PRINCE BISMARCK IN THE CIRCLE OF HIS FAMILY AT FRIEDRICHSRUHE.
via vzvmi
TYRA? TXI 838
MAN WHO MADE GERMANY.
Prince Otto Edward Leopold Von Bismarck Was the Great
est Statesman of the Present Century.
THE doath of Prince Bismarck Las
removed the greatest personality
that Europe has seen since the days
of Napoleon I. Indeed, it may be doubt
ed if even Napoleon was his equal, mens'
uring the two men by their deeds; for the
work achieved by Napoleon has crumbled
away, while that of the unifier of the Ger
man empire remains.
, Prince Bismarck was one of the monu
mental figures of the nineteenth century.
Before his time Germany was merely a
geographical nation, her unity consisting
alone In her language and her literature.
i BISMARCK IN 181)9.
True, she had aspirations to political
unity and others there were before Bis
marck who saw In the Prussian stute the
possible nucleus around which German
unity might cry stall Ize. But it was Bis
marck who passed from theory to action;
who cut the Gordlan tangle of Prussian
Austrian relations in the affairs of the
German States; who so guided events
that be destroyed the hegemony of Aus
tria do the one hand and the grasping
power and ambition of Napoleon on the
other; who cemented the political unity
of the various and hitherto discordant
German states; fashioning the empire as
It is to-day and crowning in the palace
of Versailles the King of Prussia as the
Emperor of a new Germany. Bismarck's
name, naturally, Is synonymous with Ger
man national unity the dream and hope
of hundreds of years and, through, him,
now the possession mid privilege of the
people.
Bismarck' Career,
Otto Edward Leopold von Bismarck
was born ot Schonhauseu April 1, 1815.
Ills family was an Important one in the
affairs of Prussia and its descent can be
traced to medievul tlnu. When a year
old Bismarck's parents moved to Pome
routo, where they hud Inherited knightly
estates, the leading one being Knlephof.
Here Bismarck passed five years of his
childhood, but on accouut of a somewhat
mischievous disposition he whs sent at
the age of 6 years to a boarding school
In Berlin, tho principal of which had the
reputation of being a strict disciplinarian.
He proved an intelligent and earnest stu
dent, and at the age of 17 was ready to
enter a university. The wild student life
of toe University of Heidelberg attracted
him and he bogged to be allowed to enter
that institution, but his mother refused,
sending him Instead to Gottingen, whore
she foolishly thonght he might not con
tract the beer habit. At G,ttingen Bis
marck led a wild and reckless Ufa,
Already, before entering it, he hnd
fought his first duel, and during his nnl
vmrt life he fought twenty-eight more,
belli wounded only otice. According to
his own account he only attended lectures
twice before he passed his examination.
After leaving the university be held sub
ordinate government offices, but growing
weary of the dull routine of business he
retired to the estate of Knlephof, where
for a time he devoted himself to its care
ful management. Then he plunged luto
the excesses that had marked his student
career. With gay companion! he gave
himself to jolly carousals and In the old
mansion none could vie with him in drink
lug. Owing to his recklessness he became
known as "msd Bismarck," and terrible
tales were told of his mad adventurei.
But he had periods of profound disgust
with himself owing to those excesses, and
often he retired Into the forest, with his
dog, where he plunged Into meditation.
Suddenly he gave up his wild courses nnd
took up the study of history, theology and
philosophy.
Enters the PrnMlan THrt.
After the death of his father, In 1845,
the fumily estates were divided and
Knlephof and Schonhuusen fell to the
possession of Bismurck. Two years later
Bismarck married Johanna von Putkam
mer, and in the same year he appeared as
delegate In the United Dirt, summoned
by King Frederick William IV.
The Primsian King was then at loeeor-
beads with his subjects, the latter de
manding greater rights and a coustltu
tion. Bismarck opposed the granting of
any concessions by the Jvlng and made
bitter attack ou liberalism and democ
racy. He was especially roused by a bill
for the removal of the civil disabilities of
the Jews and he characterized a constitu
tion as a pajer government. His services
to royalty during the revolution of 18-48
earned for him the position of a trusted
adviser of King Frederick William. In
1851 Bismarck was appointed representa
tive from the Prussian court to the diet
in Frankfort-on-the-Main, which met as
the mouthpiece of the forty-odd states of
the German confederation, and here he
became intimate with the crown prince
later King William of Prussia and the
first Emperor of United Germany. Prus
sia and Austria were then rivals In the
affairs of Germany, Austria striving to
retain her preponderance and Prussia en
deavoring to destroy it and oust her from
any position in the confederation. To
this purpose Bismarck closely devoted
himself.
From Frankfort Bismarck was sent as
ambassador to St Petersburg In 18T9, and
here he remained three years. During
this time occurred the Franco-Austrian
war in Italy. The Prussian army was
mobilized as a matter of defense, but took
no part in the contest, yet its mobilisation
was enough to check Napoleon. The mo
bilization, also, revealed defects In the
army, and these were consequently reme
died. In 1802 William, who had succeed
ed Frederick "William IV. In January,
1801, recalled Bismarck and sent him as
minister to Paris. Bismarck had before
this time become convinced that Prussia
would have to fight with Austria for su
premacy In Germany and with France for
the ownership of the Khine, something to
which Napoleon's wild ambition aspired,
and In Faris Bismarck had opportunity to
spy Into French affairs - Within a few
months, however, he was recalled to take
the position of premier and minister of
foreign affairs, Bismarck at once got
Into hot conflicts with the House of Dep
uties, which had refused to vote an in
creased military budget, and he carried
everything with a high hand. His haughti-
THE LATE PRINCE BISMARCK.
Distinguished Statesman, Soldier, Diplomat and Unffler ot the
German Empire.
ness and contempt for the members was
unbounded. "Constitutions," be once
said, when taxed with governing without
a constitution, "may be decided In other
countries by a change of ministers, but
this is not the custom in Prussia. With
us, If two political bodies, which cannot
go to law, are unable to agree, circum
stances decido which of the two is the
stronger." And circumstances did so de
cide, nnd the Prussian chamber found
that Bismarck was the stronger.
In 1803, owing to reasons not necessary
to discuss here, Austria and Prussia de
cided on going to war with Denmark.
The Prussian Parliament refused to vote
a war credit, whereupon Bismarck bold
ly replied: "If we find It necessary to go
to war we shall do so, with your approval
or without" And to war Prussia went
Denmark speedily succumbed and part of
her territory was transferred to Prussia
and Austria. The war, pigmy as It was,
was sufficient to enable Prussia to com
plete her almost perfect army organiza
tion and avail was almost immediately
made ot the opportunity. But it did not
remove the hatred which Bismarck's par
liamentary course had engendered and an
attempt was made to assassinate him.
Bismarck was honored by having bestow
ed upon him the order of the Black Eagle,
and he was furthermore made a Prus
sian count
He Hnmbles Anstrla.
. Meantime through Austrian stupidity
and Bismarckian diplomacy Austria and
Prussia were rapidly drifting into war.
It was the opportunity that Bismarck
had worked for and waited for, and when
Austria ruptured the treaty of Gastein,
entered into at the end of the Danish war,
the order for the mobilization of the Prus
sian troops was given. Gen. Moltke, Gen.
Boon, Bismarck and King William work
ed in entire accord, and so well hnd Bis
marck done in his diplomatic work thnt
Italy declared war against Austria at the
same moment as Prussia.
AVhile crushing the power of Austria
Bismarck diplomatically played with Na
poleon, who at first sought to extend the
French frontier aa it was in 1814, offer
ing for such consideration to let Prussia
have her own way with Austria, and who
then, when AtiBtrinn power was crushed
on the field of Sadowa, sought to gain
Prussian support for the seizure of Bel
glum and Luxemburg. Napoleon gained
neither of his objects, while he fatally
allowed Austria to be crushed and Ger
many to rise as a powerful and rapidly
uniting nation.
In February, 18C7, the North German
Parliament opened in Berlin, with repre
sentatives of twenty-two States north of
the Main, and In April a constitution was
agreed on and Bismarck waa made chan
cellor of the confederation. The three
years preceding 1870 were spent by Bis
marck in consolidating the union of North
and South Germany and by Napoleon in
endeavoring to thwart him. And then
came Napoleon's mad declaration of war.
There Is no need to recapitulate the story
of the terrible avalanche of blood and de
struction that swept over France during
the autumn of 1870. Napoleon surren
dered his sword on the battlefield of Se
dan and his dynasty was forever ended.
On March 1, 1871, the German army en
tered Paris and the war was over, Ger
man unity was an accomplished fact and
King William L waa the crowned Em
peror of the new German empire. Bis
marck received the title of prince and be
came chancellor. , -But
Bismarck's wo"rfc -waa not ended.
He had to conserve what he had establish
ed and bulwark Germany against a
French war of revenge. The effect of
this policy Is found In the triple alliance
of Germany, Austria and Italy as it exists
to-lay.
Bismarck's astonishing success in the
Franco-Prussian war did not relieve him
of political difficulties at home, and in
1877, wearied by parliamentary difficul
ties and ill health, be tendered his resiir
nation. Germany protested against this
act and the Emperor refused to accept his
resignation and Bismarck remained chan
cellor. In 1878 two attempts were made
by the socialists to assassinate the Em
peror and this led to the enactment of
harsh laws against that society. The laws
were remorselessly administered and the
result was extremely trying to Bismarck.
He Realms Hi. Office.
in 1883 Emperor William died and
Frederick William, between whom and
Bismarck there was not much admira
tion, came to the throne. But he lived
as ruler only a brief time and then Wil
liam IL became Emperor. It was then
almost an article of German faith that the
Iron Chancellor, as Bismarck was called,
would continue to steer the ship of state.
It seemed Impossible to conceive of a
fresh hand at the rudder. But although
between Bismarck and the youthful Kais
er there was a bond of admiration and
although the latter, at the beginning,
learned to lean upon the unifier of the
German nation, differences sprang up be
tween them. William issued an order
that ministers were to report to him di
rectly instead as heretofore to the chan
cellor. This was taking power out of
the hands of Bismarck and naturally the
latter rebelled against the edict and ten
dered his resignation as chancellor. He
had done this so often, when in serious po
litical crises, only to have his resignation
rejected by his sovereign, that doubtless
THE KEW PBIXCE TtlSMAHCK.
To Herbert, the son of the late Prince, has de
tended the title of his Illustrious father sad estate
ut Frledrlchsruhe.
Bismarck thought that William would not
suffer him to sever his connection with
the Government of the nation which he
more than any other had builded. But
William accepted the resignation and in
May, 1890, Bismarck luld down the cares
of state and retired to his estate of Fred
richsruhe. He was followed to bis retreat by the
sympathy of the German people and the
admiration of Europe. But It took years
to heal the breach botwoen him and Wil
liam, and it was not until 1894 that the
Kaiser and his great subject became rec
onciled. Bismarck- from his Fredrichs
ruhe retreat had Inspired bitter attacks
on the Government policy and to the
thousands of people from all parts of the
empire who visited him had delivered
speeches that enkindled political rancor.
It was therefore good politics for the
Kaiser to seek a reconciliation and, in
1893, he took the first step, when he of
fered one of his castles to the aged states
man that he might regnin his strength,
which had been materially Impaired. Bis
marck gracefully declined the offer. In
January, 1894, William Invited Bismarck
to visit him In Berlin. The visit was paid
In January and Bismarck's reception by
the people along his way was such as sel
dom has been accorded to ruler or sub
ject The Kaiser's greeting was cordial
in the extreme and the following month
the Emperor paid a return visit to his
great and distinguished subject The en
tire empire celebrated the reconciliation
as an important historical event.
His Domestic Sorroic
Soon afterward a crushing blow fell on
Bismarck a blow that made all his sub
sequent years full of loneljuess. In No
vember, 1894, his beloved wife died. She
was nine years younger than her hus
band and had ever been to him since their
marriage day In 1847 a faithful and de
voted helpmate. In his private life Bis
marck was happy and was devoted to his
home. Over him the princess, in purely
domestic affairs, had a great Influence,
but this did not extend to his political
life. Bismarck was fond of nature and
music and as a musician his wife was
accomplished. During his entire life Bis
marck was a lover of horses and seldom
BI9MABCK LKAV1XO EMPEROR'S PALACE
AFTEB RESIOXI.NO.
since his school days in Berlin was he
unaccompanied by one or more large dogs,
such as mastiffs or great danes. He was
a lover, of good eating and drinking aud
was a heavy smoker until a few years
ago, when he began to suffer from its
effects.
. A sketch of the great life closed would
I 'll w if f n ji (, i t
be incomplete without some reference to
the honors heaped upon him by his coun
trymen. . When Bismarck began his po
litical career he was by no means a rich
man. He possessed gome patrimonial es
tates, but the domain of Schonhausen,
where he was born, had passed out of his
control. In 1800, after the successful
wur wiui ausuui, ue purcuuseu me v ar
zin estate, near Berlin, with the donation
that had been accorded him by Prussia
in recompense for his diplomatic skill, lu I
1871 Emperor William presented him
with $300,000 of the indemnity paid by
France and with this he purchased the
estate of Friedrichsruhe, near Hamburg.
It consists of 20,000 acres. Then in 1885,
on the occasion of his seventieth birthday,
the nation bought back by public sub
scription the old family domain of Schon
hauseu and presented it to the prince and
princess and their children forever. On
his eightieth birthday celebration, in 1895,
in which the entire nation took part, he
was the recipient of great and resplendent
honors.
Nor would a sketch of Bismarck be
complete without reference to his colonial
policy. Under him Germany branched
out as a colonial rival to Great Britain,
and where formerly she did not have an
acre of soil outside the fatherland, she
now ranks as one of the great colonial
powers of the world. Her flag floats
from the great lakes at the head waters
of the Nile to the shores of the Indian
ocean. Vast areas In southwestern Af
rica and back of the Gulf of Guinea ac
knowledge her sovereignty. She is firmly
established on the great island of Papua
and has possession of many of the impor
tant groups that stretch across the South
Pacific ocean.
Snmmnry of Bit Character.
But whatever the success of Bismarck's
political life there is much in it that
Anglo-Saxon civilization will not approve.
As a statesman Bismarck was arbitrary,
self-willed, imperious and unscrupulous.
His political ideas were those of a born
feudalist He governed with the strnno
hand of absolute power and crushed out
every attempt to assert the political free-
aom or the individual or the masses. He
was an absolute believer in the "divine
right" of kings and the throne and the
army were regarded by him as the onlv
foundation of the state. Sound In his for
eign political relations, he made blunders
in domestic affairs, cheating the people
with a semblance of liberty and self-government
Viewed in the light of history,
when time shall have furnished a truer
perspective, Bismarck will stand forth
as a man who was eminently fitted to re
alize the ideal hopes and aspirations of
the German people, but as a man with
many human failings. It remains to be
seen how long Germany shall endure
along the lines which he established.
., A HISTORIC HORN.
enmmoaed Blares to Labor and Pre
, togoa the Death of Revenues."
There ts an old battered tin horn tn
the possession of an ancient colored
man at Dalton, Go around which are
associated memories of many deeds of
violence.
In ante-bellum days the bom was the
property of CoL "Ben" Loughrldge, a
weaitny planter of Murray County. It
was originally used to summon his
many slaves to work and to meals, and
lta welcome note at sunset was the
signal for them to rest from the day's
labors.
After the war the born became sep
arated from the Loughrldge family,
and from that time until a few months
ago was the period of Its stirring his.
tory. Murray County has for years
been a stronghold of the "lnoon
shiners." Time after time tho revenue
officers made desperate raids on the
Illicit distilleries, killing and being
killed, yet never entirely subduing the
stubborn mountaineers. The mellow
note of the old tin horn would always
warn the whisky rebels of , the approach
of their enemies, and many a good
man's death has It presaged,
The moonshiners would station a
lusty-lunged sentinel ou some promin
ent mountain rock which commanded
a view of the valley below, and the
slightest suspicious symptom in the
lower defiles was sufficient to send the
baas echoes of the old horn flying, and
the moonshiners themselves scurrylug
to their improvised fortresses, armed
to the teeth and ready to take and risk
life for what they considered their
rights and In the defense of their
hearthstones. To the "revenues" It al
ways bore the dismal Information that
from the next crag or bramble they
might expect a slaying volley from
their bidden foes.
The venerable horn ts a special re
minder of a notorious gang which ter
rorized the country up to within a
year ago. It was used to rally the
forces ,ot this gang and was often the
preface to a bloody conflict between
them and the law's representatives.
When the gang was Anally disposed
of the horn passed Into the possession
of old "Uncle" Isaac, a typical "beio
de war", negro, and the old man often
brings It out and recounts its Interest
ing history. Baltimore Sun
First Standing Army.
The first standing army of which
there Is any record waa organized by
King Saul, 1093 B. a The army of Xer
xes, In Invading Greece, numbered
1,700,000 foot and 80,000 horses, 4S0
B. C. The first standing army of mod
ern times was maintained In France
by Charles VII., 1443. Standing armies
were first established In England by
Charles 1-. 1038.
Remarkable Irrigation.
No fewer than 12,000,000 acres of
land have been made fruitful in the Sa
hara desert an enterprise representing
perhaps the most remarkable example
of irrigation by means of artesian wells
which can anywhere be found.
Light tn the Eark Continent,
The lamp mostly used In Africa Is
a simple contrivance. In a cocoanut
shell filled with palm oil, a bit of rag
is placed to serve as a wick, and this
gives all the light that the natives re
quire.
Too many people are looking for a
chance to sit down. If yon get along,
you must keep on your feet
We greatly admire a man who has
sense enough not to be a thoroughbred
SAWED OFF HIS OWN LEO, ,
Wonderful Nerve of a Pioneer Gold
Prospector.
Few old miners have not heard of the
Pegleg mine, located In the vicinity of
Death Valley, which has been a legend
in mining circles for nearly fifty years.
Numerous expeditions have been or
ganized for the rediscovery of this fa
mous lost mine. The originator of tho
story of a marvelously rich mine locat
edinthe terra incognito of which Death
Valley is the central point was Pegleg
Smith, a famous pioneer long before
the discovery of gold In California. In
his earlier career bis operations were
confined mainly to the overland trail
on which he was employed as a freight
er and guide.
The circumstances which gave rise to
the sobriquet by which he was univer
sally known was, a most thrilling epi
sode. While hauling a load of freight
between the widely separated posts of
that early day he was jolted from his
wagon, and falling under Its wheels
had his leg so badly crushed that it was
evident that his only hope of life lay
In amputation. But he was alone on the
trail In tho heart of the mountains, and
the nearest surgeon was at the military
post of Fort Laramie, hundreds of
miles away. He was a man of iron
nerve, however, and did not hesitate an
Instant after he had learned the extent
of his Injuries.
With his jackknlfe and saw be per
formed the amputation himself, ban
daged the stump as best he could, and
in his crippled condition built himself
a shelter and subsisted on the provi
sions in his wagon until he was found
currnro off his own leg.
by some friendly Indians and taken to
a surgeon. The operation was a suc
cess, and In a few months he resumed
his old calling. When the late Gov
ernor Gilpin visited Oregon in 1840-'43
Smith was employed to guide him, and
the Governor In his narrative records
the Incident After tho discovery of
gold In the mountains of California,
Pegleg turned prospector and traveled
through the mountains from Oregon
to Arizona until he became noted as the
most daring and most thoroughly post
ed prospector and guide.
NEW BOTTLE FOR POISONS.
Prevent People from Taking a Fatal
Doee by Mistake.
A New York City man has succeeded
in producing a bottle from which poi
son cannot easily be taken by mistake.
Its distinctive fea
ture is the anchor
safety stopper,
which is now in
use In many hos
pitals, and which
the accompanying
Illustration renre-
sents. The anchor Inside the bottle Is
of heavy glass and is attached to the
cork by an asbestos cork which neither
affects nor Is affected by acids or chem
icals used In medicine. When the cork
is withdrawn the anchor catches, and
another warning is given by the rattle
of the anchor striking the neck of the
bottle. The contents of the bottle may
be easily poured or dropped out by
holding the cork at the side with the
finger, as the anchor does not impede
the flow.
A Pnzzle Picture.
Find the other hunter.
Rain Signs.
Tulips and dandelions close up before
rain. If it rains when the sun shines
it wUl rain the next day. A piece of sea
weed hung up will become damp pre
vious to rain. When the walls are
more than usually damp rain may be
expected. Unusual clearness In the
atmosphere, objects being seen verv
distinctly, indicates rain. When the
sun appears of a light pale color, or
goes down In a bank of clouds, it indi
cates the approach or continuance of
bad weather.
But few men are wise enough to ren
der one word sufficient.
I HI I 1 ft