The times., 1898-08-14
TALES ABOUT BISMARCK |
His Wit and His Early Love Of
Children.
MEETING LORD BEAC0NSFIELD
How the Two DipIomatists Came to
an Understanding - His Appoint
ment Ambassador to Frank
fort - Conf0unded by the Retort
of n Shepherd Lad.

| The writer of the following anecdotes.
which appear in the New York Sun, saw
Prince Bismarck on three occasions:
''The first time was shortly after the
Danish war, when he was visiting Bar
on Tornerhjelm, of Vrams, Gunnars-
Torp, in Sweden. He was strikingly
massive figure. and one could not fail to
notice the kindly eyes, flashing forth un-
der shaggy brows. He was born ruler
of men; any child could see that. But
the children ruled him. He loved chill
dren, and he was "a great favorite among
them. He entered into their games and
romps with as much animation and inter-
est any of them. and il he biundered.
as sometimes he did, he received his cor
rection in the most ridiculouSly Submis-
sive spirit and yet in al sincerity. In the
morning he was often seen lying on the
lawn with a group of noisy children
crawling all over him. And in his excur-
sionS about the estate he used to have
his pockets filled with tobacco, which he
distributed indiscriminately among the
peasants whom he met. evidently hugely
delighted at their astonishment and awk-
ward thanks.
J Many witty sayings of his were at that
time going from mouth to mouth among
| the people. Shortly before the Prince
visit Baron Tornerhjelm had been
! made first court stablSmaster py the
| King At dinner some one wondered why
! that royal favor had been conferred upon
/ the Baron. Now, it is TO be noted that
/ the Baron had JUS rendered his first
! service to the country as a member of
/ the Swedish Riksdag but when, as be-
! fore his election, he had been pronounc-
| edly anti-royaI in his sentiments, he had
been the very reverse in the Riksdag,
supporting every royal measure TO the
Ii most of his ability. Therefore, when
the conundrum as 10 the royal stable
mastership was mooted. Prince Bismarck
solved it by remarking that this was
probably due to the perspicacity of the
King seeing the nimbleness with which
the Baron understood how 10 change
saddles
AL rhe two other meetings Prince Bis
marck was in Berlin. This was only
some ten years ago. The first time ne
was coming out from his residence TO take
his customary o'clock morning ride,
! and the whole carriage creaked as the
+ pcr.derous figure sank down upon the
/ cushions The second occasion was in
the afternoon when ne was taking a walk
/ in Urter Linden. But what Il an 10
nation. his walk was heavy aIl laboiei.
! his forehead deeply fGrrOwed, and mis-
/ eyes had become dark and hard; still
faint smile new and then fitted over rs
/ features as he Acknowledged the gree--
ings Of some friend.
/ These are couple of characteristic
events in Prince Bismarcks life well
/ known in Germany. but not so familiar
to English-spea king people: A bond of
understanding between the Prince and
the ltae Lord BeacOnseld is said 10 have
| sprung up in a very characteristic man
ner during the Berlin conference. Bis
marck was the first 10 arrive in the rooT
and as he was walking about in full uni
/ form and heIEneted Lord Beaconseld ar
/ rived and greeted the German chancellor
hat in hand. In acknowledging the salu-
! tation, Prince Bismarck did not remove
! his helmet: so after little while Lord
+ BeaconsfieId put oT1--ais hat. Meanwhile
not a word had been exchanged between
4 the two statesmen Then Bismarck went
/ up TO a window and begun to drum on
! the pane with his knuckles. Pretty soon
/ Lord BeasonsfieId came up and began 10
/ thump the pane next to Bismarek's.
! glance was exchanged and they under
! stood each other.
| The other story relates to Prince Bis
! marck's appointment as ambassador to
! Frankfort One morning Junker Bis
]
/ on a business visit to Berlin and would
be back in a few days. This was just
! after the close of the Reichstag, where
/ he had made himself well hated by the
! Liberals for his unqualified support OF the
/ King In those days there were no rail-
i roads or telegraphs. and the road from
I yarZin TO Berlin had to be Travelled in
| carriage. The trip became tedious, so TO
relieve the monotony he stuck his mead
] fI,a arria window
passersby what the news was from Ber-
! lin Almost invariably the answer came
4 that everybody was talking about the
/ Kings intention to appoint that young
! firebrand. Bismarck, as ambassador TO
/ Frankfort When Bismarck arrived at
the capital instead Of going to the cheap
quarters he had intended, he went TO
large hotel. taking expensive apartments
so as to be in suitable surroundings when
/ the expected command from the King
/ should arrive.
He also took pains TO have the princi-
nal Daners announce his presence. And
! then he waited-one day two days, three
| DAYS yet no news came from tae King
| On the fourth day his cash was scarce
h., thought he had been hoaxed, and he
was in far from an amiabe mood. But
| lust as he was getting ready to leave
| Field Marshal Wrangel was announced
on entering he informed Bismarck that
he had been commanded by the King to
offer him the embassy to Frankfort, and
to tell him to think the matter over,
and give the King early response as
| possible. AS Wrangef was about to with
draw Bismarck said:
I'm thanking his majesty for this
favor. say that L accept this mark Of
| confidence
The answer made old Wrangel start.
soldier as ne was He only said: '1s
this your answer to his majesty?'
| Bismarck said Yes"
A little later a royal equippage arrived
| te carry Bismarck to the palace. The
King was walking about in great excite
| ment.
.'Wrangel tells me-" the King burst
forth, that when he gave you my COM
mission you at once declared your readi-
ness to accept the post"
Yes, your majesty"
"Are you aware" the King continued,
that the post at Frankfort is the most
important as well as the most difficult to
fill?"
Yes your majesty"
"And yet said the King, you were
ready at once to accept the position?"
| Yes. your majesty"
| Explain yourself roared the King.
Bismarck then related his experiences
on his trip to Berlin, and said that from
the moment he had been told of the
Kings intention he had bent all his
thoughts and energies to understanding
the requirements of the place. and when
| Wrangel announced the Kings gracious
offer he had become satisfied that he
could fill the office, hence his prompt ac-
| cpDtanpa