Arkansas weekly mansion., 1884-02-23
BENJAMIN BANNER Err,
TIKI NEGRO ASTRONOMER.

TIIE NEGRO ASTRONOMER.
IBy Rev. John Il. Sattery, in the Catholic
WOrld.l
(Concluded.)
1t only remains for me to men,
ton the few and scattering details
of cur hero's life that remain to
US. In his business transactions
he was strictly honest, while to
wards his own debtors he was
very lenient. Hence the need of
selling his farm, for he was not
able to collect his rents. The
boys, who in his old age were
rather numerous in the neighbor-
hood, played sad havoc with his
garden. They would call at his
door and ask and obtain permis-
sion to partake of some of his
fruit. Afterwards, when the as
tronomer was lost in calculations,
they would return and strip his
trees. For this he was heard to
demonstrate with his youthful
visitors, even offering them one
half if they would leave HIM in
Quiet possession of the other; but
all without avail. To a friend
who once visited him in the sum-
mer he expressed regret that he
had no fruit to present him, adj
ding with a smile: 81 have no in
huenee with the rising generation.
All my arguments have failed to
induce them to set bounds to their
wants"
Banneker's habits of study were
very peculiar. At nightfall,
wrapped in a great cloak, he
would lie PROSTATE upon the
ground, passing the hours of dark
ness in contemplation of the
heavenly bodies. At daylight he
would retire to his dwelling,
where he spent a portion of the
day in repose. But as he seemed
to require less sleep than most
people, lie employed the hours of
the afternoons in the cultivation
of his garden, trimming the fruit
trees, or in observing the habits
and flights of his bees. When his
services and attention we're not
required outdoors he busted him.
self with his books, papers and
mathematical Instruments, at Il
large oval table in his house. The
situation OF his dwelling was one
that would be admired by every
lover of nature. and furnished a
fine field to observe the celestial
phenomena. 1t was about half a
mile from the Patapsco river, and
commanded prospect OF the hills.
hear and distant, upon its banks
SO justly celebrated for their pic.
turesque beauty, The whole stu
alton was charming, inspiring
and no doubt helped him in over
coming the difficulties in the way
of the pursuit of science.
Banneker's morals were with.
out blemish, save that in his
early manhood days he was 9
hard drinker. We have ALREADY y
spoken of that courageous self
denial, generally regarded as un'
known to his race, with which he
trampled the sin and then the
temptation under foot. We re-
member his boast that all the
while he was engaged on the sur
vey of the District of Columbia he
tasted not even wine. lie seems
to have been a Quaker in his re
ligious belief, and while hoping
that he may have received some
form Of baptism in infancy anC
partaken besides of Gods uncov
enanted mercies, we must regre
for his sake that the true churcl
numbered him not among he
sons. To those little acquainted
with his race his thirst for knowl
edge must excite wonder and hi
success in acquiring it far create
astonishment.
"The extent of his knowledge
thus runs Latrobe's memoir o
hints not 80 remarkable a
that he acquired what he did un
der the circumstance we have de
scribed. 1t may be said by thos
disposed to sneer at his simpl
, history, if there be any such, tina
after all he was but an almanac
: maker, a very humble personag
in the ranks Of astronomical sci
enee. But that the almanac
makcrof Pennsylvania, Delaware
Maryland and Virginia, from l 70
to 1902, should have been a fire
black man is, to use the languag
Of jefferson, "a fact to which hi
color has a right for their justif
cation against the doubts that hav
been entertained of them.
All must agree with this COZ
clusion, and must ask themselve
lfsuch things we're possible amid'
so much prejudice and SO man
drawbacks, Whist may we not e,
pect from the colored people (
to-day? The case of Bannek'
shows that it is mistake to fanc
that the negro will always skull
In our shadow, overpowered b
the ability and Importance of h
! more favored brethren.
L., Ioa- I,-a1- 1i%f