Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-29
BISMARCK STORIES.
THE READY WIT OF THE MAN OF
BLOOD AND IRON.

A Cemetery That Would Not Agree with
Him-Lcssons In Poiiteness to Count
Thun of Austria-A Startling Answer to
an Indiscreet Question.
Tho late Prince Bismarck, although
known as q man of blood and iron, was
remarkable for his ready wit and his never
failing alertness in any emergency. A few
years before his death he was surprised by
a delegation of peasants from his family
estate, Schoenhauscn. They had como to
ask him to choose their village cemetery
for his final resting place.
ut can t be-" replied Bismarck calmly.
Tho conditions Of your cemetery do not
agree with my rheumatism, and have no
desire to bring my govt with me into tho
grave"
Naturally brave and often reckless In
1 tho faco of danger, Bismarck stunned
nothing when n life was to be saved. AS
young lieutenant he riskcd his own life
to save that Of his drowning servant. Ho
received the medal "for saving Of human
| lifc," and he continued to wear 1t on all
ceromonious occasions until he Withdrew
from public life. Once some high person
age proud of his titles and decorations,
noticed tho insignificant little medal on
the breast of Bismarck and asked sncer.
| ingly, What does that thing mcan?'
mot much" said Bismarck, "only
that l am in tho habit of saving life now
and then"
IIo was man of the world whenever
he wanted to be so and an excellent talk
or. These qualities surprised no one moro
than the empress of France, who, like most
of her countrywomen, was inclined to
conceive Bismarck ms u rude, cold bloodcd,
clumsy brute of the old uncivilizcd Tcu-
{ tons, who led primitive life in the vir-
ginal forests of Germany, dividing their
hostile attentions between boars, bears
and Romans 1t was she who said of him,
"Mais il est plus causour qu'un Fran
caisr
While Austria remained tho head of tho
Federation of German States and Bis
marck attended tho federal council ut
Frankfort as the representative of Prussia
he had many dealings and rs many semi
! hostile encounters with the Austrian pres
idcnt of tho council, Count Thur, whom
he viewed with unlimited disgust Once
he called en- Thun, who received him in
his shirt sleeves. Bismarck proceeded to
pull off his own coat without moments
hesitation saying, Indeed, count, it is
very hot In your room!"
The count jumped from his chair and
FASTENED to put on his coat, at the same
time pouring out apologies. On the occa-
sion of another visit Thun was seated at
his writing desk smoking and with an
open box of cigars in front of him. He
asked Bismarck to wait for n few mo-
ments, but offered him nothing to smoke
Bismarck, who was an enthusiastic deyo.
tee OF the weed, suffered in silence for u
few moments and then walked up to the
desk and deliberately picked out cigar
under tho nose OF the startled count and
once more that gentleman had to apollo
gize.
Bismarck fondness for tobacco lasted
till his death in spite of all protests from
his physician. All the faithful Dr. Schwcn-
niger could do was to have tho strong CT
CARS o: earlier years supplantod by long
stemmcd, well cleaned pipes On tho day
before his death Bismarck smoked five Of
these
"Ho lies like an official news bureau,
exclaimed Bismarck once in the Prussian
diet.
Bismarck was always disliked by tho
dplomatists Of the old school, whose tricks
and concets he dcspised He COMPOUNDED
almost ovcrbearing use of the truth In
the spring of 1866, when the war against
Austria was nothing but a possibility
Bismarck, who was then president of the
Prussian cabinet, attended dinner given
by the minister of Saxony. Tho Countess
IIohenthal who sat by his side, was in
considerate enough to ask, "1s 1t true that
your excellency intends to go to war with
Austria?"
Certainly, my dcnr countess, replied
Bismarck in his blandcst manner. 81
have thought of nothing else since en-
tered the cabinet. Our guns are ready
and you will soon find that they are SUI
pcrior to the Austrian artillery
But, then, you must give me some
friendly advice" said the countess II
have two castles, one in Bohemia and ono
near Leipsc Which one will be the safest
to go tor"
"If you take my advice, answered Bis.
marck, lyon will not go to Bohemia.
Your castle is located in the very vicinity
where we intend to beat the Austrians.
Go to Saxony, and you will DO perfectly
safe"
The countess made her indiscrction com
plete by telling every ono of this remark
able conversation, The world was startled,
and demands for an explanation camo
from all quarters
Pooh" smiled Bismarck, with a shrug
of his shoulders "Do you pay attention
to m ironical answer prompted by an in
discreet questions"
VOLTS Telegraph bureau was honorcd
with Bismarck's attention on account Of
some alleged Irregularities, The chancellor
summoned ono of the government officers,
who promptly asserted that he did not
know a thing about the whole matter
You had better mako thorough in.
vestigation and give me detailed report, "
said Bismarck But there is no special
hurry, If l have tho report by tomorrow
Mt noon, that will be time enough"
Good living was ono Of Bismarck IS weak
points, and tho first Countess Bismarck
said sometimes that the chef do cuisine
was the only one who could govern her
Iron Chancellor. Certain it Is Hsat this
magnatc, Herr Mueller, could take liber-
ties which would have proved dangerous
10 other persons He had sent word twice
on one occasion that dinner was ready.
mot hungry yet. Wait another half
hour, was tho reply that came from the
chancellor.
Tho third message received from the
| Il ta nd, tnb of M