The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-04-10
Baron Humboldt's Charm.

Nature.I
The young Chemist Dumas made at
Geneva the acquaintance of nan, amongst
whose varied gifts the fascinating sway he
exercised over youthful minds was not the
least. Let me try to give the story in the
very words in which heard it from Dumas
mouth. Zone day." he said, "when | was in
my study completing some drawings at the
microscope and, it must be added, rather
negligently attired, in order to enable me to
move more freely, some one mounted the
stairs, stopped on my. landing, and gently
knocked at the door. Come in, said l,
without looking up from my work. On turn
ing round I was surprised to find myself face
to face with gentleman, in q bright blue
coat with metal buttons, a white waist -coat,
nankeen breaches, and top boots. This COS
tune. which might have been the fashion
under the directory, was then quite out of
date. The wearer of it, his head somewhat
bent, his eyes deep-set but keen. advanced
with a pleasant smile, saying: Monsieur
Dumas?' The same, sir; but excuse me.
Don't disturb yourself / am NJ. de Hum
boldt, and did not wish to pass through
Geneva. without having had the pleasure of
seeing you
Throwing on my coat, hastily reiterated
my apologies. had only one chair. My
visitor was pleased to accept it, whilst re-
sumed my elevated perch on the drawing.
stool. Baron Humboldt had read the papers
published by NJ. Provost and myself, on
blood, which had just appeared in the
Bibliotheque Universelle, and was anxious
to see the preparations had by me. His
wish was soon gratihed. i am going to the
Congress at Verona said he and intend
to spend some days at Geneva, to see old
friends and to make new ones, and more
especially to become acquainted with young
people who are beginning their career. Will
you act as my cicerone2 l warn you, how
ever, that my rambles begin early and end
late. Now, could you be at my disposal, say
from in the morning till midnight?' This
proposal, which was of course, accepted with
alacrity, proved to me source of unexpected
pleasure. Baron Humboldt was fond of talk
ing; he passed from one subject to another
without stopping. He obviously liked being
listened to, and there was no fear of his being
interrupted by young man who for the
first time heard Laplace, Berthollet, Gay
Lussac, Arago. Thenard, Cuvier and many
others of the Partisan celebrities spoken of
with familiarity.
al listened with strange delight; new
horizon began to dawn upon me. Save the
time devoted to some visits, was allowed to
remain the whole day with Humboldt, who
darted from point to point over the vast
range Of his recollectiOns, whilst l endeav.
ored to keep pace with the uninterrupted
flow of his narrative. Sometimes the noun
tain scenery would remind him of the Cor
dilleras, though it must be confessed, he did
not think much even of Mont Blanc. Some
times he turned to science; and then astron-
omy and physics. chemistry and the natural
history branches would, in rapid succession
come in for their share in the dialogue, or
rather, monologue, which, spoken in a low,
somewhat monotonous tone, would have
scarcely appeared impressive, had it not been
for some waggish pleasantly which now and
then escaped, as it were lnvoluntarily. But,
at any rate, if his voice failed to be effective,
the glance of his eye was sufficient to rivet
his hearers attention"