National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-12-09
Opening Lecture Nv Professor Richard a
Proctor.

Opening Lecture by Professor Richard A =.
Proctor.
In wide contrast TO the memoraby small audi.
cnce which several weeks ago greeted Theodore
1itOns lecture on Hearts ease, Lincoln Hall was
last evening completely packed with people who
came to listen 10 Professor Richard A. Proctor the
great English astronomer Nor was the quality of
the audience at all Inferior in consequence of It's
unusual size-ndeed, even the most amateur Of
physiognimists might be pardoned had he imagined
he detected scientific halo surrounds ng tho cHput
OF each spectator With such an appreciutiyc audi
ence the celebrated professor grew unwoutedy
eloquent In his delivery Of perhaps, the sublmost
of sublime themes, The Poetry of Astronomy"
In introducing the lecturer Of the evening Ad.
miral Rodgers of the Naval institute, said that he
| took pleasure In presenting this gentleman of so
worldwide reputation for scientific knowledge,
and that the presence Of so large an audience on
this occasion was high appreciation Of the Illus
trious astronomer. With this brief preamble Mr.
Proctor briefly glanced nj the chief astronomical
discoveries, his design being TO show that astron.
omy might be treated with a truly poetic mind
without in any degree dcracIng from It's value rs
al exact science,
left TO Its own fertility while he dealt moro plainly
with the statement Of facts of modern date In
| the prelude to the lecture proper, the professor
| said that there are some who seem TO think that
science when seen too closely, becomes Invested Of
| her countless mysteries This is the stand taken
by the individual OF poetic1 procliyites. On the
| other hand, the true scientist himself only per-
ceiyes In his ccaseless researches and discoveries
| a realm for increased wonder,
Mems minds have been led 70 higher thoughts
by the progress Of science In the calculation Of the
| heavenly bodies, by which the mariner feels his
| way across the painless ocean and the traveller
over the desert. Through these teachings arc we
impressed with the greatness Of the Creator. II has
| ever been SO. The ancients were not less awed by
the grandeur OF these spheres in tracing their wan
derIng courses through space-the wonders OF the
| moon, RsCTiblnR 10 II greater influence than
even It possesses and endless other myslerios-all
OF which declared 10 the modern and ancient
| world the glory Of God and the armament which
shOweth his handiwork" But on sudden,
Copernlcus swept away their whole planetary sys,
| fem and itH mysteries Dy showing that the world
did not stand STILL and explained the orbits OF the
heavenly bodies Then came Newton, the MASTER
mind Ofthe past century, who nfuidcd the theory
| of gravltation, By which Is oomprehendcd not
only the planetary movements of the solar system
| but how one orbit is connected with every other
one. And thus, as the veil was gradually lined from
| nature there was revealed still greater mystery.
| The professor did not, however, wish 10 dip too
deeply into the poetry of astronomy, prclerrng "a
| eave this 10 the fancy Of IeunysOn, Browning
| LonglellOw and oliver Wendell Holmes.
The lecture was nteHpersed by largo number
of views OF sun spots showing the latest discoveries
] ~ p"-r..sar Langley aud others. The invaluable