Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-14

tBy DR.. Z. Meunch in N. Y. Times1
Great as had been the rejoicing of
the patients in the German army hos
pital at Versailles when King William
came 10 see them one day in the month
of November, 1870. and making the
tour through the different wards. adj
dressed cheering and sympathetic
words to the occupant Of every cot.
still Count Bismarck's unavoidable abb
sencc on this occasion could not help
being felt by all n cause OF deep ana
sincere regret, as his presence would
have made their happiness complete.
Yet they were not destined wholly to
forego the pleasure of seeing him, az
the count, Informed Of the patients
desire, made 1t possible to pay them
an unexpected visit some days later,
Having been enthusiastically received
by ,he inmates of the hospital, FOR each
OF whom he had some heartfelt senti-
mcnts OF announcement, he passed on
his departure from the building
through n double file of convalesccnts
whom the news of his arrival had
gathered on the lawn and whose hearts
he likewise gladdened by hopeful as
surances.
He had almost renched the end of
the line when his eye fell upon the her
culean form of Bavarian soldier
whose breast was decorated with the
order of the iron cross and many med
of deep saber cuts, all speaking proofs
OF the mans bravery and heroic valor.
Such n man Count Bismarck. even
though he had extended his visit far
beyond the space of time he had al
lotted for this purpose. could not pos
slbly pass by unnOticed ana unnd-
dressed, and he therefore tarried n
few moments longer to hear the sol
dler's history. The Bavarian, with the
frankness peculiar TO his race. gave
the count graphic description of his
exploits in battle, which account, rem
dered In the vigorous Franconian diu-
lect, did not fail to evoke the greatest
interest on the part of the count who
asked the soldier when he had come To
the end Of his story. whether he had
any particular desires that he (the
county could crafty.
We'll" said the Bavarlan, my fond
est wish, that Of rejoining my company
and having some more tusslcs with
those frogeaters, win be realized to-
morrow, as the doctor has permitted
me to leave the hospital in the morn
ing: still, think / could WELD twice ne
hard blow upon French skulls with
Il pipe in my mouth as without IT,
since ! lost the one | brought from
home on the battlefield Of Bazeille
where ! sank wounded to the ground"
III that is so'' rplied Bismarck
smilingly-for the soldiers droll man
ner Of speech had greatly amused him
will you accept u pipe from me-"
"a pipe from you. a pipe from Count
bismarck" exclaimed the 3avarian
with that between my teeth / could
defy the whole French army"
Then you shall have one, even to-
day. said the count while departing
and he kept his word; for on the after
noon of the self same day a pipe
adorned with coronet as cover and
n carved Turks head as bowl, together
with a package Of the finest Varinas
tobacco. arrived at the hospital for
Sergeant Blumauer of the Bavarian
regiment King Macmillan. Who was
happier than he2
With that bismarck pipe in his
knapsack the Bavarian went forth the
next day TO take the railway train for
Tours, where his regiment was then
stationed: with that Bismarck pipe in
mis- grasp he appeared among his COM
rades, who passed II from hand to hand
as the greatest curiosity their eyes had
had ever seen: with that Bismarck pipe
hI5up qlIoI SuImB9ls 'uluuom STU III
clouds of dense smoke. the sergeant
by special permission of his superiors.
led his company into the bloody battle
OF Orleans, when Gambetta's newly
inspired troops made their Infatuated
attack upon the German army under
Gen Won Der Tam.
And nobly did the Bavarian acauit
himself on that occasion. II was for n
long time In vain that the French com
mander hurled regiment upon regiment
against the crest of the hill, where,
towering like giant. the sergeant
stood with the Bismarck pipe between
his teeth, and. now with the bayonet.
now with the butt of his musket,
strewed the ground around him with
heaps of bodies slain by his hand But
at the last the overpowerine numbers
OF the French told upon the decimated
ranks of the Germans.
Ihey Will not even give n fellow
time to relight his pipel" was the
sergennts exclamation when fresh
troops OF the enemy We're charging the
position he occupied and Installed him
and the few comrades at his side from
the front and the rear. II was then
that the sergeant, while knocking the
French colonel from his horse by
powerful blow of his musket was him
self laid low by bayonet stab in his
back, yet while falling unconscious
upon the ground he grusped the pine
that he had hitherto kept firmly he
tween his teeth and so lay ike one
dead upon the corpses he had heaped
around him.
His first question when he regained
consciousness as Il wounded prisoner
in the French hospital at bordeaux
was about his pipe, but, alas, 1t was
gone. nor could his persistent inquiries
or his researches on the SPOT where he
had fallen, instituted aft his recovery
and his release from captivity at the
conclusion of the war furnish him
with even the slightest clew as to the
whereabouts Of his cherished Bis
marck pipe. Reluctantly reslgnlng all
hope of ever finding it again. the SER
geant returned To his Bavnrlnn home
at kissingen, where, honorably dis
charged from service. he resumed his
vocation us saddler.
II was the midsummer Of the year
is72, when Saddler Blumuucr was
sitting near tho open window of his
shop, bused with the repair Of a har-
ness. Although II was known to him
that Prince Bismarck was then
sojpurner at the watering plnce. and
although the saddler's shppmntos, ia
mili6r with the veterans story, had
often encouraged him 10 present him
self before the prince, still his modesty
and also his modification at the loss
of HIS pipe would not allow him to do
no. The discussion Of the reasons pro
md con had been the subject Of
their conversation that worry morning
whon all at once Saddler Bumauer was
seen throwing his work aside and
without losing Il moments time by
making his exit through the door
jumping through the window upon the
sidewalk. where Nn stopped one Of two
nnely dressed gentlemen walking sIlo
by side with the exclamation:
This Is my plpe Give ne that pipe;
II Is my bismarck pipcl"
The Eentcman's reply. given In
q. 30 -