New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-15
ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR LOUIS AGAssIZ IN
BOSTON,

in Music Hall this afternoon under the auspices OF the
Boston Society OF Natural History. The net proceeds
will be devoted to the establishment OF Humboldt
scholarship at the Museum Of Comparative Zoology, in
Cambridge for the benefit Of worthy student and
lasting memorial OF the day. The services consisted Of
musical performance by select orchestra and several
German musical societies led by Carl Zerrahn when the
following address delivered by Prof Agassiz:
am invited TO unwonted task Thus far have lap
peared before the public only teacher OF Natural
History. To-day, for the first time In my life, leave
field in which am at home. take upon myself the du
ties OF begrapher II succeed at ALL it Will be be.
cause so loved and honored the man whose memory
brings together
Alexander Won Humboldt born In Berlin in I76o.-
hundred years ago this day,-in that ferne year
which gave birth to Napoleon wellington, Canning, Gu
ver Walter Scott Chaeaubriand, and many other
marKable men. All America was then the property or
European monarchs The first throb OF the American
Revolution had not yet disturbed the relations OF the
mother country and her colonies. Spain held Florida,
Mexico the greater part of South America France
owned louisiana; and all Brazil was tributary to
Portugal What stupendOus changes have taken place
since that time in the political word' Divine right OF
possession then the recognized law on which gov
ernments based. mighty republic has since been
born the fundamental principle of which IL self govern
Progress in the intellectual world the world OF
thought has kept pace th the u Sv b @
qury and Humboldt was one Of the great Leaders IN
tie for independence of thought against the tyranny Of
authority No man impressed his century intellectually
more powerfully, perhaps man SO powerfully, as he.
Therefore he is dear TO the Germans, with whom
many nations unite to do him honor today Nor Is ~
alone because Of what he has done for science for any
one department OF research feel grateful to him.
but rather because OF that breadth and Comprehensive
higher levels culture and mpresses itself the un.
learned as well as upon students and scholars; IT.,
To what degree Americans are indebted 70 MN no
knows who is not familiar with the history OF Learn
mental facts Of popular education in physical science,
beyond the merest elementary instruction, we owe 10
this broad land Where education the heritage OF
the poorest child the intellectual harvest sown ny nun.
lures are based upon his Investigations for ne first
recognized the great relations OF the earthS pGyc
of isohermal lines based the relative night Oh
chains Rs sHd Hsrs S Of
ply or school-atlas in the hands OF our ehIdreh
faced the impress Of mis- great mind But for him our
Biographies would be mere enumeratlons OF oealties
and statistics first suggested the graphic methods OF
representing natural phenomena which are now nnlser
sally aCptes the nEe t the @ Averages Of
climate Illustrated by lines were his Every schooDoy
that Humboldt is his teacher The fertlizing power OF
great mind wonderfully but we travel farther from
apd il has caused How few Of us
memember that the tidal lines, the present mode Of
registering magnetic phenomena and the action OF
oceanic currents are but the application Of Humbodts
researches and of his graphic mode OF recording nep
in his studies than most children For this reason ms
parents being wealthy, and Of class whose and
position command the advantages denied many IL
more than seven years. his teacher Campo au
thor of the German Robinson Crusoe We can fancy how
he the boy with the fresh story OF Crusoe
on his desert island, and inspired him even az
that early age WIN Witch n %as beaa such fruit in
later years Neither should we omit In recalling mem
brother william These two brothers. renowned in
their different departments o Eanngsg student Of
united from their earliest years by an init
mate sympathy which grew with their growth and
| STR theme wi strength
the University OF Frankfort the younger being Inea
to the University of Gotngen, where they passed the
two following years Ia these four pregnant years OF
occupied his mind for more than threeseore years
| aud ten ..--..-..,..
His first journey after leaving the University was i'm
portant rather the circumstances under which was
than for any local interest He went 70 me Ehno
with GEORGE Forster who had accompanied COOK III MS
second journey round the world He could hardy nave
been thrown with any one more likely 70 hs son,
Seas had the sayages OF the Pacnc ian anu mao
Nor was this their only point OF sympathy George
Forster was warm republican ne had espoused the
came united to the Frepch Republic ne was sent =:
as 700 ardent and too independent TO be aegard In the
great public questions OF the day. He also believed IKE
iy 1iertv for Europe Thus both IN political and
sciento preferences although so different III age lie ana
Forster sympathetic travelling companions ms
excursion was by means pleasure trip Young as ne
was HUMBOLDT had knowledge enough 10 JUSTLY nm IN
approaching the most difficult scientific questios OF the
At that time the great war was Sagns bs wo
he
great schools in Geology aributng the rocks 10
fire the great constructive agent the othef asserting
that all rocks the result OF water deposits ihe
Young student brought to these questions the truthful
ness patience which marked al his later lhvesig
ons Carried away neither by theories nor Dy eaders
he left in allegiance the problem whphseemed TO m moi
vet solved His interest in the subject carried MN 70
Freiberg, where he studied geology WIN werneT ahu
where he made acquaintance with Leopold Won bueh.
All the while he broOded over his schemes OF travel
mind might be prepared to understand nature IN al her
aspects His desires turned especially toward lndla
He wished TO visit the East and reaching India ny way
turn Europe through America In tins he was ioied
| sieht OF that antique ground OF civilization. Al
this moment all Europe was in blaze; between con
and investigation We find him. therefore, floating be
tween various plans He to Paris with the hope OF
GA t, n he was again baed ior the breaking ol
| OF the war between France and Austria post
poned the undertaking indefinitely. HIS next nope was
soan: he mi ght obtain permission visit her traDsa
antc and study tropical nature under inc
erer of America as the Germans like TO call him, was
destined to start from the shore as christopher
colonies but special facilities for his Investigations were
offered him This berality was unexanped on the part
guarded her colonies with jealous exclnslyehess iii, ms
enthusiasm dsarmed suspicion, however anu 'He Ming
eoI en YEARS had passed in maturing his plans.
preparing himself for their execution ana sns
age when sailed from the harbor OF oopnnna running
cruisers which then blockaded the Spanish coast
| HUMBoLDTs AMERICAN JOURNEY
There perhaps part OF Humboldts life better known
% the pubc especially this country than his American
Journey His fascinating Personal Narrative Is known
70 ALL aud need not therefore, describe his course or
awel upon the details OF personal experience. No
period OF his lfe however, has had powerful IN
aueuce upon knowledge and education those i've
years of travel and therefore viii speak at some length
Of their scientific results In the glory OF ms YOUTH
aud vet with intellectual maturity when beonRs 70
| Later