HOW TO GET STRONG
unhurt by unbroken work, long withstood the impress of time. Tall of stature and somewhat lean, he rode well, and was always well mounted. Cool in battle, whenever requisite he freely exposed himself to danger, but with a modest calm, devoid of all desire of effect. To observe the disposition of the enemy at Königgratz, he rode among the advanced line of skirmishers in the wood of Sadowa. The motto that he took for his coat-of-arms, when he was made Count, instead of his old family device of 'Candide et caute,' 'Erst wägen, dann wagen!' (First weigh, then wage!), well points his military policy. His plans were well weighed—his warfare was waged boldly, sternly, and decisively. Long and carefully he calculated; but when his decision was once made, he rushed straight on to his objective point."
None but an extraordinarily tough, enduring body could have stood the work that that man did; and then have outlasted nine hundred and ninety-five men out of every thousand, clear on to ninety-one years of age.
SAMUEL FREEMAN MILLER (1816–1890)
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