Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-11-01
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Weriipthe following Interesting er,rar, fro,,s ~,
Literary Ameripana The editor introd nccS II vhar
svt'clng work entitled Cosmos by Aiexandei
Nan aAmblld1 distinguished Gersnan Philpso-
lsser and scientific Traveller to whom tbe IA, II /.
tadcefed ior contributions Ia almost every depaer
nieet Of kuowleGge, 81 n
The name Of Humboldt is familiar to ali
the world, but. there are few who know the
hardsblPs, priSations, and tolls, he endured,
70 make those attachments 10 science which
have rendered his name immortal
Humboldt was born on the I4tb of IAN.
Der 1863 He went through collegiate.
eaaEss at Gottlngen, and after n. ~, ~
Rhine. - on The BasaiFs q fhe
IS! -1th the mining r.-h sst efsIYsonnec-
years His duties howe,3 o,aro i u 81 ~ (
have~confned him very closefs. seven 4
this time be found opportunities Of visssso
Austria Sutherland, Italy and France 81
devoted considerable attention TO botany
galranism, and other sciences At tAe1terE
niinat6n Of the time aforementioned, Hum
boldt land out plans j. tended travel, for
Ethe purpose OF Scientific discovery. aud
III gratifying the longiugs for foreign adren-
Iture aud the scenery Of the tropics which
had haunted him from boyhood He star
ted for America HOO under the patronage
iof the Court q Spain and for Eve years
prosecuted his discoveries il the New World
with i perseverance Judgment, and ability,
peculiarly his own. The next twelve years
Of Ills life were spent Iii Paris il writing but
the results IF his journey in America tIn
1917. four ffths we're eompleted4and au Or
diuary copy Of the part then il print cost
more than GlG0 Since that time the publ
cation has gone On more slowly, and is not
likely ever 10 Be flashed
/ In 1928, Huulboldt undertook another
scientific journey, to Siberia undsr the pro-
lection ofthn Russian government There.
suits obtained with 50 much suffering and
toll. during this expedition, are recorded inL
His FFagmtats Aatqtqaes" All IL
An entertaining traveller gives tie foI
lowing description Of the latter days Of The
great Hum boldt, whiehwill be read with I'M
terest:
Humboldt is the great attraction where
eyer he goes, In-spite Of his four-scores years
he looks as hale I'D hearty and is as cheer
full as youth Of eighteen He has the kind
est, most benevoleutceuntenance the mildest
blue eyes and most gentle manners imagiaa-
bic; and as to his conversation, il is elo-
quence distilled. flowing smoothly and I'M
eeasingly, charming all to whom he address,
es himself, causing them to wonder how TIE
MUD of one man could grasp and retain such
universal knowledge i was surprised to
learn that it was not until he was thirty years
Of age, that he really commenced bis travels
but he had been preparing himself since boy
hood, and started forth geologist, mineral
9 sIlp! RRa ssVstse s I'd linguist H.
Without this he could not have adtfrrt..k re
the knowledge hepbssesses We talk Of pro.
life writer's, but none will bear mentioning
byi the side of Humboldt Some idea of
what he las done may be obtained b. the
fact that one set DO not mean oneIelltiof@
alone ofshis works costs ten thoasaadFdsollars!
a space Of two yards long in his library Is
occupied by hswprks gu Botany-sli foiios,
aud written in Latin. He speaks under
stands, aud writes perfectly the English
French. Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, San
scrlt. and German besides having a partial
Knowledge Of nearly all other languages -----
Kfc never sleeps mpre than four hours and
SAYS thai from boyhood he never required
more All the WORK he has done, Ill tllat
ten thousand dollars worth Of writipg. las
been done at night, between the hours pf eievg-
en- and tlEee he never works at any other
time He is the intimate aud beloved friend
Of the King, and for several years past has
resided ii the palace. 5At Potsdam and Der
lu Ills handsome suite IF apartments are
near the Kings @ III.
AS ore,said he goes to bed 4t three
o'clock ia the morning il winter and two n
summer risesat SIX or seven, takes perfect
In cold bath then his coffee, and employs tiic
remainder of the day until dinner time, n
reading and answering the letters be re
ceves say the remainder Of. tile day, BY
he always reserves two hours FROM twelve +
two. for receiving bis friends butYith tta
exceptions he does nething but attend to Mi
eafrgspondence lie says he reeeivts on NJ
aNerage between tfca atd tbrte t904kfaa I
tbs a qaaF, and to nearly all of them NJ send
replies qHe gets letters FROM all parts ofth
globe. and from the most remote CORNERS "
His evening are always spentbwith tBe kin;
in his Majesty's private apartments AM
thus his life passes, calmly ~and pedccablJs
\ and while be is engaged il the pafest an.
most elevated Of allenjoyments, that of az
par.ing to others portions Of the grsht stool
Of knowledge he possesses he patiently van
\ for Tie time when BID Shall be called from Thy
eartl lie has studied 80 deeply
a scientific Society never holds q al f1ttnI
here without receivi9g some lluahld fommI
II nication from Hambdldtf md il is Away
something new. somating which he Seems 4
hare reserved for that especial occasion, ant
neget to have given tp theweFld befode H'
saws he still! studies as diligently aSI he dif
ffty FEARS ago,-aua lie does not Ifeel BIZ
thirst for knowlcdgeat All diminished In
| AUCTIoNioF LADIES.
/ AL auction of unmarried ladies used 7
take place annually In Babylon I" In ever,
district'f says the Historian, they Assem- = I
II blsd on a certain div in every year. all th
virgins Of a manageable age" Ihe mos i,
! beautiful was put up, and those VINO old 20
! largest sum Of money gained possession y
\ her. The second in appearance f9tloWeG
\ and bidders gratifed themselves With hand !,
Il some wives according to tue length Of thel
Y ,rsaa Rnt alasfT 1t seems there wer