The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-14

10 erect Il tnEOtG III SuCu q lauO
was a scheme tull of romance, and which
gave grateful promises of rich reward. The
5 ay of his glltter1ng aegiS would Ice seen
and envied from afar-a wonder even
among Kings. In the Wanton pageant
of natural splendOTs spread out before
him, he saw nothing save the gRudy de-
L71ls of an empire, whose realities would
rival the widest fancies of Eastern fable.
But not so with the Great Naturalist.
Such hopes as these had no delights for
him. His object was to extenC 50 far as
possible the domain OF science by devel-
Oping the unsatisfactory, general princi-
pies adduced by other men, and by adding
to the limited fu Id OF knowledge upon
which he was compelled to work those
more important discoveries which he was
certain lay in his path. Sensual grandeur
and self-eleVation by dominion, was the
mysterious Creation around him, OF the
other. One sought only to overeome ma
terial obstacles in the way OF amb1Hon-
the Other, TO subdue the elements that en-
lightenment and truth might go out 10 all
the word
Later in life he made a Journey into the
regions of Upper asia under the patron
age of the Gar Nicholas, during which
time he discovered the first diamonds ever
found outside the tropics, and made many
valuable additions to his fund Of geolog-
ical and botanical knowledge.
ilizatioD, and the high esteem in which
he was held wherever science was appre-
ciated, made him the centre of the circle
OF learned men With whom MS great SER
vices had brought him into close relations.
The proudest Capitals or the Old World
Wed with each Other in grateful praises for
the tidings he had brought them from the
New. Colleges and institutions of learn
ing were everywhere thrown open to him,
and even naughty royalty hastened, with
him The highest dignities within Its gilt
tering Golfers. Accepting these distiDc-
tons as etiquette seemed to require, he
still regarded them as unm Gaming cOnyen-
tionalities. No insignia of heraldry,
however costly, could add to the lustIe
6 Of the Panoply In which 5IS3 his own n
the evening of his days, DESTROYS that
all might receive the benefits OF his
vast experience, he gave the Cosmos as
his bsnediction to the world. In it is the
essence OF his enlightenment. Diyested
of the tedtIm Of detail and glowing with
the gems of demonstrated truth, he has
here woven chaplet as immortal as the
undying light of stars.
Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we are
on the eve of the one hundreth ann1versa-
ry of HumbOldt's birthday, andI am here
in the name Of his country menin this city,
to give welcome to all, and especially TO
to the celebration to which this evenings
ceremonies are but preliminary. We have
the authority of all ages and countries for
celebrating the days upon which great
men have been born, and surely, in the en-
tire realm of history no mama presents it.
self more worthy OF our gladdest praises
than the one whose centennial occurs to-
morrow. The audience assembled here to-
night shows how fully you appreciate this
IaCbs anu Is a EIdblINlH& token OF the sue
cess of the festivities with which we Will
crown Tomorrow. TLN=
The address was warmly greeted.
The overture of "Athela," by Verdi,
was given with much ability by the
Orchestra.
After a brief interval, the second
part of the programme opened with a
highly artistic rendition by the or
chestra, of the overture Of :. Martha, .
by Flotow, which was followed by
F" Lobgesang," of Part XII. of Mo-
zart's Nesse, which was succeeded
by a magnificent tableau, represent
ing Humboldt in a contemplative
mood, laboring to 1nveiI the arcana
of Nature, and develop her deep hid
den mysteries. Back Of the bust was
a beautiful United States flag, while
on each hand was a flag Of the North
German Bund. In front was SET,
bearing terrestrial and celestial
globe, telescope, scales, palette and
brushes, tones and an open volume,
and to the right and lefts were other
s sets, " representing plants, flowers and
fruits, the tout ensemble forming
grand and instructive spectacle, rem
dered nlagnifeently brilliant by arti-
fetal lights. Then the orchestra gave
US the overture of Norma, very finely
executed.
The best and most brilliant feature
of the evenings entertainment, was
the closing tableau representing Hum
boldt immortalized, surrounded by
golden-hued clouds, which,, when
lighted up, formed a halo of glory.
Thirty three young ladies and misses,
robed in virgin white, surrounded the
shrine, while the Leiderkranz in the
wings sung with fine effect the song,
" Schon die Abendglocke KIang, -
from Das Nachtlager Won Granada
Above the radiant bust Of Won Hum
boldt was the motto in German,
Natur list Wahrheit und Wilson's
chraft der Schluessel EUR Wahrheit. -
Nature is truth, and knowledge is
the key to truth"
With artificial lights it presented a
spectacle of dazzling beauty and the
admiration Of the audience was mani
tested in deafening applause.
The preliminary celebration was a
most gratifying success and was, we
hope, but a prelude to the success
that shall attend to-day's celebration.
TIE CELEBRATION To-DAY.-This
day, Sept. 18th, is the one hundredth
anniversary of the birthday of Alex
ander Won Humboldt. To do honor
to his name, our citizens have arrang-
ed for procession and oratians to-
day. 1t is desired that all who can
do SO, should turn out and take part
in the procession, aud we are. request
ed by the Committee to urge the mer-
chants and manufacturers to so ar
range matters as to permit their dray-
men to turn out this afternoon; the
merchants are requested to close their
Establishments, if possible. All arc
urgently requested to take share, in
order that the demonstration may be
worthy of the exalted fame of the
great man whose memory it is pro-
posed to honor.
The procession will form at one
o'clock P. N. in the order named in
yesterdays JOURNAL, at the National
Hall, and will move as follows: From
National Hall up First Street to Syc