The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-05
Bismarck in Private Life.

The love letters of Bismarck have
just been published, and of all the love
letters of famous men which have
flooded the book market in the last
two years, this collection is possibly
the only one which the sensitive per-
son can read without feeling like a
pickpocket. The letters extend over
period of many years. embracing the
married life of the prince and princess
as well as their courtship. and they
give some glimpses into the domestic
life of the German statesman, with
out revealing the inmost secrets of his
soul If he had any in that connection.
One suspects. in perusing the letters,
that he had not. He would probably
have been willing that all the world
should know that he loved his wife and
children and thought of them con-
stantly, and if anybody had asked him
whether he would agree TO the pub
LEGATION of these letters. 1t is possible
that he would have replied, with look
of surprise, Why not?'
There was a burly simplicity about
Bismarck, which was not at all incom-
patible with a mind keen as a razor.
He was simple because he was single
minded; there were certain things he
wanted to do. and he went and did
them. He was never looking about in
the meantime to see what other things
he might have done and did not. His
keenness consisted in seeing, with that
same single minded concentration, the
bearings which the thing he wanted
to do had on any particular situation,
and, therefore, what was best to be
done in that situation. When he de-
cided that, the opinions of other peo-
pie did not matter. He did not con-
Germ himself with their likes or dis
likes, or the figure which he might
cut IN their eyes.
1. is possible that Bismarck never
fully appreciated The gigantic Joke
which he perpetrated on the diplomatic
world: joke which was himself. which
could in the nature of ii never happen
but once, both because there was but
one Bismarck and because a hoax is
not hoax the second time. This prac-
teal joke was his habit of telling the
truth and allowing a prevaricating en-
| envy to take It for a lie. 1t was a
method of defence like that which the
japanese call ''jiujutsu." though there
! never was a man less like a japanese
than Bismarck. But it had the same eff
| feet In 'jiujutsu' the wrestler opposes
| only empty space to the efforts of his
| opponents, and he does il so cunningly
| that just as the uninitiated one puts
forth his full strength for the over
| throw OF his rival. something seems to
| give way and, instead of the overthrow,
the assailant finds his shoulder out of
| joint or some equally mysterious in
jury Detailing him. Bismarck's diplo-
| macy told with all the force accumu-
lated by generations upon generations
| of liars. If they could have under
stood his language they could have
mastered him. possibly. but in the ma
ture Of things they could not, and so
he was safe.
The simplicity OF his nature, its
| straightforwardness, its sincerity, is
evident in these letters. and this book
| Is the only one of its class which has
| a shadow of an excuse for being pub
| lished. IL really throws light on the
| character of the Man of Blood and
IRON and shows how human he was,
how lovable. how single hearted in his
family life. 1t is refreshing, when con-
| trasted with the record of the private
life Of almost any other great man Of
Europe. There is in it no hypocrisy and
no Witness. To Bismarck 1t was a
matter of course that mis- home should
! be the dearest Of his worldly posses
sions