The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-08-05
DRAM PERSONAL.

DRAM PERSONAL.
A love drama has just been enacted
in which the three grand old men OF
Germany are deeply concerned.
They are Bismarck, the statesman;
bach, the painter.
The young Emperor William is also
a parsonage in this drama, for he was
madly infatuated with the who
plays the principal role in it.
DR.. ~Schweninger has married the Bar
oness Lola o Hornstein, whom he had
loved since she was a child. His pre-
vious marriage he regarded as a regret
able and accidental obstacle to happi-
ness.
Bismarck has given his blessing to his
two old friends. Like them he disre-
CARDS the court and the world, where
he once played so great a part.
May you be happy, my children"
he is reported to have said. "Despise
the world and it will respect YOU"
These great Germans are curiously
alike. All are famed for the rough
ness and even the brutality of their
manners. Bismarck, above all other
statesmen, represents physical force
in politics. He has no respect for any
one but a strong man, preferably a
soldier.
Fol- artists and men of letters he
has always professed the most cheer
fur contempt. There is, however, one
artist whom he loves, and that is Franz
Won Lenbach. He has so much strength
in his character and in his art that
he compels Bismarck's respect.
Once Bismarck despised doctors. He
was born with a magnificent constitu-
ton. He scoffed at moderation in
eating n drinking.
Then, in old age, indigestion laid him
low n tortured him sorely, until, at
last, he cried for mercy. DR.. Schwen-
niger came to his rescue, stopped the
guzzling and cured him. Bismarck had
made emperors his tools, but in the
doctor he met an absolute despot. He
respected him.
Thus the trio-Bismarck, Schweninger
and Lenbach-came together. Their as
ISOLATION has at length resulted in a
strange, weird love drama.
CHAPTER 1.-THE GREAT ARTIST
AND THE GREAT FLIRT.
In the year 1896 Franz Lenbach, al
ready the most successful painter of
Germany, went to Milan to make a por-
trait of the queen of Italy.
Among the visitors to Milan that
yea were Countess Magdalena Won
Moltke and her mother.
The Countess Magdalena, Familiarity
known as Lena" was the most be-
witching little beauty that ever set
the court of Berlin by the ears. From
the age of 10 broken hearts had strewed
her path.
She was a perfect type of Teutonic
loneliness. h had golden hair, liquid
blue eyes, pearly teeth and a fascinat-
ing smile.
She was a granddaughter Of the great
Moltke's brother. From childhood she
was a %favorite of Bismarck as we'll as
of Moltke. Her family had the high
est standing at court, but they were
poor.
The young Prince William, now the
emperor, lost his head over her. He
was not hen h stern moralist he has
since become. The whole court knew
his alteration of the fair Lena.
The prince was then newly married.
His wife became jealous and Infatuated.
The imperial family feared a scandal
of too open a character.
Lena's character was above reprOach,
except by those who consider flirting
a crime, and from that standpoint she
was, indeed, a criminal. But the at
tentions of princes are dangerous, and
so for her own good and that of the
Imperial House ucI ulOlllCI CdIIAcu
her away to the south.
At Milan she met Lenbach. The great
painter begged to be permitted to trans
fer her beautiful features to canvas.
1T would be a relaxation from the labor
Of painting queens.
Lenbach found extraordinary artistic
inspiration in the maiden. He sketched
her face again n again.
One afternoon the Countess Won
Moltke, mother of Lena, entered the
studio. Did she fine Lenbach glued
to his beloved Inv Oh, no; he had
found another occupation equally con-
genial to an artistic nature. His long
arm-he is six feet and four inches high
-encircled Lena's waist, as they sat
together in a large armchair, n he
was telling her things not intended
for publication.
When the mother introduced herself
the scene was as pretty a M as the
artist had ever painted, but he unfor-
tunately was incapable of calmly APP
preciating it.
to settle her frolicsome daughter for
life. Lenbach was rich, and although
not of noble birth he enjoyed the favor
Of courts and princes.
She requested an interview with Len
bach, and informed him that he was
bound as a gentleman to marry her
daughter. He, with pleasant memories
of Lena's waist, did not deny the OBJ
legation.
It is said that when the Emperor
william heard Of Lenbach's triumph he