The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-15

would properly require. LU4 Will
credit my words, when l tell you that
/ was only induced to accept the Pc
sition assigned TO me b. an earnest
desire to contribute an humble part
to the worthy object Of the projectors
Of this celebration.
We have met here to show our deep
and strong appreciation of the high
character and wonderful accomplish
ments Of Alexander Won Humboldt
This most distinguished saUdnt of the
nineteenth century, was born at BeT-
lin on the 18th day Of September.
1863. His first years Of manhood
were passed away among the best
scholars and thinkers Of Prussia. In
his early education and trainmeRt his
great capacities soon became apparent
to his instructors and friends.
Although uno q flag and IN q
country foreign from his and their own
place of birth, 1t is not Inappropriate
that the people and the immediate
descendants of the country Of his
nativity should take the lead in rem
dering homage to his great name and
the imperishable fame which he won
for himself. But such was the char
acter Of his genius aud attachments
that even long prior to his death he
became no stranger In any part Of the
civilized world, and each nation and
hemisphere claimed him as it's own,
and wherever there was science and
civilization his name was Familiarity
spoken with words Of respect and de :
votion. He, by his own courageous
travels and ardent investigations, in
delibly imprinted his name upon the
American Continent, and the sturdy
pioneers have quietly aud unOstenta-
tiously erected to his memory and
fame monuments more endurable
than even marble itself. Towns aud
counties have received his name aud
been christened after him, while
Humboldt. Mountain and one Of the
rivers upon the western slope of
our country, bearing his name, will
perpetuate it so long as grass shall
grow upon its banks and the waters
from the mountains pour over its bed.
1t has been deemed proper by me
to say this much, to show the appro-
priateness Of having words Of com
memoration on this occasion spoken
in the German and the ADglo-Ameri-
can languages. These two great
nationalities, with others no less in
terested, mingle their voices here
together in laudation and pay tribute
to the master-mind and great intellect
of the worlds Humboldt.
The conception and Origination OF
public celebrations, with a noble OBJ.
iect like this one, are in every sense
praiseWOrthy. A day like this comes
to us as an oasis to the weary traveller
upon life's sandy desert. Here we resi-
and deal in memories for while and
in this way revive our wasted strength
and prepare for future labor and ex-
ertion. Without intending to chide
or upbraid, it may be truthfully said
that no people more seriously need
such days than the AmericaH-bOth
native and adopted. While other
ages may have been denominated as
iron, ours may have too much of a
money tendency. 1t is not well thai
nothing should be thought Of, except
what can be Immediately turned into
money. Our activity and energy
as a people is emlnently praise
worthy, but it is neither fit o.
desirable that this should be turned
wholly to the amassing of wealth
either In an individual or national
sense. Indeed the creation of wealth
should always be held subservient tC
| individual vitality and happiness
national enlightenment and progress
| Amidst the shock Of so many contend
ing interests, the calm pursuit O.
| science and practical truth and dis
covery should not be neglected o.
| abandoned, but On the other HAND
should claim and receive 9, portion o
our time and energies. This practi
cal suggestion is forced upon the
mind by reflections upon the life AM
character Of Humboldt. He wa
educated with special care in the nat
ural sciences-heard lectures from
Fischer In mathematics-Engle il
philosophy, and Dohm in politics
| subsequently, received lectures upoI
finances and the functions of none,
at the Mercantile Academy In Ham
burgh, and afterwards, under Werner
was taught the science of pTactica
mining at Freiburgh. In this wa.
this great practical mind was prepared
for usefulness. He sought rather 70
truth than wealth, even disposing o
I Ills lhAAAJ pau ~ CuGnAS MIN
self to carry on his investigations
His was not the mOmentary hashini
of brillianoy or sparkling of wit
but the clear, steady light OF
great orb. While he possessel
both wit and brilliancy, these wer
overshadoWed by his nobler trait c
an earnest desire for the substantia
development of facts IN the science @
the world. During his five years a
superior in the mining districts of tn
Franconian principalities, he lost n
opportunity for making scientific IN
vestigations. He did not superinten
the sinking of the shaft into theeart
or 90 into the great mining vault
alone to ascertain what quantity an
value of minerals could be obtain
ed, but accomplishing these oh
iects, he looked beyond, analyze
/ the atmosphere, and made scien
tific examinations of the gasses-th
vegetation and flowers, which weT
found in these subterraneous home
I of miners. In this class Of investig5
tons he exhibited indomitable enere
: aud great personal courage. He va
, no mere surface adventurer. II
sought facts-facts In detail, an
from these produced generalization
Of the highest Importance to mankind
!, He stood not bampereC by precoI
: ceived opinions and theories, bU
= sought out true phenomena, an
, awakened the world of mankind
?, reflection by the startling results
). his investigations.
f Humboldt was no mere ideals
: Whether he sought facts in the min
or on the surface of the earth, he W
! equally deliberate and successful. II
0 vast acquisitions and additions to Il
:, worlds knowledge of the science
; botany exhibit of themselves the wo
. deriul powers of his capacious min
He is entitled to stand as the auth
q of the science of the geography
: nlants. Adontine the language