Thomas County cat., 1889-11-14
THE HEascHeL FAMILY


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Maria Mitchell's Remiutsceuce. of IN. r..
nous Astronomers.
The little that is known of the an
cestors OF the Herschels is honorable.
Abraham. Isaac and Jacob. as the rep
resentatives Of three generations were
called, wore sound Protestants. in davs
when and in places where Protestant
ism was reprOach. Abraham Her.
schel. the great-great-grandfat of
John. was expelled from Mahren, his
place of residence. on account of his
PrOrestantism. Isaac. his son, was a
farmer near Leipsic. Jacob, son Of
Isaac. declined agricultural pursuits
and gave expression to the family apt
ltude for music by making it his pro-
fession, by bringing up his sons to the
same calling, and by developing mu-
sical ability in all his ten children.
Among the sons was the astronomer.
Frederick William. who was born at
Hanover in 1888, and came to England
at one-and-twenty as professional
musician, but caring even more for
something else than music -metaphys-
les. To the end of his life, when he
was known all over the world for his
astronomical discoveries, his chief de-
light was in metaphysical study and
augmentation. Perhaps We may
ascribe to this taste. prevailing in the
little household at Slough. the ten
dency OF his scientific son. John. to di-
vergeinto metaphysical criticism when
ever his theme, or any interruption of
it, afforded occasion in the course of
composition.
John Herschel was born in the WELL
known house at Slough, where stran-
gers were by that time coming from
far-distant lands to see the wonderful
machine by which great news had al
ready descended out of the sky
Most astronomers come TO astronmy
through mathematics. or come to
mathematics through astronomy. The
Herschels were a musical family: mu-
sic was their vocation; science was
their recreation. Although of Jacob
Herschel's children Sir William and
Caroline are the only ones who are
known to science. it is evident that the
taste for science belonged to the whole
family. as Caroline Herschel in her
autobiography speaks of lying awake
and listening to discussions between
the father and the elder brothers in
which the names of Newton. Leibnitz
and Euler frequently occurred.
William Herschel considered him
self very fortunate when he was en-
gagged as musician in an English regi-
ment. Growing in reputation he was
appointed Organist in church.
studied Italian. Latin and Greek by
himself, and read mathematical works
on music. Thus music led him to
mathematics, thence to optics. to as
trOnOmy. to discoveries, to reputa-
tion. He became known to George
I'LL, was pensiOned, gave himself
wholly to astronomy, was knighted,
and soon became member of all the
learned societies of Europe.
Sir William and Sir John were re-
markable for the variety of their re-
quirements. Starting with love OF
science, they followed where it led,
into the trackless regions of space and
among remote nebul2, into those
tangled ways where metaphysical and
mathematical sciences seem to mingle,
touching the margin of that debatable
land where theology and science NEE;
without recognition, yet keeping. espe-
cially in Sir Johns case, the equanim-
ity of the philosopher and kindliness
OF heart which made him tolerant 0f
all and rendered him beloved as we'll
as hOnored by those who knew him.
Workers in physical science have
generally been long-lived, perhaps be-
cause only with length Of years can
any thing be done in science. Per-
haps, too. scientific studies are health
promoting, for if it is hour after hour
over books it is also hour after hour
alone with nature.
The Herschels worked a great mary
years. Sir William Hersehers papers.
published In various scientific jour-
nails. stretch through period of forty
years. Sir John Herschefs reached
through a period of fifty-seven years
about twice the average length of life.
Sir William Herschel died at eighty
three, Sir John at seventy-eight: and.
as if to show that woman Can live
and work even longer than man.
Caroline. the sister of Sir William,
died at ninety eight Century.