In 1871, while Bismarck, as Ambassador of the Confederation, lived at Frankfort, he occupied rooms in a private house. There was no bell in his study with which to call his valet from his room on the floor above, so he requested his landlord to have one put in. That gentleman, who was not a friend of “that Prussian,” declined to do so, saying, that his tenants always had done things of that sort at their own expense, and he didn’t see why he should make an exception now. Some time later in the day a pistol-shot rang through the house. Very much frightened, the landlord ran through all the rooms until he came to Bismarck’s study, where the still smoking pistol lay on the table, and the smoking Bismarck sat quietly at work. “For heaven’s sake, what has happened?” cried the landlord. “Nothing at all,” said Bismarck, “that you need worry about. I just signaled to my valet that I want him. It is a perfectly harmless signal. I hope you will soon get used to it.” It is hardly necessary to add that Bismarck got his bell in short order. Despatch Sending Without Suspicion One day, while the peace negotiations were in progress, the representative from Hanover asked Bismarck how he managed to get his despatches through the mails unopened. Bismarck, for answer, asked him to take a walk with him. He took him to the poor district of Frankfort, to a narrow street where only small stores were to be found. Arrived before a little grocery, Bismarck, to his companion’s surprise, put on gloves and then entered the store. His first question to the clerk was: “Do you keep soap?” “Yes sir.” “What kinds?” The clerk put several kinds before Bismarck, from which the latter selected a particularly strong-smelling piece, and put it in his pocket. Then he asked for envelopes and was shown some of the very cheapest kind. Now Bismarck took a despatch from his inside coat-pocket, put it into one of the envelopes, fastened it, and asked for pen and ink and began to write the address. But of course with gloves he could not do it, so he asked the clerk to do it for him. Then he put the envelope with the despatch into the same pocket with the soap. When they were on the street again Bismarck said to his companion: “Now, I defy them to smell my despatch under a perfume composed of soap, herring, and cheese, and an address written in such a hand.” The Overburdened Horse Prince Bismarck was suffering from great nervousness at one time, and was obliged to stop smoking and drinking wine altogether for some weeks. When he complained to Emperor William about it, his Majesty said: “There you see the difference between us. I am ever so much older than you, but I enjoy my cigar, can take a glass of wine, and am very well with it all.” “Oh yes, your Majesty, that is an old story,” returned the Chancellor; “the rider always has it easier than the horse.” Without Intent