Copiah signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1888-1899, 1889-11-14
THE HERscHEL FAMILY.
aaris Mlfsbstfss Rssalst.asness &C the De
Hnuma AafFomam~sM

asris MHehsu's Rssaint.ssness ef the "a
Hnuaa Astronsm~eM
The little that is known of the an.
cesiors oi The Herschels is honorable
Abraham. lsaac and Jacob. as the rep
ro-entative- of three generations wero
called. were sound Protestants. In DAYS
when aud Ia places where Protestant
ism vas q reproaeh Abraham Her
schcL The great grandfather ~
John, was cxpelcd from Mahrcn. his
place " residence. on account ~ bis
Professionalism. Isaac. his son. was .
farmer near Leipsic jacob. son %
Isaac declined agricultural pursuits
and gave expression 81 the family apt
itudc iur music ~ making il his pro-
irssion. W bringing up his sons % the
same calliug and by developing mu-
sical ability IL al his ten children
Among the sons was the astronomer.
frrdrrirk William. who vas boru AZ
Hanover In l1Ss. aud came 10 England
a. ouc-aud-twc cnty as q professional
musician. but caring even more for
something else than music m.taphys-
ics 10 the end Of hls life. when b.
was knowu al over the world Zoe hi.
Astronomical discoveries. his chief de-
light vas Ia mgtaphy sical study and
augmentation. Perhaps we NAV
a-,ribr % this taste, prevailing Ia tho
lilt.n household Al Slough. the ten
drucy - bis seiont'ac soa. Joha O. al.
verge into metaphysical criticism whcn-
ever his theme, or any interruption Of
a. afforded occasion In the course ~
composition.
John Ilersch-l was born On "a. we'll
snOvn hovsg AZ slough. where stran-
80 uaHa ~ tdat tine cousing Ftosn
fNr-disiant lands 10 see The wonderful
machine hy waich great news had al
ready descended cot of the sky.
Most astronomers come 90 axtrunmy
through mathematics or come Ia
mnthemntic, through astronomy. The
lierschcl- wvrv a musical family, ma
30 was their vocation. science Wa
their recreation Although ~ Jacob
llcrsChvls children Sir william and
Caroline arr the only ones Who arr
knowu to science. Il Is evident that the
taste Cor science belonged 70 the v hole
family a. Caroline Hyrschel Ia her
autobiography spcaks - lying awake
and listening - discussions between
the father and tlo elder brothers ln
which the names % Nvwtoa. I.eibuitz
and kuier frequently occurred
William Her.ch-l considered him
se'i very fortunate when hs was ca-
gagged ~ musician Ga m English rogi
mont Growiag in reputation hs was
appoiutod organist 10 . church.
siudiad Italian. Latin aud Greek by
himself aad read mathematical work.
on music Thus music led him 10
mathematics, thence 10 optics. % as
tronOmy, % discoveries. 10 rcputa-
tiou. iie became known 10 George
III, was pensioned. gave himself
wholly to astronomy. wA- knighted.
aud soun hecams a member Of all the
learned societies oi Europa
sir William and sir John we're ro-
markable ior the variety % their r.
quiremsnts Starting with love Of
science, they followed where Il led.
Into the tracAless regions oi space aud
among remote nebulsa. iuto those
tangled ways where mstaphysical aud
mathematical sciences seen % miagle.
touching the margla - that dcbatable
land wherc theology and science meet
without recognition. yet keeping. espc-
cially In sir Johu's casa. the cquanin-
ity Of the philosopher and a klndliness
II heart which made him tolerant Of
all aud rcadercd him beloved ~ well
a. honored BY those who kaew him.
Workers In physical scisaoe have
generally been long-iived. perhaps b..
cause only with length of years can
any thing b. done In scicnca Per-
haps, too. scientific studics are health.
promoting. Tor II u i hour after hour
over books Il is also hour after hour
alone with nature
The Herschcls worked a great many
years Sir William Horwehel's papers.
published la various scientific iour.
aals. stretch through a period of forty
years Sir John Herschefs reached
through period oi ff,y-sevcn years
about twice the average length Of life
Sir William Herschel died ., eighty.
threo. Sir John At seveaty eight; and.
~ u b. show that a woman can live
and work evea longer than a man.
CAroline. tho sister oi SIR William.
died Al ninety eight Century.