Norwich bulletin., 1922-06-16
Great Mems Love Letters
BISMARCK TO HIS WIFE

When Prince Herbert Bismarck pub lshed the love letters that his father. the Iron Chancellor of Germany, wrote to his mother he not only accomplished a filial duty, but at the same time great ly enriched German literature. The vol ume in which this, correspondence has been collected contains 506 letters, many of them gems of sentimental letter writ ing. It is hard to conceive how the man of blood and icon" could have in his nature such springs of affection and TO- nance as is shown in this collection
 The first of the letters is the one he addressed to Herr von Puttkamer when he asked that gentlemen for the hand of his daughter, Johanna. Bismarck at the time was over thirty years old and was known in the neighborhood as harum- scarum fellow, addicted to wild company and of incorporate habits. He married Jo- hanna or July 2S, l847.
 FrauIefn von Puttkamer, during her engagement was most anxious that future husband should agree with her on all theological questions. In a letter in reply to one of hers urging this, Bismarck says:
 There are two points in your letter which give me satisfaction. One is the expression of your indulgence and patti ence for my weakness and doubts in mat ters of faith, and the other that you will love me even though God should lead our hearts in different directions
 In letter to his wife from Budapest he pictures to her the beauties of na- ture which he sees about him.
 He concludes it as follows: Where have heard the song which has haunted me all the day long: Over the blue noun tain, over the white sea foam, come, thou beloved one. come to thy lonely | home I cannot think who has sung that for me in auld lang syne. May the an- gels of the Lord guard thee now and al ways
 One of the most beautiful letters in 1 the whole collection is that written from Frankfort in 1851 Bismarck is seldom i introspective, but in this letter he looks right into his soul, and we get strange | glmpses of his character. The finest part of the letter is the following:
 1 How many changes have my opin- | ions undergone during the past fourteen | years How much do I look upon now as little that was then great in my eyes | and how much now worthy was then mocked at How many leaves will grow 1 green within us, give shadow rustic and wither during the next fourteen years
 if we live I cannot conceive how a thinking man who knows not God can bear to live his life so full, as it must be of self courage and weariness a life | that goes as a stream as a sleep as 1 grass that will soon wither.
 Were it my lot to live without God
 without you and the children. why should I not cast off this life as I
 get rid of dirty shirt !? And yet most l of my acquaintances are like this and 1 live. Do not conclude from this letter than I am in the blues, feel like one who views the yellowing leaves on a beautiful September day. I am vel
 and hearty, but I suffer some depres- sion, something of homesickness, 2
 onging for the forest, the sea, mead ow, for thee and the children and al
 mingled with the setting sun and {
 Beethoven symphony"
 Bismarck was made a count in 1S6; l and prince in 1871 In 1866 he re.
 ceived $300,000 as his share of the do
 nation voted by the Reichstag for tn,
 victorious generals.