NEWS OF THE WEEK
PRINCE BISMARCK quitted Berlin on Saturday, the 29th ult., amidst unparalleled demonstrations of grief and respect. All Berlin was in the streets, and all Berlin behaved as if a great funeral were passing, the people, usually so cynical, actually weeping with excitement. The populace even burst into the station, though it was filled with Ambassadors, Emperor's aides-de-camp, Ministers of Prussia, nobles, and all who are great in the land, assembled to do honour to the parting pilot. The reception at Friedrichsrube, though smaller, was equally unexampled, and on the following day three thousand leading citizens of Hamburg, of all Germans in the world, appeared before the Prince's residence to do honour to the man who had ended the long history of the Free Cities. It is believed that every city in Germany will erect a statue to the states- man, and on April 1st, his birthday, the messages of con- gratulation, which poured in by the hundred, included many from Austrian and American Germans. The Chancellor quits power, in truth, amidst the regrets of his whole people, who recognise that they have lost a safe pilot, and are not at all sure what the captain, who intends his ship to " go ahead, full steam," is exactly like. It seems to be finally settled that the Emperor commanded him to accept the title of Duke of Lauenburg, but that it is never to be used except when, as the Prince smilingly remarked, "he desires to remain incognito."
