The times., 1899-02-19


the man OF blood and iron, and that the
writer, when child. lived in Strasburg
during its siege by the Germans II
might be supposed that such an expert
ence, with the family traditions which
would naturally result therefrom, would
preclude an impartial and sympathetic
view Of the great Chancellor on the part
of NJ Hoche: but he himself seems 10 be
Of the opinion that he can treat his sub
ject with entire impartialty. Aside from
the interest which attaches TO the per-
sonality of the author, the book is OF i'm
portance as a clever exponent Of new
idea Of Bismarck's character.
The opinion of NJ. Hoche is that Bis
marck was above all a humorist Traits
which others have considered marks of
far-seeing craftsmanship or OF brutal
cruelty he regards simply manifesto
tions Of a whimsical and highly developed
humor. He reoounts story after story 10
show that this quality was pre-eminent
in his subject, and evidently thinks that
he has found an explanation which will
account for everything hitherto perpleXing
10 historians. An extract from the preface
Of the book will give 4 clear idea of its
motive and character:
Before and above all mus; the biugrlphcr fur
nish his reader with the psychological key 10 the
actions oi his heIo q about tu say his pa
iieutj; sketch explanatory OF his moral IA
a
a. an oTaque body tTavcrsed by The Roentgen
RAYS. For the words and deeds OF man, how
ever famous he may be, interest rs only com
IutnSuTateiy with ability to divine their mo-
tive and purpose; and pgoportionately with the
manner, more or less complicated, IN which they
explain, reflect, conmeItate the mysterious
depths and sIiallows Of his soul. From
exclusively biological vleT point, BlSInarek Is
uuduniahly . natural force; which explains in a
general way the inequalities, the Congregations
the contradictions the bewildering contrasts
which seemed characterize his political life.
Yet this does not explain his more intimate and
familiar personality, chsmeleon-likc IN its
charm that public appreciation OF ii has varied
a. frequently II has found writers 10 describe
it: while a single word. simple epithet coupled
with his name. would lave suffced to banish all
uncertainty and render the obscUrity luminous
Bismarck i. above all else, humorist.
This notion of the German statesman is
nothing if not original. 1t is 10 be doubted
whether any other writer ever had the re-
motest idea of explaining the seeming con-
tradictions of Bismarcks character in just
this way. II remains TO be seen whether,
after reading the book, the public feels
convinced that this view is the correct
one Whatever the ultimate decision may
be IL must be conceded that such work
is interesting from its very novelty.
The first proofs which NJ. Hoche brings
10 support his theory are number OF in
cidents from Bismarcks s somewhat wild
career as a student. He recounts practical
jokes, epigrammatic sayings, and the clever
devices by which the young Otto got him
self out of scrapes, and appears TO regard
these as indicating budding sense of hu-
NOR in his hero. That they do indicate
such trait is beyond a doubt, for no man
without a sense OF the ludicrous could ever
have been the hero Of some Of these
anecdotes But they do not after all, prove
that this quality is the main element IN
the character of the mature statesman.
The biographer then quotes q number Of
letters written by Bismarck 10 his family
and friends, some of which bristle with
epigrems and satiric comment on the ways
of society In the latter half of the book
he confines himself more closely to simple
biography. without any attempt 10 prove
his theory directly. 1t may be that a
speech, said TO have been made by Bis
marck TO Jules Favre after the siege OF
Paris. is given as a sample OF the Chan
oellor's humor, but after reading II one
finds no difficulty IN understanding why
the French should hate him ferociously.
Having been told by NJ Favre that the
children of Paris were very pretty and
healthy looking, Bismarck is said to have
replied, with pretended surprise: You as
tonish me. supposed you had eaten them
ALL" II that is humor, let US have tragedy
for amusement.
There are numerous stories and anec-
dotes Of the Chancellor scattered through
the book, and more pictures of him at DIFF
ferent stages OF his career than were prob
ably ever collected IN one book before.
We see him dining, riding, engaged in
business. strolling about the grounds with
the immense dogs of which he was so
fond, sitting with his wife and children in
the family drawing-room, conversing with
his old master, the great Emperor-in
short, he seems 10 have been photo
graphed at nearly every one of his ordi-
nary occupations. The face with which
everyone is familiar changes but little
after middle life; IL is the same cold, hard,
imperturbable. infexible countenance
expression OF one OF the great
hounds which were the constant at
tendants OF their master This
unchanging quality is in itself an index ot
character In some men the change of eX-
preston between fifty and seventy j:
nearly as marked as during the
twenty years previous; in Bismarck
it was almost imperceptible. Foi
example, there is a wide difference
between the face OF Tennyson II
middle life and in old age; and in Glad
stone the alteration. though less strik-
ing. Is still quite perceptible. The mar
whose life is in the world Of thought, II he
be strong character, must have wide
sympathies: and this tends to make his
expression vary with every great ex-
perience of his life, and with every grea
thought movement in which he become!
interested With the man of action il /!
different His ideals DO not change; his
aims are fixed and definite. Bismarck Wal
pre-eminently a man of action; he had no
even that hidden capacity for thoughtful
ness in his character which has trans
formed some great soldiers and statesmen
during their old age into students AM
philosophers Whatever Of softness Their
was in him expended itself strictly on hi
domestic side-still in action and in feel
ing Of a simple. primitive order; what
ever OF ideality he possessed found its out
let in the service of his Emperor. II was
in fact, the very simplicity of his charac
ter, In an age when most people are NOR
OF less complex. which made him so puz
cling to European diplomats. But was he
as VI. Hoche contends. a huInoTist?
In every man Of action there is an ele
ment Of humor If he be one of thos
mighty personalities which bend nation
10 their will, most of the ordinary am
bitions of life will seem to him trifiin
and absurd, and that is one element O
humor. The humorist rises above tn
petty struggle for wealth. position, iniiu
ence which he sees about him: and a
there is an inherent absurdity in all thes
things. he perceives il and shows it l
others The man who is naturally power
ful is also above this struggle of small ma
lures, and the remarks he makes on II az
quite likely 10 be epigrammatic and witt
Bismarck was such man. Carlyle was ais
such n man, though of a different typ,
n Carlyle this satiric contempt for 10
fims was weapon which he used 10 fuG
ther the cause Of what he thought trll
and noble. lie tried TO convert men
the right by showing them the absurdIt
nf the wrong. In Bismarck this ira
seems rather 10 be an unconscious cror