Year: 1875




picture, and not the man himself &c
but poor idea of the great Germa
statesman. Most of the pictures repre-
sent him as dark, with black hair, eye
and mustache, and lowering brow
His expression is as fierce and gloomy a
that of an ogre.


The real Bismarck, however, has light
ruddy complexion. The little hair tina
skirts his great bald head is reddish ant
sandy. His eyes are stern and bold, bu
of clear, deep gray. His mustache il
reddish, and long and handsome. Hi
face is, however, stern, thoughtful, ant
almost forbidding.


He looks more the soldier than the
man of politics, especially when, as il
often the case, he wears military dress
with glittering peaked helmet on his
head, and is mounted on horseback.


His frame, too, is gigantic one. Tall
and stalwart as is the old Emperor
William, his greatest and most intimate
adviser towers above him. Bismarck q
shoulders are as broad as those of a
Cyclops. He holds his finely-shaped
head haughtily high in the air, and he
walks with a ponderous tread, which
indicates physical prowess, as well as a
determined soul. ~


His deeds of craftsmanship are so
brilliant that we are apt to overlook his
other abilities. He is a most interesting
talker; and more than this, he is very
fOrcible orator.


Not that he has those graces OF
defamation and arts of rhetoric which
are sometimes taken for eloquence. Or
the contrary, he is rather awkward snan
graceful; rather emphatic and straight
forward than fanciful. -.


His speech is very Nxe that which
Cromwell is sdescribei as having possessed.
He goes straight to the subject. He is
blunt, outspoken, and perfectly fearless.
He tells his hearers just what he thinks
Of his enemies; and he puts on an ap-
pearance of frankness and sincerity which,
If it is assumed, is assumed with perfect
art.


When he rises to speak, the German
Parliament becomes as hushed as if it
were an empty chamber. This not only
because he is the most famous and
powerful of all Germans, but the
deputies know that they are about to
hear something well worth hearing in
ITSELF


Bismarck's voice is rather harsh and
hard than silvery one. But it is strong,
and can be easily heard, even when he
speaks low, in the remotest corner. He
draws himself up, and seems to feel his
superiority to all others present. He ap-
pears to disdain to use gestures, very
rarely waving or lifting his hand. His
manner is stern and proud, and in his
language there is seldom any effort to
conciliate those who are opposing him.


Sometimes his fierce temper bursts all
bounds, and in his attitude and speech he
is like lion, bursting forth, in mighty
and implacable anger.


Not not long ago he was bitterly de-
nounced by two Catholic deputies. They
finally goaded him into springing to his
feet and pouring upon them volley of
impetuOus retorts.


He buttoned his coat tightly about
his great frame; his eyes flashed, and his
mustache seemed to bristle, and his
oraticn seemed to those who heard him like
an angry tempest. When he sat down he
had crushed his opponents so completely
that they sat timid and silent, under his
scathing rebuke.


An eyewitness of the scene describes
it as having been one of tb rilling interest.
CAS- he STOOD" he says, facing the
House, the natural sternness of his aspect
accented by the rigidity of his military
dress, he looked to me like the incarna-
ton of an ungoverable will like Co
lossus, cestainly capable of bearing upon
his mighty shoulders cares and RESPONSE
bilities that would crush a common
mortal into powder"


In his calmer moments, Bismarck is
perfectly tranquil and rigid, uses the
shortest and plainest logic, and never in
dulges in any poetic flights. He is very
brief, and when he has finished what he
has to say, sits down and attentively
listens to the speeches that follow.


Thus the great statesman possesses the
rare quality of supporting his policy by
kind of oratory best fitted to subdue and
awe those who would oppose him; and
although he rejects the adornments of
speech which most famous speakers use,
lie must be ranked as one of the greatest
of modern orators.