Prince Bismarck and his Policy. 



75 



unity-fanaticism, when Bismarck, iu 1821, left the narrow 

 circle of his home and entered the private school of Pro- 

 fessor Plamanu iu Berlin. 



The time of the rod, of which Bismarck speaks so often 

 in later years, commenced. His mother, aware of the con- 

 sequences of his father's indulgence, chose Plamann's 

 school on account of its iron discipline. Bismarck speaks 

 of this institution as a jail, which had robbed him of the 

 purest joys of his youth. 



He remained there until 1827, when he entered the 

 Frederick Werder gymnasium, with Dr. Winkelmau as 

 private tutor. 



Shortly after, he entered the pension of Prof. Prevost; 

 then the school of Prof Bonnell, who, with a classic sim- 

 plicity and an earnest Christianity, combined clear intel- 

 lectual capacities and a large pedagogic knowledge. 



The chancellor of the German empire is as grateful and as 

 much attached to Bonnell as was the youth Bismarck fifty 

 years ago. 



From 1829-31 he laid the foundation for a thorough 

 knowledge of English and French, which accomplish- 

 ments proved so serviceable to him in his diplomatic ca- 

 reer. He excelled in history and Latin ; he was endowed 

 with a wonderful memory, which enabled him to fill his 

 mind with knowledge of every description. 



In 1832 he went to the University at Goettingen to 

 study law. It was the wish of his father to educate him 

 for the higher administration. He distinguished himself at 

 the university as a quick tempered, skilful duelist, an ac- 

 complished drinker, a reckless, arrogant Prussian junker 

 (aristocrat), who was more at home on the duehng ground 

 than in the lecture room. 



But what he left undone at the university he made up 

 by private study. He passed his examination in 1835 ; be- 

 came ascultator, and practiced law at the city court at 

 Berlin. In the winter of 1835-6, he was introduced at 



