ThemostcuriousexampleoftheeloquenceofsilenceinBismarck’scase，whichInoted，waswhenhisstrongestopponent，Windthorst，astherepresentativeofthecombinationofRomanCatholicsandothersgenerallyinopposition，butwho，atthatparticulartime，seemedtohavemadeasortofagreementtosupportsomeofBismarck’smeasures，wenttothetribuneandbeganalongandveryearnestspeech。Windthorstwasamanofdiminutivestature，smallereventhanThiers，——almostadwarf，——andhisfirstwordsonthisoccasionhadacomicaleffect。Hesaid，insubstance，``Iamtoldthatifweenterintoacombinationwiththechancellorinthismatter，wearesuretocomeoutsecondbest。’’AtthisBismarckraisedhishead，turnedandlookedattheorator，theattentionofthewholeaudiencebeingfasteneduponboth。``But，’’
continuedWindthorst，``thechancellorwillhavetogetupveryearlyinthemorningtooutwitusinthismatter。’’
Therewasageneraloutburstoflaughterasthetwoleaderseyedeachother。Itremindedoneofnothingsomuchasasturdymastiffcontemplatingasnappishterrier。
Astohisrelationswithhisfamily，which，tosomelittleextent，Inoticedwhenwiththem，nothingcouldbemorehearty，simple，andkindly。Hewasbeautifullydevotedtohiswife，andevidentlygloriedinhistwostalwartsons，PrinceHerbertand``CountBill，’’andinhisdaughter，CountessvonRantzau;andthey，inreturn，showedadevotiontohimnotlesstouching。Nomatterhowseveretheconflictswhichragedoutside，withinhisfamilythesternchancellorof``bloodandiron’’seemedtodisappear;
andinhisplacecamethekindly，genialhusband，father，andhost。