The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-09-15

at each step lengthening chain" he
has united his fortunes forever Win
those of the country of his latest choice'
His influence is hourly f-lt, in develop
ing her resources, building up her great
ness and shaping her course among the
nations. He has preserved In his west
ern home the social regulations that he
! loved in the old; he has given his songs,
his customs and his cheerful festivities TO
his new .neighbors and they are daily
adopting them as their own, until in
many localities there is almost as much
of Germany among Americans, As of
America among the Germans. Yet ali
this does not induce him to forget his
birthright in thf glories of the country
to which he has-bidden adieu. In obe-
dience to that potent principle which
makes our native land the dearest spot
on earth, the old love still lives aud
burns.
Germany-with every foot of her soil
made classic ground by glorious-memo-
ries-her poets, her artists, her states
men, her heroes and her philosophers all
are his. Her sublime history, stretchs
ing back TO the era of fable, with every
period full of immortal thoughts and
mighty deeds, is his TO love, to revere
and to be proud of, and no power short
of that which Cas-, alter the tiat of God
and change the Tuental and moral cOu-
stltutlons of men, can make him re-
nOunce his title 10 this hallowed
heritage. He retains it for life
and he uses it for good. From
it he derives his incentives, his exam
plies and his warnings. While he is true
to its lessons he can never be false TO his
duties. While the past of Germany in
spires him, the future of America will
thrill with that of inspiration.
Let me remark, in conclusion, that
the character of Humboldt as we have
contemplated il, is a fine illustration OF
splendid ability applied to noble uses.
There was no perversion Of natural
gifts to base purposes; there was no
failure to exert those grand intellectual
powers for the greatest possible benefit
to humanity. Humboldt is in his grave,
but the benedictions of his kind, com.
ing up like sweet incense to his memory,
recognize the glorious fultilment of his
mission. Resting from his labOrs, his
good works follow him; the very scenes
of his tolls stand ready to declare his
great fidelity to duty. Deep among tbs
recesses of the Hartz, so famous in
legend and in fairy tale, the primeval
rocks whercon he read the history of
Nature in the handwriting of God, re-
main as eternal witnesses to testify that
he has done his work! Along the romantic
river Of his native land, where
L., 4 ha
exercise of his youthful intellect,
more firmly fixed than the castles
and towers of rock which there
perpetuate the memory of an age of vio
lence, his name is preserved by the |
scenes and subjects of his researches,
and while the Rhine shall roll, mankind
will remember that Humboldt has done
his work! In the tropical regions OF
New Spain, whose desert lands he cX
plored and whose mighty rivers he map
ped, the silent solitudes of the wilder
ness have yet a voice to proclaim that
be has done his work The "stars in |
whose bright leaves we read the fate OF
men, mindful of his mastery of their |
laws and his intuitive penetration Ol
their grand secrets, will forever bear tes !
timony from the celestial lIud that he
has done his work! From tie summit of
the cordilleras of Quite, the Genius Of
History, recording the evidences of Ma |
ture's sublime witnesses upon The merits |
of his career, calls across from the New !
World to the Old; Altai aud Ural, nko |
mighty sentinels keeping watch over
his farm, send back from Asia be grand
response, "Here, too, he har dOue his
werk' Standing to-day with but II
single century between us and bis birth.
we feel that an immortality lies be.
tween our time and the limit of hrs
fame. The lustre of his achievements
illumines the whole future Of scIeucr.
His majestic character, challenging the
criticism of successive genera IOus, is
fortified by merit against "the tooth of
time and razure of oblivion" aud our
verdict but anticipates the grander yer
dict of the HcreafteT-faithiully, man
fully, triumphantly, he has done his
work
At its conclusion the people rose up
spontaneously and gave three hearty
cheers for Mr.. Walker.
Mr.. Oesterling made brief address
in German, and proposed three cheers
for Mr. Rappaport, which were given.
The people then broke mp in parties.
Some to dancing, some to singing and
some to social conversation and inter.
coarse.
At night Turner Hall was the scene of
the greatest gayety. While we write the
music the gay dance rings out on the
Silly midnight, warning Us that the day
is over, and that with it dies the Cen
tenuial Anniversary Of the birth Of the
greatest ofphlosopbers, Alexander Won
HUMBOLDT.
The festival has been a success So
cially and financially. We are Informed |
that the funds accruing from it are to !
be devoted 10 the foundation Of Hum
boldt Library in this city.