1898] Death of Bismarck 295 



to appreciate it in my future and next development than now. But, 

 for the sake of the world, a sonnet, something beautiful about them, 

 ought to be written. Such writings act as beautiful reflectors to the 

 divine light (that immortals such as those two were) have left to the 

 world, in the beauty of their work, it directs the eyes of those that 

 knew them not, to see and know them, for the world in some ways is su 

 dark that even the Divine Light needs a reflector or glasses to guide the 

 eyes, the spiritual eyes, darkened eyes I had rather say, for it is the 

 darkened eyes in the human race, not the darkened world that pre- 

 vents them seeing and knowing the glorious divine light and beauty that 

 is in this world, only few see it, either in Nature or Art. Some arc 

 blind, hopelessly blind, others have films on their eyes, but they can be 

 removed. At first they only see trees as men walking, but finally they 

 can see, see and so live, but they at first require glasses and reflectors, 

 and artificial means of help, and, to my mind, Poetry can be and is the 

 art of all others that helps us most in this world to see. Each divine art 

 acts as a guide and reflector to the other; Poetry helps Music, Music 

 Poetry, both cast light and concentrate it on the other arts.' This sug- 

 gested the sonnet I have since published, and which begins : ' Mad are 

 we all, maids, men, young fools alike and old.' 



"15th July. — Wotton. I find Evelyn with strong Spanish sym- 

 pathies in the war that is going on, on the same grounds with mine. 

 The papers announce the news of the surrender of Santiago de Cuba on 

 honourable terms, and there is great talk of peace being made, but 1 

 doubt its being near. Spain has less to lose than America by going on 

 with the war, her colonies being practically already gone, and Europe 

 being almost certain to prevent a Yankee invasion of Spain. The fin- 

 anciers who inspire tne Press call nut however, for it, and would have 

 it made at any price, as it is injuring trade. 



" 2nd August. — Bismarck is dead. My only personal recollection 

 of him is of meeting him at old Lord Brougham's in Grafton Street. 

 Lady Malet, who was Brougham's stepdaughter, some say his natural 

 daughter, asked me to tea alone, to meet him, and he came and stopped 

 talkiiig with us very pleasantly for an hour. He had been an old ad- 

 mirer of Lady Malet's when they had been together diplomatically at 

 Frankfort, and they were stili on very intimate terms. This may have 

 been in 1862. My memory of him is of a tall lather thin man, with 

 agreeable manners, and talking English perfectly. At that time some- 

 what of an Anglomane, he was still unrecognized by the general puolic 

 of Europe as a great statesman. Indeed, he was laughed at in Ger- 

 many for his reactionary, out-of-date opinions, and was not a little un- 

 popular with the masses. If he had failed to win at Sadowa, he would 

 certainly have been torn to pieces by the Berlin mob. Lady Malet had 

 always the fullest faith in his genius. 



