Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-08-05
BlSMARCK'S EARLY CAREER.


lator. ambassador.
There was little promise OF brilliant
career in the youth of Otto Won Bismarck
BY strange irony of fate he was born on
April FOOLS day at Schoenhausen, the
home of his ancestors, in 1873. At the age
Of he was sent to boarding school at
Berlin, and when 10 years old he was re
moved to the gymnasium, or public classical
school, and remained five years in such in
stitutions.
At GOttingen university, whittier he was
sent from the Berlin schools, young Bis
marck was a typical specimen of the recl
less, daredevil student. He was then =
tall, slim, pale faced youth, active and
healthy enough, but with little sign of the
broad shouldered, stalwart man he after
ward became
From Gottingen university Bismarck
went to the University Of Berlin, where he
soon passed an examination in law and WAS
appointed auscultator or official reporter
at one of the courts. a year of court re-
porting and law was enough for Bismarck
He resigned his position, and after travel
ing several months he settled down to the
life of II practical farmer on the family Is
tateS
In 1871 he was welded to the Fraulcin
Johanna Frederick Charlotte Puttkamer
The marriage proved n union without
flaw 1t steadied the impetuous young
German, brought him for the first time face
to face with the serious business Of life and
was the turning point of his great career.
Soon after his marriage Bismarck was
made member of the Frankfort diet. At
that time Germany was composed of loose
ly organized states and had little influence
IN f11iV. 10
infused new hopes into the hearts of the
people Radical ideas were spreading and
the occupants of thrones trembled for their
safety. 1t did not take Bismarck long to
decide which side he should take. He was
firm believer in the divine right of kings,
he inherited intense contempt for the PEG
pie as factor of governmental power
The swift rising current of democracy
threatened to engulf his beloved Prussia
Frederick William granted a constitution
and a deputation from the new national
parliament offered him the imperial crown
of Germany. But with the traditional dis
dain of his race the king was not disposed
to accept honor at the hands of the people
Empire derived from that source was de
spised by man who claimed his authority
direct from God The offer was rejected,
and jealous hatred arose between Prussia
and Austria which was soon to ripen into a
war for the humiliation of the latter
Bismarck threw himself heart and soul
into the cause of the king as against the
people. He upheld the royal prerogatives,
| fercely opposed anything in the nature of
liberalism and gave way with bad grace to
! the concessions which Frederick William
eventually deemed wise to grant to popular
sentiment.
As reward for his loyalty Bismarck was
appointed envoy to the diet at Frankfort in
j 1851. This body did not represent the PEG.
pie, but was in reality an assemblage of
princes and their proxies, who kept tight
hold on individual rights while resisting
Bolidly everything like encroachment on
the part of foreign powers.
From the bund of Frankfort, where he
had shown marked ability as a diplomat,
! Bismarck was sent as ambassador to St.
! Petersburg, where he was retained until
| 1861. Then William | succeeded to the
throne of Prussia, and he returned to Der
! lin as the head of the ministry, filled with
misgivings as to the vanities and veXations
of the world, with the great plan of Ger
pan unilicaton taking shape m his massive
| brain.