New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28
BARON HUMBOLDTS CHARM


From Nature
The young Chemist Dumas made at Geneva the
| acquaintance of man, amongst whose varied gifts
! the fascinating sway he exercised over youthful
minds was not the least. Let me try 10 give the
story IN the very words IN which ! heard 10 from
! Dumas's mouth. " One day. hesaid, when | was
/ IN nv study completing some drawings at the
/ microscope, aud, II must be added. rather neglI-
/ gently attIred, in order TO enable to move more
| freely some one mounted the stairs, stopped on uy
! landing, and gently knocked at tile door. Sc Come
/ ~, SAID J. without looklng up from my work. On
turning round was surprised 10 lind myself face 10
face with gentleman, IN bright blue coat with
metal buttons, "a white walstCOa nankeeu bIeechcs,
/ and top boots his costume which might have
/ been the fashion under the Directory, then
quite out OF date. The wearer of &c, his head some
what bent. his eyes deep-sct but keen advanced
with pleasant smile. saying. Monsieur DumssP
" Tie same, SIP but excuse me-" Don't disturb
yourself / am NJ de humboldt, and did not wish
a. pass through Geneva, without having bad the
pleasure of seeing YOU
Throwing on my coat ! hastily reiterated my
apologies. had only one chair. Nv visitor was
pleased to accept 1t. whilst Gesumed my elevated
perch on the drawing stool. Baron humboldt had
read the papers published by NJ. Provost ard N.Y.
sc.f blood, which had Just appeared IN the
BbhOfh6quo JHireISeiis, and was anxious 10 tho
preparations had by me. HIS wish was soon graft
lied " am going to the Con Gress at Verona SAID
he, aud Intend TO spend some days at Geneva 10
gee OLD friends and To make new ones. and more
especially to become acquainted with NOuug people
vino afe beginning their career. VIII YOU act as
my ciceronef vain you, however that my rani-
hles begin early and end late. Now, could you be
at my disposal, say from SIX IN the morning TIL
midnightY lhis proposal. which was 81 course
accepted with alacrity, proved To me source OF
unexpected pleasure. Baron Humboldt vas iond OF
talking; he passed from subject o. another
without stopping. lie obviously liked being
listened to. and there no fear of has being III
teruptcd by a young man who for the nTst time
heard Lapiace, Berthollet, Gay-Lussac. Arago
IuendTd, CuvIeT and many Others Of tie Partisan
celebrities sp0len Of with iamIAanty.
listened with strange delight new horizon
began 10 dawn upon me. Save tie time devoted
to some VISITS was allowed to remain the whole
ny MI ~ " lt lar a a. a NDip
over the vast range. of his recOllectlons whilst
endeavoTed to keep pace with the uninterrupted
flow OF his narrative. Sometimes the mountain
emery would remind him Of the Cordilleras,
though il must be confessed he did not think much
even of Mont Blanc. Sometimes be turned TO
science, and then astronomy and physics, chemistry
and the natural history branches would IN rapid
succession in tor their share In the dialogue,
or rather mOnologue, which, spoken IN low, some
what mOnOtOnous tone, would have scarcely ap-
peaTed Impressive had IL not been for some waggsh
which now and then escaped. II wese
iny Oluntauly. But. at any rate, If his voice failed
to be effective the glance of his eye sufficient
70 rlyct his hearers attention.