The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-25

of an autobiography was first suggest
ed to Bismarck in 1889, but as he was
still in active public service at that
time, it was impossible for him to at
tempt such a task. But after he had
surrendered the reinS of government
and had retired to his peaceful retreat
at Friedrichsruh, the thought became
more and more pleasing to him. He
was a man after Kipling's own heart.
He liked to do things, and with his life
behind him and the monotony of idle
ness before, it was with relief that he
turned to the doing of his last great
work, the fit telling of the story of his
life Like Napoleon on St. Helena with
the memory of his past greatness, liV-
ing over again Jena, Wagrann, Waterloo
and Austerlitz, one may imagine Bis
marck watching from afar the political
arena and longing to be again at the
helm, setting his course for the nation.
And in telling his own story, Bismarck
is once again in the strife, he lives
again in the old-time fighting days, and
while in the old library at Friedrich
sruh, he dictated this wonderful biog-
raphy to Lothar Butcher, the fire and
vivid picturesQueness of his words
prove beyond a doubt that the old
statesman, in spirit at least, was living
again in the days when he had at last
realized his ambition, when France
was crushed and Germany united.
In short, we may say that it is the
biographical literature during the last
century, and that Bismarck as bio
grapher will rank with Boswell. The
preparation of the books was the pleas
ure of Bismarck'S declining years, and
he put all his immense energy into the
task. The result of his 1abors speaks
for itself, and the German people have
shown already that the book is a most
notable one and of immense value as
true and complete record of the life and
work of their national hero.
In all literature the work has not its
fellow unless one goes back to the Latin
classics and finds in Caesars Gallo war
the same chance to be at a great lead
er'S side and in his confidence while
tracing the course of important events.
The massiVeness of Bismark'S thought
has its full effect. The sentences march
like an army, coming to the point with
certainty, but from many sides at once.
The reader is conscious of immediate
contact with an epOch-making person.
!. atty and to know truly how the Ger
man empire was created, we must study
out Bismarck all over again We must
know Bismarck's life as he himself re-
VeaIS it.
The book is an adequate expression of
great themes, deliberate, full, and jul
dicial in style. 1t is book of confess
sions conscious and unconscious. There
is nothing like it in literature. We have
all, when bewildered in the state prob
lens of their times, wished for the pri-
waite note book of Caesar or of Richie
lieu. But the greatest men are usually
too reserved for the curious interest of
pOSterity. Bismarck, however, gives US
an unreserved insight both into his pri-
vate and political life. and his style and
tone reflect the greatness of an imper-
sonal tribunal.
The London Times says: ''In his Re
Elections and "Reminiscences Prince Bis
marck presents himself in the more ia
miliar garb of polite society, with the
polished manner of a man OF the world
keeping his tongue under control, a
great and commanding figure. self-cen-
tired and self-restrained a courtier and
statesman, filling not unworthily with
his gigantic personality the world-stage
on which he moved