of his thoughts.  He rocks to and fro, somewhat restlessly, and in no relation to what he is saying.  But the longer he speaks the more he overcomes all difficulties, he succeeds in adapting his words, without the least waste, to his thoughts, and generally reaches a powerfully effective end.’  It is still true that his words advance at first slowly, then with a rush, and again haltingly.  But for all those who do not consider the even and melodious flow of an address to be its greatest perfection Bismarck’s way of speaking is not without some charm.  It enables the hearer to follow the mental exertions of the speaker, and thus rivets attention better than many a smooth and sonorous diction which glides along nicely because it has no inner difficulties to overcome.  Often Bismarck succeeds in taking hold of his subject with trenchant wit, and in illustrating it with arguments which he boldly takes from every day life....  We must confess that his speeches, if art-less, are yet full of imagery.  His cool and clear mind does not despise the charm of warm color, just as his robust constitution is not void of nervous irritability.  His ingenuous appearance, with which he is apt to surprise an audience, should not win our ready confidence, for all who have had to do with him know that his astonishingly intimate remarks are calculated to mislead by their excessive frankness, or their excessive lack of it.  If he dissembles, he often misses his mark by exaggeration, and one can truly say that he has deceived his opponents more frequently by speaking the truth than by making false pretenses.  Behind his blustering behavior you can often spy the merry wag.  To his opponents he can be provoking, malicious, even spiteful, but he is never false!  He does not belong to that class of public men who believe that the world can be governed with sentimental phrases, or that evil conditions are alleviated when the discussion is interspersed with pompous generalities.  On the contrary, he loves to turn his phrases so that everything will appear in a strong and glaring light.”

Another observer, quoted by Hans Kraemer in his “Speeches of Prince Bismarck,” sums up his impressions as follows: 

“Bismarck has before him a narrow strip of paper on which, in preparation, he has jotted down a few words with his inspired quill-pen.  Occasionally he looks at his notes, while he is speaking, rocking himself very slowly to and fro, and twisting his thumbs.  He often hesitates, almost stutters, and sometimes even makes a slip of the tongue.  He seems to be wrestling with his thoughts, while his words seem to ascend against their wish, for he makes a very brief pause after every two or three words....  He speaks without gestures, pathos or intonation, and without emphasizing any of his words.  Is this the man who as early as 1847 was the leader of the nobility in the old Diet and their quickest man at repartee; who, in 1849 and 1850 as a member of the Second House