Humboldt in Paris. 39B 



the Autumn of that year, happening to be ni Paris, 

 and attending a meeting of the French Academy, 

 one of the first persons I met, was Humboldt — and 

 for two weeks I saw him nearly every day. He 

 was still, as usual, the student of Nature, gave his 

 hours of repast to a group of friends, who united in 

 conversation with him, and devoted the remainder 

 of the day to the various studies in those sciences 

 to which his life had been devoted. He always 

 spoke of himself as an humble student of Nature, 

 who knew but little, and was struggling to acquire 

 more knowledge. 



It was pleasant and somewhat amusing to observe 

 his manner and occupations during the day. At a 

 stated hour in the morning he was to be found at 

 the Garden of Plants engaged in some investiga- 

 tions in Natural History. I met him there with 

 his coat off and in an apron that nearly covered his 

 whole body, engaged in dissecting an animal that 

 had just died in the menagerie. So intent was he 

 upon his labors that he seemed to have scarcely 

 time to turn his head to answer the various ques- 

 tions that were addressed to him. Thus, for some 

 hours, every one appeared to be intensely engaged 

 in his own work. At a certain time of the day, 

 these French philosophers always resolved on an 

 hour of rest and recreation. When that time arrived 

 one of the attendants passed through the rooms of 

 these students of nature, calling aloud, " the hour 

 has come, boys, come out to play!^' Instantly the 

 whole scene was changed, the philosophers shut lip 

 their books, laid aside their instruments, changed 

 their outward dress in a few moments, and it ap- 

 peared as if a group of happ}^ children were jump- 

 ing and frolicking around you. A considerable 

 portion of the garden was devoted to a menagerie of 

 wild animals,, and among the most amusing were the 



