German composition

Section 191. PRINCE BISMARCK’S HOME⁠[1].

Reading edition

Section 191. PRINCE BISMARCK’S HOME⁠[1].

After crossing the threshold I found myself in a small, plain apartment—the reception-room—in the centre of which stands a simple little polished table with four legs. This is a relic of historical significance. A brass plate let into the square top⁠[2] bears the following inscription: “At this table the preliminaries of peace between Germany and France were signed, February 26th, 1871, at Versailles, No. 14 Rue de Provence.” In the centre of the table is⁠[3] a round piece of green cloth, and on it are visible a number of spots⁠[4] caused by (S. 185, N. 26) the drippings⁠[5] from the candles used on the momentous occasion of the negotiations between the Chancellor and Jules Favre⁠[6]. The table was the property of the lady in whose house the Chancellor was quartered⁠[7], and of whom he bought it. In the same room stands a gigantic wardrobe richly sculptured⁠[8], and a second wardrobe (S. 5, N. 2), according to Castellan (S. 10, N. 2) Hackmack’s explanation, was made from⁠[9] the wood of a linden tree, in the shade of which Prince Bismarck, when a⁠[10] merry student at Göttingen, had frequently reposed. The adjoining room is the Prince’s study. A bookcase contains a small library⁠[11] for immediate use and for reference, among its books being a French account of⁠[12] the peace negotiations of 1871. The writing-desk occupies the centre of the room. A polished fire-screen, highly⁠[13] ornamented and of Asiatic origin, is a present from the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. On the mantel-piece stands a bronze statuette, about three feet high, representing the Grand Elector—a present from the Emperor. A slip of paper attached to the Marshal’s baton in the Elector’s outstretched hand, bears the Imperial autograph⁠[14]: “To⁠[15] Prince Bismarck—Christmas, 1880,—W.” On the wall, behind the statuette, hangs, in a richly gilt frame, a painting by⁠[16] Hünten, representing the attack of dragoons of the guard on French infantry at Mars-la-Tour; the Chancellor’s two sons, Herbert and William, being⁠[17] in the midst of the fight.—The Correspondent of the London “Daily News.”

Notes in this chapter

Note 2 · after all ... but, doch immer nur; a — thing, etwas Relatives.Note 2 · Use the gen. of the def. art. The definite article is used in German before names of persons when preceded by an adjective or a common name;Note 26 · by = through, durch; the hands = the hand.Note 1 · here Hauseinrichtung.Note 2 · here Tisch; the plate was let into the table, die Platte war in den Tisch hineingelegt.Note 3 · = lies.Note 4 · and — spots = and upon the same one sees still some spots.Note 5 · das Lecken; render ‘from the’ by the Gen. of the def. art., and turn ‘used — negotiations’ by ‘during the momentous negotiations’.Note 6 · Jules Favre, geboren den 21. März 1809 zu Lyon, machte sich zuerst als Redner und gewandter Advokat einen Namen, beschäftigte sich jedoch sp Note 7 · = lived (S. 116, N. 17).Note 8 · richly sculptured, mit reicher Bildhauerarbeit verziert, which use attributively, as explained in S. 7, N. 3, A; ‘wardrobe’, here Wandschran Note 9 · [1] here Hauseinrichtung. [2] here Tisch; the plate was let into the table, die Platte war in den Tisch hineingelegt. [3] = lies. [4] and — Note 10 · when a = as.Note 11 · Supply ‘intended’ (bestimmt) here, and place the words ‘intended for (zu, contracted with the def. art.) — reference’ before ‘library’.Note 12 · höchst künstlerisch; and — origin = and made (verfertigen) in Asia, all to be placed before ‘screen’.Note 13 · trägt die vom Kaiser eigenhändig geschriebenen Worte.Note 14 · = are, sich befinden.