Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1884 — Buttoned Into Fame. [ARTICLE]

Buttoned Into Fame.

The Post, of Berlin, says that Bismarck’s political career grew from a very trifling circumstance. It was in August of 1851 that he was intrusted with the legation at Frankfort. Prince Guillaume, the Crown Prince of Prussia, halted there, and took him among his escort when going from Frankfort to Mayence, where a grand review was to be held. Military etiquette is exceedingly strict in Germany. m However, it was so hot in tho royal car that every officer and the Prince himself loosened their uniforms. On arriving at Mayenoe the distinguished party were to be met at the railway station by troops under arms. The Crown Prince buttoned up again hip uniform, but he forgot one button. Fortunately, as he was about to leave the car, Bismarck, on the alert, saw the awful infringement of military etiquette, and, rushing to Guillaume: “Oh! Prince,” he said, “what were you going to do?” and, forgetting that no one is allowed to touch a royal personage, he forced the refractory button into its proper place. The Prince thanked the diplomatic young mm who had been so rigorous, and whose name and features were now fixed in his memory. Hence the brilliant fortune of the “Iron Chancellor.” Why not? Did not poor, humble Jacques Laffitte, son of a carpenter, pick up a pin in the yard of Perregaux, the rich banker, and make out of it a fortune of more than $15,000,000?