The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-15
THE voN HUMBOLDT FESTIVAL.
INTERESTING EXERCISES.
An IMMENSE 4 UDIE CE
Addresses by Rev. DIR. Rachman, Gen.
eral John A. Wagner. Professor Nc
Grady and Rev. Mr.. Mueller.

Seldom has there been congregated in
Charleston such an audience as assembled last
night in Hibernian Hall to celebrate the CEN
tennial birthday Of Alexander Won Humboldt.
Except at the Schutzenfests, indeed, we doubt
if similar number OF our German aud Ameri-
can citizens have ever met together in any sin
gle locality in this city.
The occasion, however, and the manner In
which it was distinguished, was worthy OF such
an exhibition OF public interest. The commit
tee in charge Of the exercises had secured tho
services Of able men to speak ofthe career and
achievements of the ilustrious dead, and mu-
sic was invoked to add it's charm to the scene.
The hall was handsomely prepared, the stage
especially being most tastefully arranged.
The new scenery intended for theatrical dis
play was exhibited for the first time, and, with
the additional decoration of flags belonging to
various German societies, and liberal sprink-
ling of evergreen, the harmony of color and ar
rangement was calculated to satisfy the sever
est taste.
In order to secure an appreciative audience,
and at the same time prevent the oppressive
Jam Of humanity which otherwise would have
been present, the committee Of arrangements
wisely issued tickets, which were distributed
without charge among ouf citizens to the num-
Der, it is said, of twelve or thirteen hundred.
Few OF these could have been unused, for not
seat was unoccupied, aud every foot of space
whereon humanity could stand upright was
filed by well-dressed and interested spectators
After eight o'clock it was physically impossible
to enter the hall.
On the stage were number Of the represen.
tative German citizens of Charleston and
others. Among these. besides the speakers
of the occasion, were observable Captain Jacob
Small, president of the German Friendly Socie-
ty and Freundschaftsbund; a. B. Olney, Esq,
senior warden of the same; Captain Alexander
Melchers, vice president Of the Freundschafts-
bund; Father Birmingham, and the members
of the committee and of the Sengerbund.
Promptly at eight o'clock the exercises we're
commenced by the choral hymn-"Open, ye
Gates; Let the King Of Glory in"-from the
members &. the Teutonia Sengerbund, under
the leadership of Professor A. ]. Hoffman, the
accompaniment being rendered by fine or
chestra, under the direction of Professor
Metz. -
The venerable Rev. DR.. Bachman being now
introduced to the audience by Captain Small,
advanced to the front OF the platform and
stated that, agreeaby to the invitation OF the
committee, he had prepared an address to be
delivered on the occasion. but that in conse'
quence Of his great age and bodily inarmities,
he felt unequal to the task OF its presentation,
and accordingly had requested his friend and
associate, the Rev. DR.. Hicks, to address the
assembiage in his stead.
Tbereupon the Rev. Mr.. Hicks read the fol-
lowing interesting personal "reminiscences OF
the great ::,,hero Of science" as they were en-
loved and described by our aged and distin-
guished citizen and naturalist, DR., Bachman:
Address OF Rev. Dr.. j. Bachman.
Having been honored with request from
these German societies to join IN the celebra-
ton of an event which recalls to the mind, not
only OF the German, bat OF the man OF science
in every land, the name, character and eminent
usefulness OF one Of the greatest men in the
natural sciences which the world has ever pro-
duced. I feel at losa where am to begin. or
which Of tie numerous subjects presented on
the eveptful life of Humboldt it would be most
interesting to dwell upon.
I have thought that yoD might be most IL
terested in a few Of the "reminiscences OF my
early intercourse. with that great man, who,
even at nv first acquaintance with him, ap-
peared among the naturalists and philosophers
as giant among 0 race OF plgmies.
We delight to trace tie history of great
mind who climbed far beyond the footprints
which his predecessors had ieft, and from TINS
high emlnence listeped 10 the harmony OF the
universe and repeated It's music to listening
world. He whose life and history are called 10
our remembrance to-day. has left name 80
world-renowned that until now none have
euualled it. That name echoes from the peak
of Teneriffe. the SUBMITS OF ChimboraZO, aud
the gigantic Anges OF the Himalayas, where
science, from her mountain throne, contem-
plates the vast monuments on which time has
recorded the history OF the world, or unfolding
the bosom Of the earth; reveals the record OF
the successive phases OF its developmeut;
wherever the tides OF ocean or OF air, the rush
of nights rivers and the stiffness OF funbounded
plains proclaim the laws which make this globe
Q habitable world-wherever forests wave.
deoked with exuberant foliage, laden with
many hued and fragrant flowers and fruits OF
luscious taste, and teemlng with throngs or
beasts, birds aud nseots-throughous Natures
T1CQeSG hHlSQOuS, buo udiio VI huuUoioV
stands confessed the greatest OF Natures his
torlans, the wisest and most eloquent expound-
er OF her laws. j.
It was in the latter part Of the summer Of
1904 that was permitted for the first time, to
look upon the countenspce, to press the hand
and listen to the interesting words Of this
great philosopher. He had arrived in Phila-
delphia With his associate, Bonpland. after
ha7ing explored almost every portion OF Mexi-
&C, and measured the heights OF the Cordll-
leras and of Chimborazo BE had visited por-
tions OF South America, whioh had not been
reached by previous travellers; he had re-
NAMED in Havana ten months, where he COM
pleted bis political essay on Cuba, and after
five years. residence IN America, he @as now
about to return to Europe. Efforts were made
to eyince the respect OF the community tor
such succ essful traveller and so emloent q
naturalist. Attempts we're made to collect to-
eether the few who bad any pretenslous to
natural science, residing in Philadelphia.
was then student, only sixteen years OF age,
but it being known that was occasionally IN
the habit OF accompanying Wilson in his re-
searches in ornithology and OF spending my
vacations and Saturdays 10 Bartram's Garden,
the ueual resort OF botanists, was honored
with an Invitation 10 meet those who we're
about to welcome this eminent philosopher
and naturalist to our countcy. Iielt that was
not deserving Of the hlgh nonor OF the invita-
ton, and mention the fact here, to show how
scauty IN those days were the materials in
natural science. A dinner had been prepared
for the occasion in PeaPs Museum.
Among the few natUralsts who attended
we're the two B irtr"ms, Wilson, the ornitholo-
grsts; Lawson, his engraver; George Ord, and
a few others, whose names have now escaped