MY RECOLLECTIONS OF BISMARCK-1879-1881 591 



This reminds me that Gneist on one occasion told me 

 another story, which throws some light on the chancellor 's 

 habits. Gneist had especial claims on Americans. As the 

 most important professor of Roman law at the university, 

 he had welcomed a long succession of American students ; 

 as a member of the imperial parliament, of the Prussian 

 legislature, and of the Berlin town council, he had shown 

 many kindnesses to American travelers ; and as the repre- 

 sentative of the Emperor William in the arbitration be- 

 tween the United States and Great Britain on our north- 

 western boundary, he had proved a just judge, deciding in 

 our favor. Therefore it was that, on the occasion of one of 

 the great Thanksgiving dinners celebrated by the Ameri- 

 can colony, he was present as one of the principal guests. 

 Near him was placed a bottle of Hermitage, rather a heavy, 

 heady wine. Shortly after taking his seat, he said to me, 

 with a significant smile, 1 ' That is some of the wine I sent 

 to Bismarck, and it did not turn out well." "How was 

 that?" I asked. "Well," he said, "one day I met Bis- 

 marck and asked him about his health. He answered, 'It 

 is wretched; I can neither eat nor sleep.' I replied, 'Let 

 me send you something that will help you. I have just 

 received a lot of Hermitage, and will send you a dozen 

 bottles. If you take a couple of glasses each day with 

 your dinner, it will be the best possible tonic, and will 

 do you great good.' Sometime afterward," continued 

 Gneist, ' ' I met him again, and asked how the wine agreed 

 with him. 'Oh,' said Bismarck, 'not at all; it made me 

 worse than ever.' 'Why,' said I, 'how did you take it!' 

 'Just as you told me,' replied Bismarck, 'a couple of 'bot- 

 tles each day with my dinner. ' ' ' 



Bismarck's constant struggle against the diseases which 

 beset him became pathetic. He once asked me how I man- 

 aged to sleep in Berlin; and on my answering him he 

 said: "Well, I can never sleep in Berlin at night when it 

 is quiet ; but as soon as the noise begins, about four o 'clock 

 in the morning, I can sleep a little and get my rest for 

 the day." 



