The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-14
HUMBOLDT CELEBRATION.
Preliminary Celebration at the opera
House,

The Opera House was densely pack
ed last night. on the occasion of the
preliminary celebration of the Centen-
NAL Anniversary Of the birth Of Alex
ander Won Humboldt. The parquette,
dress circle and family circle were
literally packed with the elite Of the
city. The gallery was not opened
from prudential motives, but persons
sufficient to have filed it occupied
the stage. For some treason, not
explained, there was long delay
after the house was full TO overflow
ing, before the ceremonies COM
meneed.
The opening overture, Nebucad-
nezer," from Verdi, by the Evans
vile Orchestra, led by Prof. Matthias,
was admirably rendered, and gave
promise of a highly interesting and
pleasant entertainment.
! DR.. Tegler then, without introduce
ton, proceeded to deliver, in German,
an address of welcome some twenty
five minutes in length, which, at its
close, was warmly applauded.
The Leiderkranz then sung the
/" Gloria" of part XII. of Mozart's
Nesse in a style, and with an excel
Ience peculiarly their own, and which
drew forth the most vehement ap-
plause, and an attempt at an encore.
Mr.. j. G.. Shanklin next proceeded
to deliver the English address of
welcome, with clear enunciation and
a graceful eloquence, which we pro-
duce in full.
j. Ct. sHANKLIN's ADDRESS OF VEL
COME.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: A century ago
in the birth of one man an era dawned.
No star appeared in token of where he
Law, no mystic prophecies fOretold the cir
cumstance of his coming. There was
nothing in the event to give promise OF
the career that followed, more substantial
than the fact OF high birth, an accident
which is scarcely considered now, IN Inc
hosts of deeds his name suggests: But
there came with him into the world new
philosophy and new light. Nor was it that
sort of philosophy which reues SIMPLY
I7nOu tradition for its uppOrt-Whicn
looks to no higher authority than that OF
legend, and asks no drmer allegiance than
that of faith.
Atan early age he resolved to devote his
life TO travel and his youth was given up
to those studies best calculated to render
him intelligent assistance in his purpose.
He acquired full knowledge of all the
Languages OF Europe, mastered thoroughly
the elementary principles OF natural scl-
ence as taught by Aristotle, Ltnn8us and
others, and learned the uses of those in
struments necessary to satisfactory exper-
Literature had long since arrived at the
highest perfection, the Arts had achieved
their standard. Mechanics were momen-
tar1ly adding progression TO progression
and even the Government of Nations was
daily becoming more and more an exact
science. Why, he thought, should not Ma
ture be made to contribute to the perfect
/ civilization which must sooner or later be
| contaminated? Who could divine the
probable resources it possessed, or how far
they might be useful In promoting that
civilization? 1t lay before him almost q
sealed book, in which few had read and
that few but little. IN 1t We're glor1es
doubtless as inviting as those which lay so
bOuutffully scattered on the SurIac9-prac-
teal and tangible precepts Tor winch
| science and humanity STOOD in need. But
prinneval Natute had no ex1stence around
| him, The countries OF cultivated Europe
| afforded but little scope for the enterprises
he had conceived. Industry had reared
cities over all Its plains and public works
| throughout its valleys. Its mountain
| ranges and water courses " ere Invested of
| natural attrib utes by the inexorable march
/ Of centuries OF increasing civilization.
But little was practically known of the
| southern portion OF the New World. The
| rumored riches of Peru had, two centuries
| before, awakened the ambitious schemes
/ of PizaTro, the story of whose conquest
| described a land where nature 1ourished
/ on the gIandeSG scale. Forests of uuriYal-
| ed mRgnihcence, aud broad, luxuriant
/ SaVannaS offered such examples OF animal
/ and. vegetable life as the imagination had
| never yet conceived, and mighty rivers
EsyVel1t down from mountains towering be-
al 81 IN ifah
| gave best promise OF the harvest he wished
! 10 reap. The Investigations of his prede.
cessoTs in, physical science had been con-
/ dned within narrow limits, so that few OF
| the great phenomena had been exhaust
| ively treated for want OF adequate in
! folu1atiOn concerning them. Thus the
| Fcundation upon which he had to build
| was slender. But, taking nothing fol
| granted impelled or restrained by no pre-
/ eonceiyed prejudices, subjecting all his OBJ
/ servations to the coolest Mathematical teS'
/ in order that absolute truth might be the
/ result of all his discoveries, he entered
/ long hidden Secrets from the almos
| Immaculate bosom Of Nature. From
the vast array of living materials
/ irresistible truth as gave new Impulse &C
/ science. The coasts OF. the Spanish COLO
| MES were traverSed, and their correct out
4 Inc determined for the nrst time. In TIT
blooming valley Of the Amazon he gath
ered such evidences of the migration o.
plants as to enable him, combined witt
/ principles already known to account fo
the lnethods by which they are distrib
uIed over the earth. He was the first L
trace q mutual influence between llIanft
| and SOIL, and the influence of both Owe,
| the physical and intellectual 1rOvvtb n
| mana theme which has since c1n1 man n
! ed the consideration of the most erI;c-E :
| ened investigators. Chin bOra - ,.1t5 =
its head in his path, bat upon Sa+oT
mining its attitude and Tor the 1,r,S,SrSsa
| of ascertaining whatever might Ne - 80 II
/ cred from its summit concerniness 49, ~
laws Of temperature, he made ~ ~
| ascent. reaching the highest attitnd,
II ever attained by man. as the fruit OF III
i and similar undertakings, he was enaSier
Fl TO establish the isothermal lines, consid
cred one Of the most important principle
| in physical geography, as by their use IN
1 M can temperature OF different places ma
| be easily Noted. Form srly the elevation
Of continents above The level of the Sc,
| was estimated only by the altitude q
| mountains and of the lower lands. He es
| tablished a new system, in which tn
/ average elevation was considered iusteal
| Of the extremes of the surface. He accepts
nothing IN pursuance OF long estabIIshe,
/ views alone, but the essence of every prin
| ciDle which presented itself was cautiousl,
! adduced by the aid OF subtle experiment
I The highest truth attainable cOncernin
| those matters which he deemed worthy O
: Pronunciation was what he sought ana 4
bthat end he deserted b. aten paths of rea
Fgoning. conscious thai $3.50 Asastrument