The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-01


world. Then growing at the rain we
start for another bush, find nothing and
play the farce over again. This goes on
for three or four hours without father
being in the least tired"
The tall young country squire was con-
firmed in his church at Berlin in 1880.
He was a spoiled boy and early left his fa-
theirs roof. He now and then went home,
taking the stage at Berlin in the evening
and getting to Stettin at noon the next
day, and by the third day no would reach
Kniephof and have his holiday of three
weeks. At school he loved the history of
lhis native country, Brandenburg, Prus-
kia and Germany, and his historical at
kainments were ever eminent. He was
mot very good in Latin, but departed for
the University of Goettingen at II years
lie is said not to have been very an
mated and had rather blank but observ-
mt eyes, but was determined and en-
during. All persons had to approach
him with consideration. He loved dogs,
had strong memory and was first
class horssman, could swim, fence and
dance, but did not like athletics.
At Goettingen one Of his college mates
was Motley, the American historian, who
was minister at London just after Bis
march humiliated Austria. His mother
refused to send him to Heidelberg be-
cause she thought he would get the de-
iestable habit of drinking beer there.
Before he lert Berlin he had fought a
duel with jew lad named Wolf and
cut off VOLTS spectacles and received a
wipe in the leg.
He was jolly student and travelled
through the Harz mountains on foot,
and for throwing bottle out through
window after breakfast was summoned
before the faculty and came in with his
enormous dog, which caused him to be
fined 5 thalers. He fought about 90
duels at Goettingen and was wounded
only once. showing the scar on his cheek.
He is said never to have attended a lee
ture, rather displeased his fastidious
mother, yet he passed his examination
by natural gifts He was full of hard
pranks.
AT 20 he was made notary or exam
iner in Berlin and had much to do with
getting divorces. AT court ball he met
his future master and king, who was
struck with his tall form and grim coun-
tenance. Justice" said Prince Will
liam, ''must seek her advocates accord
ing to their height in the guards" A
favorite cousin once gave him letter to
deliver, which he forgot, and when he
returned it TO her in three weeks he said,
II did not deliver this in order to entire
ly cure my cousin of the habit of intrust-
ing me with letters" Sometimes he
would let parcel of young foxes into
the drawing room.
A man Of exalted spirits, to whom the
dry, common life of Prussia was insult
ficient. Bismarck was sure to attain dis
tinction only in some irregular. perhaps
overbearing, way. He was ali the time
getting ready to be diplomatist, as his
mother desired, and for that reason went
to Aix-la- Chapelle, in the western section
of Prussia, where there was special
court. but this was a bathing resort, and
Bismarck fell in with French, Belgians
and Englishmen and went with them
on excursions everywhere. His first rate
English made him favorite with the
young men of that nation, but he got
into many scrapes and consequently had
himself transferred to Potsdam the old
royal residence, an hours ride from Ber-
lin. where after 1888 he went into the
messroom among his fellow guards.
His fathers estates were falling to
ruin, and he undertook to hear agricul-
tural lectures. The sons took charge Of
their parents estates in order to save
them from destruction. He went into
the provincial diet of Pomerania at Stet-
tin, but got tired Of it's monotony. As
nm agriculturist. however, he showed
some vigor and was rather severe en-
ployer. yet after hard days supervi-
tion he would get on his horse and ride
10 miles to some evening assembly in
town. He was moody at times from the.
want of real domestic life. and some
called him 'mad Bismarck"
Sometimes. tortured by dark thoughts,
he would dash through the fields in soli-
tude and again bring in loud com
pany and make a night of it. so that tales
were told of him as IL he were some
haunted spirit. Sometimes he appeared
20 be Liberal IN politics. In this coun-
try solitude at Kniephof. near the Baltic,
however. he read much in every direc-
tion-theology and philosophy as well ne
history. rio studied Spinozs deeply, Wis
tied France and England and had re-
neutrality-suspicious. with his official SUI
periors. The old father died in 1915. and
the sons divided the property. and Bis
marck kept Kniephof and Schoenhausen.
We must understand that Prussia had
undergone n complete transformation in