thatFrancewouldgladlyhavepaidamuchlargersumthanfivemilliardsifshecouldhaveretainedAlsace—
Lorraine;thatBismarckwouldhavemadeconcessions;butthat``Molkt’’wouldnot。HeaddedthatBismarcktold``Molkt’’thathe——thelatter——had，byinsistingonterritory，madepeacetoodifficult。Saint—HilairedweltlongonthefearfullegacyofstandingarmiesleftbythepolicywhichGermanyfinallyadopted，andevidentlyconsideredagreatinternationalwarasapproaching。[16]
[16]December，1880。
DiningafterwardattheForeignOfficewithmyoldfriendMillet，whowassecondincommandthere，ImetvariousinterestingFrenchmen，butwasmostofallpleasedwithM。Ribot。HavingdistinguishedhimselfbyphilosophicalstudiesandmadeahighreputationintheFrenchparliament，hewasnaturallyonhiswaytothecommandingpostintheministrywhichheafterwardobtained。Hiswife，anAmerican，wasespeciallyattractive。
Itisathousandpitiesthatacountrypossessingsuchmenissowidelyknowntotheworld，notbythese，butbynovelistsanddramatistslargelyretailingfilth，journalistslargelygiventotheinventionofsensationallies，politicianslargelyobeyingeitheratheisticdemagoguesorclericalintriguers;andalltogetheractinglikeaswarmofobscene，tricky，mangymonkeyschattering，squealing，andtweakingoneanother’stailsinacage。SomeofthesemonkeysIsawperformingtheiranticsintheNationalAssemblythensittingatVersailles;anditsaddenedmetoseethenoblerelementinthatassemblagethwartedbysuchfeatherbrainedcreatures。[16]
[16]December，1880。
Anothermanofnote，nextwhomIfoundmyselfatadinner—party，wasM。deLesseps。Istillbelievehimtohavebeenagreatandtrueman，despitethecloudoffraudwhichthemisdeedsofothersdrewoverhislatterdays。Amongsundrycommentsonourcountry，hesaidthathehadvisitedSaltLakeCity，andthoughtapolicyofforceagainsttheMormonsamistake。InthisIfeelsurethathewasright。YearsagoIwasconvincedbyBishopTuttleoftheProtestantEpiscopalChurch，whohadbeenstationedforsomeyearsatSaltLakeCity，thatawaitingpolicy，inwhichpropercivilizationcanbebroughttobearupontheMormons，isthetruecourse。
OnthefollowingSundayIheardPreHyacinthepreach，asatseveralvisitsbefore;buttheonlythingatallmemorablewasaratherhappyapplicationofVoltaire’sremarkontheHolyRomanEmpire，``NiSaint，niEmpire，niRomain。’’
AtthesalonofMadameEdmondAdam，eminentasawriterofreviewarticlesandasahaterofeverythingTeutonic，Iwaspresentedtoacrowdofliterarymenwho，thoughatthatmomentstrikingthestarswiththeirloftyheads，havesincedroppedintooblivion。AmongtheseI
especiallyremembermiledeGirardin，editor，spouter，intriguer——the``Grandmile，’’whoboastedthatheinventedandpresentedtotheFrenchpeopleanewideaeveryday。ThisfutileactivityofhisalwaysseemedtomebestexpressedintheAmericansimile:``Busyasabeeinatar—barrel。’’Therewas，indeed，onethingtohiscredit:
hehadsomehowinspiredhisformerwife，thegiftedDelphineGay，withabeliefinhisgreatness;andaprettystorywascurrentillustratingthis。Duringtherevolutionof1848，variousmenofnote，callingonMadameGirardin，expressedalarmattheprogressofthatmostfoolishofoverturns，whenshesaid，withanairofgreatsolemnity，andpointingupward，``Gentlemen，thereisoneabovewhowatchesoverFrance。（Ilyaunl—hautquiveillesurlaFrance。）’’Allweregreatlyimpressedbythisevidenceofsublimefaith，untilthecontextshowedthatitwasnottheAlmightyinwhomsheputhertrust，butthegreatmile，whosestudywasjustaboveherparlor。
Thisremindsmethat，duringmystudentdaysatParis，Iattendedthefuneralofthisgiftedlady，andinthecrowdofwell—knownpersonspresentnoticedespeciallyAlexandreDumas。Hewasverytallandlarge，withanAfricanhead，thicklips，andbushy，crisphair。Heevidentlyintendedtobeseen。Hisgood—naturedvanitywasasundisguisedaswhenhisfamoussonsaidofhiminhispresence，``Myfatherissovainthatheiscapableofstandinginliverybehindhisowncarriagetomakepeoplethinkhesportsanegrofootman。’’
Goingsouthward，IstoppedatBourges，andwasfascinatedbytheamazingstoneworkofthecrypt。Howthemediaevalcathedral—builderswereabletoaccomplishsuchintricateworkwiththemeansattheircommandisstilloneofthegreatmysteries。Thereisto—dayintheUnitedStatesnogroupofworkmenwhocouldexecuteanythingapproachingthiswork，tosaynothingofsuchpiecesasthevaultingofHenryVII’sChapelatWestminsterorofKing’sCollegeChapelatCambridge。
ThencewewenttotheChurchofBrou，nearLyons——
exquisitelybeautiful，andfilledwithmonumentsevenmoreinspiringthanthechurchitself。Butitwasentirelyevident，fromalookatthechurchanditssurroundings，thatMatthewArnoldhadwrittenhischarmingpoemwithoutevervisitingtheplace。GoingthencetoNice，westoppedatTurin;andatthegraveofSilvioPellicotherecamebacktomevividmemoriesofhislittlebook，whichhadseemedtomakelifebetterworthliving。
AtGenoaadecisionhadtobemade。AmassoflettersofintroductiontoleadingItalianshadbeengivenme，andIlongedtomaketheiracquaintance;butIwasweary，andsuddenlydecidedtoturnasideandgoupontheRiviera，wherewesettledforourvacationatNice。Therewefoundvariousinterestingpeople，moreespeciallythosebelongingtotheAmericancolonyandtotheship—of—warTrenton，thenlyingatVillefranche，nearby。Shortlyafterourarrival，LieutenantEmeryofthenavycalled，bearinganinvitationtotheshipfromAdmiralHowell，whowasincommandatthatstation;and，adayortwolater，onarrivingintheharbor，thoughIsawalong—boatdressedoutveryfinely，evidentlyawaitingsomebody，andsuspectedthatitwasintendedforme，IquietlyevadedthewholebusinessbyjoiningapartyofAmericansinasteam—launch，sothatIhadbeenonboardsomelittletimebeforetheadmiralrealizedtheomissioninhisprogramme。
Asaresult，inordertoquiethisconscientiousandpatrioticfeelings，Icameagainadayortwoafterward，wasconveyedtothefrigatewiththeregulationpomp，andreceivedthesalutesdueanAmericanminister。
Mystayontheshipwasdelightful;but，thoughtheadmiralmostkindlyurgedmetorevisithim，Icouldneveragaingathercouragetocausesomuchtroubleandmakesomuchnoise。
MostinterestingtomeofallthepersonsinNiceatthattimewasayoungAmericanaboutfourteenyearsofage，whoseemedtomeoneofthebrightestandnoblestandmostpromisingyouthsIhadeverseen。Alas！howmanyhopesweredisappointedinhisdeathnotlongafterward！
TheboywasyoungLelandStanford。Theaspirationsofhisfatherandmotherwereboundupinhim，andthegreatuniversityatPaloAltoisperhapsthefinestmonumenteverdedicatedbyparentstoachild。
DuringanotheroftheseyearlyabsencesinItaly，Imetvariousinterestingmen，and，amongthese，atFlorencethesyndicUbaldinoPeruzzi，adescendantofthegreatPeruzzisofthemiddleages，andoneofthelastsurvivingassociatesofCavour。Hewasanadmirabletalker;butofallhesaidIwasmostpleasedwiththetributewhichhepaidtotheAmericanministeratRome，JudgeStalloofCincinnati。
Hedeclaredthatatarecentconferenceofstatesmenanddiplomatists，JudgeStallohadcarriedoffallthehonors——
speakingwithease，asmightbenecessary，inItalian，French，andEnglish，andfinallydrawingupaprotocolinLatin。
AtFlorencealsoImadeanacquaintancewhichhaseversincebeenasourceofgreatpleasuretome——thatofProfessorVillari，senatorofthekingdom，historianofFlorence，andbiographerofSavonarola。SobeganafriendshipwhichhasincreasedthedelightsofmanyFlorentinevisitssincethosedays——afriendshipnotonlywithhim，butwithhisgiftedandcharmingwife。
ThisremindsmethatatRomethenameoftheeminentprofessoroncebroughtuponmeacuriousreproof。
Ihadmetatvarioustimes，intheEternalCityandelsewhere，arisingyoungprofessorandofficerofHarvardUniversity;and，beingonemorninginLoescher’sfamousbook—shopontheCorso，withalargenumberofpurchasesaboutme，thisgentlemancameinand，lookingthemover，waspleasedtoapproveseveralofthem。Presently，onshowinghimavolumejustpublishedandsaying，``ThereisthenewvolumeofVillari’shistory，’’Ipronouncedthenameoftheauthorwiththeaccentonthefirstsyllable，asanyoneacquaintedwithhimknowsthatitoughttobepronounced。Atthistheexcellentprofessortookthebook，butseemedtohavesomethingonhismind;and，havingglancedthroughit，heatlastsaid，rathersolemnly，``Yes;
VillAri’’——accentingstronglythesecondsyllable——``isanadmirablewriter。’’Iacceptedhiscorrectionmeeklyandmadenoreply。Athingsotrivialwouldnotbeworthrememberingwereitnotoneofthoseevidences，whichprofessorsfromotherinstitutionsinourcountryhavenotinfrequentlyexperienced，ofa``certaincondescension’’
insundrymenwhodohonortooneortwoofouroldestandgreatestuniversities。
OfallpeopleatRomeIwasmostimpressedbyMarcoMinghetti。AconversationwithhimIhavegiveninanotherchapter。
ReminiscencesofthatfirstofficiallifeofmineatBerlincenter，firstofall，inBismarck，andtheninthetwogreatrulerswhohavesincepassedaway——theoldhero，EmperorWilliamI，andthatembodimentofallqualitieswhichanymancouldaskforinamonarch，thecrownprincewhoafterwardbecametheEmperorFrederickIII。
Bothwerekindly，butthelatterwasespeciallywinning。
AtdifferenttimesIhadthepleasureofmeetingandtalkingwithhimonvarioussubjects;butperhapsthemostinterestingoftheseinterviewswasonewhichtookplacewhenitbecamemydutytoconducthimthroughtheAmericanexhibitintheInternationalFisheriesExhibitionatBerlin。
HehadtakengreatinterestindevelopingthefisheriesalongthenortherncoastofGermany，andthisexhibitionwastheresult。Onedayhesentthevice—chancelloroftheempiretoaskmewhetheritwasnotpossibletosecureanexhibitfromtheUnitedStates，andespeciallytheloanofourwonderfulcollectionsfromtheSmithsonianInstitutionandfromtheFisheriesInstitutionofWood’sHoll{sic}。
Todothiswasdifficult。Beforemyarrivalanattempthadbeenmadeandfailed。WordhadcomefrompersonshighinauthorityatWashingtonthatCongresscouldnotbeinducedtomakethelargeappropriationrequired，andthatsendingoverthecollectionswasoutofthequestion。
IpromisedtodowhatIcould;and，rememberingthatFernandoWoodofNewYorkwaschairmanoftheCommitteeofWaysandMeansintheHouse，andthatGovernorSeymour，thenlivinginretirementnearUtica，washisoldpoliticalassociate，andespeciallyinterestedinre—
stockingthewatersofNewYorkStatewithfish，Isenttheex—governorastatementofthewholecase，andurgedhimtopresentitfullytoMr。Wood。ThenIwroteinthesameveintoSenatorConkling，and，tomygreatsatisfaction，carriedtheday。TheappropriationwasmadebyCongress;andthecollectionsweresentoverunderthecontrolofMr。BrownGoodeoftheSmithsonian，perhapsthemostadmirablemanwhocouldhavebeenchosenoutofthewholeworldforthatpurpose。Theprincewasgreatlydelightedwithallhesaw，showedremarkableintelligenceinhisquestions，and，thankstoMr。Goode’sassistance，hereceivedsatisfactoryanswers。TheresultwasthattheAmericanexhibittookthegreatprize——thesilver—
giltvaseofferedbytheEmperorWilliam，whichisnowintheNationalMuseumatWashington。
Theprinceshowedarealinterestineverythingofimportanceinourcountry。IrememberhisaskingmeregardingtheBrooklynBridge——howitcouldpossiblybesustainedwithoutguy—ropes。Ofcourseitwaseasytoshowhimthatwhileinthefirstofourgreatsuspension—
bridges——thatatNiagara——guy—ropeswereadmissible，atBrooklyntheywerenot:sinceshipsofwaraswellasmerchantvesselsofthelargestsizemustpassbeneathit;andIcouldonlyaddthatRoebling，whobuiltit，wasamanofsuchskillandforethoughtthatundoubtedly，withtheweighthewasputtingintoitandthesystemoftrusseshewasplacinguponit，noguy—ropeswouldbeneeded。
Onmanyoccasionstheprinceshowedthoughtfulkindnesstomembersofmyfamilyaswellastomyself，andthenewsofhisdeathgavemerealsorrow。Itwasavastlosstohiscountry;nomodernmonarchhasshownsostrikingalikenesstoMarcusAurelius。
HardlylessheartyandkindlywastheEmperorthenreigning——WilliamI。Naturallyenough，heremembered，aboveallwhohadprecededme，Mr。Bancroft。Hisfirstquestionatcourtgenerallywas，``Howgoesitwithyourpredecessor？（WiegehtesmitIhremVorgnger？）’’andIalwaysknewthatbymy``predecessor’’
hemeantBancroft。WhenIoncetoldhimthatMr。
Bancroft，whowasnotfarfromtheoldKaiser’sage，hadboughtanewhorseandwasridingassiduouslyeveryday，theoldmonarchlaughedheartilyanddweltonhisrecollectionsofmypredecessor，withhislongwhitebeard，ridingthroughtheThiergarten。
Pleasanttomewasthelastinterview，onthepresentationofmyletterofrecall。ItwasatBabelsberg，theEmperor’scountry—seatatPotsdam;andhedetainedmelong，talkingoveramultitudeofsubjectsinawaywhichshowedmuchkindlyfeeling。Amongotherthings，heaskedwheremyfamilyhadbeenstayingthroughthesummer。MyanswerwasthatwehadbeenatahotelneartheparkorpalaceofWilhelmshheaboveCassel;andthatweallagreedthathehadbeenverymagnanimousinassigningtotheEmperorNapoleonIIIsosplendidaprisonandsuchbeautifulsurroundings。Tothisheansweredquiteearnestly，``Yes;andhewasverygratefulforit，andwrotemetosayso;but，afterall，thatisbynomeansthefinestpalaceinGermany。’’TothisI
answered，``YourMajestyisentirelyright;thatIsawonvisitingthepalaceofWrzburg。’’Atthishelaughedheartily，andsaid，``Yes，Iseethatyouunderstandit;
thoseoldprince—bishopsknewhowtolive。’’Asamatteroffact，variousprince—bishopsintheeighteenthcenturyimpoverishedtheirrealmsinbuildingjustsuchimitationsofVersaillesasthatsumptuousWrzburgPalace。
Hethenaskedme，``OnwhatshipdoyougotoAmerica？’’andIanswered，``OnthefinestshipinyourMajesty’smerchantnavy——theElbe。’’Hethenaskedmesomethingabouttheship;andwhenIhadtoldhimhowbeautifullyitwasequipped，——itbeingthefirstofthelargershipsoftheNorthGermanLloyd，——heanswered，``Yes;whatisnowdoinginthewayofshipbuildingiswonderful。Ireceivedaletterfrommyson，thecrownprince，thismorning，onthatverysubject。HeisatOsborne，andhasjustvisitedagreatEnglishiron—cladman—of—war。Itiswonderful;butitcostamillionpoundssterling。’’Atthisheraisedhisvoice，and，throwingupbothhands，saidveryearnestly，``Wecan’tstandit;wecan’tstandit。’’
Afterthisandmuchotherpleasantchat，heputouthishandandsaid，``AufWiedersehen’’;andsoweparted，eachtotakehisownwayintoeternity。
Theotherfarewellstomewerealsogratifying。TheGermanpresswasverykindlyinitsreferencestomydeparture;andjustbeforeIleftBerlinadinnerwasgivenmeinthegreathalloftheKaiserhofbyleadingmeninparliamentary，professional，literary，andartisticcircles。KindlyspeechesweremadebyGneist，Camphausen，Delbrck，GeorgevonBunsen，andothers——allformingatreasureinmymemorywhich，aslongaslifelasts，Icanneverlose。
CHAPTERXXXII
MYRECOLLECTIONSOFBISMARCK——1879—1881
MyfirstglimpseofBismarckwasobtainedduringoneofmyjourneysthroughmiddleGermany，aboutthetime，Ithink，oftheFranco—PrussianWar。ArrivingattheKissingenjunction，wefoundacrowdgatheredoutsidethebarriers，andallgazingatarailway—carriageabouttobeattachedtoourtrain。Lookingtowardthis，I
recognizedthefaceandformofthegreatNorth—Germanstatesman。Hewasintheprimeoflife——sturdy，hearty，andhappyinthepresenceofhiswifeandchildren。Thepeopleatthestationevidentlyknewwhatwasneeded;forhardlyhadhearrivedwhenwaitersappeared，bearingsalverscoveredwithhugemugsoffoamingbeer。ThereuponBismarcktooktwoofthemugsinimmediatesuccession;
pouredtheircontentsdownhisthroat，evidentlywithgreatgusto;andaburlypeasantjustbackofme，unablelongertorestrainhisadmiration，soliloquizedinadeep，slow，guttural，reverberatingrumble:``A—a—a—berersiehtsehr—r—rgutaus。’’Soitstruckmealso;thewatersofKissingenhadevidentlyrestoredthegreatman，andhelookedlikeaTitanreadyforbattle。
Mypersonalintercoursewithhimbeganin1879，when，aschancelloroftheGermanEmpire，hereceivedmeasministeroftheUnitedStates。Onmyenteringhisworkroom，herose;anditseemedtomethatIhadneverseenanothermansotoweringsaveAbrahamLincoln。Oneithersideofhimwerehistwobig，blackdogs，theReichshunde;and，asheputouthishandwithapleasantsmile，theyseemedtojoinkindlyinthewelcome。
HisfirstremarkwasthatIseemedayoungmantoundertakethedutiesofaminister，towhichImadethetritereplythattimewouldspeedilycurethatdefect。Theconversationthenran，foratime，uponcommonplacesubjects，butfinallystruckmattersofinteresttobothourcountries。
Therewerethen，aseversince，agreatnumberoftroublesomequestionsbetweenthetwonations，andamongthemthoserelatingtoGermanswho，havinggoneovertotheUnitedStatesjustatthemilitaryage，hadlivedtheremerelylongenoughtoacquirecitizenship，andhadthenhastenedbacktoGermanytoenjoytheprivilegesofbothcountrieswithoutdischargingthedutiesofeither。Thesepersonshaddonegreatharmtotheinterestsofbona—fideGerman—Americans，andBismarckevidentlyhadanintensedislikeforthem。Thisheshowedthenandafterward;
buthistendenciestoseveritytowardthemweretempted{sic}bytheministerofforeignaffairs，VonBlow，oneofthemostreasonablemeninpublicbusinesswithwhomIhaveeverhadtodo，andfatherofthepresentchancellor，whogreatlyresembleshim。
ButBismarck’sfeelingagainstthemenwhohadacquiredAmericancitizenshipforthepurposeofevadingtheirdutiesinbothcountriesdidnotpreventhistakingagreatinterestinGermanswhohadsettledintheUnitedStatesand，whilebecominggoodAmericans，hadpreservedaninterestintheFatherland。Hespokeofthese，withalarge，kindlyfeeling，asconstitutingabondbetweenthetwonations。Amongotherthings，heremarkedthatGermanslivingintheUnitedStatesbecomemoretractablethaninthelandoftheirbirth;thatrevolutioniststhusbecomemoderates，andradicalsconservatives;thatthewordEinigkeit（union）hadalwaysacharmforthem;
thatithadworkedbothwaysuponthemforgood，theunionofStatesinAmericaleadingthemtoprizetheunionofstatesinGermany，andtheevilsofdisunioninGermany，whichhadbeensolongandpainful，leadingthemtoabhordisunioninAmerica。
Theconversationthenfellintoordinarychannels，andI
tookleaveafteranotherheartyshakeofthehandandvariouskindassurances。Afewdayslatercameaninvitationtodinnerwithhim;andIprizedthisallthemorebecauseitwasnottobeanofficial，butafamilydinner，andwastoincludeafewofhismostintimatefriendsintheministryandtheparliament。Ontheinvitationitwasstatedthateveningdresswasnottobeworn;andonmyarrival，accompaniedbyHerrvonSchltzer，atthattimetheGermanministerinWashington，Ifoundalltheguestsarrayedinsimpleafternooncostume。Thetablehadapatriarchalcharacter。Attheheadsattheprince;athisside，inthenextseatbutone，hiswife;whilebetweenthemwastheseatassignedme，sothatIenjoyedtothefulltheconversationofboth。Theotherseatsattheheadofthetablewereoccupiedbyvariousguests;andthen，scatteredalongdown，weremembersofthefamilyandsomepersonagesinthechancerywhostoodnearestthechief。Theconversationwasledbyhim，andsoontookaturnespeciallyinteresting。HeaskedmewhethertherehadeverbeenaseriousefforttomakeNewYorkthepermanentcapitalofthenation。Iansweredthattherehadnot;thatbothNewYorkandPhiladelphiawere，forashortperiodatthebeginningofournationalhistory，provisionalcapitals;butthattherewasadeep—seatedideathatthepermanentcapitalshouldnotbeacommercialmetropolis，andthatunquestionablytheplacingofitatWashingtonwasdecided，notmerelybythecentralpositionofthatcity，butalsobythefactthatitwasanartificialtown，neverlikelytobeagreatbusinesscenter;andIcitedThomasJefferson’ssaying，``Greatcitiesaregreatsores。’’Heansweredthatinthisourfoundersshowedwisdom;thattheFrenchweremakingabadmistakeinbringingtheirnationallegislaturebackfromVersaillestoParis;thattheconstructionofthehumanbodyfurnishesagoodhintforarrangementsinthebodypolitic;that，asthehumanbrainisheldinastronginclosure，andatadistancefromthepartsofthebodywhicharemostactivephysically，sothebrainofthenationshouldbeprotectedwiththegreatestcare，andshouldnotbeplacedinthemidstofagreat，turbulentmetropolis。TothisIassented，butsaidthatduringmyattendanceatsessionsoftheFrenchlegislativebodies，bothinmyolddaysatParisandmorerecentlyatVersailles，itseemedtomethattheirmaindefectsarethoseoftheirqualities;thatoneofthemostfrequentoccupationsoftheirmembersisteasingoneanother，andthatwhentheyteaseoneanothertheyarewonderfullywitty;
thatintheAmericanCongressandintheBritishParliamentmembersaremoreslowtocatchasubtlecommentorscathingwitticism;thatthemembersofAmericanandBritishassembliesaremorelikelargegrainsofcannon—
powder，throughwhichignitionextendsslowly，sothattherecomesnosuddenexplosion;whereasintheFrenchAssemblythemembersaremorelikeminute，brightgrainsofrifle—powder，whichalltakefireatthesamemoment，withinstantdetonation，andexplosionssometimesdisastrous。Heassentedtothis，butinsistedthatthecurseofFrenchassemblieshadbeenthetyrannyofcitymobs，andespeciallyofmobsinthegalleriesoftheirassemblies;
thattheworstfaultpossibleinanydeliberativebodyisspeakingtothegalleries;thatagallerymobissuretogetbetweenthemembersandthecountry，andvirtuallyscreenofffromtheassemblytheinterestsofthecountry。
TothisImostheartilyassented。
Imaysayherethattherehadnotthenbeenfullydevelopedinourcountrythatmonstrousabsurditywhichwehaveseenintheselastfewyears——nationalconventionsofthetwopartiestryingtodeliberateinthemidstofaudiencesoftwelveorfifteenthousandpeople;avastmobinthegalleries，oftennoisy，andsometimeshysterical，frequentlyseekingtothrowthedelegatesofftheirbearings，tooutclamorthem，andtoforcenominationsuponthem。
Alittlelater，aswediscussedcertainrecentbooks，Ire—
ferredtoJulesSimon’sworkonThiers’sadministration。
BismarcksaidthatThiers，inthetreatynegotiationsatVersailles，impressedhimstrongly;thathewasapatriot;
thatheseemedatthattimelikeaRomanamongByzantines。
Thisstatementastonishedme。IfeverthereexistedamanattheoppositepolefromBismarck，Thierswascertainlythatman。Ihadstudiedhimasahistorian，observedhimasastatesman，andconversedwithhimasasocialbeing;andhehadalwaysseemed，andstillseems，tomethemostnoxiousofallthegreaterarchitectsofruinthatFranceproducedduringthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury——andthatissayingmuch。Hispolicywastodiscrediteverygovernmentwhichhefoundexisting，inorderthatitsruinsmightservehimasapedestal;
and，whilehecertainlyshowedgreatskillinmitigatingthecalamitieswhichhedidsomuchtocause，hiswholecareerwasdamning。
Byhis``HistoryoftheFrenchRevolution’’herevivedtheworstoftheRevolutionlegend，andespeciallythedeificationofdestructiveness;byhis``HistoryoftheConsulateandoftheEmpire，’’andhistranslationofthebodyofNapoleontoFrance，heeffectivelyrevivedtheNapoleoniclegend。TheQueenoftheFrench，whenescapingfromtheTuileriesin1848，wasentirelyrightinreproachinghimwithunderminingtheconstitutionalmonarchyof1830;
andnomandidmorethanhetoarouseandmaintaintheanti—GermanspiritwhichledtotheFranco—PrussianWar。
Byhiswritings，speeches，andintriguesheaidedinupsetting，notonlytheruleoftheBourbonsin1830，buttheruleofLouisPhilippein1848，theSecondRepublicin1851，andtheSecondEmpirein1870;and，hadhelived，hewoulddoubtlesshavedonethesamebythepresentRepublic。
LouisBlanc，arevolutionistofanotherbadsort——socommoninFrance——whocanruinbutNOTrestore，oncesaidtomethatThiers’s``greatestpowerlayinhisvoicingaverage，unthinking，popularfolly;sothatafteroneofhisspeecheseveryfoolinFrancewouldcryoutwithdelight，``Mais，voilmonopinion！’’
DoubtlessBismarckwasimpressed，forthetimebeing，byThiers’sskillinnegotiation;butitisperfectlyevident，fromtherecollectionsofvariousofficialssincepublished，thathisusualopinionofThierswasnotatallindicatedbyhisremarkabovecited。
Latertheconversationfellupontravel;and，ashespokeofhisexperiencesinvariouspartsofEurope，IrecommendedAmericatohimasanewfieldofobservation——alludingplayfullytothecitynamedafterhim，andsuggestingthathetakehisfamilywithhimuponalargesteamer，and，afterseeingthemoreinterestingthingsintheUnitedStates，passonaroundtheworld，callingattheSamoanIslands，onwhichIhadrecentlyheardhimspeakinparliament。Aftersomehumorousobjectionstothisplan，hesaidthatearlyinlifehehadagreatpassionfortravel，butthatuponhisfather’sdeathhewasobligedtodevotehimselftogettinghisestateinorder;thateversincethattimehispoliticaldutieshadpreventedhistravelingmuch;
andthatnowhehadlosttheloveofwandering，andinplaceofithadgainedadesiretosettledowninthemidstofhisfamily。
HespokeEnglishsoperfectlythatIaskedhimhowmuchtimehehadspentinEngland。Hesaid，``Verylittle——infact，onlytwoorthreedays。’’Hehadmadebuttwoshortvisits，oneofthemmanyyearsago，——Ithinkhesaidin1842，——theotherduringtheexpositionof1862。HeseemedmuchstruckwiththebeautyofEngland，andsaidthatifhislothadbeencasttherehewouldhavebeenveryhappyasanEnglishcountrygentleman;thathecouldnotunderstandhowEnglishmenaresopronetoliveoutsideoftheirowncountry。HespokeofvariousEnglishmen，andreferredtoLordDufferin，whohaddinedwithhimthedaybefore，asoneofthemostabstemiousmenhehadeverseen，drinkingonlyalittleclaretandwater。UponmyspeakingofthegreatimprovementwhichIhadnotedinEnglandduringthelastquarterofacentury，sothatthewholecountrywasbecomingmoreandmorelikeagarden，hesaidthatsuchastatementwashardlylikelytopleasethinkingEnglishmen;thattheycouldhardlybegladthatEnglandshouldbecomemoreandmorelikeagarden;``for，’’hesaid，``feedingagreatnationfromagardenislikeprovisioninganarmywithplumcake。’’
HethendweltonthefactthatGreatBritainhadbecomemoreandmoredependentforherdailybreadonothercountries，andespeciallyontheUnitedStates。
Theconversationnextturnedtothemanagementofestates，andheremarked，inabluff，heartyway，thathisfatherhaddesiredhimtobecomeaclergyman;thattherewasapastor’sliving，worth，ifIrememberrightly，aboutfifteenhundredthalersayear，whichhisfatherthoughtshouldbekeptinthefamily。Thisledtosomeamusingconversationbetweenhimandtheprincessonwhathislifewouldhavebeenundersuchcircumstances，endingbyhissayingjocoselytoher，``YouprobablythinkthatifI
hadbecomeapastorIwouldhavebeenabetterman。’’Towhichsheansweredthatthisshewouldnotsay;thatitwouldnotbepolite。``But，’’shecontinued，``Iwillsaythis:thatyouwouldhavebeenahappierman。’’
Hereferredtosomeofmypredecessors，speakingverykindlyofBayardTaylorandGeorgeBancroft;butbothheandtheprincessdweltespeciallyupontheirrelationswithMotley。TheprincetoldmeoftheirlifetogetheratGttingenandatBerlin，andofMotley’svisitssince，whenhealwaysbecameBismarck’sguest。TheprincesssaidthattherewasonesubjectonwhichitwasalwaysadelighttoteaseMotley——hissuppressednovel``Merrymount’’;thatMotleydefendedhimselfingeniouslyinvariouswaysuntil，athislastvisit，beingpressedhard，hedeclaredthatthewholethingwasameremyth;thathehadneverwrittenanysuchnovel。
Thedinnerbeingended，ourassemblywasadjournedtotheterraceatthebackofthechancellor’spalace，lookingoutupontheparkinwhichhewaswonttotakehisfamousmidnightwalks。Coffeeandcigarswerebrought，butforBismarckapipewithalongwoodenstemandalargeporcelainbowl。Itwasamassiveaffair;and，inajocose，apologeticway，hesaidthat，althoughothersmightsmokecigarsandcigarettes，heclungtothepipe——andinspiteofthefactthat，atthePhiladelphiaExposition，ashehadheard，agreatGermanpipewashungamongtomahawks，scalping—knives，andotherrelicsofbarbarism。Fromtimetotimeaservantrefilledhispipe，whilehediscourseduponvarioussubjects——firstupontheconditionofAmericaandofGermany;thenuponSouthAmericanmatters，andofthestrugglebetweenChileandotherpowers。HeshowedgreatrespectfortheChileans，andthoughtthattheymanifestedreallysterlingqualities。
Hespokeofship—building，andshowed，asitseemedtome，ratheracloseknowledgeofthemainpointsinvolved。
HereferredtothesuperiorityofRussianships，thewoodusedbeingmoresuitablethanthatgenerallyfoundelsewhere。
AstoAmericanships，hethoughttheywerebuilt，asarule，ofinferiorwoods，andthattheirreputationhadsufferedinconsequence。
Theconversationagainfallinguponpublicmen，areferenceofminetoGladstonedidnotelicitanythinglikeaheartyresponse;butthementionofDisraeliseemedtoarouseacordialfeeling。
AmongtheguestswasLotharBucher，whomBismarck，inearlierdays，wouldhavehangedifhehadcaughthim，butwhohadnowbecomethechancellor’smostconfidentialagent;and，aswecameouttogether，Buchersaid:``Well，whatdoyouthinkofhim？’’Myanswerwas:``HeseemsevenagreatermanthanIhadexpected。’’``Yes，’’saidBucher;``andIamoneofthosewhohavesufferedmuchandlongtomakehimpossible。’’Isaid:``Theresultisworthit，isitnot？’’``Yes，’’wasthereply;``infinitelymorethanworthit。’’
Mynextvisitwasofaverypeculiarsort。OnedaytherearrivedatthelegationMr。WilliamD。KellyofPennsylvania，anxious，aboveallthings，tohaveatalkwithBismarck，especiallyuponthetariffandthedoublemonetarystandard，bothofwhichwerejustthenburningquestions。ItoldMr。KellythatitwasmucheasiertopresenthimtotheEmperorthantothechancellor，butthatwewouldseewhatcouldbedone。ThereuponIwroteanotetellingBismarckwhoMr。Kellywas——theseniormemberoftheHouseofRepresentativesbytermofservice，theleadingchampionthereinofprotectionandofthedoublestandardofvalue;thathewasveryanxioustodiscussthesesubjectswithleadingGermanauthorities;
andthat，knowingtheprince’sinterestinthem，ithadseemedtomethathemightnotbesorrytomeetMr。
Kellyforabriefinterview。TothisIreceivedaheartyresponse:``ByallmeansbringMr。Kellyoveratfouro’clock。’’Atfouro’clock，then，weappearedatthepalace，andwerereceivedimmediatelyandcordially。Whenwewereseatedtheprincesaid:``Iamverysorry;butthenewPrussianministryistomeethereintwentyminutes，andImustpresideoverit。’’Themeaningofthiswasclear，andtheconversationbeganatonce，Ieffacingmyselfinordertoenjoyitmorefully。Inafewsecondstheywereinthethickofthetariffquestion;and，asbothwerehighprotectionists，theygotalongadmirably。Soonrosethequestionofthedoublestandardincoinage;andonthis，too，theyagreed。Notablewasthedenunciationbythechancellorofthosewhodifferedfromhim;heseemedtofeelthat，ascaptainofthepoliticalforcesoftheempire，hewasentitledtotheallegianceofallhonestmembersofparliament，andonallquestions。Thediscussionranthroughvariousinterestingphases，when，noticingthatthemembersofthePrussianministryweregatheringinthenextroom，Irosetogo;whereupontheprince，whoseemedgreatlyinterestedbothinthepresentationofhisownviewsandthoseofMr。Kelly，said:``No，no;letthemwait。’’Thenewministersthereforewaited，theargumentonthetariffandthedoublestandardbeingmorevigorouslyprosecutedthanever。Afterfifteenortwentyminutesmore，Iroseagain;butBismarcksaid:
``No，no;there’snohurry;let’sgoandtakeawalk。’’