New-York tribune., 1909-07-25

shall not sit I'D for me" But the count laughed
came out from behind his desk. took me by the
shoulders, thrust me down into the chair again,
su with an air of kindly authority not easy to
describe. and said:
'Sit where you are I want to talk to you
AS I thought il over afterward | supposed
Count Bismarck had some object in mind other
than the pleasure of my conversation. He knew
that the representative of The Tribune;
my letter to him had stated that. He knew
what the position and power Of The Tribune
were, and especially Of its influence with the
Germans I'm America. And il seemed to me that.
in view of the relations between the Germans
at home and the Germans beyond the seas. he
thought it might he worth while that his view
Of the situation should he put before the Ger
mans IN America. and before the Americans
also IN an authentic though no an authorita-
tive way Count Bismarck did not say that: 1t
is my conjecture; upon which I acted to a GER
tain extent. I will explain more fully by
and by.
Countess Bismarck looked on at this perform
ance which she plainly did not like. but present
ly smiled and said to her husband: Well, if you
will sit up you must have something to drink ;
went 10 the sideboard. mixed brandy and soda,
took It TO him. put the glass to his lips and
stood by him TO see that he drank the whole,
WHICH ne gl0 WIFI To NlSlblN ltiH'tdii't- ilD
handed the empty tumbler to his wife and
thanked her She put her arm about him. kissed
him, looked at me- reproachfully but amiably.
and vanished. A truly domestic. truly German.
altogether charming little scene.
Many years later after Count Bismarck had
become Prince Bismarck and greater figure in
Germany and the world than ever. 7 met Prin-
cess Bismarck again at dinner IN Honburs
given by Nfr William Walter Phelps. America 8
Minister At Berlin. Mr.. Phelps had long been
a friend Of the Bismarck family and on easy
terms with the head Of that family. who liked
and respected him II a case Of sympathy
between oppostes. No contrast could be more
complete than the contrast between Prince Bis
rrarck and Nr. Phelps. but their relations were.
as so often happens all the more friendly for
that reason I vas presented 10 the princess
and after dinner inquired whether she remem-
bered this midnight incident IN the Wilhelm
strasse She asked me 70 describe II, and told
her what had happened She had wholly for
gotten II ] asked her If might some day mar
rate the story. 7 don't see why you shouldn't
she answered Years after that ragain saw the
princess az Friedrichsr1Ih, and she asked whether
I had ever repeated my tale. 7 said 10 but I
still meant 20 avail myself 81 her pernisslon'
as now Go
The princess thought. I imagine, she VouId
like TO see the prince portrayed in this intimate
wav. and in this relation to his wife Her life
had alv-a,-s been lived fn and for his She knew
well what the world thought; to the world he
was always the Iron Chancellor But In private
life he was the aTectionate, loyal husband u
whom one woman had devoted all she hah' al
her love truth. worship.-an alteration which
perhaps not many men have deserved or re
ceived from any woman
There is much in Bismarcks Love Letters --
which are hardly love letters-about his VIE.
ard much in other Bismarck books. notably IN
Sidney Whitman's Personal "reminiscences.
the best Of them all The princess will ever
I've as an amiabla figure. and II she had not
been that would still live the wife OF the one
great German Of his time. as the woman who
had known how to captivate a fancy once sup
posed 70 be hayward. and 20 make u and him
her own. The quality which distinguished her
vas sweetness Of nature. which she never lost
during Iifa harassed by many solieitudes end
vezed by Illness t. W. :.