The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-08-02
BISMARCK AS A SPEAKER,
Not an Orator In the Ordinary Sense-His
Appearance In the Reichstag.

Not an Orator In the Ordinary Sense-His
Appearance In the Reichstag.
Bismarck was not at all a smooth, grace
full orator, but when it was announced in
his days Of power that he was about to
make an important speech all Europe held
its breath. His voice was peculiar, high
! pitched and not very powerful. 1t was by
some spoken of as a thin voice, but that ex.
presses only one of its qualities. 1t was the
voice OF a young man, and one hearing it
for the first time without seeing the speak
er could hardly believe that a person long
past middle age was talking. A POLITICALLY
inclined writer once likened his speech 10
a forest stream running over stones and
roots. A more scientific observer described
it in this way:
II think | know a better though a rather
technical comparison-namely, his speech
is like quicksilver drawno out. Take a drcp
OF quicksilver containing some lead or zinc,
put it on a pane of glass and hold it slant
ingly. The drop swells and rolls, but pres
emily it stops, becomes thinner and longer,
remains immovable for a moment, gathers
new strength to flow, becomes thin once
again, and SO forth. Thus it was with the
chancellor's words-first, if a sentence came
out, then he nesitated, stopped or uttered
a short, l~nartlculate sound and went on
again. 1t was always evident that to speak
was a physical exertion, but even when in
first rate form he did not talk huently,"
Close observation disclosed the fact that
the reason fer all this was that the form Of
his speech was always imprOvised on the
spur OF the moment; that, unlike many eX-
temporaneous speakers, he did not use the
first expression coming into his mind, but
while uttering the first half of a sentence
he was thinking how to shape the second
half in order to exactly express his meaul-
ing. When making a joke or some lighter
remark, there was no hesitation, but when
he turned to more serious subjects the halt
ing form OF speech always returned.
1t follows that it was no easy task to re-
port his words. Even the official stenop-
raphers used often to trip on his words, and
before their work was passed Bismarck
always personally revised it.
During a debate he used to make FREQUENT
notes in a coarse, scrawling hand. When
attacked by some keen opponents, he grew
nervous end shifted in his seat, his pen
shook between his fingers, and very often
bis hand went menacingly to his sword
hilt, for Bismarck, while the first civil off.
Ger in the empire, was at the same time a
general OF cavalry inc always wore his IN.
dress uniform in the reichstag.
When aroused, his ebullitions of passion
were frequently terrible. He was merciless
in retort, unsparing OF persons, no matter
their age, their personal services to himself
or to the empire. He possessed a caustlc
humor which he used with great effect. 4
master OF invective, his coarseness of speech
very often defeated his own object. One
OF his countrymen speaking on this point
described him as IAN Achilles in courage.
he is a Thersite in debate as often as the
candle censure of friends or the vicious
taunts of foes goad him into the loss of his
temper"