The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-05-05
BERLIN FOR ONE
DAY IS ITSELF
cayness and Glad Togs Are Donned
on the Occasion OF Bismarck's
Birthday on First Of April.
unTER DEN L,NoED OF OLD
Parasles and Display Of Mirth and Gay
Uniforms Of Many Officers
Speakers Refer to War.

Berlin, April 30--For the space OF /
day the Berlin that is known to Sc
many thousands of Americans-th'
Berlin that is both gay and gala---re
turned on the first OF this; month, ol
the occasion of the Tooth Birthday o
Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor
For the first time in many month:
hundreds of officers gathered who were
not in the now familiar field gray. bu
who wore instead all the gay trappings
of parade uniforms and who. under .
brilliant sunlit sky. made an imposing
spectacle as they gathered about the
great statue of Bismarck before the
reichstag building.
No event in months has brought to
gether so many of the inhabitants Ol
Greater Berlin. In thousands they
crowded about the open space between
the reichstag and the gilded statue OF
victory that stands. perched hundreds
of feet in the air, at the head OF the
Sieges Alice.
Berlin, like all the other cities Cl
Europe, has by comparison with its
former self been somewhat subdued
during the past few months. This air
vanished completely, however, as the
thousands Of voices took up the re-
frain of patriotic songs sung in the old
Ichancellor's honor, standing, bare head
ed in the sunlight. gazing upwards to-
wards his heroic figure.
Deutschland Deutschland, ueber
alles," and Hell dir i'm Siegerkranz.
rang out with q little more than the
customary vigor as the singers thought
of the present times, and the circum-
stance that Bismarck's centennial
should fall in the midst of a war more
strenuous than he ever conceived.
Within ten minutes after the cere-
mony at the Statue Inter den Linden
was transformed into the Inter den
Linden of old time parade days, with
every guard house contingent out in
front prepared to salute the almost
numberless generals who walked or
rode past in their gorgeous uniforms
Speakers Touch on the War.
Though Bismarck's birthday was
celebrated almost everywhere in Ger
many, the most important recognition
of the centennial was in Berlin. where
the ceremonial was led by the imperi-
al chancellor. Dr.. Won Bethmann-iloll-
veg. followed by all the generals and
admirals not on duty at the front. the
president, officers and members of the
reichstag and of the Prussian diet. city
officials from Greater Berlin. the
grandson and namesake OF the chan
cellor. Prince Otto Won Bismarck, and,
to give a unique touch to the affair,
the grandson OF the kaiser. the 9 year
old son of the crown prince
Within few minutes after the AZ
rival OF the functionaries the great
Bismarck statue was surrounded by
great wreaths the gifts of individuals
ranging from the emperor to minor Of
ticials, and from; organizations from
the reichstag to the committee for the
erection OF Il national statue to the
chancellor.
From every flag pole on the reich
stag building the black. white and red
flags iluttered in the breeze, and the
square in front was blaze of color
contributed by banners of every sort
and by the gay costumes, not only OF
the military. but of students i'll fenc.
ing suits Who changed their foils
against each other in keeping time to
the patriotic songs.
The only suggestion of war allowed
to enter the scene were Il few remarks
OF the speakers. the words of some OF
the songs and the field gray uniforms