do for the workngman; that. on the contrary. they
were exploiting him for their personal adj
vanccment. ! determined 10 leave their company
and become an out-and-out Social Democrat
This H. 1868. and the movement then. you
know, young Since that time my life has been
practically that Of my party and have worked
for Il 20 the best Of my ability. In 1862 put In
prison for my teachings. In 1872 again In
bonds and this time with Lcbknccht. We were ar
rested ii charge OF high treason. and the court
at Leipsic sentenced us to two years imprisonment
IN the fortress OF Hubertusburg Altogether ! have
been behind the bars hfty-sev months. and each
time for political reasons"
How were you treated In prison? II Is said that
prison life IN Germany is very severe"
PRISON LIFE IN GERMANY.
ITO be shut up Is hard anywhere. suppose and
no one likes 1t. but Ia general. have been pretty
well treated Ny fortress lfe for instance, call my
university lfe. for II there that first had the
chance to study In peace. allowed 10 keep
myself continually busy. AMI this Is great adj
vantage In such place. There little gar
den where could walk about and chat, and that
also helped 10 make things easier. 1t was while |
was in the fort that thought out the plan OF my
first and most successful book. | mean Die Frau
Ii appeared In pamphlet form Immediately after my
release; book however. 1t out first In
1875"
Although Her Bebel did not say So II was Also
In the fort that he received his first instruction In
English. Liebknecht Was hts teacher. and for