Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1874-09-16

ted, were on the table. The rain pat
tered necessarily on the skylight above
A large sectional telescope was lying in
rack. Another on beautiful stand
was near the door. An old Chinese
work on astronomy is rare relic. lie
has a reprint of Montucla, recounting
observations that were made two thous-
and five hundred years ago. He has
"reminiscences of Thales and Melton. -
The Ptolemies are represented. He has
work of George of Purebach, an as
tronomer Of the Austrian dominions,
born 1923. Also of John Muller, of
Konigsberg, from whom we possess the
first good and complete Ephcmerides. n
lie is great student of Nicholas Copper
nicus, born in 1473; also of Tycho
Brahe, Dane, born in 1916. The
opinions of Galileo, Hevelius, Huygens,
Newton, Kepler, HALEY, Bonguer,
Maupertins Ia Calle. Tobias Mayer,
i fisle, lambert. Euler and very MANY
others of later date are on the shelves
and table. He has charts, instruments
sketches, outlines of air and wind cur
rents, and very many other articles per
tanning to this branch of his business
And all these hid away here in the rear
portion of two-story frame house far
from the habitation Of science, art, or
letters.
Mr. Ibach is ffty-eight years of age.
He was born in Allentown, Pennsylva-
mia, and in all respects is self-made
man as far as he has gone. He speaks
English, German, Spanish, French, and
some Italian. He is furnishing thirteen
large establishments with astronomical
calculations, including several news
papers in New York, for their almanacs.
His calculations for 1874 were made two
years ago. Those for 1875 are finished
and translated into four languages, and
in few days will be sent away. The
calculations for 1876 have been COM
menced.
In the morning the astronomer works
with his telescopes, charts, and instru-
ments. In the afternoon he shoes horses,
makes nails, hammers iron into ladies
and spoons, and finds time to instruct
his neighbors and customers. In the
evening he entertains his wife and little
ones, and never fails to pass two hours
with his books. His translated calcula-
tions 90 as far as South America He
is in correspondence with many of the
leading minds on astronomy in this
, country.
Ibach went to school until fifteen years
of age, and was then apprenticed to the
blacksmith trade At the age of twelve
he began the study of astronomy, and
read much on the subject after working
hours. A Frenchman named Mancard
paid some attention to his education =
lbach served his apprenticeship in full
At thirty years of age he fell heir to ;
large lot of instruments, the property o
an aged astronomer. Ibach determined
to learn the profession of the dead man
He worked incessantly, and finally
gained his point. He has grown gra,
in his work, and it is an absolute fac
that one-fourth of the people, in cir
cult of twenty miles around this drcar,
country, arc not aware of the presenc
of this philosopher of the stars, and ye
he has lived among them twenty years
They know him only as smith and
shtonna g"eher-a Pennsylvania Ger
man term for star gazer. He is wei
informed on current topics ! was showl
the first pages of the manuscript of
new book on astronomy he is about t
issue. He also pointed with pride to
lot of shovcls and iron ladies and spoon
he had made during the day. He is
genius in a small way, and is completin!
a telescope larger than any in the State
All in all, he is a wonderful man, hi,
away here in the country, solving tn
problem of the stars and planets. an
\ shoeing horses and doing other work i
his blacksmith shone