Worcester daily spy., 1872-12-28

London Correspondents OF the Cincinnati Com


merciall
The death of Mrs. Somerville causes much
sorrow % wide circle OF devoted friends. The
old lady was ninety-three, and she had lived ior
a long time at Naples, where she died; but she
wIote the most charming letters 10 her friends
in England and Scotland tShe was born in
FileShire), and only two weeks ago letter came
hom her full Of her fine Scotch humor. Since
the days of Hypatia, there has been nothing
more magnificent than the life of this diStin-
guished lady. The beginning of her scientific
studies is one that might be made an allegory
lor nation that sill devotes ninety-two times
as much money and care to the education OF
boys as to that of girls. In her fathers house
hold the tutor is engaged teaching her brother;
the girl is engaged in sewing in another part of
the room. Sitting there at her "woman'S
work." she listens to the instruction. When
the tutor has gone, and her brother is at play,
she takes the "Euclid" quietly 10 her room, and
studies 1t. One day when her brother is puzzled
at his task the girl impulsively prompts him.
The tutor looks on her with wonder She is con-
fused, but fortunately the tutor is not fool
He turns his attention TO the little lass, and she
speedily 'absorbs his whole resource of mathe-
matical knowledge. But now she is troubled
by reason of her lack Of collateral requirements.
Old Professor Plavtalr is friend of The lamily
and one day she asks him in confidence whether
there is anything wrong in Il girls studying
Latin. THAT depends altogether" replied
Paylair, ''ou the use she intends to make
OF it.. She then informed the proies sor
that she wanted to know how to read New
toms "Princpa" The professor laughed
and said he did not think that would do her any
harm. And so she plunged into those studies
which made her the most accomplished woman
Of her time. One who knew Laplace told me
that he once sad, 81 fnd there are but two
leSe,' one is Mrs. Greig, the other a Mrs
Somerville." The great astronomer was much
surprised when at once Informed that Mrs
Glelg and Mrs. Someiylle were one and the
same lady. Her first husband, MIR. Greig was
naval officer, VINO encouraged her scientific
studies, and it was during his life that she pur-
sued those beautiful experiments on the mag
netic influence OF violet rays on the solar spec
trum, which first attracted 10 her the attention.
OF tue scientific world She was over forty
years OF age when she published her great work
on The Mechanism OF the Heavens" From
that time to the publication OF the work of her old
age, Molecular aud Microscopic Scence," which
shows no decline of intellectual vigOr, she was
continually making the most important contri
buttons 10 science, though her astronomc OBJ.
servations were much impeded by her enforced
residence 10 Naples (on account of Dr. Somer-
vIlle'S healthy, where the only observatory was
IN Jesuit college, where no woman was per-
mitled to enter. Mrs. Somervllle was at the
same time one Of the most devoted domestic
characters. She loved her harp, and her room S
were often the scene of the most charming COM
panies. She was lovely woman in presence,
and most gentle to all around her. All the
learned societies of the world sent her diplomas,
and the Royal Society of ST. Petersburg gave
her the degree OF Doctor Of Philosophy.
friend OF nine, who wds with her when she
received this Russian degree, tells me that Mrs
Somelville exclaimed, "Dear me, hope they
won't make me ridiculous by calling me doe
tor. She was a perpetual distress to lion
hunters, never saying Or doing anything eccen-
trio, or giving grounds for any wonderful story.
Among her earliest friends were Lord BrOugham
and Dalton, the latter of whom continually con-
suited her, She slept away her last moments,
dying from sheer age, and surrounded by her
devoted daughters. AS an instance of her pow er
ot absorption in her scientific work no matter
what was going on in the room, DIR. Somerville
was lond OF relating that he once laid a wager
with friend who doubted the wonderful alb
siraction told OF her. The Two sat close beside
her while she was at work, and the doctor said
loudly, DO you know, Sir, my wife here paints
her face? She has false hair; sue has false teeth.
"a pause.) Monsieur, Mrs. Somervie has such
an abomlnaDle temper that there is no living
with herr The lady merely caught her name,
and, raising her gentle face, said, did you
sp, ak to met"
How many more Mrs. Somervilles there NAV
he sewing in chimney corners while their
brothers absorb the atenti n of tutors, is ques-
iion which we may hope will one day be inquired
into AT present, there aie almost as many to
gloat over q woman's failure as to rejoice in her
success. Witness The delight with which the
news tnat Miss JeX Blake has failed in her med
ical examination at Edinburgh has been received
in Gel tain circles. Miss Jex-3ake has failed for
the moment because she has been deyoting her.
sell to the preparation of book on the eJuca-
toua rights OF women, whose cOnsummate abil-
iy aud lhoroughness even the Saturday Review
has been compelled to admit But the senti-
hp al In
demand lor the opening Of educational and pro.
fessioBal privileges to women, and to this end
no one has contributed more by her splendid
successes than tue English success OF the Hypa.
tias and the Agneses of simpler ages-Mrs.
Somelvlle.