THE IRON DUKE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 4

THE IRON DUKE

TO TEX CDITOB OF TEX PXXXB. Sir, —I have a picture of a portrait of Prince Bismarck from the painting by Professor Lenbach, on the back of which it states: —Bismarck “the man of blood and iron,” or as many called him, “The Iron Chancellor.”—Yours, etc., H. C. OSMUND. Kaikoura, March 16, 1939.

TO TEX XDITOX OF TEX FEXS* Sir, —The Duke of Wellington’s sobriquet of the Iron Duke dates, I believe, from the latter stages of the Peninsular War, and it is interesting to recall that in his own day the phrase was pronounced as if it were the “Iron Dook.” Undoubtedly it was Inspired by the unostentatious strength of the Duke’s character and behaviour—there was nothing brittle about Wellington. Confusion was caused in Professor Speedee’s mind by the fact that Count Bismarck was known as the Iron Chancellor, from his aspect and character, as much as for his policy of “blood and iron.” To-day steel is more popular as a suggestion of strength. Josef Stalin is a “man of steel.” Hitler, I would suggest, is more like bakelite, strong so long as he doesn’t drop; Mussolini suggests chromium plating; one is not sure what is underneath.—Yours, etc., KNOB-TURNER. March 15, 1939.

TO TEX XDITOX or TEX FEXXO. Sir, —It has generally been understood that the Duke of Wellington had the honour of the title “Iron Duke.” Prince Bismarck is mentioned in an encyclopedia as being a man of blood and iron, but he was not a duke.— Yours, etc:, OPAWA, March 15, 1939.