Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1859-07-06
NEW SERIES-VOL. IV.-NO "a.

ana at 70 years Of age, he was appointed
TO the important government post of Su-
perintendent of Mines in Franconia.-
Having lelt strong desire to visit distant
lands, he soon resigned this situation, and
sold large estate to furnish means for
travelling in America. After many disars
polntments, he was at last enabled to visit
the New World under the patronage Of
the Spanish government, and in 1899
commenced to explore the greatvalley OF
the Oronoeo. During the five years he
was traveller on our continent, he visit
ed the sources of the Amazon, climbed
the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, and
under burning sun trayersed vast plains,
pestllental swamps, and barren deserts
where the foot of white man had never
trod before.
1t affords us much pleasure to state that
Baron Won Humboldt included portion
OF our own country within his extended
American tour. He visited our principal
seaboard cities, and was personally known
to some of our distinguished men. He
quilted this country in 1904, and returned
30 his native land. Our institutions made
a most favorable impression upon his
mind, and he ever afterwards retained n
pleasant recollection of our people. His
published accounts of these travels at.
tracted the attention of the whole civili-
zed word The field was fresh, tie power
of the authors description was vivid they
were filed with thrilling incident, and
contained a mass of new geographical, bo-
tanical, and meteorological information of
the most interesting character. His fame
was at once established by their publca-
ton, and honors poured in upon him from
! the scientific associations of all lands
| They were printed in seventeen large vol
umes, richly illustrated with figures of the
subjects. They embraced geography, zool-
ogy, botany, mineralogy, the natural his
| tory Of animals, astronomy, geology, cl =
matology, in short, every branch of sci
ence So varied and profound were his
attainments. it was at once felt that he
stood out in bold relief as the most ac-
complshed traveller that ever lived. We
would be neglectful, however, of sacred
! duty, if we were to forget to state, in COZ
nection with this subject that he had for
an associate the celebrated French Sergant,
Donpand, who accompanied him in his
journeys, and assisted in his literary la
4 bors.
OF late years, the name of Humboldt
was made mole widely known by his
Cosmos" work written during the
long and pleasant twilight of his life, in
which he considers land in this view he is
right all created things as linked togeth-
er forming one uniform whole, and afford
/ ing evidence of one great creative mind
as the author of the visible creation. This
work has been translated into several Ian
guages-our own among the number-and
/ is replete with curious, varied and pros
found information.
OF this great man we can truly testify
he was a benefactor to the human race,
and his career is noble example of a
long life well spent IN severe physical and
mental toll whereby the sphere of mans
information has been greatly extended
and enriched. His memory was prodi-
gous, his intellect active and acute, and
his taste exquisite; and over everything
which he wrote he threw the charm of a
genial disposition and a generous heart
( For the past fifty years he has been the
Nestor of Science, and has gone down to
the grave bearing the esteem of all men,
and "laden with wealth and honors no
( bly won"