The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-15

IN hs commencement, still always urged on
by an Inner impulse and necessity. As civil
isation perished In the great river valleys Of
the East, new life sprung up on the shores
OF tho Mediterranean. Greece means higher
step OF human culture. How often do we
md Humboldt referring In Cosmos to the
Greeks, his friends; even the name Of his work
he took from this noble language. Amer
this world also had lived q specified time, the
noble and powerful nations of the North
came upon the stage Of action.
They are the pupils Of the ancients from
the downfall Of the Roman empire to the
close Of the middle ages. But they emanci-
pated themselves from this authority. The
discovery OF the sea passage to India, and the
discovery OF America, opened new world Of
views that necessarily were Of the greatest
consequence TO all the branches Of life and
thought. This great period, the time OF
Columbus and Of Copernikus, has also
had the enviable fate TO be particularly
dwelt upon by Humboldt. As he sees
10 the Greeks the great progress from
Orientalism TO freer and nobler humanity,
so appears to him the time at the close Of
the fifteenth century as the commencement
OF grand new period that will as much
surpass the middle ages In q more liberal
and nobler culture, as the Grccian era once
surpassed the Oriental ideas.
The venerable sage eagerly listened to
every sign that might show again pro-
gress OF morality among "the always-com.
batting human race" He believes firmly
In the progress and ultimate victory that re-
CARDS, despite the narrow boundaries Of
| nations and countries, the whole human
race as o unit, intended to develop freely
and successfully In brotherly union all their
slumbering powers.
II Humboldt's sagacious and intellectual
conception Of the universe charms us, the
expression Of his noble humanity gives bis
views the highest conservation. Seventy
years Of toilsome labor In the service Of
science aud humanity prove how sincere
Humboldt was In his principles; everywhere
urging, squirting, advising and helping; the
great man had always higher aims In view,
forgetful Of himself Very properly can
apply to him the words Of tho great poet
Goethe, his friend
Now on his check more radiantly slowipg.
That ardor which aye keeps us young. was
And IL o.s sIei;t ,houIh. which from the soul out
.Ss SoFs sSI:s a. nd a.
wh.,..s " Ssilae, susse,. will 20, haze aown-
iii On stsS% .ouis .soei% r RI. S sss Day Of
We are indebted for the translation Of this
stauza to Mr.. II. A. B. Blood, Of the Internal
Revenue Bureau.
At the conclusion of the address, 1t was
heartily applauded. The orchestra then per-
formed verdps "Cayitina," from Nabucco.
The Washington sengerbund In full force
then appeared upon the stage, aud In capital
style sang the beautiful song, "Light, More
Light'-(Gethe's last words.)
| GROWING THE BUsT.
As soon as the Sengerbund had cleared
the stage Il was occupied by eighteen little
girls, dressed In white, with blue sashes,
n, -. i. -. 80. L. n
ers. They were arranged In q circle around
the pedestal. Mrs. Reichart, Of Baltimore,
stepped into the circle, and In q clear voice
recited In an impressive manner an original
poem composed for the occasion. As she
concluded she advanced TO the bust and
crowned II with wreath Of laurel. Red
lights were burned on either side Of the stage,
and the incident was grand feature of the
demonstration.
| Meyerbeer's coronation March" was
performed by the orchestra, after which Mr..
Hart appeared and introduced 8. Yorkc
Alice, esq, librarian of the Treasury, to
whom was assigned the duty OF reading the
poem composed by Mrs. Ruter Dufour, OF
this city.
This poem was composed by Mrs. Dufour
ten years ago, upon the following occasion:
TIE Hon. Y. Wright, American Minister to
Prussia, in tho year 1859, on tho occasion Of
| NNtpotahhb suo SSu uhy VI ECbfuhTy Us utu-
cral George Washington's birthday, inyiteu
all Americans then In Berlin 10 DO present.
| The most distinguished guest at the table
was Baron Alexander Won Humboldt, then
nearly ninety years old.
A great many toasts were offered, one OF
them as follows: "Baron Humboldt, the
king Of science, whose shoe strings no kings
are worthy enough to unite" A letter Of
| those proceedings was sent 10 New York
paper, and republished In this city In the
National h'tsui1eneer. After reading the cor
| rcspOndence, Mrs. Dufour composed the
poems copy OF which was sent to Baron Hum
boldt, and found him on his dcathbed II was,
however, read to him, and he expr essed his
sorrow at not being able to answer the beau
tiful lines. Baron Gerolt, the Prussian Am
bassador, however, was requested 10 render
the thanks OF the dying sage TO the lady,
which duty he discharged very crcditably to
himself 1t was deemed proper to give II
publicity at this time:
Az, thou a., King. b. nOssis., p.ohood srpwn'd.
Thy aans VII live great Humboldt. world re!
rG %i M a ;a' a ss.s az Il ..S; : St91'A
Has fAthomsd al earth : M stsri,s hath walked
%sa.s az aspiite Ssss sa III h S.. no:l.d.
Their. h..t th'a 'eireh'd AID f'a'lo's trjd aud
There's not q nook Ia ali it's llf yriaihs DARK,
Bat what wiihlp Thy radiant mind hath cast
rhy ,.. ' .o q fhSas1, 'st tp % car
,,Br.wn upward By celestial s.ee3. ofnss,.
..ssisa f x. S. R. q ..S STs n "a ;
Aud b!vou,ek'd amid their wAtebhres bright
And what hath Ocean hidden from thy g,I.,
Hast thoa not pondsrsd 10 each seer.t MAZE,
And all .heif treasured mysteries OWNED,
TfoS .as ~ S ds% apsa s:r :a pdf
Has marked TIE Iuin wrought ~ ares old.
where ti@s hath Ssuiy tiied to Vol ,ssi2 fearful
rsSa hast no county. for all nation. claim
rhGs ,oI their own and All have crowned thee
ofshs vast realm 2, knowlsdss. sad thy nam,
r sS S. IL, b here fs
The Throne on High At whose bshsst Il wrought.
.; "a s'Sd Of sms
TSst ,Spd, 4. one e Co., s,s.I !a,a.
s.s;:Sf, II Nv .;s I'd :s!Iss Ssss :! Tss;;sn,
FOR hope immortal TO thy souii Eivsn.
oflifs beyond. wbsu from It earth is Tivsa.
The poem was received with hearty ap
plause, and the Arion Quartette Club, with
plano accompaniment, rendered with supert
effect "rhs Nations Prayer" In response
| w 81 SheoiS hhlhh vi WhH bNeetN
sung, the tenor solo by Mr.. Knabe being
finely rendered.
John 4. Norris, esq., now appeared AMI
i delivered the English Grafton OF the evening
GRAFTON OF JOHN Z. NORRIS, ESQ.
. Mr.. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlense,,
. In all civilized ages and nations men hay
felt and expressed admiration of the geniu
. that has developed itself In new and usefu
discoveries. Those who have originate,
and presented to the world ideas befor
unknown, whether In natural or politica
science, have been deemed benefactors o
the human race.
Science In all Its branches Is progressive
each discovery adding TO the aggregat,
stock Of knowledge that has been accumu
lating for centuries. But II has not been tn,
fortune Of any one man to compass tn,
circle OF all the sciences, or completely u
/. grasp all the mysteries Of a single branch.
There are some, however, whose cherished
names have been garnered up and trans
mitted by history who seem 10 have beer
designed by Providence not only to eclips,
their predecessors, but TO strike out move
Ideas and systems for the instruction and ad
miratlon OF succeeding ages. Such wal
Socrates In his moral teachings, Of whom Il
has been said that he brought philosophy
down from heaven TO dwell among men; BY