Bismarck's Manner of Speaking and Mode of Snowing Anger.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 100, 2 May 1885, Page 5

Bismarck's Manner of Speaking and Mode of Snowing Anger.

He is no elegant orator, rather the contrary, but he oan lead a debate like no one else. Only a few days ago he spoke seven times in one afternoon, each time with more energy and spirit, proving that his health is indeed restored. Several mombors had already spoken, and the House was still empty, when suddenly members filed in from all the doors, and the benches began to fill. A rumour had been circulated that Bismarck would appear, and shortly afterward a narrow door near the President's chair opened, and tho tall figure entered. Suddenly soft bells are heard in all parts of the House. The electric bells in the reading room, in the committee rooms, and in the journalists' rooms are sounded to announce the arrival of the Chancellor, who has shown that he will speak presently, for with one of his pencils, more than a foot long, he has noted down something on the loose quarto sheets before him, with letters not less than on inch deep, and this is a safe sign that he intends to speak. The President bows to him, and Prince Bismarck rises to "take the word." He is certainly more than six feet high ; over his powerful chest and broad shoulders rises a strangely rounded, well-shaped head of enormous dimensions, and with no hair upon it, so that it looks like a dome of polished ivory. Thick white brows hang over his eyes like two icicles. These brows give his face a dark, .and frowning expression, and the look which glistens in his eyes is cold and somewhat cruel —at least in Par liament. His moustache is also thick and grey, and conceals the mouth entirely. The whole face is covered with folds and wrinkles, broad ringb surround his eyes, and even his temples are covered with small wrinkles. When he begins to speak the colour of his face changes from pale to red, and grad ually assumes a light bronze shade w hich gives his powerful skull the appearance of polished metal. It is a surprise to hear Bismarck speak for the first time. The soft, almost weak, voice is out of all proportion with his gigantic frame. It sometimes becomes so soft that we fear it will die out altogether, and when he has spoken for awhile it grows hoarse. The Chancellor sometimes speaks very fast, sometimes very slowly, but never in a loud tone. He has no pathos whatever. Some of bis most remark able words, which in print look as if they had been spoken with full force, as if they must have had the effect of a sudden thunderbolt on the audience, are in reality emitted in an ordinary tone of well-bred conversation. Personal attacks upon his enemies arc spoken by Bismarck with ironical politenesp, and in such an obliging tone as if they concealed the kindest sentiments. But if his anger cannot be hoard, it can be seen ; his faco gradually grows red, and the veins on his neck swell in an alarming manner. When angry he usually grasps the collar of his uniform, and Feems to catch for breath. His brows are lowered still more, so that his eyes are almost invisible. His voice grows a shade louder, and has a slight metallic ring in it. The sentences drop from his lipa in rapid succession. He throws baok his head, and gives his face a hard, stony expression. But it is difficult to discern when his anger is real and when it is artificial. Tie Chancellor has been seen trembling with rage, and more like the elements let loose than like anything else. Once, when he thought that the word "Fie!" had been said by one of the Opposition party, he had one of his attacks, which would have silenced the House had every ono been speaking at once. With trembling nostrils, with his teeth firmly set, with eyes that emitted firo, and clenched hands, he jumped from his place to the side where the word had sounded. If apologies and explanations had not beon offered, who knows how this scene might have ended ? But except upon such rare occa&ions, Bismarck the orator is always a m ell -bred man. He does not bawl nor shout any part of his speeches, but while giving them their full share of pointed sarcasm, he always maintains the form of a political conversabetween gentlemen. He has a method of his own for waging war with his opponents. He regards his opponents' speech as a ball of wool, the la?t sentence spoken being the end which he takes in hand first, and with which he begins to unwind the whole speech as he would unwind the ball of wool. But it is easy to see that while his tongue is speaking his spirit is far in advance of it. He hesitates in his speech, then suddenly recalls himself and puts forth a number of clear thoughts, which it is easy to see occurred to him at the moment. One of the great charms of Prince Bismarck's speeches is that he never follows any given form or method, but that all he says is inspired at the moment. He com* mands humour and sarcasm to a high degree, and often at a time when they are least expected, to that even his bitterest enemies are not rarely moved to laughter by his words.—" London Daily Nows."