Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-05-28
From the Boston Evening Gazette,
Humboldt.

Humboldt is the great attraction wher-
ever he goes. In spite of his tour-score
wears he looks as hale and hearty and Is
as cheerful as a youth Of eighteen. lie
has the kindest, most benevolent coun'e-
nance, the mildest blue eyes and most
gentle manners imaginable; ana as 10 his
conversation, it is eloquence distilled,
flowing smoothly and increasingly, char
ming all TO whom he addresses himself,
causing them to wonder how the mind OF
one man could grasp and retain such uni
versal knowledge. | was surprised to
learn that it was not until he was thirty
wears of age that he really commenced his
travels; but he had been preparing HIM
self since boyhood and started forth ge-
ologist, mineralogist, botanist, anatomst
and linguist. He travelled under the most
favorable circumstances, being personally
very easy in money matters, and being
aided wherever he went by the different
governments and scientific men. With
out this he could not have acquired all
the knowledge he possesses. Many OF
your readers are familiar with his travels,
but they do not know how he has tolled
and Iabored to his fellow men the benefit
of those travels? We talk of prolific wrl-
tiers. but none Will bear mentioning by
the side of Humboldt. Some idea oGwhat
he has done may be obtained by the fact
that one setI do not mean one edlnon) a.
lone of his works cost ten thousand dol
lars ! A space Of two yards long in his
library is occupied by his works on Bota-
nv-al folios, and written in Latin. He
never sleeps more than four hours, and
SAYS that from boyhood he never required
more. All the work he has done, all that
ten thousand dollars worth Of writing has
been done at night, between the hours Of
eleven and three, he never works at any
other time. He is the intimate and be-
loved friend of the King, and for several
wears past has resided in the palace. AT
Potsdam and Berlin his handsome suit Of
apartments are near the King.
AS | before said, he goes to bed at three
o'clock in the morning in winter, and two
in summer, rises at six or seven, takes a
perfectly cold bath, then his coffee, and
EMPLOYS the remainder Of the day, I'M.
Ill dinner time in reading and answering
the letters he receives. say the remain
der of the day, but he always reserves
two hours, from twelve TO two, to receiv-
ing his friends; but with that exception
he does nothing but attend to his cores
pondence. He says he receives, on an
average, between two and three hundred
thousand letters year, and to nearly all
of them he sends replies. He gets letters
from all parts of the globe, and from the
most remote corners. His evenings are
always spent with the King IL his Males
tvs private apartments: and thus his lite
passes, calmly and peaceably; and while
he is engaged in the purest and most ele-
waited of all enjoymenls, that Of lmpartng
to others portions Of the great stock OF
knowledge he possesses, he patiently waits
for the time when he shall be called from
the earth he has studied so deeply.
A scientific society never holds meet
ing here without receiving some valuable
communication from Humboldt; and 1T is
always something new, something which
he seems to have reserved for that espe-
cial occasion, and never to have given TO
the world before. He says he still stu
dies as diligently as he did 5Oyears ago
and he does not feel his thirst for knowl-
edge at all diminished.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH PROP
ERTy QUEsrIoN.-ln the official proceed
ings of the general conference of the Meth
rburob Sou,b