The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-02-15

In one respect Humboldt's mind was
almost phenomenon. He possessed, in
their highest activity, both the invcsti-
eating aud generalizing faculties. Lady
Morgan, in her fippant gossip, says one
true thing of an elephant: it can snap an
oak and pick up PIN" His knowledge
wodld have crushed ten smaller men; but
he wore the turreted crown of Cybele rs
lightly as if it had been a garland Of
flowers. Even Macaulay, who, it is said
was able to repeat III, whole of Paradise
Lost, must yield to Humboldt in the fac
ulty of memory. In the eighty eighth
year, when the lecturer first saw him, this
faculty seemed Us active as ever. A dis
tnguished German traveller called upon
him to discuss some point relating to the
topography Of Jelualern. Astonlsh vi
at his familiarity with the streets and
houses of the Holy City, he asked Hum
boldt how long sine, he had been in Jer-
usalem. 81 was never there" was the
answer, ''but l intended going sixty
years ago, and therefore prepared myself
In 1853, several American ladies applied
to the American Minister for an introduce
ton to the philt sopher. Among them
was the daughter of a gentleman in PHI
adelphia, with wlon, in 1904, before
her birth, Humboldt had resided. When
she entered the rom he instantly discov-
cred her resemblance to her father, and
exclaimed, "You must certainly be the
daughter of my old friend in Philadel-
phia." He rem mbered distinctly the
features of Frederick the Great, and the
voice of Pitt, Fox, Burke, Jefferson and
Mirabeau; and the scenes of tue Orionco
were before him in his dreams. One
qualification was in store for him, which
he died too soon to enjoy. His descrip-
ton of Tropi a scenery inspired Church
to follow in his footsteps, and that artists
picture of the Heart of Andes was paint
ed with the design and in the hope that
Hurnboldts eyes might rest upon it.
The prominent traits of his character
were his simplicity and sincerity. With
all the tact of the man of the world, and
tho grace and ease which the best society
of Europe could give, he was as simple
hearted rs peasant, and IS honest as
mountaineer. Though the fri n of
kings, he was liberal, almost to pure re-
publicanism, in his political views. The
stars and crosses conferred upon him by
all the courts of Europe were found, after
his death, lying in an Old closet, covered
with dust. In the summer he resided in
the house of his old servant, in the win
ter, in the palace of the King. Though
q Priyy Councillor, he walked to the polls
and voted. not only NTH the people, but
for the people. During the revolution of
1913, when the mob broke into his house,
he descended and stood alone in the
midst of the rioters, saying, 81 am Hum
boldt; what do you want of me?' In
stantly every voice was silenced, every
head was barred tefore the old man; and
his house, thereafter, was sacredly guard
ell.
In him, the heart wa, the focus of
warmth, from aud through which shone
the light of his scientific genius. Jealousy
was unknown to him. Notwithstanding
he wrote, the year before his death, 81
live joyless in my eighty ninth year, be-
cause of al that purposod in my cl ILL
hood so little has been accomplished"
his life must b, cons d red splendid
success. Hon )rs such as no statesman
ever won were laid as voluntary offerings
at his feet. And if he coveted the love
rather than the admiration of his fellow
men, he had that also.
His personal appearance was thorough
Iy harmonious with his character MS
man. In this eighty-third year, except
in his bowed head and slow steps, be
gave no sign of age. He was still every
inch king, with no faculty appreciably
dulled, no sympathy b,unted, no gener-
GUS aspiration for the good of bis race less
earnest than in isprime Of life. A year
later, Mr.. Taylor found him broken in
bodily health, yet still capable of sixteen
hours of continuous mental labor. Dur
ing the first portion of his life he slept
but three and half hours daily. In his
later years, he said, he needed great
deal of rest, and exteuded his allowance
to four and half hours. His works
were generally written at mid isht-
Labor" be remarked, chad become
such a habit with me, that l feel refresh
ed rather than fatiguel by it." TIL,
lecturer was yery much struck By the
objective manner in which he spoke of
his body.
He described the gradual decay of its
function with the same cool interest rs if
it had been meteorological specimen. He
at last calculated the time of his death. A
portrait of him painted at thirty-five, rep
rescnts him as man of rather less than
medium stature, firmly built, with keen
blue eyes, firm lips, and long locks clus-
tering about his massive brow. In his
later years the head seemed bowed down
with the burden of his universal knowl
edge the hair which was white at forty.
had grown thin; the mouth Ind lost its
clear outline and the eager, energetic ex-
preston of the face was gone; but the
blue eve was as clear, and the skin as fair
and smooth as those of a young man.
He saw, without the aid Of glasses, the
most minute names on finely engraved
map. His muscular strength was not
great. When machine for testing the
strength was tried by the members Of the