The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-15
HUMBOLDT.
Centennial Celebration Of his Birth.
THE EXERCISES AT THE THEATRE.
0EAgEONS EN- 2. fE. AE-E.Ey"T, ESQ,
AND q. A. FEPE.E.
FESTIVITIES.


low-citizens, and not few rcople of other
nativitics participated in the appointed
honors to the memory nt8hc illustrious
sauGH;, with whose name 'l;c l4th of Sep
tcmhcr Will ever hcrcuI.cr be inscpa-
rably connected.
The programme published in the papers
was rigidly adhered to by the gentlemen
having the celebration in charge. At
about 10 o'clock the German societies and
invited guests assembled in front of the
City Hall, and procession being formed,
marched down Broad stree 20 Governor,
down Governor to Main, u? Main to Ninth,
up Ninth to Broad a@s 80 'hcncc to the
Theatre. The rcgimCis:, ...... furnished
music for the march.
AT THE THEATRE
n large audience was already assembled,
and its numbers were swellcl by the arri-
val of the societies. These nov marched in
and were accommodated in the parquettc,
while the dress circle was il!c,l with ladies
and gentlemen. 1t is wci.i:" Of note that
there were many laGic@ -" -, and that
the professions of law cl lI2Gicinc were
we'll represented.
The Theatre was beautifully and taste
fully decorated, the effect OF which was
heightened by the gas being lighted. In the
rear Of the stage was large and finely
executed bust of Humboldt by Edward
Valentine, sculptor, of this city. 1t was
backed by crimson drapcry ornamcntcd
with gilt stars ; and at its base anA 10 either
side were magnoliaS and rare tropical flow
crs, such as the great naturalist cncoun-
tered in his extensive wandcrings in Cen
trail and South America. Festoons Of ever
green were hung near it, and reaching to
the scenery. The speakers stand, also de-
coratcd with eycrgrecns, was placed in front
Of the stage. Conspicuously at the base OF
the statue, we ought to have stated, were
the telescope, pair of globes, maps, &c.
After music by the orchestra and singing
by the Virginia Singing Society, Dr.. Boldc-
man took the stand, and rccitcd prologue
in the German language, which was re-
cciycd with much enthusiasm. After which,
thc orations were in order.
TIE GERMAN GRAFTON.
Mr. G. A. Pcplc delivered a most excel
lent address in German. II was by rC
means an easy task 20 compass the immcn-
sity of his material in such a narrow frame
and yet preserve and reproduce 4 portrait
1T once SO bold and truthful, lofty but OF
easy comprehension. Thc spcll-bound at
tcntion of the audience throughout the i'm
prcssivc delivery of the address, which oc-
cupicd over an hour, amply proved both
the popular method and the intrinsic worth
of his effort. Love and peculiar prcdilcc-
ton for his subject must have been Mr
Pori1's guides while preparing this bicgra-
phy. But it was not mere biography ot
the great Humboldt it was also an able,
elaborate, physiological delineation of the
character OF the celebrated sayant. He
Justly dwclt in some detail on the early
circumstances of IEumbolit's youthful days
which so vastly contributed to frame his
mind, and to which can be traced 20 readily
the sources of his future greatness.
The orator then, with q few, but mastery
strokes gave a complete sketch Of the event
full times Of the latter half of the past cen
fury, the memorable era Of the French enc
German literature, and thus clearly pointed
out the powerful influences which assisted
The early development Of the giant mind o!
the immortal naturalist. Very interesting
was the account the speaker gave Of Hum
bolit'S expedition to South America. StcI
by step he followed the fearless traycllcl
over the endless and dreary prairics and
through the tropical, virgin forests-whcrc
the foot of man never stepped bcforc-cyen
to the summit of the Chimborasso.
In describing the different scenes which
passed before the cnrapturcd eye of Hum
boldt, Mr.. Peple used the own words o. tho
great tIavellcr-words proving at once sc
emphatic0lly the high poctical and dcscriF-
tive power of Alexander Won Humboldt. hIr
Peple then dwelt on the immense advap-
tages science derived from the observations
and discoveries of Humboldt, whose works on
his South American travels he called - CO.
lossal triumphal arches through which the
Alexander of science, with the palm-lcaf OF
peace, led his hosts of discoyerers."
The speaker then gave us an exquisite
picture of Humboldt in his advanced age,
intersperscd with philosophical remarks
deservcdly wrapt in the beautiful form Of
lich, classical language. The speaker
happily succeeded to excite the due admi-
ration, not only for this Titan mind, which,
in it's nodesty and meekness, made kings
crouch ut his feet, but also for that most
unseliish and purest man of modern his
tory, who embraced science as his bride,
and knew of no sacrifice when she extend
ed her longing arms.
TIE ENGLISH GRAFTON.
After Mr.. Peple concluded, the Mincr's
Song was effectively endered by the Ge-
sangverein, and P. IL. Aylctt, Esq, who
had been chosen to deliver the English ora
ton, was introduced. Mr.. Aylett's effort
was able, eloquent, scholarly, and was lis
tened to with profound attention by an au-
dience of far more than ordinary intellec-
tual attainments.
Mr.. Aylett said:
.Mr. President and Gentlemen Of tic
German Societies Of Richmond: In per-
forming the part with which you have
honorcd me in the imposing ceremonies OF
this centennial celebration l shall be able
10 do little more than present O plain and
unadorned sketch Of the life, genius, ard
scientific labors Of your great countryman
and other pursuits having for many years
deprived me of the pleasure of literary and
scientific recreation and study, ] fear my
work will be most imperfcctly performed.
The able and appropriate discourse to
which YOU have Just listened from the dis
tinguished German gentleman Mr.: feple)
who is the President Of your Societies has
been characterized by such exhaustive re-
search, felicity of narrative, and business
of eulogy, that it has relieved me OF much
responsibility, from which l should have
otherwise shrunk with apprehension and
A century, which has crowded
the history of civilization with great results
reyolutionized half the nations of Europe
by its important political events, enor,,
mously augmented national wealth ano
prosperity by its startling discoveries ana
inventions in the sciences and arts, ana
which has added to the department
Of biography the lives of host OF