Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07

q gentleman present to respond rather
warmly, MY dear sir" exclaimed Bismarck
to his excited guest, do not worry your
self; our friend Will tangle himself up, and
refute that very statement in a couple OF
minutes and the roar Of laughter which
followed put every one again in an excellent
humor.
Royal Salute.
After the famous German victories in the
war OF 1865, when Bismarck was the hero
OF the hour, his real greatness OF character
was finely illustrated. Thousands OF people
crowded to the palace OF the king and
cheered ceaselessly. At 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. when Bismarck started from the
palace to the street, he was almost over
whelmed by the public enthusiasm. HI felt
humble, and was not disposed to take undue
credit to himself, but Joined in the general
rejoicing as though he were merely a private
citizen with the good OF his country at heart,
and not the mighty statesman at the
thought OF whom European thrones trem-
bled scarcely less than when Bonaparte him
self was abroad in the world. After he
reached his hotel on this occasion the crowd
surged beneath his window, and called aloud
for him to say a word to them. He re-
sponded in a thrilling speech, concluding
with a salute to the king and the army.
Just then a vivid flash OF lightning appeared
in the sky and the deep-toned thunder
shook the earth like the sound Of a can
non. The heavens fire a ~salute!' cried
Bismarck, as he withdrew from the gaze OF
the multitude.
Bismarck came to be called THE Iron
Chancellor" from a sentence he used In a
speech on the consolidation of the empire
-"The unity of Germany can only be eff
fected by blood and front" In this con-
nection an interesting fact is related about
him. He wore an iron ring on one of his
fingers, wearing the word "Nitschewo,"
which means never mind" He was Prus-
sian ambassador to Russia in 1862, and
with other foreign officials went out on a
hunt near st. Petersburg. He arrived a
day ahead, and thought he would take a
ramble about the country. He missed his
way, and finally had to stop at a little vii
lage to find a sledge to take him back to
the place of meeting. He was irritated at
the slowness OF the horses, and said to the
driver: Hurry up! You'll never get there"
The driver merely answered, "Nitschewo!"
why don't you make speed?" said Bis
marck more angrily, when the horses still
did not travel to suit him. "Nitschewo!"
called the driver mischievously, as he
whipped them, and made them start off at
such a rate that Bismarck cried, There
you go to the other extreme!" 'Nitschewo!'
responded the Russian, and suddenly they
were rolling in the snow. Bismarck sprang
UP, and, taking a piece of iron rod from
the sledge, raised it as If to strike the
driver. 'Nitschewo!" replied the Russian
unfinchingly. Bismarck was so Impressed
with the philosophy of the peasant that he
bore way the rod as a souvenir of the in
cident, had a ring made from it with the
l HuSSian'E rpnIv lnnn ~ md nnpoilaro1 -
his LIES maxim ever afterward that one
wise saying, Never mind!"
Suppressing Bores.
In his position as chancellor Of Germany
his time was precious, and he necessarily
was obliged to be chilly toward people who
would not notice that there were Others
anxious to see him as well as they. He had
an amusing way of Kidding himself of such
visitors. Although physically he was a per-
rect athlete, he would have an attendant
stationed at the door, and when the caller
mad consumed his allotted time the at
%tendant would enter seriously and say
Your excellency, the countess says you
must come and take your medicine" 'Ex.
cuse me, my dear sir" the chancellor would
then say to the interminable talker, and
leave the room. This trick once led to q
laughable mistake. The British ambassador
was a particular friend of the chancellor
ana after a leave of absence in England re-
turned to pay his respects. He was ushered
in, and Bismarck was so overjoyed to sec
him that the usual quarter of an hour al.
lowed for interview quickly passed. Sud.
denly the attendant entered. and in his sol.
emn way said: Your excellency, the
countess says 1t is time to take you,
medicine" Bismarck looked at him a sec,
ond, and then burst into a hearty laugh
and an explanation followed. When thu
medicine trick was reported abroad, he hat
recourse to another strategem-a cuckoo
CLOCK. One who watched its operation sale
Of 1t: THE clock every quarter of an houl
reminds those whom Bismarck receives, II
g an appealing and unmistakable way, tina
they are not to forget that they are in tn,
presence OF a man whose precious time be,
longs to his king and country. With som,
this warning Is unnecessary, but in otheI
cases 1t Is very useful, and should any on,
neglect Its appeals the possessor of tn,
cuckoo clock is quite the man TO suppor
those appeals in the politest fashion,"
one OF the most amusing instances OF
record of Bismarck's Impotence with wind,
politicians is related by a recent writer VIII,
knew him intimately all his life, being a feI
low student OF the Iron Chancellor. An ego
tistic gabbler, who did not know Bismarck
was one day airing his views before tn,
e statesman. Bismarck did not notice him 70
quite awhile and this so irritated the poll
tician that he addressed several disrespect
full remarks to the chancellor. Bismarcl
walked toward him with fierce eyes, and h
stumbled backward excitedly. The fellow
, was called Nelke. which is the German wort
for carnation flower. Look out, Her
, Nelke,' or I'll snatch you from your stem!'
exclaimed Bismarck with mock sternncss
, 1t squelched the fellow and greatly amuset
. the people watching them.
: There were times when, either by word O
Inference, Bismarck let the old empero
know his place. When he sent mis- resig
nation to his sovereign years ago the ven
9 cradle man sent 1t back with one wor
scratched across the paper-"Nimmer."
ye Later they talked the matter over and th
: emperor said: 81 an a much older ma,
than you and l do not think of yielding I
q the years"
e That is ever so, sire; the rider Away
e holds out longer than the HORSE
D He knew. and everybody knew, who car
: ried the empire.
PROPHECY.
Was Shelly prophet as we'll as poet? ask