The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-15
THE roN HUMBOLDT FESTIVAL.
INTERESTING EXERCISES.
AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE.
Addresses by Rev. DE-. Bachmnn, Con-
eral John A. Wagner. Professor Nc.
Grady and Rev. MIR. Mueller.

Seldom has there boon congregated in
Charleston such an audience as assembled last
night in Hibernan Hall to celebrate tho GEN.
tennial birthday Of Alexander Won Humboldt
Except at tho Schutgenfesls, indeed, we doubt
If similar number OF our German and Ameri-
can citizens havo ever mot tog othor in any sim
gle locality in this city.
Tho occasion, however, and tho manner in
which it was distinguished, was worthy OF such
au exhibition OF public interest. The commit
toe in charge Of the exercises had secured the
services Of able mon to speak of the career and
achievements OF the iIlustrious dead, and nlu-
sio was invoked to add it's charm to the scene
The hall was handsomely prepared, the stage
especially being most tastefully arranged.
The new scenery intended for. theatrical dis
play was exhibited for the first timc, and with
the additional decoration OF flags belonging to
various German societies, and liberal sprink-
ling of evorgroon. tho harmony OF color and or
rangomont was calculated to satisfy the sevcr-
est taste.
LIN order to secure an appreciative audience,
and at the Same timo prevont tho oppressive
jam Of humanity which otherwise would have
been present, tho committee of arrangements
wisely issued tickets, which wero distributed
without charge among our ciiizons to tho num-
ber, 1t is said, Of twelve or thirteen hundred.
Few Of these could have been unused, for not
q seat was unoccupied, aud ovory foot of space
whercon humanity could stand upright was
filed by we'll dressed and interested spectators
After eight O'Clock it was physically impossible
to enter the hall.
On the stage were number of the represcn-
tative German citzons of Charleston and
othors. Among these, besides tho speakers
OF tho occasion, were observable Captain Jacob
Small president of tho German Friendly Socie-
ty and Freundschaftsbund; H.. B. Olney, Esq,
senior warden OF tho same; Captain Alexander
Melchers, vice. president of the Freundschafts-
bund; Father Birmingham, aud tho members
of the committee and of tho sengerbund.
Promptly at eight o'clock the exercises we're
commenced by ths choral hymn-"Opeu, ye
Gates; Let the King Of Glory in"-rrom the
members Of the Teutonia ST ngorbund, under
the leadership Of Professor A. J. Hoffman, tho
| accompaniment bcing rendered by ine Or
chestra, under the direction of Professor
Metz.
Tho venerable Rev.. DR.. Bachman being now
| introduced to tho audience by Captain Small,
| advanced to the front OF tho platform and
stated that, agreeaby to the invitation of tho
CuIuuittct, ut udu pIopaieu Ill AuuIeSs W De
delivered on tho occasion, but that in conso.
quonco of his great age aud bodily inarmities,
he felt unequal to the task of its presentation.
and accordingly had requested his friend and
| associate. the Rev. DR.. Hicks, to address the
assemblage in his stead.
Tbereupon the Rev. mr.. Hicks read the fol-
lowing interesting personal "Reminiscences Of
| the great 'hero Of acienoo," as they were en-
! joyed and described by our aged and distiu-
guished citizen and naturalist. DR.. BaoLman:
Addtess 6fHov. DE-. j. Bachman.
Having, been honored with a. request from
tion Of an event Whichi recalls to the mind, not
only OF the German. but OF the man OF soiencei
In every land, the name, harAoter aud eminent
natural sciences Which the world has ever pro- ,c.
duced, I feel at q loss where / am 10 begin or
which OF the numerous subjects presented on
the eveptful life OF Humboldt it would be most
interesting TO dwell upon. *,
terested in a aifew OF the "Reminiscences Of my
| carly intercourse with that great man, who
even at my frat acquaintance, with MIN, ap.
| peared among the natpral!sta end philosophers
| as giant among race of-pigihtsa
% Ssa has o@Sss 70 tsas hs sS great
which his predecessora he'd left, and from this
universe and repeated It's music to listening
our romembranoe to-day, has LETT name 30
| world-renowned that until now mono have
oquallsd it. That name echoes from the peak
Of Tencriffe, the suminits OF Chimborazo, aud
| the gigantic ranges of tho Himalayse, where
science. from her mountain throne, contem-
| plates the vast monuments on which time has
| recorded the history OF tho world, or up folding
| the bosom Of tho earth. reveals the record OF
wherever the, Hdes OF ocean or OF air, tHs rush
az mightsfi yers end the stiffness Of uhbonnded
plains the laws which make this globe
decked with eIuberant foliage, laden with
many huet and fragrant flowers and fruits OF
luscious taste, and tcemlng with ithrongs Of
beasts, birds aud insects oughous Natures
richest kinedoms, the namn Of Humpolds
stands confessed the greatest Of Natures his
torlsns. the wisest and most eloquent expound-
er OF her laws.
1904 that was permitted for the first time, to
look upon the countenGnco, to press the hand
and listen to the interesting words OF. this
great philosopher., He had arrived ip Phila-
delphia with bits Associate, B0npland, after
having: explored almost every p0rtionof Moxi-
cb, and measured the heights OF the Cord-
leras and OF Chimborazo. he had visited por-
reached BY PREVIOUS travellers; he 'iS had Hsa re-
n1ained In Havana ten months, where he COM
pleted bis polit,csl essay on Cnba, and after q
five years resldsuce 10 America. he aas now
about to return 10 Europe. ERotts were.made
spoh succ essfui traveller and so emipent a
natmaltski Attempts we're made to collect to-
gether. the few. who had any. pretenBions to
natural science. residing in Philadelphia. /
was then student, only sixteen years Of age,
but it being known that was occasionally In
the habit OF accompanying Wilson in his re-
searches In ornithology and OF spending my
vacations and Saturdays In Bartrams GARDEN
the usual resort OF botauists, was honored
with an Invitation 10 meet those who were
about to welcome this eminent philosopher
m nrfr ntInfr Jolk tl..kT
NOT deserving Of the high honor Of the invita-
tion, and mention tho fact here, to show how
soanty. in those days we're the materials In
natural scenco. "A dinner had been prepared
FOR the occasion in Poals Museum.
Among tho few nat1ralists who attended
woro tho two Birtrsms. Wilson, the orntholo-
glste; Lawson, his engrayer; George Ord, and
| a!few others, whose names have now escaped
my recollection. To this small group we're
added considerable number OF men who we're
eminent IN tho various departments OF liters-
ture and science. Few speeches we're made,
ahd those wore short. There was no iormality
Humbodt Haa then. Ra ha Haa aliar uArda