Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1877 — Bismarck and Family. [ARTICLE]

Bismarck and Family.

While we sat at dinner in the open air before the inn door, a carriage passed, in which was seated a lady and gentleman. Before we noticed a flutter in the little group about the door and a raising of hats, to which the gentleman in the carriage gracefully responded, we had already recognized Bismarck, so exactly like his photographs is he, though not so heavy looking, the pallor of his face, perhaps, giving an appearance of greater refinement to his massive features than the camera has known how to. Several other carriages followed with members of the family and suite, all on their way to Gastein. We have* since seen them here so often that their faces have grown quite familiar. The Princess von Bismarck is the plainest looking of women, so unlike the traditional idea of a Princess that one involuntarily speaks of her as Mrs. Bismarck; but she has a very sensible face, anxious and worried in its expression, and a dignified, modest bearing. The daughter is a strong, healthy young girl, with no beauty but that of youth and health. They both dress with the greatest possible simplicity; indeed, an entire lack of ostentation seems to be the striking characteristic of the family; their servants do not wear livery. We passed Bismarck himself on the “ Kaiserweg,” a favorite promenade, walking unattended except by a great black dog, and did not recognize him until he stepped up into the wet, grassy bank to let us pass, and lifted his hat in his usually courteous manner. He is a tall, pow-erful-looking man, walking a little lame but wonderfully vigorous for his years —just the physique for the man born to do the mighty work he has—to destroy and create empires.— Gastein Cor. Boston Post.