Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-01-23
Letters from Bayard Taylor.
NUMBER vi.
AN HOUR WITH HUMBOLDT.

AN HOUR WITH HUMBOLDT.
Correspondence Of the n. Y. Tribune.
BERLIN, Nov. %, 1856.
] came to Berlin, not to visit its museums
and galleries, its magnificent streets of lin
,dens, its operas and theatress, nor TO mngle
in the gay life Of its streets and saloons, but
for the sake of seeing and speaking with the
worlds greatestliving man. Alexander Won
Humboldt
At present with his great age and his
universal renown, regarded as n throned
monarch in the world of science, his friends
have been obliged, perforce, to protect him
from the exhaustive homage of his thous-
ands Of subjects and, for his own sake, to
make difficult the way of access to him.
The friend and familiar companion of the
King, he may be said, equally, TO hold his
own court with the privilege, however, of
at any time breaking through the formali
ties which only selfdefense has rendered
necessary. Some of my works, knew had
found their way into his his hands; l was at
the beginning of journey which would
probably lead mo through regions which
his feet had traversed and his genius illus
trated, and it was not merely a natural Gu
riosity which attracted me toward him.
followed the advice of some German friends,
and made use of no mediatory infu nee, but
simply dispatched note to him stating my
name and object, and asking for an inter
view.
Three days afterwards received through
the city post reply in his own hand, stat
ing that although he was suffering from a
cold which had followed his removal from
Postdam to the capital, he would willingly
receive me, and appointed l o'clock to-day
for the visit. was punetual to the minute,
and reached his residence in the Oraienbur-
ger-strasse, as the clock struck. While in
Berlin, he lives with his servant, Seifert,
whose name only l found on the door. 1t
was plain two-story house in German cit
les, by two or three families. The bell
wire over Seifert's name came from the sec
ond story. pulled: the heavy poste-coch-
ere opened of itself, and l mounted the
steps until reached second bell-pull, over
plate inscribed, "Alexander Won Hum
boldt."
A stout, square-faced man of about fifty,
whom at once recognized as Seifert, open
ed the door for me. "Are you Herr Tay-
lori" he asked; and added on receiving my
reply; "His excellency is ready to receive
you." He ushered me into room filled
with stuffed birds and other objects of natu.
raj history; then into large library, which
apparently contained tho gifts of authors
artists, and men of science. walked be.
tween two long tables heaped with sump-
tuous folios, to the to the further door
which opened into the study. Those who
have seen the admirable colored lithograpl
of Hildebrand's picture, know precisely how
the room looks. There was the plain table
the writing-desk covered with letters and
manuscripts, the little green sofa, and tht
same maps and pictures on the drab-coloret
walls. The picture had been so long hang
ing in my room at home, that at once rec,
ognized each particular object.
Seifert went to an inner door, announced
my name, and Humboldt Immediately ap
peared, He came. up to me with heart
ness and cordility which made me feel tina
Twas in tho presence of friend, gave m,
his hand, and inquired whether VIC shouII
converse in English or German. "You
letter. said he. twas that of a German
and you must certainly speak the languag
faniliarly; but am also in the habit q
using the English, He insisted on my ia
king one end of the green sofa, observin,
that be rarely sat upon it himself, thel
drew up a cane-bottom chair and seate
himselfbeside it. asking me to speak littl
louder than usual, rs his hearing was not S
acute ns formerly.
A looked at the old man, the line
Tennyson, describing Wellington, came int
myrnind. 4oh, good gray head which a
men know Tho first impression made b
HRWboldgs face is that7of q 'hroadssnd o,
nial humanity His massive brow heae
with. h.lhc gathering wisdomscf neaEyla eel
.4Hry,hesds forward and oyerhangs his breas
like. a ripe car Of corn, but rs youlook belol
it,apAir OF clear blue eyes, almost as brigt
and steady as n ehilds, meet your own.
those eyes you read that trust in man, tha
immortal youth of the heart, which max
the SHOWS Of eghty-seyen winters lie S
lightly upon his head. You trust himutel
" at the first glance, and you feel that h
wiittrust you, if you are worthy Of H.
had approached him, with pataral feeln
Of reverenee, bat ii five ffiiiutesI foun
that i loved him, and could talk with hir
esffeelY as With friend Of my own ago. Hi
nose, mouth aud chin have the heavy Tec
Tonic chsractor, whose genuine type aIway
expresses an honest simplicity and directncs'
rImas most sarprised BY tho youthfu
chafaeterof his face. l. knew that be ha
besuffeqpcntly indispqsed during the pre-
edt year, and had been frequently toll
that he was beginning TO show the maEkse
his extreme age; but i 1shonld not have sui
paoted him Of being oTeg seseaty-fiyes < Hi
w1iahies pro few and small, and bis skin hs
ashioolllhess and dslieacy rarely. seen j
I'D men, Hh heis slthoagh snOw-whit'