Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28

blished as lord OF the manor q country
gentleman, who took keen pleasure in his
home and Its surroundings but who kept
fully abreast of the events in the world
from which he had withdrawn. Mr. Whit
man gives this pleasant glimpse Of Bis
marcks home circle:
Prince Bismarck took his seat at the
head of an oblong table. 1 was placed by
his side. Both he and the princess evinced
keen interest for what was going on in
the outside world, and as 1 had brought
kindly messages from their friends in Lon
don there was at once subject to start con-
versation, In which Princess Bismarck,
Notwithstanding her bad state Of health,
took a lively part. With q sly touch Of
humor she said she hoped liked my room.
for 1t was the one the emperor had occu-
pied when he had been at Friedrichsruh.
1t was a family meal In the patriarchal
sense. No family gathering could have been
less conventional. and consequently more
genial The cuisine was evidently a great
feature and I noticed how new idea of
the chef met with general recognition The
Bismarcks-both father and son-were keen
judges of wines; though since DR.. Schwe-
ninger had somewhat restricted the prince
diet the choice of the wines devolyed upon
Count Herbert.
Toward the end of lunch letters and
newspapers. which had just arrived, were
brought In and also Prince Bismarck's long
pipe, cigars being handed around to the
rest Of the company. A tray with a tobac-
CO jar and a variety Of peculiar rods and
knives was also plac iced. upon the table, and
the prince proceeded to use them with a
view Of securing a good draft through his
pipe.
after lunch Prince Bismarck invited me
to take drive with him, while the other
guests. led by Count Herbert, followed lis
some distance on horseback On passing
through the gates Of the Schloss a loud
cheer greeted us from the crowd Of people,
standing bareheaded in the road: Long
life to his serene highness, Prince Bismarck,
the uniier Of Germany"
The incidents of this. Mr.. Whitman's first
visit to Friedrichsruh. must have impress
ed themselves strongly upon his memory.
for he recalls them with minuteness. He
was. Of course. on the alert to learn Bis
marck's true nature. and the happenings
first impressions.
when we reached home" he continues,
1T was nearly o'clock and close upon the
dinner hour. which In the Bismarck family
was an unusually early one for west Euro
pean ideas. The guests, as well as the
ladies Of the family were soon assembled In
the drawing roomTamong the former a
very pretty woman Baroness Won Merck.
a great friend Of the family. Nobody was
expected to dress for dinner. The ladies
did not wear low dresses and the conven-
tional swallow tails were tabooed. The
riguer. except on one solitary occasion in
the year--Bismarck's birthday. when full
evening dress was worn. -
Dinner over, the company moved to the
drawing room. the latest guest leading
Princess Bismarck. There. according to
homely German custom. the children kissed
their parents. and Prince Bismarck bent
down and kissed HIS wife's forehead. A
wave Of sentiments rolled in upon me as
I watched this stately fgure-a benevolent
smile on his lips and the glow Of kindness
in his eyes. There was indeed something
majestic in his repose and yet with all
one saw the homely father, the devoted
husband as well. could understand how
It was that round this man there should
circle q devotion which was nQre than love
tor II included reverence.
"The newspapers were now brought tn
an endless collection. Not that Prince Bis
marck subscribed to many; they were sent
to him from far and wide by known and
unknown hands. He sat in his easy chair
and lighted his long china pipe, which he
had smoked after lunch. The family and
visitors sat or stood In groups around"
Yet Bismarck was not always so placid.
'tKind as was the expression Of Bismarck
face when he was comfortably seated at his
own hreside," writes Mr.. Whitman, there
were yet moments when his large. express
i've eyes lit up with threatening CLEAN.
It was like sheet lightning shot across a
landscape OF summers eve, just sufficient
to remind us amid an idyll that there are
forces ever latent in men as In nature that
need only to be called Into play to terrify
u.s.
Yet Bismarck was not one to give way to