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BISMUTH

220

BISON

PRINCE  BISMARCK

rivalry between Austria and Prussia stood in the way of the reunion of Germany as a nation, and so Bismarck hurried on a war between these two powers which (1866— 67) ended in forming the North German Confederacy, with Prussia at its head, and B i smarck as chancellor. In 1870, during the war with France, he was wont to accompany the army and King William, and was present on many battlefields and at the siege of Paris, while he negotiated the treaty of peace in 1871. Bismarck received the title of prince and was made chancellor of the new German empire. From that time his whole energy was given to putting the empire into good condition within and securing it from attack without. His social measures won for him the designation of the greatest state socialist of the age, and his efforts to keep peace in Europe by an alliance against Russia and France, earned him the titles of the Peacemaker and the Peacekeeper of Europe. He was also called the Iron Chancellor, and, from his own words in a speech, the man of blood and iron. Though not a smooth orator, Bismarck had great power in the use of his native tongue, and his speeches were always strong and effective. He made many enemies and his life was frequently in danger. He was, however, a great national hero, and his birthday, while he lived, was several times celebrated by the whole nation. During the brief rule of the Emperor Frederick, Bismarck retained his power, but the strong opposition to his plans by the present Emperor William led him to resign. He latterly lived in retirement on his estate. Prince Bismarck was tall and of an imposing presence, and had a piercing eye. Though imperious and even unscrupulous as a statesman, yet in private life he was genial, witty and entertaining. He died at Friedrichsruh, July 30, 1898.

Bismuth, a hard, brittle metal having a bright metallic luster and a distinct reddish tinge of color. It melts at 518°, and expands, as water does, when it solidifies. It is used for making very fusible alloys. One of these, known as Wood's metal, consists of two parts bismuth, two parts lead, one part tin and one part cadmium, and melts at 141°, a temperature that can be borne by the hand. Basic bismuth nitrate, frequently called sub-nitrate of bismuth, is

extensively used in medicine. The greater part of the bismuth comes from Saxon}''.

Bison, wild cattle, related to the ox, living in Europe and North America. The European bison was common in Europe in the times of ancient Rome, but is now confined to a few herds in the Caucasus and Ural Mountains. The European form eats buds, shoots and bark. When it was abundant, it did much harm in the forests. The true buffalo belongs to India and South America. In appearance the bison differs from the true buffalo in the high hump on its shoulders, the long hair with which the head is so heavily clothed, the heavy barb, and the fringe of long, coarse hair on the forelegs

The American bison, popularly called buffalo, is the most famous of our hoofed animals. Once buffalo were almost unbelievably abundant here. In comparatively recent days herds derailed trains in the west and stopped boats on the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. Toward winter they migrated in an enormous company southward on their range, herd upon herd uniting. Various authorities repeat the story told of Col. Dodge's experience while traveling in Arkansas in 1871 : "For twenty-five miles he passed through a continuous herd of buffalo;" the number estimated at 4,000,000. To-day there are probably less than 3,000 to be found in Canada and the United States together; this remnant saved in private preserve, public park and garden, in a desolate region in Can?,da southwest of Great Slave Lake, on the Flathead Reservation in Montana and in the Yellowstone National Park. In Corbin Park in New Hampshire there is a notable herd of pure-breed animals. The Oklahoma national forest also is a preserve for the rearing of buffalo. The range of the American bison was once 3,000 miles from north to south, 2,000 miles from east to west; in their migrations they climbed great mountains and swam mighty rivers. Their food was the herbage of plain and prairie. V st expanses of land were marked by *'buffalo paths," and still to-day the "buffalo wallows" show how hosts of these great creatures sought relief from flies and insects. They were indispensable to the India:, furnished him with his chief subsisted e. He dried great quantities of the m t d made use of the hide for shelter, clothi g, boats and * many other purposes—nothing was thrown away, the dried dung served for fuel.

The bison begins to shed its hair in March, shortly becomes quite bare, and to protect itself rolls in muddy sloughs until caked in an armor of mud. The new coat is fine by October, and at its best in November and December. The fur is valuable, the hide makes excellent leather.