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

Tho lessons taught us in these simple refer
ences to tho life OF great man ought not to
be overlooked. He who dosiros to DO great
must study to acquire knowledge Humboldt
considered every moment OF timo lost that was
not devoted to tho acquisition Of knowledge.
He who would bo eminent must preserve his
mind putc and elevated, and froe from oil irrc-
gularities aud Indulgence in RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Humboldt's moral character was puro and
Without q stain. he who desires to hand down
his namc 10 posterity among tho great and
tho good must follow the example OF Hum
boldt, aud labor to bo an ornament to society
and blessing to mankind
Aftor ON overture by tho orchestra, General
john A. Wagener rose to deliver the Grafton.
Grafton OF General John A. wagener.
The remarks OF this gentleman were deEvor-
ed in German. They had been prepared with
oare, ubounded with passages Of striking truth
and beauty, and were appreciated, as their elo-
quence deserved, by those who understood tho
language in which they we're spoken.
He commenced by observing how beautiful
was the spectacle Of mon releasing themselves
from tho carcs Of business for the purpose Of
in his usefulness to mankind. Tho present
was festival coextonsiye with the limits of
civilization. and it could not but bo source OF
pride to every German that from ono end OF
tho earth to the other-throughout Europe,
part Of Asia. Africa; and the two Americas-it
would bo celebrated in his own mother tongue.
Nay moro. the object OF all this praise which
the children OF other nations as vol as tho
German people delight to bestow-ho who had
gathered and worn these laures-was himself
a German.
Tue speaker thon proceeded to briefly sketch
tho lifo Of Humboldt, concluding tho same
with o beautiful eulogium upon the character
and sorvices Of this ''honorary citizen OF tho
world" Science had become his pride IN ear
ly lifo, and he had bocn truo to hor until ago
deckcd his brow with q silver coronet, night
rested upon his vision, and ho disappeared
like somc glorious star drawn from earth 10
heaven. Even if time permitted, few would be
opinion OF Humboldt and his works at ysrt-
anco with tho opinion Of tho whole of tho
learned of the earth-an opinion which is veri-
fod by tho events OF this day, because the
object OF HumboIdt's life, as proposed by him-
self, WAS not to study merely ono branch Of
science, but to make hmselr familiar with, and,
il practicable, the master OF all and
il Providence hnl specially selected him as an
instrument in His hands to begin q new
epoch III the intellectual development Of man.
kind; His early studies, personal wealth.
powerful constitution and 40 unusually long
life in which to complete the ,varie labors 30
auspiciously begun, were oil circumstances
enjoy tue fruitlon Of his work. lhe same
splrIt which precedes and prepares periods OF
development, calls into action those who are
to become its agents. aud marks tho epoch by
the announcement Of new thought, or the dis.
covery of now facts, thus other altering or
amending science aud life, or increasing the
pre-extstcnt harmony. Humboldt did not
commence his travels without drawing like o
good general upon his extensive arnlory OF
science. Thus it was that he was enabled 20
investigate Nature in all hor phases with the
most effectual results. he described the earth
aud her position in The Astronomical system her
continents and oceans, her mountains and val
leys. her hills and dales; the rocks above and
tho strata below; birds, animals, insects. trees
and all manner OF yegetationi Tor past and
present history; the phenoEaena OF nature, and
finally humanity its9if. aud It's relation to the
arts and sciences. While he asoended in per-
! SOD &c .sle highest attitudes in three PORTIONS
OF tho 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 tho most learned in
his own Intellectual sphere. Schiller aud
Goethe, by their massive genius in developing
the strength aud beauty Of German poetry,
inn parted fresh vigor TO the literature OF the
become the founder Of o 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-
sssSe whole countries S a to eSa
acter Of volcanoes. He was the frat to put
forth the true view Of the relation OF The yari-
OPS elements Of the earth to itself, and hence
was instrumental in doing away with the PLAN
less gathering of single fscts. Taking into
consideration the interior structure of the
earth, he founded a new school. OF climatic
observation and philosophy. He was the first
position and distribution OF precious metals,
and made valuable suggestions concerning de-
posits OF diamonds. Procuring seed in the va
rious countries which he visited, he caused
Hent OF public botanical gardens for the DIS
semination OF this branch of human knowledge
I We eco him on the point OF Chlmborazo
twenty thousand feet, or nearly four miles,
from The level OF tho oarth-a height which,
before Humboldt. no man had over 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 hum
amid the throes OF an earthquake. calmly in
vestigating the nature Of the phenomena, while
ali around him men are trembling, in terror,
or fleeing for safety. Wo find him again de.
ecendipg the craters Of volcanoes in the Pacific
Ocean, or experimenting with the power Of the
electric eel = everyahere,s indeed, pursuing
with enthusiasm, aud with On eye single 70 tho
advancement OF science. those great obieots to
attain which only the brayest, purest and best
OF mankind are willing to sacrifice life, II nec-
essary, for the benefit OF their fellow men.
Franklin robbed tho heavens OF their lightning.
Humbo oldt followed Nature In b sr most secret
far beyond the lightning. and il there ever was
a mortal who had o clear conception OF the
t.nysteries and dil-pervading power OF God, Il.
was nlm 70 WnO6e name VIC 90 honOf' to-day.
The question then arises, was lie not select
ed by the Almighty to become the Corypheus
OF q new epoch IN soIence, that humanity
might take Q giant step forward in the true
knowledge OF life. and. at the same time, dis
cover the art OF true happiness and material
prosperity
Z Humboldt discoursed OF agriculture. tho en-
oouraRement Of manufactures, the extension
OF trade aud commerce, the economical and
p6litical relations Of government. He scanned
TIE heavens; and tells us Of planets, comets,
;cIouds OF lightS asterQids and meteors that fin-
ish their existence on our earth. Who. With
out admiration, can contemplate that know.
ledge wnioh has demonstrated that light
travels Al, $50 feet In q second. OF which rate it
would require 1000 years to reaob rs from the
milky way; that the number OF stars amount
TO twenty niillIon; that there are In the milky
nay Alone eighteen thousand;. that, according
to Keplor, there are moro comets In space thai,
there are 6sh In the depths OF the ocean.
Humboldt, in spirit, travelled oil these worlds,
aud whatever he gathered he brought with lib.
erslity back to- his people. His genius was
indeed 'universAl. : :.
That such o man should have been regarded
with onyy, and iealously by many OF his CON