Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09
BISMARCK ANECDOTES,
"Reminiscences by q Former Chief OF
the Imperial Chancellery.

"Reminiscences by a Former Chief of
the Imperial Chanccllery.
From the New Yerk Times.
Christopher Won Tiedemann, ex-chief of
the imperial chancellery, has published in
pamphlet form some personal "reminiscences
concerning Prince Bismarck, and the Leip-
siger Neue Nachrichten quotes some in
teresting passages. During the first din
ner at which Herr Won Tiedemann was
present the prince talked about love and
hate. He thought Goethe was wrong in
saying that only love beautified life. Hate
does the same service, and is quite as great
a vivifier love. ITO me-" added the
prince, ARE indispensable love for my wife
and hate for Windthorst." One morning
Bismarck said to Herr Won Tiedemann, Il
have not been able to sleep, l have hated
the whole night" The prince used to pre-
pare himself for answering questions put
III parliament. He was very indignant at
the practice, and at the meeting of the min
istry. when the matter was discussed. de-
clared. Il must speak straight out, and
should like to be as rude as possible with
out being insulting" He made use of sew
eral expressions. asking the minister Of
justice II those were insults. The minis
ter, being conscientious. was obliged to say
yes. Then the prince grew angry. exclaim-
ing that in that case 1t would be better
that he should not answer at all, but leave
1t to Camphausen, the vice president Of the
council.
Herr Won Tiedemann describes the office
hours In the chaneellery, which began early
and ended late. At that time Prince Bis
marck rose only toward noon. He worked
hard from IL to Q. and again from till
late at night. Tedemann seldom left his
office before 1 am. 1t was not easy to
read to the prince. He demanded a susci-
tating extract Gas he called iD Of every
thing, and declared, however complicated
a matter might be, its kernel might be ex-
tracted In q few words. His subordinates
gradually accustomed themselves to speak
In, and Tiedemann often condensed more
than hundred paragraphs into the space
OF ten minutes. But the preparation for
such sepoft had cQst several hours study.
AS Soon aS the reading was over Bismarck
gave his decision without moments re-
Election. 1t was astonishing with what GER
SaS ia 81 Y Ygssssii se b pGSS ss sa
what he wanted II anything aid not in
terest him. he said. do what you like"
He wrote very little, preferring to dictate.
Since Killmann's bullet grazed his right
thumb he had found it awkward to hold
q Quill pen. His method Of dictation was
strange. He spoke In jerks, sometimes with
long pauses. and then SO rapidly that it
was difficult to follow him. His thought
and expression were SO rich that he fire.
Quently uttered two or three Pathological
phrases. and then said, please choose the
most ftting." As he might never be inter-
rupted 0or. strange to say. he then lost the
thread of his thoughD 1t was all the more
difficult to follow him. Butcher did this
more easily, for he was q stenographer.
but Tiedemann was not, and so he seldom
could write whole sentence. and had to
be content to catch the most important
turns Of speech. sometimes only a single
word. Afterward 1t was his business ia
work the sentence out.