The New York herald., 1869-09-16
HUM B OIL D 7
The Centenary Memorial of His Birth
Three Continents Join in the Fes-
tvities-A Biographical Sketch
Of the New Aristoteles-His
Importance in the Pro-
gress Of Science-Pro-
gramme of the Fes-
tivities To-Day.

Humboldt Three continents were the scenes OF
his labors-three continents celebrate his memory;
three continents delight Ia his lame The oldest,
''lhe cradle Of peoples" Asia and the youngest, the
mother OF modern republics, America, JON hands
across the continent OF Europe to do nonor 10 The
man whose giant mind comprehended the secrets OF
creation and shaped vague suppositions INFO forms
OF scientific certainty
1t Is to-day. Tuesday the l4th day OF September
1859, one hundred years SINCE al Berlln IN
Prussia, Alexander Won HUMBOLDT drst saw the light
OF day. II was a remarkable year that year OF grace
i769 1t gave birth to three men whose names are
craven in impersnable letters upon PAGES OF ais
tory ana whose lives gave their impress upon pro-
gress o mankind. One changed The political condition
OF q continent, c0nyulsed nations dethr0ned kings
and fell at last under the kdy blows OF the other,
born with him n the same year and an island
aso-the first Napo.e N. Oh Corsica; the other, Wei
lington, the British Isle. The third, however
who was ushered INTO the life at almost the same
time, on the banks OF tie river spree, at Berlin is
the greatest Of them all. He gave full proof to the
rule that "peace hath her victories no less than
war; nay that The victories OF peace OF science OF
mind over matter, are more renowned more last
ing more fruitful OF benign results than those
on bloody battles death h-stained deid The British
remember the ''lrOl DuSe'' as u military cbieftan,
the conqueror of the "Corscan Usurper," and right
folly claim him as peculiarly an English hero. No
other nation shares with tnem In his fame. The
French celebrate The day that one hundred years
ago gave them Their Napoleon, the hero OF a hun
dred battles the conqneror OF Europe, and other
nation shares with then IN his fame The third OF
the great men OF tnat year stands in such narrow,
limited relation to his nationality, Though German.
and having his home In q German city, the Germans
cannot claim him as the pride exclusively of their
fatberland. HUMBOLDT, as he was in his writings,
so he Is in his lame-cosmopoan, tile pride OF the
whole world. Win full appreciation OF this, the
French Academy OF Sciences, conmemorfng the
death OF Humboldt in 1859, ordered grand medal to
be struck and distributed among all the institutes OF
learning in every land, which Oh the reverse bears
the inscription, "Ihe Greatest Sayant of His Cen.
ury" and ''The Founder Of the Science Of the Physic
of the Globe;" and on the diverse, underneath the
bust of Humboldt, are the words, The new Arsto.
leles." The importance OF Humboldt 10 the world of
science could not have been described in better
terms .'ies, what Aristoeles was to the world Of
old, Humboldt became to the world Of his day-the
central point Of ali knowledge Of nature OF the past
the starting point Of new fruitful knowledge for
succeeding centuries" Thus speaks Ger
man writer, Professor Otto Ule, in his late
work on Humboldt and it is not mere
figure OF speech. but the whole truth, and, charac
terzing the great deceased more mnutely, he con-
tinues:-'He was world reormer, who not only
opened to inquiry whole new fields who not only
Influenced Change of the principles of research
but whose powerful mind also Influenced change
III the views OF mankind OF the world around them.
What great results he achieved for science, how he
passed over al the fields OF nature TO the deepest
depths of the sea through the boundiess realms OF
the heavens how, whie regulating the disordered
chaos OF individual experiences OF others before or
coeval with him. he made known the entire life OF
the earth and led the natural sciences
into new channels, unknown heretofore,
which the Greek natural philosophers never
dreamed Of IN their ideallstlc wanderings-
all this is noted IN the annals OF science. But no
pen can describe what uumpoldt has done for the
spirit OF mankind From hin proceeded q new
view Of the world. As ne taught 10 apprehend the
spirit under the tAe cover OF physical phenomena, as
he taught 10 appreciate nature In the unity OF her
forces and laws, HARMONIOUS, living whole, and
explained by means OF the opened book OF life the
whole and the great, he wrought change 10 the
views and tendencies OF men which made him a re.
former OF the world" This ia certainly true; for
Humboldt elevated the science OF nature to be the
rundament OF moral development, the means
OF spiritual liberation OF the people. Standing
thus on the pinnacle OF science, cosmopolitan in
his influence anu IN fame. 1t is but just that
the people OF this city do honor 10 his memory. Pre-
liminary to the commemorative festivities which
take place to-day. we oier to the readers OF the
HERALD the following sketch OF the great mans life.
1t Is necessarily briel, Tor to write OF Humboldt
fun account with proper Detail OF his Importance
to science and 10 manaDd, would require the hand
OF a master and The study OF llietime:-
BIoGRArniCAL SKETCH.
Alexander or rather Friedrich Heinrich Alexan-
der Won Humboldt, was born at Berlin, the capital
of Prussia, on the 18th or September, 1892 His
father was Ia on Alexander Georg Won humboldt,
Major in q PrIssian regiment o. dragons, Adjutant
OF the Duke Ferdinand OF Brunswick, and specially
honored With the confidence OF King Frederick the
Great, who appointed him Chamberlain or
the royal household attIched TO the Princess
OF Prussia. The mother Oh Tue suDect OIL our
sketch was also noble family, being COUSIN
Of the Princess Bluecher d Baroness ilowede. ltwas
alter the close ot ihe seven iears War that Baron
At the former place, on the I'd o. june 1857, his
nrst son was born, Carl llhelin, whose lapors on
the field OF ethnO2r-gh Cal and linguistic research
were exceeding valIaDie and great aid TO the
wider range oi his brotner. Their father owned a
delightful summer residence, Tege, or the river
Have, which, opposite .ne lilte castle, widens into
almost lake. Here tie two boys spent most or the
time. The place was most beautifully situated and
quite an attraction. so that when Goethe came to
Berlin In 117s wnh the Duke OF Wcimar he visited
Te9el object worth seeing. he saw the two
year old Alexander ana had quite Jolly r0mp WIN
him; and later, when iilmboldt's name had already
filled the word. he visited Goethe, and the latter
recouRted amid laughter the pfanas and prattle oI
the boy Alexander wlile YET n swaddling clothes
In l775, Wilhelm being eight and Alexander six
years of age, Joachim neinrlch t2npe, an author
o. repute aud chaplain III the Prusslan army was
selected for theT teacher IL was Campe'S eXten-
slye knowledge OF lang lages which had It's influence
upon the mind OF Wilhelm and lad the foundation
for mis- subsequent inguisl!c excellence. Campo
was an en- husiasic follower Cf Jean jacques Rons.
seau and OF the ideas expressed ID his Emile
which at the time crea.ed 9ieat excitement through
out Europe aud WAS warmly adopted by several
prominent "a teFHiNny. CdMpS WAS
selected for tea her by Hun bocs parents specially
on account OF his adhesion TO ROusseaus reform
IDEAS But ne remained in that position only
year, and he was succeeded by Christian kunh, who
continued as teacher OF The boys until they entered
college. Alexander, when only eleven years or age,
was already somewhat OF a Dotanst and geoOgis,
gathered specimens Of rare plants made geological
collection, and passed his leisure hours with ply
sical and chemical experiments None OF that pride
OF nobility which characterized the times was In
him. and though but boz he often expressed his
wish OF becoming a useful citizen. An uncle, q
royal cham nberain, once chlded him with his love
for herbs and chemicals, and asked HIM whether he
would become o druggist. Rather q druggist
answered Alexander, "Inan chamberlaln.n
Major Won Humboldt died In 1879, and the BOYS
were left under the OF their mother, one OF the
most intellectual and best educated women Of her
day and OF their teacher, Christian kunth In 1888
they were transferred TO Berlin, where other teach
ers were engaged to instruct them In philosophy,
Jurisprudence, ancient languages, &C. In 1855
the two brothers, still under the super
Vlslnn of kunIn went TO FrankiOrt.On-