New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14
LAST HONORS TO HELMHOLTZ,
A GREAT FUNERAL PAGEANT IN BERLIN.
A NOTABLE GATHERING OF SCIENTIFIC MEN AND
OF THE ARIsTocRAcY PAYS HIM HOMAGE

n
OF THE ARIsrocRAcY PAYS HIM HOMAGE.
Berlin, Sept 1O-The death Of Professor Won
Helmholtz has removed OF the last OF the great
men whose discoveries wrought such wonderful
changes in scientific knowledge and scientific
methods during the last half century. As he was
privileged while yet alive TO reap many OF the
honors which a grudginS world too often withholds
from deserving genius. also in his death the
whole German people have given to his memory
the homage that is accorded only to the greatest
among them. The funeral last Wednesday was
conducted with all the pomp and magnifcence that
are usually reserved for the obsequies of prince.
The mobiles and the learned of science Wed
with each other In honorng the memory OF one
who had been looked upon a leader in both
circles Won Helmholtz OF the very few
German scholars who not only have their ability
and their achievements officially recognized by the
Government. but are also eagerly welcomed to the
most exclusive inner circles OF the court.
The Kaiser himself could not be present at the
funeral as he had be In another part OF the
empire at the time but he sent his Official repre-
sentatves. The Court Chaplain. DR.. Fromme.
conducted the ceremonies. and all the ministers and
other State officials who were in the city attended
funeral But perhaps the most interesting feat
of all was the number OF learned men who had
gathered for these last honors TO OF the great
est among them. Seldom are 10 be found in one
assemblage so many men famous In the different
fields Of science and art and letters Nearly every
university in Germany represented, and the
scientists. literary and artists OF Berlin with
the leading university officials to the number OF
several hundred. followed foot after the funeral
the way to the burial place.
The students Of the University OF Berlin and Of
the various professional schools here. attended all
in body. and the officers OF the different
student corps and "Verbindungen." with their
picturesque uniforms and carrying the corps ban.
ners. formed one of the most striking parts Of the
great funeral pageant Professor Won Helmholt5
especially popular among the students. because
of the kindly interest that he took In even the
minor OF the student life at the university.
To the very last days Of his life he preserved his
genial gcod-nature and his willingness TO help
struggling talent wherever he found It.
He often called genius OF work." and ths
term well applied. for he of the
untlring of workers. is shown by the wonderful
fruits of his long life But he mere
p.odder. United with his resist.ess energy and his
untiring patience were the richest and warmest
gifts that are found in an imaginative ,ar,ist-soul.
The effect OF the union Of such gifts the work
OF the scientific investigator is perhaps best ex-
pressed in Won Hemho,zs words At the
celebration OF the 5O0th anniversary Of the found
ing OF Heidelberg University. in the course of q
response TO the toast Of THE City OF Heidelberg"
and in adverting TO the wonderful work OF Bunsen
, and Krchhoff in the examination OF the suns
spectrum, he said: us IL accidental that out from
tnFS- green mis- the intellectual glance OF
has for the first time penetrated inmeasura bic
reaches of space with an insight that has resulted
in deciphering the chemical nature OF the panets
an accomplishment which Immediately before would
nave mad TO be regarded as the most adventurous
impossibity? | think not The investigator must
have something OF the insight OF the poet True,
he must also give earnest and patient labor 10
the gathering and preparation OF his materials but
labor alone will never bring forth great illuminate
ing ideas. These spring. Ike Minerva from the
head or Jove. unexpected and unprotected. ",
know not whence they come. Only this is certain.
that they never come to the who has learned 10
TO the one who Is weared and du.,ed by nonoto-
nous toll. There be that confident feeling OF
vitality and power which comes especially TO all
who dwell In the pure air OF the mountain heights.
And when the calm peace OF the forest draws the
wanderer from the restless tumult Of the world
plains. with their hamets and their fields and when
the sinking sun spins golden threads the dis
tant peaks, II is then that In the vague depths OF
hls soul there appear. alphabetically. the germs
or rev IDEAS that are to show light and order in
the inner world. where before all seemed darkness
and chaos"
Won Helmhotz himself had this deep poetic IN
sight. His life was one devoted to earnest work
but he was not co.d mathematical soul, such az
Is round too often I'm the laboratory Investigator.
strong imaginative love OF nature He could con-
centrate his mind upon the keen, chemical and
mathematical analysis OF the winds and the waters
put ne was also almost passonately fond Of the
beauty or nature, apart from such analyses, and
for years he was accustomed spend the late
or in tramping through the great forests OF Ger.
many.