BISMARCK'S TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 49

BISMARCK'S TABLE TALK.

Anecdotb, Epiqbam, and Chats About --Men and Womkn as xhb Gbjsat Man Saw Thsm. A Bbswell for Bismarck has been found in Herr yon Posehioger, and to Charles Lowe, M.A., English-speaking people ara indebted for a compilation from the three bulky volumes of the original contained in a single volume, published by Messrs H, Grevel and Co., entitled " Bismarck's Table Talk."

In the present instance the phrase " Table Talk " is singularly appropriate, for the celebrated statesman was hospitable to a fault, and it was partially doe to this faot that the •ervices of the eminent Dr Sohweninger, who saved and has prolonged bis distinguished patron's life for so many years, were necessary.

The ciroamstasoss were these:— ln 1881 , Bchwenioger went with the Chancellor's second sou, Count "Bill," whom he had reduced by a Banting prcowss, on a visit to Vaizin, and while there Bismarck toldhim of iis sleepless nights, disordered nerves, and generally wretched condition. "The doctors had said he was worn oat; ' that he must lie. on a sofa and stay indoors; avoid all excitement; viitually, in faofr, that he most patiently await the arrival of death for release." r Sehwenitjger listened, bat refused to prescribe unless be were permitted to undertake. the whole treatment. He declared that " the Chancellor's whole way of living mast bo changed," especially as to diet, hours, and exercise, and foretold that unless tbil were done there would be a physical breakdown Within six month?.

This prophecy was fulfilled, and Sohwenirjgar was summoned to Berlin. Then followed a dramatic scene : — " The Prince, walking up and down in a state of alternate acquiescence and rebellion; Schweninger calmly eyeing him and awaiting his decision. At an early st&ga of this first consultation the Prince waa said to have lo»t his temper «nd to have growled, 'Don't ask so many questions,' to which Schweninger replied, •Then please consult a veterinary Burgeon; he asks no questions.' "

When at the close of the interview Bismarck tugged at the bell the doctor vas ill doubt as to whether he was not to be shown ont into the street. Bat the command was, 41 Fetch the doctcr'a things from the station," and thenceforth Sshweninger continued to be the Obaicellor's body physician.

Schwcninger was actually the 101 st doctor ynho had tried his skill on Bismarck, who said: — "The difference between Scbweninger and my former doctors lies in thi«, that I treated them, while Sohweninger treats me." .

BUmarck, by the concurrent testimony of Motley, General, Grant, Oarl Schu>z, Bayard Taylor, and other distinguished Americans and foreigners, was one of the m6st brilliant conversationalists of this century, and the following extracts from bis " Table Talk " go far to jaetify this verdict.

The scene when many of bis' brilliant sallies were ottered is thus described :—: — " The great buffet get up in one of the principal rooms is supplied with cask after cask of salubrious beer from Bavaria, and is visited with growing frequency as the evening wears away. A long table will be spread with a cold collation, and Germans have good appetites.

"The most characteristic part of the feast is reserved, however, until; late In the evening after the ladies have been dismissed. Cigars are then handed around, but the Chancellor prefers a long German pipe, which a dieoerning lackey will bring him at the right time, filled and ready for use. The Tobacco Parliament is then opened. " Debate there is indeed none, for although suggestions and inquiries insxy now and then be thrown out timidly by the listeners, the preceedinga consist practically of a sustained monologue, which the Piince addresses to the group sitting near him or standing further away in a semi-circular fringe about the chairs." As a student Biemark was once rebuked by the rector of Gottingen for his pngnaoity and his expressions of detestation for frenchmen and revolutionary Germans. "Yiu are preparing great trouble- for yourself," said the rector. " Your opinions are those of another age."

1 "Good opinions -blossom again like the * trees after winter," was Bismarck's answer.

Shortly after Bismarck bad taken his seat ,in the first Prussian Parliament; in 1849 an opponent said : " You alone In all your party imve always treated us with politeness, let tbs make a bargain. If we gain the upper hand we shall epare you ; if fortune should favour you, you shall do the same by as."

BUmatck's reply was: "If your party las its way life will not be worth living ; if -.ours is victorious there will have to be executions, bat they will ba conducted with politeaess up to the last step of the ladder." Of himself and lis relations with Frederick William, Bismarck said before his elevation : " The King regarded me as a kind of egg out of whicb he might be able some day to hatch a Minister. It was a locg time before my poor mother could be persuaded that in hatching me she had not produced a goose."

Bismarck's opinion of the diplomats Benedetti and the Due de Gramont were that they were " dancing dogs with collars." And J>y way of further criticism he added: •' They never seemed to have a master, but Stood up on their bind legs and performed their antics without authority from any man alive. If they barked you were sure to hear A voice from Paris orying to them to be quiet. If they fawned you might expect to see them receive some sly kick, warning them that they;ought to be up and biting." The famous " blood and iron " speech has this quaint story connected with it. A fortnight before the speech was made Bismarck, while on a Pyrrenean tour, met a young bridal couple at Avignon, Luening by name. Hadame Luening plucked a double olive twig one day and presented it to BUmarck, saying, " May this help you to make it up with your opponents." " I will accent the half of it. May this Dther half witb this rose bring you, dear madame, constant peaca in your happy marJtlage," said Bismarck. jn the BBbseauent debate at a fitting of tho

Budget Committee as to the expediency of military reform or' moral conquests by a liberal policy, Bismarck produced his pocketbook and from it took thia olive twig with its dried leaves.

" I brought this olive leaf with me from Avignon," he eaid, "in order to offer it to the Radicals as a symbol of poace, bat I ccc that I am much too soon with ifc<" This was received with a smile. Wherenpon Bismarck said sternly ; " Germany does not look to Liberalism, but to the power of Prussia, and Prussia must pull herself together so as not again to miss the favourable moment". Not by speechifying and resolutions, as in 1818 and 1849, can the great question of the time be decided, bat by blood and iron.".

And with these words he crushed the withered olive leaves in his hand and sprinkled their dust on the floor.

Shortly after bekg made Premier, Bismarck eaid to a friend who was dining witb him : "I am now devoting myself to foreign policy in the same way as I used to do my snipe thooticg— that is to say, I never take another step forward without feeling quite sure of the peat heap on which I want to gain a fresh footing."

Gifted with an almost superhuman capacity for work, Bismarck confessed to a love for idleness, a weakness which he, however, completely mastered.

"I remember you in my boyish days," said Bismarck ' to Dr yon Arnim ; " you then struck me- with your enormous energy." " That is completely ait-jred," replied Yon Amim quietly, " for now you strike me enormoufly with yours."

This self-mastery is perhaps more clearly shown in his remark to Moiley: "I hate politics ; but, as you Bay truly, like the grocer bating figs, I am none the less obliged to keep my thoughts increasingly occupied with figs. I never thought that in ray riper years I should be obliged to carry on so unworthy a trade as that of a parliamentary Minister."

His opinion of men was summed up on one occasion as follows : " When I wish to estimate the danger that is likely to accrue to me from an adversary I first of all subtract the man's vanity from his other qualities." At a banquet given by the English Ambassador In Berlin on the Queen's birthday, Bismarck, speaking of peace and war, remarked, " Why, after all, Attila was a greater man than your John Bright. He lsft a greater name in history. The Dake of Wellington will be known in history as a great warrior and not as a pacific statesman."

After the day on which Bismarck was shot at (May 7, 1866) by Karl Blind, his wife said: " If I were in heaven and saw the villain standing at tho top of a ladder leading down to hell I would have no hesitation in giving him a pufh."

"Hush, my dear," replied Bisraark, "you would aot be in heaven yourself with such thoughts aa those."

oi\ one opcasion of obedience to his wif 9 Bismarck remarked : " It is surprising what a man will do to enjoy peace in his own house after having had a thorough taste of war."

He gave M. Thlers this account of how he bad ppent one day in Paris, in response to questions from that gentleman : " I refused myself to three , diplomatist?, but, on the other hand, I received five journalists, and from them I learned more than I should have done from the others, who are all more or less pupila of M«.cc!riavelli or Talleyrand."

To a deputation who cams to make a complaint after the conquest of SohleswigHoistcin and the other provinces he said :—: — 11 Gantlemen, Prussia is like a good, warm, woollen jacket, very unpleasant at first, but one .that will give you a great deal of comfort."

Bismarck disliked display. ' "It is not very -pleasant," he said, " to have an operaglass levelled at you at 14 paces or a revolver at four." And, again, "It is jast the same with ' these • oratorical gentlemen as with many ladies who have small feet. Not content with this, they wear shoes that pinch them, and are forever pu»hicg out their feet in order that they may be Been and admired." On universal suffrage his comment was: "It is the government of a house by its narsery." He charaoteiiaed the Radicals as " forever wanting the unattainable, like the Russians, who crave cherries in winter and ojsters in summer."

A most: dramatic incident Is connected with the vieit of Jules Favre to Bismarck to treat for sin armistice. After some discussion, in which Favre adhered to the principle, " not an loch of our soil, not a stone of our fortresses," Bismarck said, " It is useless to discuss farther. My time is precious. Moreover, yoa have come too late. There behind that door is a delegate of the Emperor Napoleon 111, and I am about to negotiate with him."

Favre became immediately panic-stricken. Whereupon Bismarck followed up his advantage, still keeping his eye on the door (which was probably a cupboard), and with such effect that when he finally arose and pat his hand on the knob, Favre sprang to his feet. " No ; do not," he implored. " Have all you ask, but do not impose on France, after all her misfortune, the necessity of being obliged to endure a Bonaparte." And Bismarck's point was gained.

This much for the man of action. His resume of bis life-work, given in bis own words, is inexpressibly sad. At the close of his official career he said to some friends at Friedrichsrah : — "I have seldom been a happy man. If I reckon up the rare minutes of real happiness in my life I do not believe they would make 24 hours In all. In my political life I never had time to have the feeling of happiness. But in my private life there have been moments of happiness. I remember, for instance, a really happy moment in my life, and that was when I shot, my first hare. In later years it gave me pleasure to ccc my irrigated meadows and plantations thriving, and at home I took pleasure in my wife and children."