The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-15

lusIi hSdh, SCt ~ tohS'iutAs 49, Ills
man impress all enlightened nations with
profound convictions Of his greatness that
to-day the most intelligent representatives
of Caucasian civilization in every land
have turned aside from the eager pursuit
of fame and wealth to DO honor to his me-
mOry. These tributes, spontaneous and
voluntary, neither ordered by monarchs nor
dictated by sclfshncss, place Humboldt in
the front rank Of the worlds most eminent
men.
APOTHEosIs OF HUMBOLDT.
And although the credit is due to the
widely scattered and everywhere honored
and esteemed countrymen Of Humboldt Tor
having initiated this universal apothcosis,
yet the cooperation with the Germans of
the people of all civilized nations in this
centennial celebration proves that all coun-
tries claim Humboldt as their bencfactor.
lnstanccg | know arc not rare Of nations
celebrating with great magnifcence and
appropriate honors the centennial anniver-
sarics Of the births of statesmen, heroes,
and men of science, and there is 70 civil
lied land where the aid of literature,
poetry, art, and orGtory, have not been re
peatcdly invoked to "kccp green the
memory" OF departed genius and great
ness. The architectural remains and
monumental relics OF those shadowy
prehistoric nations of whose existence
tradition presents scarcely o dim re-
mcmbrance were evidently Intellectual
and barbaric efforts to perpetuate the
fame Of forgotten kings and heroes,
who ruled millions Of subjects with despotic
sway, and who were filed with the fierce
lusts of conquest and dominion, long before
the muse Of history took cognizancc Of the
deeds Of men and OF nations. The Pan
thcon was crowded with The statues of gods
and heroes; the splendid artistic talent of
Athens never wcaricd Of chiselling the fea
turcs of the great dramatists, heroes, ora
tors, law-gvcrs, philosophers, and histo-
riaI;s, Of Greece; and Westminster Abbey
and the museums, cathcdrals, palaces,
parks, public squares, galleries, and lead
ing streets. of London, Edinburgh, Paris,
Venice, Naples, Vienna, st. Pctcrsburgh,
and Berlin, and many another city be-
side, arc adorned with monumental tri-
butcs, in marble and bronze, to The great
men who have passed away.
But while every people honor their illus
trious dead, this is. ] think, the first in
stance where all nations have united with
the countrymcn Of great man in paying
centennial honors to his memory. Il may
safely lie sale, without incurring the charge
of cxaggcration, that sculpture and oratory
have been to-day in every section Of the
: world invoked to reproduce the noble head,
massive brow, and intellectual features OF
the great German, and 10 tell in every Ian
guaGe the marvellous tale ot his travels
explorations, and vast labors, III every cline,
and of his return, after years Of pCrilOuS
adventures, laden with a wealth Of scientific
treasures, the accounts of which yet fill us
With admiration and amGzemcnt. This
Worldwide apothcosis Of Humboldt seems
more nearly to fulfil the definition Of thc
word than any honors that have heretofore
been paid TO the distinguished dead. We'll
might the ancients term such tributes ''an
enrolment among the gods when, from
St. retcrSburgh to Lisbon, from Quebec tC
San Francisco, and on every island&nG every
continent where the influence OF the great
German race is felt, solemn professions
waving flags, ancient and renowned order:
and societies, and hus:s, statues, and Ior-
traits OF the great dead, attest the univcr-
sal appreciation Of the value Of the hcrcu'
lean labCrs Of Humboldt.
TIE EEEETACTnR or HIS RACE.
There is beautiful significance ana
rlorv il the centennial celebration OF Tho
birthday OF man whose memory is re-
ycrcl because he was the bcncfactor OF Iii,
race which honors to the mere soldier ant
politician can never rival. 1t the cIpira
ton OF thc first century since his birth, tht
fame Of this great German cmcrgcs fresh
| bright, ard glistcnins, with increased an(
constantly increasing splcndor. Astutc
tiplomatis;s who played with Tic fate oI
nations as il monarchs and their sub,
, iccts were Dice CT chccSmcn, and blood
stained warriors, who sacked cities
towns, and villages, and inundated mil
, lions Of their lollow-bcings, temporarily
cclipscd by the balcful hrilliancy Of thcil
rcnown the fame OF tie great man Of
science, but century rolls around, ant
while dust and oblivion hide, or the verdict
OF posterity condemns, the memory O. Tx
ambition sought the conquest Of Europe, 0,
whose selfish and barbarcus policy prompted
Tie extinction OF Il nation, Humboldt
with hands unstained by the blood of Ii;
fcilow-man, and whose plots have workeC
the overthrow of no unhappy people, I'D
vances unchallcnged to the front, and amiC
the acclamationS OF the civilized world il
hailed as more worthy OF honor than any
of his ambitious contemporaries. Th(
civilized world when it crowns to-day hi!
memory with such extraordinary honor:
renders significant verdict, which elevate:
the triumphs Of modern science to loftiel
pedestal than those which military force
and diplomatic intrigue and cunning cal
ever reach. 1t is verdict in exact accord
ance with the experience of every modern
nation for while, with Few exceptions, re-
cent wars have enabled mere force tt
triumph over the most heroic and gailan
nations, and have resulted in the overthrow
Of vested rights and constitutional lher
ties By the bayonet, science has scattered
its blessings over every land, and healed
the wounds inflicted by military injustice
and oppression.
HUMBOLDT IN AMERICA.
After this brilliant exordium, MIR. Aylctt
gave an exceedingly interesting and enter.
tanning sketch Of Ilunboldt's lie and work
the greater part of which we are compellea
10 omit in order to give larger portion oi
his account Of the travels and explorations
OF Humboldt i'll America, which, com.
mcncing in 1899, extended five years, and
enabled him to return to Europe laden with
such stores OF scientific wealth and collec-
tion8 in every branch of natural history as
the world had never seen, and to gain
during those years Of travel far larger
store of observations and collections III al
the departments Of natural science, and II
geography, statistics, and ethrography, than
all previous travellers had secured.
No one has narrated with half the eio-
quenco Of humboldt himself the story ol
what lie saM and felt amongst the vast