Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-14
Visit of Bayard Taylor to Humboldt

ca lle Gust
Visit of Bayard Taylor to Humboldt.
cOnrer,ation about COL Fre,nont-TAe osiend Mane.to
-HdshiHyfoH i1ing &C. &c.
Correspondence u the New York Tribune.
BERLIN, November 25, 1856.
! came to Berlin, not TO visit its museums
and galleries, its magnificent street Of indens,
its operas and theatres, nor to minge in the gay
life Of lis streets and saloons, but for the sake
of seeing and speaking with the worlds great
est living man-Alexander Won Humboldt.
At present, with his great age and his uni
versal rcnown, regarded as throned monarch
in the world of science, his friends have been
obliged, periorce, TO protect him from the ex-
hausiive homage of his thousands of subjects,
and, for his own sake, 10 make difficult the WAYS
Of access to him. The friend and familiar COM
panion Of the King, he may be said, equally,
TO hold his own court, with the privilege, how
ever, of at any time bteaking through the for
malities " hich only self defiance has rendered
necessary. Some Of my works, knew, had
found their way into his hands: ] was a, the
beginning Of q journey which would probably
lead me through regions which his ioot hod
,raversed and his genius illustrated, and IT was
not merely natural curiosity which attracted
Inc toward him. followed the advice ofsome
German friends, and made use of no mediaiory
influence, but simply despatched note TO him,
stating my name and object, and asking for an
interview.
Three days aEerward | received, through
the city post, a reply 10 his own had, stating
that, although he was suffering from a cold which
had followed his removal from Potsdam 10 the
capital, he would willingly receive me, and ap-
pointed one o'clock to-day for the visit. ! was
punctual to the minute, and reached his resi-
dence in the Oranienburger-strasse, as the clock
struck. While in Berlin, he lives with his
servant Seifert whose name only found on
the door. 1t wasa plain two-story house, with
dnll pink 'front.' and inhabited, like most Of
the houses in German cities, by two or three
families. The bell wire over Siefert's name
came from the second story. l pulled the
heavy porte oochere opened of itself, and mount
ed the steps until reached second bell-pul
over plate inscribed Alexander Won Hum
boldt'
A stout squire-faced man Of about fifty, whom
al once recognized as Seiferi, opened the dool
for me. Are you Herr Taylor!' he asked
and added, on my reply; His excellency is
ready to receive you lie ushered me into 9
room filled with stuffed birds and other objects
Of natural history then into large library
which apparently contained the gifts ofauthors
artists, and men OF science. | walked between
two long tables heaped with sumptuous foIios
to the further door, which opened into the study
Those who have seen the admirable lilhograpl
of Hidebrand's picture, know precisely how
, the room looks. There was the plain table
the writing desk covered with papers and man
uscripts, the little green sofa, and the SAINT
maps and pictures on The drabcolored wall
The picture had been so long hanging on m,
own room AT home, that | at once recognize,
each particular object.
Seifert went to an inner door, announced m
name, and Humboldt Immediately appeared
, He came up TO me with heartiness and cordi
alty which made me feel that was in The pres
ence Of friend, gave me his hand, and inquir
=, ed whether we should converse in English o
!. German. Your letter. said he, was that G
German, and you must certainly speak III
the language familiarity bui | am also in tn
> constant habit Of using English, lie insis!e
. on my taking one end ofthe green sofa, observ
ing that he rarely sat upon it himself, then DIRE,
!, up plain cane-botlomed chair and seated him
self beside it, asking me TO speak little loud
: er than usual as his hearing was not Sc acut
J. as formerly.
AS looked at the majestic old man, the lin
n of Tennyson, describing Wellington, came int
my mind ; oh, good gray head, which all me
h know The first impression made by Hum
d boldl's face is that of broad and genial hu
4 mainly. His massive brow, heavy with tn
+ gathered wisdom Of nearly a century, bends iol
n ward and overhangs his breast, like ripe ca
of corn, but as you look below it, pair OF clea
blue eyes almost as bright aud steady as child
d meet yonr own. In those eyes you read ihs
j. trust in man, that immortal youth of the hear
N which makes the SHOWS of eighiy-seven winter
e lie so lightly upon his head You trust hi
utterly at the first glance, and you feel that h
IN will trust you, il you are worthy of it. ha
,e approached him with natural feeling of rev
D. erence, but in five minutes found that love
him, and could talk with him as freely as wit