Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-09-21
EHEBEG,

To acquire the world WiGe celebrity of
q Liebig, SchOenbein or a Bunsen, is
an undertaking st the present day far
different from what il was hut q half
century sgOne. Chemistry, the offspring
Of the empyricism of alchemy, and
built upon accidental discoveries of the
visionary hunters after the philosophers 8
stone or the waters of perennial youth,
but very few years since was in It's in
fancy. Gay Lussac and Lavoisier dis
covered it as foundling, BeTzeiius gave
it name, but il remained for the great
man whose name heads our article, to
make il a science and to direct its work.
/ ings into the innumerable channels
Through which it now showers the great.
est blessings upon the human race.
The days of the charlatan and qUack
in science have long been numbered, and
the era of " learned" +" blacksmiths, or
tiDkers, or bricklaycrs, or Wesvers, or
cObblers, has passed away. At the pres
e1t day, il Europe at least, it is impossi-
bic fOT an ignOramus or an empyric to
obtain even a scientific HOtOrietg. A man,
to become famous as a ssvan, must have
received not only scientific stsrtin life,
IN the shape OF good school and college
education, but he must continue his
studies and experiments with all the aids
keep up with the literature and watch
the progress Of science and scientific dis
cOvery throughout the world. This will
take his whole time, and then the work
is bot bali done. He will have no time
for ad interim weaving or bricklayiDg,
or Siackzmiihing.
We were led TO the above train of
thought by the following communication
which We have received from a gentle
man whose scientific attsiRments have
already obtained recognition in our
midst, and which, by experiments now
being made, Is destined to aid not q lit
tie ia developing the WondrOus natural
resources of our country. Having spent
several years in the University of Mu-
nich, great portion Of which time was
in the laboratory OF Baron Won Liebig
and knowing him intimately at that
time, we can add our own personal in
dorsement Of everything that DR.. Hoer-
ner has written.
MEMPHIS, TENN, September IS, 1868.
Editors Memphis Appeal;
La the Bulletin OF August 22d occurred
the following paragraph:
" Baron Won Liebig, Beust's rigbt-hsDd
nan and most trusted confidential advi-
ser is Of very bum ble descent. tie used to
be a journey man cloth weaver, not many
years ago. He then became weaver
on his OWE account, made money, started
a large factory, and is now worth several
millions"
The above, with the exception OF the
FIRST sentence, is false in every particu-
lar. When nay attention was first called
to 1t, l intended to answer it, but press
OF other business caused nae to delay do.
ing so. l now take advantage OF leis-
ure moment to contradict . statement
which is calculated to give the readers of
the APPEAL (snd their name is legion,
an incorrect Idea Of the great and 0o0d
Lisbig.
Justus Won Liebig was, indeed, the son
o. poOE parents, but his father a hard
working Burgher OF Geissen, apprecia-
ting the advantages OF an education, gSVe
him the benefit OF q school, high school,
and University education. After Liebig
graduated, be became, as the students in
German Universities say, a d" Paiiister,"
and remained at Geissen, where
his talents and education were soon
rewarded with prOfessorship. OF his
career as Professor and scientific man
L say nothing. 1t is part Of scientific
history. The King Louis, Of Bavaria,
grandfather OF the present King. and
~, recognizing him ss the foremost of
modern Chemists Bunsen and Schoen-
bein not eXcepted), and with that love
of science, and regard for scientific men
that was one of the redeeming traits of
bis character, when the University of
LaBdshut was removed to Munich. in
yited Lei0lg thither, giving him a resi- |
dence on the Carls-Strasse, and salary
of tea thousand gulden $4,000, gold) Der
annum. An allowance of one hundred |
thousand fl0rins was also made him to
establish his laboratory. These are all of
the pecuniary rewards that were ever ao-
corded to Liebig, the father, the foun- |
der, and now the mead OF organic chem
istTy.
AS to his ever having beea a weaver,
or now being worth millions, both stories |
are alike false. He is a man living on a |
salary which would be called contempti- |
Ole Ia this country, and has anassed no |
fortune. As an old scholar OF Liebig's, |
MessTs. Editors, ask you to publish |
this. Yours, truly,
THEO HOERNER