The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-06-09
EI.,sbOat ;aiasi EarSliacr.

he late exciting news 1rOm Europe mas
come to us with melancholy shading in the
death of two of the most eminent scholars
and Swans of the age-Alexander Won Hum
bolt and Dionysius Lardner
Frederick Henry Alexander Won Humboldt
was born in Berlin, Sept. IA, 1869. His
father held the office of Chamberlin to the
great Frederick, and left an ample fortune to
his two sons, Alexander and William. The
former passed three years, from 1886 to 1899,
in the Universities of Frankfort and Gottingen
devoting his time mainly to scientific studies,
with view to employment in the Govern
ment mines. At Gottlngen Alexander made
the acquaintance of the naturalists Blumen-
bach and Foster. In company with the
latter, he made his first scientific Journey
through the countries bordering on the Rhine,
which gave the material for his first literary
production, archaeological Observations on
some Basaltic formations of the Rhine."-
At the age of twenty three he was appointed
Superintendent of the government mines of
Franconai Resigning this Office three years
later, he commenced preparations for his
great tour of North and South America
After succession of disappointments at
Paris, Marseilles. and elsewhere, the Span
isb Government became his patron, and
placed vessel at his service, with the largest
privileges for his proposed explorations in
the new world. Sailing from Corunna in
May, 1899, he arrived in Venezuela in July
The exploration Of the Orinoco was his first
great undertaking in the new field of labor
From the head waters of this stream Hum
bolt then crossed to the tributaries of the
Amizon. In the two years following he trav-
elled through New Granada, explored the
chain of the Andes, and made his famous
ascent of Chimborazo. A visit to Mexico
was his next undertaking, after which he
passed through portion of the United States,
and returned to Europe in August, 1S04.-
In 1905 he went to Italy, and witnessed the
great eruption of Versuvius in August of
that year. His last great enterprise, Jour-
ney through Russia, Siberia and Tartary,
was begun in 1928 and finished in $780,
Since that time he has resided chiefly in Ber-
lin, publishing the results of his travels, and
devoting himself unweariedly to science
His Cosmos is undoubtedly the greatest work
of modern times on physical science His
other principal productions are News Of Nd
ture, Vie,os in the C0rditleras, Neu Spain,
Journey to the Ural, and ContrH ASia-I
He died in his native city of Berlin on the
9th of May, inst, leaving record of scientific
ACHIEVEMENTS second to that of no man whom
soever. As the name of Beacon stands at
the fountain head Of modern science, as that
Of Aristotle covers the triumphs of the an
Gent world, Humboldt has carved himself
upon the mountains and deserts of the globe
as their most illustrious defendant in the
priesthood ofNature ...
DR.. Lardner was native of Wexford, Ire
land, Feb. %, 1890. His education was
completed at Trinity College, Dublin. He
first studied for the Church, but after hold
ing the post of Chaplnin the College short
time he dropped his holy orders and turned
his attention to science In 1927 ne was
elected Professor of Natural Philosophy and
Astronomy in the London University, but
did not long retain the position, and for the
next ten or twelve years devoted himself
chiefly to the publication of the Cabinet
Cyctopedia, and to contributing to the various
periodicals of the day.
In 1910 DIR. Lardner came to this country.
and after visiting Philadelphia in 1S41, de-
ivered series of popular lectures on scien-
tifc subjects in the principal cities of the
United States. In 1915 DIR. Lardner re-
turned to Europe, and has since resided at
Paris. ' p -'r~. - -.~ r.
As a writer DR.. Lardner was laborous and
careful, though not original. He was shock
ingly lampooned in one of Thackeray's earli-
er works, but his productions on hydrostat-
les, pneumatics and animal physics enttle
him at least to respectable place among the
scientific men Of the day. His latest hobby
was the use of chemical agents for the whole
sale destruction ofhuman life in the coming
war. s.z ~:
Why OSEoSU WAS RrRNrp The NIL