42 Some Eminent Men 



younger son, was trained as a military officer, and 

 did not get married until he was fifty years of 

 age. Intense education long continued led to the 

 production of this remarkable Frenchman. 



In the same year that Cuvier was born, Alex- 

 ander Von Humboldt was born, and no one can 

 say that there was any lack of intellect in Hum- 

 boldt. As in the case of Cuvier, Humboldt was 

 the son of a military officer, and this officer was 

 49 when Alexander was born. Just as many 

 children are born to fathers 22 and under, as are 

 born to fathers 50 and over. It will be interest- 

 ing if someone will find some Cuvier or Hum- 

 boldt born to a father 22 or less. 



The same year that produced Cuvier and Hum- 

 boldt also produced Napoleon Bonaparte, born 

 when his father Carlo Bonaparte was 23 years 

 of age. Does the reader think that I have met 

 my own suggestion ? That will depend upon the 

 meaning applied to human superiority. Napoleon 

 was doubtless far more famous than either Cuv- 

 ier or Humboldt, but how about intellectual su- 

 periority as distinguished from mere fame ? Does 

 anyone think that in the realm of pure intellect 

 Napoleon was the equal of either Cuvier or Hum- 



