The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-16
DAILY PRESS.
ND
Saturday Morning, October l6, 1869.
GOSSIP ABOUT HUMCOLDT.
His Private Lffe-Anecdotes and Incl.
dents.
Correspondence of the New ork Evening Post.
CORTLAND q.

Correspondence of the New York Evening Post.
FRANKFORT-oN THE MAIN, Sept 1869,
The celebrated German Asiatic traveller
Robert Won Schlagintweit, published in the
Cologne Zeitung, on the occasion OF the re-
cent humboldt festival, some very interesting
stories OF his friend Humboldt, giving pleas
ant picture OF his private lite. All the broth
ers Schaeintweit had the good for .une to be-
come intimately acquainted with Humboldt,
and Robert in particular thanks him Ior much
important advice. Hermann and Adolf SchIa-
gintweit became acquainted with Humboldt
in Berlin in the year 1S49, and the manner in
which this occurred was very characteristic.
Their first treatise or Kohlensure GehaIt der
Luft in grossen Hohen" had just appeared il,
PoggendOrffs Annalen. and they asked the
publisher of that journal for an introduction
to humboldt. "Send him your treatise" was
the answer; mention that it is a part of your
larger work abou: the Alps, and that you are
a couple OF young fellows, the rest will come of
ITSELF" And so it did; for, two days later the
desired invitation came. Robert ard Emil be-
came acquainted with Humboldt somewhat
later.
None of the brothers ever saw Humboldt in
any other dress than black dress coat "The
diess coat" he used repeatedly TO say joking
ly, is cosmopolitan attire; / can receive a
pretentious, powerful prince in it as well as
modest, knowledge-seeking student" When
he expected crowned visitors, this article of
dress was decorated with star of some order;
but on all other occasions he appeared with
out any ornament whatever. BESIDES the
dress coat, and the black trowsers beonglng
to 1t, white cravat was also characteristic,
This uncommonly high cravat, which was
made OF long piece of white material, in the
inside of which thick wadding was enclos-
ed in order to make it stiff, went number of
times round the neck, and was then tied into
careless knot In the latter part of his lite
it helped to keep his head more erect.
He always received his intimate friends ve-
ry warmly in his house on the Oranienburger-
strasse in Berlin; he had them come to him
by private enhance. When he was verv
much engaged in work, he would say :"Mein
Leiber, must now drive you away" and sent
them off in the best of spirits. In his cores
pondence he answered the letters that he re-
ceived himself; never having regular secre-
tary. The greatest order prevailed among his
papers. Important documents or letters which
had been addressed to him months before
were ready to place his hand upon. He man
aged the preservation of his scientific memo
randa with the EXTREMIST care; whatever he
used during the course Of conversation or
work, he replaced Immediately in its proper
place.
HUMBoLDTS LETTERS.
Humbodt's letters are curiosities. Among
the thousands that lie answered but very lew
bear date, or the place from where they were
written. He simply wrote the day of the week
aud the hour, as" Sunday morning." "Tues-
day noop," Wednesday evening"" A con-
siderable number of his letters bear the in
scription, Midnight" Only few of the
letters in possession of Schlaeintweit are fold
I'D hah ha.l lsc.
nearly square envelopes, and folded the paper
only once, in the middle. My great envel-
opes are cosmopolitan" be was accu toned to
say; :" can use them for writing to ambassa-
dors as well as for orders to tradesmen. Be-
sides they are saving of time, since have 10
fold my letters but once. Whoever ba, so
much to write as l have must have regard 10
even the smallest consideration" He was in
the habit Of placing his name on the envel-
ope, besides the address, in order that the
communication, in case the addressed were
dead or unknown, might be returned to him.
He also may have known that his autograph
would have considerable value to his cores
pondents. r
The general appearance of bis letters is
often comic. 1t was impossible to him to
write Straight; the lines got higher and
higher as they approached the right of the
sheet. Besides this he had the popularity of
beginning every succeeding line further tow
ard the middle OF the paper; the margin on
the left thus became broader and broader;
until at the conclusion he had hardly space
enough to sign his name. The broad mar
gins he sometimes used for communications
Of the most important kind; in such a case he
was accustomed to embody the remark in a
single line, which often took on the most GU
rious form. His letters were extremely diff
ncult 10 deciPher, the words consisting of
mixture OF German and Latin characters of
Giminutive size. He signed his name with
Latin letters. L. is characteristic that not
long before nis death Humboldt enleavored
to correct his writing by adopting ruled paper;
but the new method caused him such pain,
and robbed him Of so much time, that he was
compelled to abandon it, though he had made
great Improvement in the mean time He
took great pains in sealing all his letters. This
task used to give him the greatest pleasure
as he often confessed. Schlaoistweit says he
has often seen him engaged in this task, with
a great deal of zeal, and the greatest, indeed
comic. earnestness Very few letters escaped
the fate Of sealing, which often happened to
their damage. .HrG
HUMBoLDT's MODE OF LIFE. .I
Schlagintweit then described HumboidCs
communications from the naturalist himself.
from his own brothers, or from actual expe-
rience. In his later years Humboldt led a
sedentary lie. Since the year 1S43, he had
entirely ceased to take his customary walks
The only bodily exercise, II such it may be
called, consisted in a ride in his carriage,
though never for pleasure alone, but always
with definite OBJECTION business, or to pay
visit. Humboldt retired to rest late, but
arose late, too. During the last years OF his
life he appears to have enjoyed but few hours
sleep during the night. In his study, as well
as in his saloon, where he received visitors,
there prevailed in winter TIE extreme OF
heat, which was quite oppressive for those not
accustomed to II, but maze the cid gentleman
feel very comfortable. Warmth was to him
a necessity; the hot summers of 1857 and
1859 evidently did him much benefit. Tue
proverb that v inc is milk tor the aged" was
proved in Humboldt's case. During the last
ten years of his life he took a large glass of
o'clock. Up to the end of his life he had an
excellent appetite.
In his last years he usually dined at the
royal table. occupying, except when especially
high guests were present, the place OF honor
opposite the king. Here, as Nestor of science,
he had frequently TO answer the questions OF
distinguished foreigners. though the king ex-
pressly commanded that the tenderest regard
should be paid to him. 1t was especially
amusing to observe HIM when at the table of
his highly esteemed niece, Frau Won Bulow,
or Madame Mendek sohn, his true friend for
many years. The brothers Schlagintweit were
frequently invited to these gatherings, and
Robert communicated a few interesting scenes.
HUMBOLDT AT DINNER.
When Humboldt offered his arm to the
honored matrcn, Madame Mendelssohn, who
was much older than he was to table, it wes
with gallantry that would have done credit
to youth. When one saw this aged couple,
whose united ages amounted to one hundred
and seventy-eisht, cautiously and slowly. with
short steps, appi oaching, the fear could not be
banished of seeing them tripping over any
small object-a grain of sand or a straw
which might accidentally be in the way be-
tween the reception and dining-rooms At
table was perfect freedom from restraint.-
Humboldt ate with evident relish; not daint-
lily, but just the contrary nor did he refuse
to take large draughts OF the excellent wine.
All the time he kept up very interesting
conversation, in loud, distinct, quick and
lively voice. Though he had cause to be con.
teEted with the state of his general health, he,