Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-20
EEEBEG.

To acquire the worldwide celebrity Of
s Liebig, a SehOenbein or q Bunsen, is
IN undertaking at the present dsy far
different from what it was but 3 hall
century agone. Chemistry, the offspring
Of the empyFicisln OF alchemy, ana
built upon accidental discoveries of the
visionary hunters after the philosophers
stone or the waters Of perennial youth,
but q very few years since was in its in
fancy. Gay Lussac and Lavoisier dis
covered iG as a founding, BeTzsiiIS gave
it a name, but it remained for the great
nan whose name heads our article, to
make it a science and to direct its work
ings into the innumerable channels
through which Ii nov showers the great
est blessings upon the human race.
The days Of the charlatan and qusck
in science nave long been numbered, and
the era of Learned" blacksmjths, or
thinkers, OF brieklaysFs, or weaverr, or
%cObbleTs, has passed away. Al the pres
emit day, in Europe st least, it IL impOssi-
bic for an ignOramus or an empyric to
obtain sven ascieDtihc HOtOTiety. A man,
70 become famous as q szvan must have
received not only a scientific startin life,
III the shape OF 2 good school gnd college
education, but he must continue his
studies and experiments with all the aids
Of modern ART and inventions, he must
keep up with the literature and watch
the progress of science and scientific uis-
cOvery throughout the world. This will
take MS whole time, and then the WORK
is but half done. He will have no time
for al interim weaving or brioklayiBg,
or biacksmithing.
We were led to tia above train of
thought by the following communication
which we have received from q gentle
man whose scientific attachments have
already obtained q recognition in our
midst, and which, by experiments now
being made, Is destined TO aid not a lit
tie in developing the wOndrous natural
resources OF our country. Having spent
several years in the University Of Mu-
Mich, q great portion of which time was
in the laboratory OF Baron Won Liebig,
and knowing him intimately az that
time, we can add our own personal In
dorsement Of everything that DR.. Hoer-
ner has written.
MEAFnIS: TEX, september IS. ls6s.
Editors Memphis Appeal;
Ia the Bulletin of August 22d occurred
the following paragraph;
Baron Won Liebig, Beusts right-hand
man and most trusted confidential adVi-
ser, is OF very humble descent. be used to
be a Journeyman cloth weaver, not many
years ago. He then became a Wesyer
on his own account, made money, started
a large factory, and is now worth several
milliOns.U
The above, with the exception Of the
first sentence, is false in every partieu-
lar. When my attention wa first called
TO 1t, l intended to answer it, but press
of other business caused me to delay do
ing so. now take advantage OF q lels-
uIe moment, to contradict q statement
which is calculated to give the readers OF
the APPEAL (snd their name Is ieglOD,)
an incorreo5 idea of the great L gOOu
Liebig.
Justus Won Liebig was, indeed, the son
of poor parents, but his father, q hard
working Burgher OF Gelssen, apprecia-
ting the advantages of an education, gave
him the benefit of e school, high school,
and University education. After I4iebig
graduated, he became, as the students in
German Universities say, a "Philister,'
and remained at Geissen, where
his talents and education were
rewarded with a proiessorship. OF his
career as a Professor and a scientific man
1 say nothing. lt is q part Of scientific
history. The King Louis, OF Bavaria,
grandfather OF the present King, and
father OF Macmillan, of blessed memo
~, recognising him as the foremost OF
modern chemists (Bunsen and SehOen-
bein not excepted), and with that love
oil science, and regard for scientific men
that was one of the redeemilg traits Of
his character, when the University of
Landshut was removed to Munich, in
vited Leibig thitherI giving him a resi-
dence on the CarlE. Strasse, and a salary
of ten Thousand gulden $4,000, gold per
annum. An allowance of one hundred
thousand fiorins was also made him to
establish his laboratory. These are all OF
the pecuniary rewards that were ever sc-
corded to Llebig, the father, the foun-
der, and now the mead OF organic chem
istry.
AS to his ever having been q weaver,
or now being worth millions, both stories
are alike false. He is a man living on .
salary which would be called contempti-
bic in this country, and has amsssed no
fortune. As an old scholar Of Liebig's,
Messrs. Editors, l ask you to publish
this. Yours, truly
THEO. HOERNER.