PRINCE BISMARCK AT FRIEDRICHARUSE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1342, 19 May 1885, Page 3

PRINCE BISMARCK AT FRIEDRICHARUSE.

Fr'edriohnruhe wns given to the Chancellor in 1871 by the Emperor, who got it as personal property from the Leuensberg estates. Like his Pomeranium Tnsculutn it possesses the advantage, highly appreciated by the Prince, of being surrounded by a large forest—the Sachsenwald, that extends down the Elbe not far Irom Hamburg. There, far from the Privy Councillors of Wilhelmstrasse, he tries to realise his idea of a happy man's life. " L'emporte de Berlin," as Gortachakoff used to call him, is scarcely to be recognised in the mild-tempered benign gentleman who revererently kissts his wife's hand, plays with his little grandchildren, inquires after his girdener's health, or loiters about through the wood, listening to the thousand manifestations of animate and inanimate nature, familiar to him from the time when he was inspector of dykes at Schonhuusen. At Friedrichsruhe peace reigns'supreme. Who ever crosses its hospitable threshold is greeted by a grip of the Chancellor's hand. The servents of his household look up to him as their patriaich father rather than their master ; for he entertains a family affection for them. Once, in spita of extremely bad weather, he went a dozen times a day to see after his gardener's son, who had cut his finger ; so that his wife was obliged to check him, since everybody tried to have his limbs hurt in one way or another, in order to attract the master's anxious inquiry. With ladies he has always practised the politessede cceur. Politics are throughout banished from the family's table-talk, but sometimes the Chancellor will dive into the history of bygone days, and then the sweetness of his features disappears, and his eyes, looking out under the balconies of thick white brows, like fiery coals overshadowed by icicles, will speak daggers, imparting to his face a grim and implacable humour. Everyone, therefore, does his best to divert his attention to more homely topics, for the state of his health forbids emotions. Time has left its traces upon his constitution. His carriage is erect, as before, in its towering height, but the face is wrinkled all over ; broads rings encircle his eyes ; the cobwebs of age are encamped everywhere. Successively he gave up hunting, shooting, riding on horseback ; he gave up the fragrant weed for the more innocent pipe, and threw the pipe away too. He threatened even to give up work itself, but he threatened only. " A brave horse dies in its harness," said this "monster of industry," asCarlyle called him ; and then, besides, there was the refusal of his old Emperor to part with him. And so he worked on, aided, happily, not only by his two sons and his son-in-law, Count Rautzau, but also by his daughter, the countess, who is a marvellous hand at deciphering the most abstruse telegrams. By this lucky coincidence he can do without secretaries and Privy Councillors. There is scarcely anything remarkable in the Chancellor's house at Friedrichsruhe except its absolute plainness. Bismarck, after all, is only a poor man. His State appointment is not worth even £3OOO. Schonhausen is valueless; Varziu does not yield much: and the estate of Friedrichsruhe, although estimated at £150,000, brings at the most £SOOO.