The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-12-26
HumbOldt's LOquacity.

In DR.. Busch's new book on Bismarck,
the great Chancellor's "reminiscences of
Humboldt as talker are given in his
own language. He says: In the days
of Frederick William w Humboldt
used to favor the court by scientific lee
lures, to which no one listened. /, be-
ing good natured, was the only victim
of his loquacity. For hours together he
would favor us with the biography of
some French scholar or architect, in
which no one took the slightest interest.
He lectured standing close to the lamp,
dropping his notes from time to time
and extemporizing some profound re-
marks. Though no one paid attention,
he was visibly elated at hearing himself
speak. The Queen sat industriously at
her embroidery, entirely absorbed by
that. The, King looked at engravings,
noisily turning over the leaves so as to
drown the voice. The young people in
the background laughed, whispered and
paid no heed. Yet the scholar went on,
murmuring monotonously like sleepy
brook. General Gerlach, who was Of
ten present, sat on little round stool,
preposterously unequal to his proper
tions, and snored. Gerlach," said the
King, on one memorable evening,
"sleep, but do not snore." was the
only one who appeared to be listening.
Yet even I chewed the cud of my own
thoughts, until at last cold meat and
white wine were handed round. Yes.
Humboldt was talker. Nothing dis
pleased him more than to have to listen
to another. On one occasion somebody
monopolized the conversation at court
by relating something interesting to all.
Humboldt was perfectly beside himself.
Grumbling morosely, he piled up his
plate with pate de foie gras, lobster,
eels, and other indigestibles- perfect
mountain of comestibles. I shudder
when I think what the old man could
swallow. He ate as long and as fast as
he could. When he found the gastrono.
mic powers exhausted, no longer master
of himself. he made desperate attempt
to get the ear of the company. "On
the summit of the Popocatapetl," he
commenced; but he did not get any
further, the more popular speaker qui
etly continuing his tale. On the sum
NIT of the Popocatapetl, seven thousand
feet above the level of the sea-" he be
gan again, with loud and excited voice
But he failed this time, too. The othel
narrator would not be interrupted, moi
would the company. This was unprece
dented. What a scandalous shame
Humboldt sat down in a rage, ane
moodily meditated upon the ingrati
tude of the human race, particularly a
court. The Liberals have beel
pleased to regard Humboldt as one o
their own set. But he was man VIII
could not live except basking in the sun
shine of the court. The favor of hi
; sovereign was indispensable to him. Bu
this did not prevent his creeping ava,
,, from the palace to Varnhagen, to gossi
: and slander with his trusty mate. Warn
e hagen has put it all into books, which,
s regret to say, are very expensive. TIL
e detail in these books is worth nothing
: They are important, however, as
!. whole, illustrating time when ther
was nothing but criticism, skepticisI
:, and malicious impotence at Berlin
world impossible to realize, except b
reading these volumes.