Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-08-04

mer family belongs TO what Is known
in Prussia as the Lietist sect, whose
faith and practice closely resemble
those OF the Quakegs. The princess
had very pious disposition, idol
lied her husband, and was one Of the
best mothers in Germany. 1t is
known that the happiest relations
existed between husband and wife
She was what the Germans call al
echte Deutsche hausfrau," but had
also proven that she could sustain
her husband ia his political battles
by her sympathy and loving advice
The princes only daughter, the Coun-
tess Rantzau, has three lovely boys
who We're very fond of their tall
grandfather. OF his two sons, Count
Herbert several years ago married
Countess Margaret Hoyos.
The most intimate friends of the
family, frequent visitors az Fried
richsruhe, were Professor Schwenin-
ger who pulled the prince through
several almost fatal illnesses, and
who watched over his health with
4.
Chrysander, who acted also as a
private secretary to his excellency;
Hans Won Bulow, the celebrated mu-
sician; Franz Won Lembach, the por-
trait artist; and Editor Hoffman Of
the Nachrichten.
The household of Bismarck was
looked upon by his countrymen as the
ideal German home. His wife died
in "a.
Bismarck Vas Disagreeable
Like other remarkable men Bis
marck was never a man of very
agreeable disposition, and during
his last year his nerves, which
were as rigid as rod-iron, became so
fluttered by the least reference to
public affairs that no mention even
of his own marvellous achievements
could be made in his presence. There
were only two persons outside the
members of his family who could
converse with him. These were his
physician, DIR. Schweninger and Ed-
tor Hoffman of the Hamburger Mach
richten, who through all the trying
period when Bismarck's pride was
screly humbled when it was harder
to part with that diplomatic world
which he had so long moulded by his
intellect and by this mighty will than
It was later to finally leave it, was the
one close and confidential friend of
Bismarck He alone was the man
upon whom the prince leaned in the
days Of his distress, and it is to
Hoffman that he iEstinctiyely chung
in the days of what may be called his
second childhood, When even his
dearest friends are upbraided in his
periodic fits of dependency no un-
kind word was addressed to the faith
full family editor
Of the public and political life of
Bismarck little that is new can be
written save by some such man as
Editor Hoffman. Bismarck was one
of the ceQtral figures Of the century
and isolated and uncivili2ed will be
indeed that land where the news of
sorrow. OF Bismarck it will be writ
ten that in an age prolific of great
men he was, measured alike by the
range OF his intellect and the
majesty of his achievements
probably the greatest per-
scnality of his time. He was the
product Of a single idea-the unifica
ton Of the thirty-nine states Of the
Germanic confederation into a feder-
alton of which Prussia was TO be the
predominant partner. This was the
dream of his youth and the realiza-
ton If his old age; and though like
others who have accomplished notable
thiags he saw ambitious youth pre-
pared to discount his marvellous life
work when that work was done, Bis
marcks fame lowered 50 conspicu-
ously that that Of the greatest of
German monarchs is but as a dwarf
20 a giant beside It.
Bismarck was about 80 years OF age
when the people of Germany rose 70
throw OF that condition of seryitude
in which they stood to a few princely
families who like the house Of Hesse
sold them for money to fight the bat
ties OF foreign soyereigus. The Ger
man people could have no interest
in these wars but they were accus-
toned to obedience and We're loyal
and true to the gonfalon Of their
chiefs. But IN 1913 they took a new
view OF their duties and when the
masses moved, the Austrian family
being more powerful than the Hohea-
zollerns secured tine appointment Of
the Arch-duke John Of Austria as
adm nistratJr of all the Germans.
From administrator to emperor was
but q step, and this event gave the
starting point 10 Bismarck's idea. 1t
was nineteen years later after the
national activity of lS4S had subsidized
and Koeniggratz was won that Bis
marck organized the northern states
into what was called the north Ger
man confederation He had ten
years previously resolved upon form
ing triple alliance between France,
Russia and Prussia. Neither Ma