The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-12
"REMINISCENCES or B/SII4RCK.
Interesting Which
The Subject Than From he Talent Of The author

are to be found in this work bear the
magnetism Of Bismarck's personality
had controlled the pen OF the writer
We find a shrewd bit of comment on
the element of melancholy which was
present in the character of his
statesman, as in that Of many other
gifted Germans.
Teutonic Temperament.
1t would seem that the Germau~fem-
permanent does not allow of that full
satisfaction arising out of the mere fact
Of Hring-once the Illusions Of youth are
gone-which is 80 be found in all ages
and among all classes Of Frenchmen ana
Englishmen.
The life Of the Teuton is apparently
less tremendously set off than that Of
others; he is less satisfied with results
achieved whatever they may be, than
other natfonaHties. The consciousness
OF success does not give him content
ment The concluding idea of the typt-
cal English novel. of wealthy marriage
and then settling down 10 everlasting
happiness sfterward, finds littlS Te-
Spouse in the Teuton.
III is as if existence We're not
thing complete in itself. bur one fraught
with a yearnine for the unattainabIe;
an endless struggle OF the soul. a piniug
for deIiverance. This element of TRACE
dy runs like a red thread through was-
ner's great music dramas.
Tribute to the Germans.
It is perhaps this quality which makes
the Germans the greatest musicians and
the greatest philosophers in the world;
and. il another form, it may have been
this Hmitiess power Of aspiration which
sustained Bismarck in the seemingly i'm
possible task which he undertook in the
unifeatiou of Germany.
Under the somewhat eccentric title.
'EpiIegomena.' the author collects, in
his concluding chapter, his personal i'm
pressions of the. character o. Bismarck.
and, although these are Of much the
same disjointed and inadequate charac-
ter as the rest of the book. there are
flashes of insight here and there which
are worth attention. He says among
other things.
No man could have had less taste
for dogmatical discussions than Bis
marck. Dogmatism was hateful 10 him
He loatbed the arrogance Of the
proselyte. as well as every other form
Fl arrogance ana intolerance. as being
vulgar and irreverent. His was essen
tialiE religious nature. A deer. sense
/ Of reverence. in face Of the enigmas
/ Of The universe. was AT the root OF his
religious feeling
ON one occasion he expressed him
self with regard to the theory Of
metempsych in which Count
Moltbe was also deeply Interested. With
Bismarck It may have been only fleet
/ ing thought hui what he said on the
subject was characteristic. If I had TO
/ choose The form in which would prefer
] TO live again. he said. I am not so sure
that should not like to be an ant.
His Religious Attitude.
You see he said. that little insect
lives under conditions Of perfect poIfti-
cal organization, Every ant is obliged
10 work-to lead a useful life every
one is industrious, There is perfect sub
ordination, discipline and order. They
are happy. for they work
! Finally AIr Whitman saws:
He stood too high TOO remote from
a casual visitor. 20 inspire affection. Al
/ lection demands al least a sembIance
! Of reciprocity. and one felt that. with
all his courtesy and kindness. Bis