The Van Buren press., 1898-11-12
A MEMORY OF BISMARCK.
His Personality Not Such as would
lie Pleasing to Dy-
stnnder.

1t was on the anniversary OF WASH
ington's birthday, in the year 1874,
that first saw him. The occasion was
reception at the house of George
Bancroft, then American minister
plenipotentiary at Berlin. The simply
furnished but spacious rooms of the
sch cholar-diplomatist were crowded with
distinguished throng All the celeb
rites of the day were present, among
them Moltke, Room and Manteuffel,
Bismarck entered somewhat late,
when conversation was at its height
and the brilliant scene was most i'm
pressive. The indeseribable polyglot
hum of talk just ceased for an instant,
and then went on, as he made his way
to a central position. For time all
ewes were turned toward him while
he entered in the pleasantest humor
of the assembly; but as he assumed no
other mien than that of peer among
peers, the general interchange of good
fellowship was resumed without re-
gard to his presence. His low voice
could be heard from time to time, and
occasionally his unmusical laughter,
but that was all; and after stay of
well-calculated length he withdrew al
most unnoticed. In the succeeding
years | saw him frequently on public
occasions and in the street, and heard
him speak on more important meas
ures in the imperial parliament. Be-
ing only a secretary and historical
student under Bancroft, had natural
ly no opportunity for personal con-
versation with the hero of the hour;
but the current gossip was of intense
interest. Once a message taken to the
royal residence afforded an oppor-
tunity to see the striking evidence OF
the ehancellor's temper. He had just
left the portal, and the rather fius.
tered attendant pointed to the door OF
the emperor's ante-ehamber with 81.
lent and deprecatory smile; the ham
die was gone, leaving plainly visible
the fresh scar where the brass shanl
had been broken, as the willful and
perhaps momentarily thwarted giant
had taken his departure.
Among the somewhat faded visions
of his presence which remain there is
none that is altogether agreeable
He was too elemental in his person and
manners to leave on the mere bystand-
er any other impression than that oil
power. Even in moments of excite.
ment his features were not so much
attractive as fascinating; the express
sion of force did not often, if ever, dis
appear altogether before the appear
ance of good humor. 1t was spec
tacle far from edifying to see hin
driving through the crowded thor
oughfares of the capital, seated in a
low and narrow brougham, and caress
ing his wonted companion, huge and
savage dog, seemingly Indifferent te
| the acclamations with which he was
greeted when recognized, and to al
| the life about him. The impression
was all the more profound because il
was a line of conduct antipodal to that
of his suave and gracious master, the
old emperor, who rode, when possible
the salute of every passer-by. In the
drawing-room he gave no suppression
of springiness in gait, or of elegance
| in movement; quite the contrary. MOI
was the great chancellor more at
tractive in the pageantry of grant
military review. In youth he was by
all testimony a superb horseman, bur
in the seventies he sat his charger will
little elegance and no ease; the vas
jackboots and huge, glittering helme'
of brass made even his powerful figure
uncouth, while the white uniform o
his favorite regiment did nothing tC
redeem the enormous proportions o.
his frame. He had an air of comfort
able certainty, but there was none o
that perfect confidence which ough
to arise from that absolute master.
Of his horse which he Is said SO con
stantly to have shown in early man
hood. This arose probably from th'
fact that to him the pomp of warfar'
was disagreeable necessity, some
thing to be exhibited as rapidly and al
perfunctorily as possible. He was a.
essential part of it, and must appear Il
person from time to time before tn,
public, as a stimulus to the passion fol
German nationality, which it was i'm
portant to cherish in those days quit,
as carefully as any hothouse plant
Exertion for the sake of remote effect
he understood perfectly in the realn
OF diplomacy; but in military matter
prearrangement was not his trade
and was irksome. Hence, possibly, hi
appearance of being i'll at ease.-Prof
William NJ. Sloane, in Century.