The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-05-31
HumbOldt's Personal Appearance
...a .as. .l-.. Character eigs-t. | -


Bayard Taylor, who was in Dubuque when
the intelligence of the death of Humboldt was
received, furnished the Times of that city with
the following sketch of the personal appear
ance and character Of the great German;
In person, Humboldt was short, strongly
built, yet without any approach to corpalency.
During the last years Of his life, he carried
his head bent, with STOPPING shoulders, as if
his body had not vigor enough to hold up the
weight of the knowledge contained in his mas
sive brain. Yet in the prime of life,l when
perfectly erect, his higth could not have been
more than five feet, six inches. His head was
large and marked by beautiful symmetry, his
forehead smooth and unwrinkled, and the blue
eyes as soft, steady and clear as those of q
child. His sight was perfect, enabling him to
read the finest print without spectacles. -..''
His nose and mouth were of the heavy.
Ientonio type, and the expression of his face
fully accorded with the truth, consistency
and benignity of his character. No person
could hove seen him without being inspired
with an immediate personal regard for him.
In the castle at Tegel, the patrimonyof the
Humboldt family, hangs picture represent
ing him in his thirty-fifth year, on the side
of ChimboraEo, He there appears rather
slender, but with the same massive head and
clear blue eyes, and with thick brown locks
In another portrait, at the age of fifty, his
changed very little after that period, the skin
still remaining smooth, and with al fresh,
healthy tint. aH -rH -.fr fitf
He died through the gradual decay of his
physical faculties, retaining his mental bowers
to the last. AS late as 1858, he was'accus-
toned to labor frequently for sixteen hburs at
a tins, and the last published volume, of
"Cosmas" exhibited no signs Of an enfeebled
intellect. The first shock his constitution re-
vp0a q oKtu 30 Al
influenza, disorder very prevalent in Berlin.
He had noticed the slower and more difficult
action of his physical functions, had petceiyed
the gradual diminution of his vital powers, and
in the summer Of 1858 made a calculation that
II they continued to give way steadilylin the
same ratio, his death must take place this wear.
Probably no distinguished man Of this cen
tury, with the exception Of BerangeI, iSnr-i
passed humboldt in simplicity, honesty and
native dignity OF character. Though born
nobleman, the confidential friend Of his king,
and the accepted, equal of the monafchs Of
Europe, his sympathies were with the liberal
party, and he never hesitated to express them
While his summers were passed in the Royal
Palace at Potsdam, he occupied apartments in
the house Of his own servant in Berlin, during
the winter. So well were his political prsdi-
lections known, that at the Congress of Vienna,
Of which he was member, whom he had pro-
posed some temporary measure which had an
arbitrary character, the Emperor Alexander /,
northumberland it is you arch -repnbiican
as you are, who propose such a despeti iolmSa-
surel" -
q Like WashingtOh's, HdmboldPs mil ID dp's Was
so beautifully symmetrical, that it would be /
easy to point out many men who went beyond
him in particular departments Of science. He
was too great in all to be specially distin-
gulshed, and in the extent OF his iaboTs, as
wei, ~ the amount Of his saerifces In the aoy
passed by sny man. His life has been 4 splenl
did success. He has enjoye Cd the upkonniled
respect and admiration Of three generations,
and now the world mourEs In him tho loss Of
her greatest man. ,'1'' -l N'f 'i'. ,@ nS