The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-06-18
The 9sfaIo Of Ffseoon
LAWRENCE, x. t.
Saturday Morning, June 10, 1859.
Agassiz on Humboldt,

Professor Agassiz, of Cambridge, deliv-
cred fine eulogy upon Humboldt, at the
annual meeting OF the Academy of Arts
and Sciences, at the Boston Athenaum.
We make several extracts from the pro-
duction, which preceded series o. reso-
buttons, presented by Agassiz, expressive
Of the sentiments of the members of the
Academy in regard 70 the character and
scientific attainments of the deceased Ger
man naturalist. Professor Agassz said
There is fullness and richness of ex-
preston and substantial power in his
writing, which is remarkable, but which
renders his style somewhat involved. He
has aimed to present to others what ma
ture presented to REORGANIZATION in
terlocked in such a complicated way as
hardly to be distinguishable, and his
writings present something of the kind.
You see his works, page after page, rum
ming into volumes without division into
chapters or heads of any sort; and SO con-
spicuous is that popularity Of style in his
composition, that well remember hear
ing Arago turning to him, while speaking
Of composition, and saying, Humboldt,
you don't know how to write book-you
write without end, but that is not book
it is picture without Frame"
Such an expression Of one scientific
man to another, without giving offences,
could only come from man so intimate
ly associated as Humboldt was with Arago.
And this leads me to few additional
remarks upon his character and social re.
lations. Humboldt was born near the
Court. He was brought up in connec-
ton with courtiers and men in high posi-
tions of life. He was, no doubt, inbued
with the prejudices Of his caste. He was
a nobleman Of high descent. And yet
the friend of kings was bosom friend of
Arago, and he was the man who could,
after his return from America, refuse the
highest position at the court of Berlin,
that of the secretaryship of public instruc-
ton, preferring to live in modest way in
Paris, in the society of all those illustri-
Gus men who then made Paris the center
of Intellectual culture.
It was there where he became one of
that Societe d'Arceuil composed of all the
great men of the day, TO which the paper
on "Isothermal Lines was presented, and
by which it was printed, as all papers
presented to it were for private distribu-
ton. But from his intimate relations,
especially to the Court of Prussia, some
insinuations have been made as to the
character of Humboldt. They are as un-
just as they are severe in expression. He
was never fatterer of those in power
He has shown it by taking prominent
position, in 1848, at the head of those
who accompanied the victims of the rev.
olution of that year to their last place o.
rest.
Bat while he expressed his indepen-
dence in such manner, he had the kind
Hest feelings for all parties He coulc
not offend, even by an expression, those
with whom he had been associated il
early life; and have no doubt that it il
to that kindness offeeling we must as
cribe his somewhat indiscriminate pat
ronage of aspirants in science, as well a
men who were truly devoted to its high
est aims, He may be said to have been
especially in his latter years, the friend o
every cultivated man, wishing to lose nj
opportunity to do all the good of whicl
he was capable; for he had degree o
benevolence and generosity which wa
unbounded. can well say that there j
not man engaged in scientific investi
cations in Europe, who has not receives
at his hands marked tokens of his fayol
and who is not under deep obligations :
him.
May be permitted to tell a circum
stance which is personal to me in that re
spect, and which shows what he was ca
psble Of doing, while he was forbiddin
an opportunity Of telling it. ! was onl
"a years of age when in Paris, whittier
had gone with means given to me by
friend but was at last about to resign m
studies from want of ability to meet m
expenses. Professor Miltscherlich wa
then on visit in Paris, and had see
him in the morning, when he had aske
me what was the cause of my depresse
feelings, and told him that had to g
for / had nothing left. The next morn
ing, as was seated at breakfast, in frOI