New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-10
PROF MARIA MITCHELDS DOMEPARTY
From, Tn, Womcn's Jo,trnat.

From The NOmOVS JO'Urlni
At half-past eight of June morning, the pleas.
nre OF our company requested at the a,sar
Observatory by Professor Maria Mitchell. We
knew her love OF mathematical accuracy. and at
half past eight precisely ascendc the Ob,erya-
tory steps. Here we're met and Hospitality well
coined by our hostess She Is woman IN the
sixties. WITH distinguished face, whose strong
lines ale sOitcned by her beautiful white balr
Her dress and manners have in them the memory
of the Quaker plalJness INTO which she vas born.
For nearly twenty years Maria Mitchell has been
the presiding genius Ot the \aNsar observatory
and with every June AS regularly rs commence
ment itself has come the "dome-Party for the
students of her department. One never finds her
in liner mood than when hostess of the dome.
First and foremost Maria Mitchell is an interest
ing woman, -OrIgina, stimulating. Her racy talk
Is free trOm cant or c0nyenilOnalty, ana often
gives the listener an electric shock. Her spirited
salutatiOn imparts the impulse to conversation Her
surroundings at once the chief topics of our
talk. The parlOt IN which we find ourselves IS
curOusy divided between society and science
Behind the railing end stand the chrOuOgraph
and the solemn sdcTcal clock. Between them in
the vine framed window, is a bust OF Mary Somer-
VILE presented to Nassar College by Frances Power
CObbe. Two tall bookcases con ain friendly crowd
of books from Lapilce's Nf unique celeste TO the
last volume OF Longtcllow. Here Is picture OF
Humboldt III his study there some astronomical cups
and saucers, each adorned with an astronomers
portrait.
June morning. On side We look dow II into
quaint little garden, with suggestion OF Old
World sleepness and quiet Here gtow tho hfst
ana the last chrY|ln tAcuuluS FROM tuc
opposite window see broad rolling lawns, and
beyond, the ~tant Cdtskills.
But the last guest las arrived aud breakfast Is
announced. We form IN line. precedence being
regulated Dy the years of graduation. Up Hight
OF steps through heavy b.tze doo.s, and We are IN
the dome Itself over our ncads the great c .ua.
torial telescope points silently heayenward. itself
n work as marvellous rs the wonders It reveals
The tables are set in 4 circle round the dome. AT
each plate is a rosebud, card .tn the name OF
the guest and tiny photogcaph of the observatory
| shall always believe that strawperrlcs nave Inc
flavor of new variety Wien eaten Wltn sdIr0und-
ings so unique, aud that the chicken croqucttes
could have been furnished H. no common bainya1d
fowl. And yet the essence OF dome breakfast Is
not that which tlckles the palate ln any literal
sense II is when the plates are removed that tie
Homeopathy really begins large basket Is now
passed from which each draws a poem addrcs,d 10
some one of the company. These are read aloud much
10 the merrment OF the party; iog each CONTAINS a
highly relisued personal INT Soho small class
room event. some pet taste or dstaste Is Tie pa,1
of the poet These verses are. loi the most par.
written by Professor Mitchell herself. who las 40
easy-rhymlpg pen. Many are the mathematical.
and astronomical illusions For once. poetry ana
science seemed have loined hia Is. SOME OF the
best ngeS set 10 familiar tuhes ant sung Dt Az
impromptu choir perchcd on the movable oOSei'
VatOry STAIRS.