The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-06
A VISIT TO ALEXANDER vcN pumsoIpr.

Rax Rng, who visited SOME Time ago tho
veteran of Science, Alexander Won llum-
boldl, thus describes the personal appear
ancc of tho venerable old gentleman. We
arc indebted 10 German friend for the
translation:
lIumLoldLs figure is not large, but is
rather stout--his feet and hands arc small,
and Of beautiful form. lis silver whito
hair surrounds the venerable head he
wears on the high, la sc forehead the
marks of genius. Ills eyes are blue, and
notwithstanding his advanced age, are full
Of expressions and life. His fine formed
lips reveal particular smile, half sarcastic,
half benevolent, full of spiritual supremacy.
While speaking l,o sits bent forward, his
eyes cast to the ground from time to time
he lifts his head, friendly smiling thus ami
mating the listener. Convcrsing with him,
you forget entirely that the celebrated man
has passed already his s7th year, so juvcn-
lie, fresh and exciting arc his words, flow
ing in wonderful change, mingling lu,nor
with instruction. lie is in the trucst sense,
and fullest meaning Of the word, the best
narrator, the clcarcst orator the world knows.
An immense amount of knowledge is al
ways at his control, and Notwithstanding
his great age, you cannot perceive the least
failure i'll his memory. IIo proba! ly has
no equal. Facts, names, and figures never
escape his memory, and he remembers Of
ten with the same tcnacity the smallest af-
fairs rs the greatest and most valuable
facts.
The principal feature Of his whole being
is rare humanity for others, Which also
reaches sclf-forsctfulncss. It's only known
10 his most intimate friends, that humboldt
spends the greatest part of his income for
charity, and in aiding the support Of young
and aspiring students. Ills private prop
erty is not very considerable, but he receives
from the King Of Prussia Z large salary
for his position at the court, and besides
ais, corresponding sum is paid him by
Cote, the publisher of his w, rks. By the
simplencss Of his wants this income would
not only be sufficient but would a low him
to lay up something; but Humboldt thinks
to make better use Of ii by changing the
tato OF some unfortunate young man.
The influence which lc has with the
King he uses for the promotion of science.
There is no person Of talent, no juvenile
genius, who is not noticed by him. Far
away from any envy and E,int-hcartcd
jealousy, hc procurcs for mcritorious schol-
ars not only the necessary respect, but also
Offices, and honor Of every
kind.
1t may be interesting to learn how this
great naturalist spends his time. humboldt
rises at about half-past cigt o'clock at
breakfast he reads his letters, which lie
answers Immediately. There is
perhaps no letter writer so punctual as he,
though very few persons have so largo
correspondence, to all parts of the world.
After this ho dresses with the aid of his
ralct tic chomJre, to receive and announce
visitors, or to make visits himself until Q
o'clock. At o'clock he goes to the royal
palace, where he generally dimes, if lie does
not invite himself to dine with somo family
of his acquaintance. lie remains mostly
at Alexander Mendclssohn's, in whose house
he lives. At 7o'clock in tho evening, he
usually returns to his home. lie then goes
to the court or in society, from which lie
returns at about midnight. Now is his
real and best time for working; in the pro-
fround, nightly silence, he writes his i'm
mortal works, often in summer until the
day shines through the windows. 1t is al
was 8 o'clock in tho morning, whens this
Juvenile old man thinks Of allowing short
rest to his almost ninety years old body, to
Gsln necessary power for tho. new, days
s8fS:. s Understanding This astrangs stoii4y,.
md still, aycry word oft isstTue. as.e
Huabolass. has no family of }.:~ owf,--
his nearest rels. .io'.s- 4eihg the s2ns and
daughters of lis oxct tsaIsnt brother, williafBdl
for whom he has to Vchlpg 1raternal re-
gard. "You should .,eavo known my
brothcr," says he, with an 'lablo modesty,
" ho was always the most t. Tented OF us
Two brothers" humboldt is mmated
from real antique feeling Of friendship
his benevolsnco and zeal to serve Others
are, in our selfish, cgotistic times, really ad
m, nlraOlo, and almost without parallel
Through his many connections with tho
principal persons ,off all counties, he be-
came, in the truest sense, TUG intellectual
M cdium Of our present EUROPEAN culture,
Ind of every scientific improyment.
Bold travellers, inspiratcd by him, pene-.
trate new countries and discover lands
which extend population andciyilization.-
Nounfy nafuralists occunv tllmsnIvns under