The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-05-31
OBITUARY..
Dca tn OF Alexander HambOldt.

Ihe Cdaut brings Sau Neil1catioh oi INC
singular prophecy, uttered year since by
Baron Won Humboldt, in regard to the
probable period of his own death. A re-
inarkablc preScntiment that the year 1859
would be the end of his life, found casual
expression, and has been fulfilled. Our
dispatches this morning announce that the
venerable saroat expired at Berlin, on Fri
day, May 6, in his 9lst year.
Frederick Henry Alexander Won Hum
boldt was born in Berlin, Sept IA, l769.
His father Major Won Humboldt, held he
otlcc of Chamberlain to Freuerick the
Great, and the carly years OF the son were
passed under the tuition Of Camps, on the
paletual estate at TegeI, near Berlin. In
1856, when in his sixteenth year, Alexan-
der entered the University of Frankfort. on.
the Order, with his brothor William, re.
ma,ned IN chat institution two years, and
wa, then transferred TO he University OF
Gottcncn. In the latter he made :he
acquaintance Of the natura!ists Blumenbach
and FoIstcr, and through the friendship Of
those distinguished men, was enabled to
cultivate his natural tastes for scientific
study. The Lrot!ers quilted college in
1850. William had conc ived a fancy for
political life, and departed for Paris. Al
exauder, whose education had been espec
tally drccteI with a view to employment
in Tie Government mines, followed the
bent Of lis inc!nations for travel and dis
coyery, aud, in company with Forster, made
his first ,cicutiit journey to the Rhine,
through Holland, ami to England, carly
in the ensuing year. / is tiret literary pro-
duction, .Naero ogicGt Observations on
som. Bagaitjc Format1GoS Of tie Hhiae,
Was the fruit + this journey. Returning
boma, he was sent to Hamburg to acquire
a knowledge Of commercial affairs, studied
BOOK keeping at an Institute, alierward
removed to Freeburg, an became stu.
dent ia the Mining Academy, where he
remained until 1902. Ia that year, at the
age of 23 years, he was appointed Super
nlcndent OF Mines in frauconal, an office
" 'r'Gh he held for three years. During
This perio;I!, be zealously prosecuted bis
mineralogical AID botanical studies, and
ma,,2 various experiments on the physical
and chemical i, vs. of metali2rgy. In 1895
he resigned his office, N order to devote
himself to the subject of scien,..i nc 'ese7len ~
which had always been present - lib
mind. Ihe plan Of his great American
journey socmsd 20 have been suggested du-
ring the period Of his early intimacy with
Forster; and having freed himself from
the cares of public duty, he set himself IN
earnest to the necessary preparations for
that expedition The first step was Sc
ries of scientific explorations in differet
parts Of Europe, undertaken with view
to enarging bis experience and improving
his powers of observation. He made sew
eral visits to Switzerland and the noun
tains of Siesia, and afterwards assumed
tie burden of an official visit to Prussian
Poland This yoarning desire to see
strange lands and to devote himself to sci.
entlfc exploration, is well described by
himself in the opening chapter OF his Per-
soma Narrative:
"From my earliest youth felt an ardent
desire to travel into distant regions, seldom
visited 10y Europeans This desire is char
acteristic of period of our existence when
life appears an unlimited horizon, and
when we find an irresistible attraction in
the mpetuous agitation of the mind, and
tue image of positive danger. Though ed
ucated in country which has no direct
communication with either the East or
West Indies, living amid mountains re-
mote from coasts, and celebrated for their
numerous mines, felt an increasing pas
sion for the sea and distant expeditions
Objects with which we are acquainted on
ly by the animated narratives of travellers
have a peculiar charm; imagination wan
ders with delight over that which is vague
and underlined; and the pleasures we arc
deprived of seem to possess facinatlng
power compared with which all wo daily
feel in the narrow circle Of sedentaly life
appears insipid."
Serious preparations for the journey to
America were not possible, in consequence
Of family causes, the death of his mother
and the disposition of paternal estates, un-
til the year 1879. In that year Hum
boidt supplied himself with ample means
for his new enterprise by the sale Of the
large inheritance which had fallen to him