Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-11-06
A Visit to Alexander Won Humboldt.

VISIT to Alexander Won Humboldt.
The well known novelist. Max. Ring,
who visited, some time ago, the veteran Of
science, Alexander Won Humboldt, thus
describes the personal appearance Of the
venerable old gentleman:
Humboldt's figure is not large, but is
rather stout-his feet and hands are small
and OF beautiful form. His silver white
hair surrounds the venerable head; he
wears the high large forehead the mark
of genius. His eyes are Of blue, and not
withstanding his advanced age. are full
lips reveal a particular smile, half sarcas.
tic. half benevolent, full of spiritual SUI
Premacy. While speaking, he sits bent
forward, his eyes cast to the ground; from
time to time he lifts his head, friendly
smiling, thus animating the listener.
Conversing with him, you forget entirely
that the celebrated man has passed al
ready his eighty year, SO iuven-
lie. fresh and exciting are his words. flow-
ing in wonderful change, mingIing humor
with instruction. He is, in the truest
sense and fullest meaning of the word.
the best narrator. the clearest orator the
world knows. An immense amount Of
knowledge is always at his control. and,
notwithstanding his great age. you can
not perceive the least failure in his mem
ory. He probably has no equal. Facts,
names and figures never ESCAPE his mem,
ory; jand he remembers often with the
same tenacity the smallest affairs as the
greatest and most valuable facts. : :
The principal feature OF. his whole be>
ing is rare humanity for others: which
alone reaches self forgetfulness. 1t is on
ly known to his most intimate friends that
acknowledgements the greatest part Of his
income. for charity. and in aiding the sup
port of young and aspiring Students His
private property is not very considerable,
but lie receives from the King of Prussia
large salary for his position at the court,
and besides this. corresponding sum is
paid him by Cote, the publisher Of his
works. By the simpleness9of his wants,
this income would not only be sufficient.
but would allow him to lay up something;
but Humboldt thinks to make better use
it by changing the fate of some unfortu~
nate young man. .a ~ 1'&.F'A .. =. ,'.2'-
The influence which he has with the
King he uses for the promotion of science
genius. who is not noticed by him. e. ss
1tmay be interesting to learn how this
great naturalist spends his time. Hum
boldt rises at half past eight o'clock; at
breakfast he reads his letters. which he
generally answers Immediately. There is,
perhaps. no letter writer so punctual as
he. though very few persons have SO large
a correspondence to all parts OF the world
After this he dresses with the aid of his
v0let de ch0na6re to receive and announce
visitors, or to make visits himself until two
o'clock At three O'Clock he goes to the
royal palace, where he generally dimes, If
he does not invite himself to dine with
some family of his acquaintance. He re-
mains mostly at Alexander Mendels>
sohn's, in whose house he lives. At sew
en- O'Clock in the evening. he usually re-
turns to his home. He then goes TO the
court or in society, from which he returns
at about midnight. Now is his real and
best time for working; in the profound ,
nightly silence; he writes his immortal
works, often in summer until the day
shines through the. windows. 1t is always
three o'clock in the morning when this
juvenile old man thinks of allowing short
rest to his almost ninety years old, body,
to gain The necessary power for the new
days work. Indeed, we think this a
strange story, and still, every word Of it
is true. ...-..... ............
Humboldt has no family of his own
his nearest relations being the sons and
daughters of his excellent brother. Will
liam. for whom he has, q touching frater-
nal regard. you should have known
my brother" says he, with amiable mod
esty. che was always the most talented
of US two brothers" ~ Boston Transcript.
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