II.
PRINCE BISMARCK (S. 138, N. 12) AND LORD BEACONSFIELD[24].
Amongst a number of amusing anecdotes of Lord Beaconsfield is one of[25] the State banquet given at Berlin at the time of the Congress, when[26] he sat next to Prince Bismarck and opposite to the crown Princess of Germany. Near to him was a trophy of “bonbons,” on the papers of which were[27] miniature photographs of the German Emperor and other members of the Prussian royal family. After the feast was over[28], the lord was busily engaged (S. 87, N. 6) in securing[29] some of these sweets to take home as a [+zum+] remembrance of the occasion[30], when Prince Bismarck suddenly caught him by the arm and so startled him that he dropped his spoil and exclaimed: “I see, not only does Prince Bismarck give nothing away, but (S. 6, N. 10) he does not allow anybody to help himself.” The German Chancellor, on discovering (S. 55, N. 1) that he had interrupted Lord Beaconsfield in a feat of annexation[31], burst into a hearty laugh, and retorted: “It is true that[32] I give nothing away; but, as you see, I am always ready for an honest alliance.” So saying, he turned to the table and executed an energetic raid upon[33] the “bonbons,” part of which he handed over to his British colleague.—THE CORRESPONDENT OF “THE LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH.”
[1] +über+, with Acc.
[2] +=Abraham Lincoln=, Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von Nord Amerika, war der Sohn eines einfachen Landmannes und wurde am 12. Februar 1809 im Staate Kentucki geboren. Seine Jugenderziehung war nur eine höchst mangelhafte, denn man sagt, er habe nur ein Jahr die Schule besucht; trotz der ungünstigsten Verhältnisse gelang es ihm aber dennoch, sich durch beharrliches Selbststudium zum gewandten Advokaten, tüchtigen Redner und einflußreichen Politiker heranzubilden. Er wurde Abgeordneter für die Legislatur des Staates Illinois, Mitglied des Kongresses und des Senats, und ward endlich im Jahre 1860, gerade in dem kritischen Augenblicke, wo die Südstaaten, welche die Ausdehnung der Sklaverei forderten, sich wegen Verweigerung dieser Forderung von der Union lossagten, von den Republikanern zum Präsidenten der Vereinigten Staaten gewählt. Gleich nach seiner Wahl zur Führung des Staatsruders erfolgte der Ausbruch jenes stets denkwürdigen Bürgerkrieges seitens der Union und der sich empörenden Südstaaten, welcher fünf Jahre lang mit mörderischer Wut das Land zerrüttete und endlich mit der gänzlichen Abschaffung der Sklaverei und der Besiegung der Südstaaten endete. Kaum war er jedoch im März 1865 zum zweiten Male durch ungeheure Stimmenmehrheit von der Union zum Präsidenten erwählt worden, und kaum waren die Streitkräfte der Südstaaten auf immer gebrochen und vernichtet, als der gefeierte Staatsmann am 14. April 1865 bei Gelegenheit einer Theatervorstellung im Ford’schen Theater zu Washington der ruchlosen Hand eines von der demokratischen Partei angereizten Mörders, des Schauspielers John Wilkes Booth, zum Opfer fiel. So endete das Leben eines Mannes, welcher als guter, rechtschaffener Bürger, als einflußreicher Staatsmann und als edelmütiger Befreier von fünf Millionen Sklaven von seinem Vaterlande stets in dankbarem Andenken gehalten werden wird.+
[3] +Konvent+, m.; of, +zu+.
[4] not until, +erst+.
[5] Say ‘The next morning at (+beim+) breakfast’, and comp. App. § 14. She remonstrated with her good husband, +sie machte ihrem guten Manne einige Vorstellungen über sein langes Ausbleiben+. The words ‘+einige — Ausbleiben+’ must stand at the end of the period.
[6] = She told him _a_ kind, but (+doch+) determined tone.
[7] +die Politik+, always used in the Sing., into, +zu+.
[8] to keep late hours, +spät nach Hause kommen+. App. § 28 and 30. To drink at the rum shops, +die Wirtshäuser besuchen+.
[9] +auf´bleiben.+
[10] = could not sleep.
[11] = I will tell you.
[12] = well, then, I will be glad.
[13] Liter. = comest thou however not.
[14] +ins Haus lassen.+
[15] Say ‘Now, when it (+Als es nun+) struck ten that night, Mrs. Lincoln with her children went to bed, as she had promised.’
[16] +an+, with Acc.
[17] +ehe+; an — raised = a window was opened up-stairs (+oben+).
[18] +Unsinn.+
[19] +Es ist ... gekommen.+
[20] for the Presidency = President. Comp. S. 27, N. 4.
[21] = go again and sleep there where you have been drinking!
[22] = and the window was closed with a slam (+wieder zugeworfen+).
[23] to rule = ruler.
[24] +=Benjamin Disraeli=, =Lord Beaconsfield=, geboren in London am 21. Dezember 1804, gestorben am 19. April 1881 auf seinem Landsitze Hughenden, ausgezeichneter Litterat, berühmter Staatsmann, glänzender Redner und langjähriger Führer der konservativen Partei, steht bei seinen bewundernden Landsleuten jetzt noch in so frischem Andenken, daß es dem Verfasser der Kürze wegen erlaubt sein möge, auf seine glänzenden Erfolge weiter nicht einzugehen.+
[25] +in Bezug auf+; use the attributive construction, as explained in S. 7, N. 3, _A_, and S. 48, N. 6.
[26] +bei dem.+
[27] on — were = which were ornamented with.
[28] +nach aufgehobener Tafel.+
[29] here +sich an´eignen+.
[30] +an das Fest.+
[31] +Annexionsversuch+, m.
[32] It — that, +Freilich+.
[33] = and made an energetic (+tüchtig+) attack upon (+auf+).
_Section 200._
THE POWER OF MUSIC.
On one occasion when young Chopin[1] had been travelling for several days in the slow _fashion of_ German diligences, he was delighted and surprised, on stopping at a small post-house, to discover a grand pianoforte in one of the rooms[2], and still more surprised to find it in tune[3]—thanks, probably, to the musical taste of the postmaster’s family. He sat down instantly and began to improvise in[4] his peculiarly happy manner. One by one the travellers were attracted by the unwonted sweet sounds. One of them even allowed[5] his beloved pipe to go out in his ecstasy, and the postmaster, his wife, and his two daughters joined the group of listeners. Unmindful of his audience, of the journey, the lapse of time[6], and everything but the music, Chopin continued to play, and his companions[7] to listen in rapt attention, when they were suddenly roused by a stentorian[8] voice, which made the windows rattle, calling out[9]: “The horses are ready, gentlemen!” The postmaster roared out an anathema[10] against the disturber—the postillion—and the passengers cast angry glances at him. Chopin started from his seat, but was instantly surrounded by his audience, who entreated him to continue. “But we have been here for some time,” said Chopin, consulting his watch, “and are due in Posen already[11].” “Stay and play, noble young artist,” cried the postmaster, “I will find you courier’s horses if you will only remain a little longer.” “Do be persuaded[12],” added the postmaster’s wife, almost threatening the artist with an embrace[13]. What could he do but resume his place at the instrument? When at last he paused, the servant appeared with wine; the host’s daughter served the artist first, and then the travellers, upon which the postmaster proposed a cheer for[14] the musician, in which all joined[15]. The ladies in their gratitude filled the carriage pockets with the best eatables and wine the house contained; and when at last the artist rose to go[16], his gigantic host seized him in his arms and triumphantly bore him to[17] the carriage! Long[18] years afterwards Chopin would recall (S. 101, N. 22) this little incident with pleasure, and declare that the plaudits of the press had never given him more delight than the homage[19] of these simple music-loving Germans.—MANCHESTER TIT-BITS.
[1] +~Fréderic François Chopin~, der berühmte Klaviervirtuose und Komponist, dessen melodieenreiche Masurkas, Walzer, Notturnos, Balladen, Polonaisen und Etüden seinen Namen überall bekannt gemacht haben, wurde im Jahre 1810 zu Zelazowawola bei Warschau geboren, und starb am 17. Oktober 1849 in Paris, wo er sich seit dem Jahre 1831 niedergelassen hatte.+ On one occasion, +einst+.
[2] he — rooms = and was stopping at (+vor+) a small post-house, he was delighted and surprised to discover a grand pianoforte (+Flügel+, m.) in one of the rooms.
[3] to — tune = when he found it in good tune.
[4] +auf+; peculiarly = peculiar; happy = charming.
[5] +lassen.+
[6] +Zeitverlauf+, m.
[7] Say ‘whilst his travelling-companions listened to him’, etc.
[8] = mighty.
[9] = through which even the windows rattled (+erklirren+), and which cried.
[10] +einen Fluch ausstoßen.+
[11] I am due in London already, +ich sollte bereits in London sein+. The words ‘said — watch’ are best placed after the quotation.
[12] +sich überreden lassen.+
[13] +die in ihrem Entzücken den Künstler fast umarmt hätte.+
[14] to propose a cheer for a person, +ein Hoch auf einen ausbringen+.
[15] here +einstimmen+.
[16] here +zur Abreise+.
[17] +in ... hinein.+
[18] +Noch viele.+
[19] +die Ehrenbezeugungen.+
_Section 201._
THE TWO SCHOOLBOYS, OR EYES AND NO EYES[1].