The Progress., 1898-10-01
THE IRON CHANCELLOR:
PRINCE BISMARCK'S LIFE WAS ONE
LONG COMBAT.

Pen Picture OF Germany's Grand Old
Man-From the Moment He Entered
Public Life He Fought for His Views
His Daily Habits Were Very Simple.
A sketch of Bismarck when he was
in England has been left by the hand
Of an English statesman, then and af
terward associated with him in the
settlement of the affairs of Europe.
''Though not to be described as a
handsome man," says this Inner,
BISMARCK countenance was strik-
ing; brow of much intellectual de-
yelopment and massive jaw. He
was tall, broad-shouldered, with a
slender waist. His glance was pene-
trating and his smile winning one.
He was Of an original, not to say ec-
centric turn of mind. He was ia
vorite in English society, for he pos
sessed every quality that there con-
duces to success. Of noble family and
distinguished appearance, a dead shot
and consummate rider, he won the
men. The ladies also approved Of
him as an excellent waltzer, while he
mixed with a badinage gayly cynical a
tone that could appeal more especially
to their SEX" At the same time he
was little subject to feminine beauty,
and it has been repeatedly declared
that throughout all his long life, no
serious scandal with women ever at
tached itself to his name. He hated
clever women, though he acknowl-
edged that he was greatly charmed
with Queen Victoria as one of "the
wisest stateswomen of the time" 81
am not at all fond of women who med
die with politics., he said on another
occasion referring to Nine. Adam,
nothing can be more terrible than
closet intrigues which you cannot get
at and control"
It was in 1889 that the German peo-
pie were suddenly startled with the
news of most serious chancellor cri-
sis. Hitherto these so-called cri-
ses had always been created by
threat on the part Of the Prince to re-
sign Unless he had his own way-a
threat which had always proved all ef-
fective measure in "getting his own
way" with the old Emperor. But
William II, the new and ambitious
young sovereign, treated this threat as
a worn out old formula, and then even
went so far as to express establishment
when the Prince did not carry it out.
The chancellor, hoist, so to speak,
with his own petard, yielded to the
inevitable, and laid down the trust
that had so long been his. The official
Funeral" the sudden termination to
this grand and historical career of
more than quarter Of century, has
been graphically described.
To Friedrichsruh Prince Bismarck
retired and, described by one OF his
CHS life, as in the case of
Luther and Goethe, shows that it is
just the domestic and family side
which furnishes a suitable frame to
the statesman's picture. An atmos-
phere of serenity, tranquility and
grandeur pervades the rooms in which
Prince Bismarck lives with his rela-
tives and friends, and in which he re-
ceives his countrymen from every part
Of the Fatherland."
The Bismarck of 1898 fully looked
his age Of eighty-three years, except
for his wonderfully keen and pene-
trating eyes, which retained their old
time leonine and fiery gaze. The
rest of the face was mummy-like and
shrivelled. The skin was like parch-
ment, the grasp of his hand feeble and
trembling, his voice shaky and tremu.
lous, and the great body somewhat
shrunken. But his mind showed no
decay, and when he said something
Enthusiastically sarcastic or humor-
Gus, those wondrous eyes of his would
twinkle and shine.
Practically up to the last hours of
his life he maintained keen interest
in politics, especially home politics.
The last Reichstag elections, for in
stance, claimed more of his attention
than the war between Spain and the
United States. German politics, in
tricate and involved as they are, he
had at his fingers ends. Tariff ques-
tons were his especial study.
Every morning his secretary went
through the mass Of newspapers and
periodicals received, and blue pen
ciled all articles which he believed
would interest his chief.
His daily habits were simple. He
was always late riser and of recent
years, owing to his inability to sleep
until late at night, he often did not
get up until IL o'clock or later.
In fine weather and with health per-
he would ride through the