Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-08-12

VISIT TO ALEXANDER VoN HUMBoLp1-The
well-known novelist, Max Ring, who visited, some
time ago, the veteran of science, Alexander Won
Humboldt thus describes the personal appearances Of
the venerable old gentleman:
Humboldts figure is not large, but is rather stout
his feet and hands are small and Of beautiful form.
dis silver white hair surrounds the venerable head
he wears on the large high forehead the mark of ge
advanced age are full of expression and iife His ne.
formed lips reveal particular smiie half sarcastic
half benevolent, full of spiritual supremacy. While
speaking his eyes cast to the ground from time to
time ne Lifts his head friendly smiling, thus anma-
ting the listener. Conversing with him, you forget
entirely that the celebrated man has passed already
his eightyseventh year, juvenile. fresh and excl
ting are his words, flowing in wonderful change ming
ling humor with instruction. He is, in the truest
sense and fullest meaning of the word the best
rator, the clearest orator the world knows An inn
mense amount of knowledgeis always at his control
and, notwithstanding his great age, you cannot per-
ceive the least failure in his memory. He probably
has no equal. Facts, names and figures never es-
cape his memory, and he remembers often with the
same tenacty the smallest affairs as the greatest ard
most valuable facts.
The principal feature Of his whole being is . rare
humanity for others which almost reaches selffor.
getfuness 1t is only known to his most intimate
friends that Humbolt spends the greatest part of his
income in charity and IN aiding the support of young
and aspiring students His private property is not
very considerable, but he 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 simple.
ness Of his wants this income would not only be suf
ticient, but would allow him to lay up something;
but Humbolt thinks to make . better use of it by
changing the fate Of some unfortunate young man.
The influence which he has with the king be uses
for the promotion of science. There is no person of
talent, no juvenile genius, who is not noticed by
him.
1T may be interesting to learn how Ibis great nat
| uralist spends his time. Humbot rises at about
halfpast eight o'clock at breakfast he reads his let.
tiers, which he generally answers immediately
There is perhaps no letter writer punctual as he
thought very few persons have large correspon-
dence to all parts of the world After this he dress
es with the aid of his udLet de chambre to receive
and announce visitors to make visits himself un
til two o'clock. After three o'clock he goes to the
royal palace where he generally dimes, if he does
not invite himself to dine with family of his
quaintance He remains mostly at Alexander Men,
delssohn's in whose house he lives. At seven o'clock
in the evening" he usually returns to his home. He
then goes to the cour; into society," from which he
returns at about midnight. Now is his real and best
time for working; in the profound mighty silence he
writes his immortal works, often in summer until
the day shines through the windows It is always
three o'clock in the morning when this juvenile old
man thinks OF allowing short rest to bis almost
ninety years old body, to gain the necessary power
| for the new days work. Indeed we think this Q
strange story, and still every word of it is true
Humbolt has no family of his own-his nearest re.
atlons being the sons and daughters Of his excellent
| brother, William, for whom he he has touching fra.
ternal regard. "You should have known my broth.
er," says he with amiable modesty, "he was always
the more talented of us two brothers."