The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-15

ences to the life of great man ought not to
be overlooked He who desires to be great
must study to acquire knowledge. Humboldt
considered every moment OF time lost that was
not devoted to the acquisition OF knowledge.
He who would be eminent must preserve bis
mind pure and elevated, and free from all ire
gularities and indulgence in Righteousness:
Humbodt's moral character was pure and
without stain. He who desires to hand down
his name to posterity among the great and
the good, must follow the example Oh Hum
boidt, and labor to be an ornament to society
and blessing to manAind.
After an overture BY the orchestra, General
John A. Wagner rose to deliver the oration.
Grafton of General John A. Wagner.
The remarks Of this gentleman were deliver
ed in German. They had been prepared with
care, abounded with passages of striking truth
and beauty, and were appreciated, as their elo-
auence deserved, by those who understood the
language in which they we're spoken.
He commenced by observing how beautiful
was the spectacle of men releasing themselves
from the cares Of business for the purpose Of
doing honor to one whose greatness consisted
in his usefulness to mankind. The present
was festival coextensive with the limits of
civilization, and it could not but be source OF
the earth to the other-throughout Europe,
mart of Asia. Africa, and the two Americas-it
would be celebrated in his own mother tongue.
Nav more, the object of all this praise which
the children of other nations as well as the
German people delight to bestow-he who had
gathered and worn these laurels-~as himself
German.
The speaker then proceeded to briefly sketch
the life of Humboldt, concluding the same
with o. beautiful euloGium upon the character
and services OF this "honorary citizen Of tile
world" Science had become his pride IN ear
lvife, and he had been true to her until age
deckcd his brow with a silver coronet, night
rested upon his vision, and he disappeared
like some glorious star drawn from earth 10
heaven. Even if time permitted, few would be
bold enough on such an occasion to express an
opinion OF Humboldt and his works at vari-
ance with the opinion OF 1.-The whole OF the
learned OF the earthEap opinion which is verl-
fed BIZ the events OF this day, because the
world combines to do him honor. The great
object nn of HumboIdt's life, as proposed by him
self, was not to study merely one branch Of
science. but to make himself familiar with, and,
il practicable, the master OF all and
when his labors are reviewed, it seemed as
if Providence had specially selected him as an
instrument in His hands to begin lew
epoch in the intellectual development OF man m
kinds His early studies, personal wealth.,
family assoca ions; his habits and tastes; his
nowerful constitution and an unusually long
life in which to complete the variei libors so
auspiciously begun, were all circumstances
tending to achieve success, and enable him to
enjoy the truitlon of his work. 1he same
spirit which precedes and prepares periods or
deyelopment, calls into action those who are
to become it's agents, and marks the epoch by
the announcement of new thought, OF the dis
coyery of new facts, thus ,either altering or
amending science and life, or increasing the
pre-existent harmony. Humboldt did not
commence his travels without drawing like o
good general upon his extensive armory Of
science. Thus it was that he was enabled to
Investigate Nature in all her phases with the
most effectual results. he described the earth
and her position in the astronomical system her
continents and oceans, her mountains and val
Ieys. her hills and dales; the rocks above and
the strata below; birds, animals, insects. trees,
present history; the phenomena OF nature, and
finally humanity itself. and its relation to the
arts and sciences. While he assembled in per-
son to the highest attitudes in three portions
of the globe, and penetrated to the lowest
depths attainable by man, he likewise searched
tor the riches contributed to mankind IN the
books and laboratories Of the most learned in
his own intellectual sphere. Schiller and
Goethe, by their massive genius IN developing
the strength aud beauty Of German poetry,
impaired fresh vigor to the literature OF the
world; and so it was reserved for Humboldt to
become the founder OF new school OF natural
science as distinguished from the previous
speculative philosophy, and based upon exact
aud mathematical principles.
Humboldt was the first who undertook to de-
scribe whole countries according to their geog-
nostical profles, and to fix the uniform char
acter Of volcanoes. He was the first to put
forth the true view of the relation OF the varl-
GUS elements Of the earth to itself, and hence
was instrumental in doing away with the plan
less gathering Of single facts. Taking into
consideration the interior structure OF the
earth, he founded new school OF climatic
observation and philosophy. He was the first
to mention the peculiar uniformity In the dis
position and distribution Of precious metals.
and made valuable suggestions concerning de-
posts ofdlamonds. Procuring seed in the va
rious countries which he visited, he caused
their propo CATION in Europe. and the establish
ment of public botanical gardens for the DIS
semination Of this branch OF human knowledge
We see htm on ne point OF Chlmbodzo,
twenty thousand feet, or nearly four miles,
from the level of TIE earth-l height which,
before Humboldt, no man had ever reached.
We find him in the Cave OF fAtarnipe-the grave
Of tribe OF people-lingering among the SIX
hundred skeletons there found. we see MN
amid the throes of an earthquake, calmly in
vestgating the nature of the phenomena, while
ali around him men are trembling III terror,
or feeidg for safety. We find him again de-
ecendiug the craters OF volcanoes IN the Paclnc
Ocean, Or experimenting With the power or the
electric eel - everywhere, Indeed, pursuing
with enthusiasm, and with an eye single to the
advancement Of science, those great objects TO
attain which only the bravest, purest and best
of mankind are willing to sacrifice Life, II nec-
essary, for the benefit OF their fellow men.
Franklin robbed the heavens Other lightning.
Humboldt followed Nature in h,r most secret
workshop. His aspiring eye reached regions
far beyond the lightning, and it there ever was
a mortal who had clear conception OF the
mysteries and all-pervadng power OF God, ls
was him to whose name we do honor to-day.
The question then arises, was he not select
ed by the Almighty to become the Corypheus
OF O new epoch in sclence, that humanity
might take q giant step forward 10 the true
knowledge of life, and, at the same time, DIS
cover the art Of true happiness and material
prosperity
Humboldt discoursed OF agriculture, the en-
couraeemept of manufactures, the extension
of trade and commerce, the economical and
politicaI relations OF government. He scanned
the heavens. and tells US OF planets, comets,
clouds of light. asteroids and meteOrs that fin-
lsb their existence ON our earth. Who, with
out admiration, can contemplate that know.
ledge which has demonstrated that light
travels II, ,882 feet in second, at which rate II
would require 1000 years. to reach us from the
milky way; that the number OF stars amount
to twenty million; that there are III the milky
way alone eighteen thousand; that according
to Keper, there are more cometsln space than
there are fish in tho depths OF the ocean.
Humboldt. in spirit, travelled all these worlds,
80 81, orod he hrouuhE with lih-