Wi 
't -■ 
a— 
n 3 
AY § 
lliograuhical 
BARON VON LIEBIG. 
Justus von Liebig, tlio celebrated chemist, 
died at Munich. Friday. April 10: He had long 
suffered from a painful Illness, and his decease 
was not unexpected. More than fifty years of 
labor in the cause of science had enfeebled his 
frame, while they benefited the world and gave 
him wide and just reputation. 
Ilaron von Likbio was born at. Darmstadt, May 
12, 1803, and was educated in the gymnasium of 
this! city. In 1808, at the close of his classical 
studies, his evident inclination for natural sci¬ 
ence determined Ids father to place him in a 
pharmacy at Heppenhelm. There he remained 
six months, and then moved smuiessdvely to 
Bonn and Erlangen, where he continued his 
studies. He was then judged worthy to be sent 
to Paris, at government expense, to perfect him¬ 
self in the knowledge of chemistry. During 
the years 1833 20 ho enjoyed the companionship 
of many celebrated chemists, notably MM. Gay- 
Lussac, Pklouze, and Ai.kx, von 11 cm not,nr. 
A paper on “L’Aelde Fplminlque,” presented to 
the Academy of Science, showed him to bo a 
scholar of deep penetration. M. von Hum¬ 
boldt, struck witli tlio Ingenious and novel 
views presented in the article, had the author 
nooduaicd adjunct professor of chemistry in 
the University of (Denson in 1831. Twelve years 
afterwards, in 18<W, Liebig was mndo full pro¬ 
fessor, and in the following quarter of a cen¬ 
tury, Ids courses of led,tires gave lids small uni¬ 
versity an unprecedented importance. He es¬ 
tablished hero, undur thepatronage of the Gov¬ 
ernment,, the first college laboratory that Ger¬ 
many bad possessed, and Giessen became, 
through his efforts, a scientific center, where 
students gathered from all parts of Europe, and 
especially from England. 
In 1830, Liebig was appointed professor at 
Heidelberg, in place of G Melin, and two years 
later was called to tlio (‘hair of Chemistry at-the 
University of Munich, in which city he lias since 
made his home. He was also put in charge of 
the chemical laboratory belonging to the city. 
The Grand Duke of Hesse had previously con¬ 
ferred upon him, in l$Jo, the title of Baron in 
honor of his services in t he cause of science. In 
Ma>, 1861, Baron von I, us mo was made Foreign 
Associate of the Academy of Science at Paris, 
in place of M. LlKDM ANN. 
This great seholor has given tlio results of his 
labors to the world from time to time, in the 
shape of art icles that have been published in the 
scientific magazines of Germany, and have been 
translated In various languages and published 
on both sides of the ocean. In connect ton with 
M. PoU/kndork, he published a Dictionary of 
Chemistry, at. Brunswick, in five volumes, which 
took fourteen years, from 1887 to 1831, to com¬ 
plete. A supplement was published by himself 
in f lic following year. In 1886, assisted by M. 
Geiciwu, he published a Manual of Pharmacy. 
The portion of this work which relates to or¬ 
ganic chemistry Is entirely due to the pen of 
Lie BIO. 
Other works by t Ids busy pen relate to organic 
chemistry applied to vegetable physiology and 
agriculture; the study of chemistry; the con¬ 
nection of chemistry with Industries ; scientific 
agriculture, Am., &c. His last largo work was 
“The Natural Laws of Agriculture,” published 
at Brussels in 1864. 
Baron von Liebig (or, as the unpretending 
German student preferred to bo called, Profes¬ 
sor Liitotg.) has left a vacant place in scientific 
study which will not be filled immediately. He 
was born an investigator and .student of chem¬ 
istry. Jn this one cause his whole life was en¬ 
listed. Trusting nothing to his rare genius, he 
plodded along through years of closest study 
and patient scrutiny of principles, before lie put 
ing agricultural meetings, where tho'subjects 
of drainage, fertilizers, &c., came up for dis¬ 
cussion. In those practical walksof life he will 
be greatly missed. There are many to talk of 
these matters, but no one knows them m did 
the German scholar. Fifty yoars of matured 
THE EA.TE BARON 
the results of his labors to the test of print. 
Honors did not, ila/zlp him. Elected a Univer¬ 
sity professor at the age of twenty-one, he was 
a closer student than any of those who attend¬ 
ed his lectures. Step by step ho advanced along 
his prescribed path, leaving nothing behind 
that had not been investigated. His labors had 
•heir reward —not in royal honors, as most men 
think, but in the vast amount of good ho was 
enabled to do. The inhabitants of all our large 
cities have boon enriched by his researches. He 
gave much study to the question of sewage, 
and the results were valuable In affording prac¬ 
tical information concerning the tide of poison 
that ebbs and flows under our streets and side¬ 
walks. Some bints that he put on record long 
ago yet remain to bo pondered by our city 
fathers. Ills studies in the matter of food also 
have been greatly beneficial. 
The Professor frequently visited England, ami 
was received always in the most enthusiastic 
manner. His presence was sought at the loud- 
VON LIEBIG. 
study form a power that Is rare. Europe could 
have spared any two of her mOnarchs rather 
than lose the benefactor of the nations. 
-»+-♦ 
MR. GREELEY’S CLOTHES. 
Mu. Ghehi.ky throughout life Mas twitted 
w Uh Ms slovenliness of person, and many peo¬ 
ple Mere made to believe that he Incurred the 
risk of being sold for a bag of ancient rags 
whenever he passed Into Arm street. The fit 
and quality of his clothes wore not what Cram- 
rnorit or D'Oraay would have recommended, 
but luMvas always scrupulously neat Beothdvoii 
himself having no greater passion for the bath. 
His lined was ever immaculate; his boots, 
though often coarse, well blacked; his faeo 
carefully shaven, and Ills hands as daintily kept 
as. those of a fine woman. His cravat had a 
I endency, it is true, to assume the shape of a 
hangman's knot, and his Irowsers wore often 
suggestive of required continuance; but that 
he was really slovenly was palpably false. The 
idle tales that he disarranged his toilet before 
the looking-glass, and carefully squeezed his 
pantaloons Into the leg of his boot ere ho 
appeared on the street, were purposely told t > 
annoy him, and strange, to say, they li.nl the 
effect intended. He was sensitive on the sub¬ 
ject of his dress, and seldom received advice 
thereupon with becoming equanimity. Oddly 
enough, lie believed himself a very Wolt-afTtrecl 
person, and that few men In his station went 
bettor elafl. Sartorial roiupicnts were wont to 
draw front him sharp und stinging replies. 
When n city editor of t he Tribune once sug¬ 
gested the reformation of his neck-lie, Mr. 
Greeley answered, “You don't like my dress, 
and J don't like your department. If you have 
any Improvement* to make, please begin at 
home.” 
James Watson Webli, ' while editor of tlio 
Courier and Enquirer, was fond of .'crit icising 
the cost."me of his neighbor, who, referring to 
t he fact t hat Mr. Webb had been sentenced to 
the Slate prison, and pardoned, for fight lug a 
duel with Thomas F. Marshall, made t his extin¬ 
guishing rejoinder:—“.Assuredly no costume ill 
which the editor of (lie 'Tribune ha s ever ap¬ 
peared would create such a sensation In Broad¬ 
way as that James Watson Webb would liavo 
M r orn hut for the clemency of Gov. Seward,” 
To another .fob run 11st, noted for his untidi¬ 
ness, and his ridicule of Mr. Greeley, t he latter 
responded, “If our friend of the_, Who 
wears mourning Tor Ids departed veracity under 
liis tinges-nails, will agree to surprise his system 
with a bath, we may attempt Helmut discussion 
with 11111 ),” 
The illustrious editor M’as simply careless of 
his attire, though fastidiously neat, lie whs 
always so busy Unit, when ho arose in t ho morn¬ 
ing, ho put on the first, thing lie found, and 
sometimes he did not put it more t han half on. 
His clothes never seemed to lit him, or, rat her! 
lie never seemed to lit his clothes. The wonder 
wit li many of his acquaintances was whore lie 
bought them, or whether t hey did not grow, SO 
unique often wore their cut and pattern. 
( lot.lies, I repeat, were a tender theme with 
him; and be.dlflpJayed’Mjohighest/breeding by 
never alluding to whut lie wore, it, is supposed 
In- got Ids garments ready-made (I have been 
told his wife was In the habit of purchasing 
them), and to save time, he took 1 lie first articles 
offered. He was t,ho only Now Vorkrr of note 
Mho repeatedly appeared lo tho streets in the 
morning In a dress-coat. But, lie made ample 
atonement for this by presenting himself up 
town at, formal dinners in a paletot, or some 
peculiar garment that defied Identification. 
Whatever may be thought of Mr. Greeley’s 
quaint raiment, he was excellently dressed 
according to tho Brurmmd Canon, because after 
being with and listening to Mm one could not 
remember what he hud on. Ho could talk away 
hip clothes-in the briefest spOfle.— Jlarpcr'8 May. 
-- -. 
PERSONAL GOSSIP. 
United States Minister Bancroft has the 
handsomest residence of any of our diplomatic, 
representatlves abroad. 
1'r Is said that, the wife of the British Premier 
sadly lacks the social t act necessary to a person 
in her position. Shota Hie cause of greater of¬ 
fenses against etiquette than any one else in 
London. 
Mr. Anthony Trollouk coincides with the 
natives of New Zealand that that country is 
the cream of the earth a happy land to which 
all good tilings have been given." Ho thinks It 
will ultimately become another Britain in the 
Soul hern Sen. 
— 
VIH w‘ O If 1 II AH-v-TIx/LO INI' TD © l r ' O HT 3 
1 j A li'v £3 _ !c• i ■ 
ITE.A 
Ob 7 " Av El SIS. A. 
