The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-02
DEBT OF THE HoHBNzoLbERN
TO BISMARCK

DEBT OF THE HOHENZOLBERN
TO BISMARCK.
In recalling this sad episode It Is well
also to remember what the Hohenzollern
house owes to Bismarck. When Bis
marck returned from his Paris embassy
In 1862 to take the Ministry under Will
liam l., that monarch was in what SEEM
ed to him inextricab,e trouble. The
Chamber had refused to provide money
Tor the army and without the army the
King thought there would surely be
anarchy. When Bismarck went to him
ne found that the King had written and
signed his abdicatlon, feeling that the
only safety to his throne was in his
leaving II.
Bismarck assured the monarch that
he was willing to manage matters with
out budget and the abdication was
destroyed. 1t was about this time that
Bismarck won the title OF 1.-THE Man
of Blood and Iron" To the budget COM
mttee of the chamber ne said that the
great quest ions OF the time were not de-
termined by speeches or parliamentary
majorties, but by blood and IRON
He brought about the reorganization
of the army without budget and when
opportunity arose four years later, still
Without budget, he saw this army
humble Austria at the battle of Sadown.
This battle won popularity for Bismarck
for the first time. and thereafter the
Prussian Chamber gave him the budget
for the army.
King William was most unwilling to
go into this war with Austria a war
w!1ioh absolutely thrust glory upon him
and his house. When the King of
Bismarck returned to Berlin the Joy
bells that greeted them also rang the
deathknell of Louis Napoleon. 1 need
not tell, even to a new generation of
readers of the war with France and of
Two nc - :.
at Versailles. We all konw that 1t was
Bismarck's work. But less than twetny
years later the grandson of the first
Emperor and the wearer of the crown
Bismarck had bestowed. cast that yete
ran from him with en- ingratItude which
may be characteristic of kings and a,
the same time show that kings are not
quite human.
BISMARCK SINCE HIS DISMISSAL,
After his dismissal In 1890 Bismarck
retired to Fredrichsruh. an estate given
10 the Prince by the Emperor after the
war with France. THIS estate of some
thing like 10000 acres is near to Ham
burg and has continued to be the ex-
Chancellor's home. 1t has been describ
ed so often by American correspondents
that shall just now refrain. He has
not left there often. Once he went 10
Austria to the wedding of his son, Her.
thought Bismarck made of himself the
only sorry spectacle in his whole career.
He quarreled with all existing things
political and exhibited his sores TO all
who had the indellcacy to express sym
pathy. l am sure that at this time the
strong man was weakened by illness and
was not entirely responsible for the UNI
wisdom of his utterances. which were in
n way characteristic of him. for they
no doubt expressed but what he felt at
the time. But bluntness of criticism and
frankness of avowal are not the same
In fallen man as they are in one In
fun power. The next year he was very
Ill in Kissingen and all the world was
prepared to hear OF his death. His Ill
ness appealed to the Emperor. who
made advances for a reconciliation. This
was affected The next year when Bis
marck, for the first time since he left
Berlin, in 1890. donned his uniform as q
cuirassier and went TO visit the Emperor
He was greeted in the streets OF Berlin
as returned conauerer and was un-
anectedly pleased by all that happened
'At Friedrichsruh he lives the life OF
country gentleman, but has a great
deal of company. He Is as hospitable
at nome now as he was when Motley
visited him in 1851 at Frankfort. AL
friend who visited him this year sup
piles ms with this description of him.
iie 10 s'!i 50 erect lnat ne mas lOSt
none of his great height-6 feet in his
stockings. He Is careful in his diet,
which IS controlled by Doctor Schewwin-
niger, and keeps his weight below 200
pounds. If unrestrained 1t would quickly
go to go His mustache and eyebrows
are perfectly white, as also the fringe
OF hair which remains to him. His Shout
ders are broad. and his arms and chest
look muscular His carriaoe is still that
of soldier. In his face there Is the
look of peace and content which emo
bles old age even without career of
distinction behind It, He has surely out
lived the veNat!on which worried him for
a year or so after his retirement"
on his birthdays hitherto and doubt
less 1t willSbe so in 1885 as well, he has
received presents from his admirers all