Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1889 — The Bismarck of To-day. [ARTICLE]

The Bismarck of To-day.

Bismarck has grown old during the j last few years. His mustache is white as snow and his walk less erect than in former years, but the ppwer of his face and the ' mightbf" as they were ten years ago. When ha sits down it is as If he was on guard, his sword laid across his knees, as formerly old Hagen in guilt and wickedness, he is a Hagen in faithfulness, and, if need be, in stern wrath. And he is on guard at the gates Of the fatherland. Bismarck, as everybody knows, is not an orator—l nearly, said, thank God, he is no orator. His speech has been likened to a forest stream which rumbles over stones and roots. The comparison is somewhat poor. I think I know a better, though rather a technical one—namely, his speech is like quicksilver drawn out Take a drop of quicksilver containing some lead or zinc, put it on a pane of glass and hold it slantingly. The drop swells and rolls, but presently it stops, becomes thinner and longer, remains immovable for a moment, gathers new strength to flow, becomes thin once again, and so forth. Thus it is with the chancellor’s words; first half a sentence comes out, then he hesitates,. ... stops, or utters a short, inarticulate sound, and goas on again. It is evident that to speak is a physical exertion, but even when he is in first rate form he does not talk fluently. But on closer observation the reason appears very soon. The form of his speech is improvised on the spur of the moment, but, unlike many fluent speakers, he does not use the first expression which may come to his mind, but while he is uttering the first half of a sentence he is thinking of how to shape the second half in order to express exactly what he wishes to say. If he makes a joke or slight observation he speaks quickly and without hesitation, but as soon as he returns to the serious treatment of a political subject this painfully accurate expression, the result of mental work, becbmeS"agaSn“" apparent, which shows that he endeavors not to say a syllable which he cannot reconcile with his responsible position. This is the reason why his speeches concerning foreign politics, read like official diplomatic documents, every word is carefully considered. His voice is peculiar, high-pitched and not very powerful. It has been called a thin voice, but this only expresses one of its qualities. Another is that it is so remarkable young that one would think it almost incredible for a man of his age to possess such a voice. If one does not see him while he is speaking it is difficult to believe that is not a young lieutenant of twenty-eight who is speaking (which, by the way, is rather a pity, since the snarl and the drawl of the German lieutenant is proverbally detestable.) But put in connection with this quality it can sound extremely soft and flattering, and I should not be surprised if in former years, when be was ambassador, some of his personal success had been due just to this timbre of his voice. —Ex.