Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-25

~ ~%T during several months.
| VA sSNNIN His death has been ex-
| 49, \%WMzSO pected for some time
| 10y X past and its occurrence
| ...saaSMZA last night caused but
| little surprise to those
| NIX A&s## attached to the univer-
$500 @XX># sity.
| sf3W Father Curley would
| have been ninety four
| years OF age in October next had he lived. His
| death was to great extent due to a fall ne re-
| ceived year ago this month and to an attack
of malarial fever previous to the fall. Although
| he rallied from the accident and the fever,
these two cases. together with the natural wear
ing out of the system after so many years OF &C
tive service, sufficiently account for the death
of the aged priest. A few weeks before his
death he became subject to intermittent
periods of delirium, during which he would
speak Of incidents in the earlier years OF
his connection with the college. and would
often call the name of Father Muliedy, who was
president of the institution half century ago.
When the last sacraments of the church were
administered to him about a week ago, he re-
marked: Friends, this is the glory OF life"
Father Curleys faculty for remembering the
names and faces of students who had graduated
so many years ago was really charitable, and
those who visited the college after their grad
uation were always recognized by him.
FUNERAL CEREMONIES.
In accordance with the rules of the Society of
Jesus low mass will be celebrated at the funeral
services tomorrow morning at o'clock, at
| Holy Trinity church. Rev. Father William
Francis Clarke of st Aloysius church, the old
est living graduate of Georgetown college, will
be the celebrant.
1t is hoped that Cardinal Gibbons will attend
the services. All the priests of this diocese
and of Baltimore have been invited to attend,
as well Father Campbell, provincial of the
province of Maryland and New York.
The dirge for the dead will be recited in
stead of chanted.
The little cemetery within the college walls
will receive the remains of Father Curley.
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.
Father Curley was born in Roscommon coun-
ty, Ireland, October 25, 1876. His father was a
builder and superintendent Of mills, and died
when his son James was very young. The edu-
cation Father Curley received as boy was
confined to the simplest rudiments of English,
but later a fine mathematician came to his
town. and young Curiey. whose tastes were in
that direction. surprised his master. In 1917
he came to this country, and for two years was
bookkeeper and clerk in a large grocery store
in Philadelphia. He afterward went to Fred
erick, Nd, and taught mathematics in the
county academy there. He came to Washing
ton in 1926, and taught mathematics in pri-
vate school for about year and a half. He had
for the severe course of study upon which he
was to enter be studied Latin and French
during the. evening In September, 1927, he
entered the college as a novitiate and remained
there two years and was then sent to Frederick
to complete his theological studies, returning
to Georgetown in 1881 after his ordination.
He entered upon his duties of professor OF
philosophy and natural science, which he con-
tinued to teach for forty-eight years. He drew
the plans and superintendent the work of es-
tah h. oh afaru Of fha ~,
1874. At that time there were very few observ-
atories in this country, and those were mostly
of rudimentary character. The observatory
of Williams college, begun in 1886, was the
first established in the United States. That
erected by Prof. Elias LOOMS of the Western
Reserve college of Hudson, Ohio, soon fol-
lowed. These, with the small tower observa-
tory of the Philadelphia high school, seems to
have been all that preceded the great national
observatory. Father Curley had drawn his
plans in ignorance of the fact that a govern
ment observatory was contemplated. Calling
upon his friend, Capt. Gilliss, he showed him
the drawings, and was surprised when the lat
ter drew from his drawer more elaborate de-
signs to be presented to Congress during the
following winter. Delay occurred in the sale
of property which was to furnish funds for
building the college observatory, and as Con-
gress was prompt in appropriating 500 000 the
sum needed for the naval observatory, this was
enabled to precede the college building by
ward was not established for some years later.
His valuable contributions to science have
made his name famous in every seat of learn
ing in the world. His observations to deter
mine the longitude of Washington from Green
wich made half a century ago, have been
officially verified by the government astrono-
mers and accepted by those connected with the
English royal observatory. Father Curley also
established the green house of the college and
became skilled as a botanist from his interest
in the care of the plants. This work kept his
interest to the last days Of his life.
Although the aged divine was famous chiefly
as an astronomer and botanist his information
embraced every branch of science. He was
the oldest priest in the United States, and, so
far is known at the college, the oldest in the
world. Father Curley was the teacher and
lifelong friend of Father Secchi, who, Few
years after the establishment of the college OBJ
servatory, came here with Fathers de Vico and
Sestini, all of whom had been forced to flee
their native country by the revolution of 1S47
and 1848. Father Secchi, who gained world
wide celebrity for his achievements in the
study of physical astronomy, received addi-
tionai incentive in his great work by his COM
panionship with Father Curley.
Father Curley was greatly interested in the
centennial celebration of Georgetown univer-
sity, which took place last February and
watched the preparations with keen delight.
During the days occupied by the affair he
visited by all the former students who came to
III tHt ItbtiFltlts. Ou the nTSI
night when reception was held by the cardi-
nal, Father Curley walked into the corridors of
the new building upon his crutches and was
Immediately surrounded by friends, so that at
one time it was difficult to tell which reception
was the more numerous. He retained his
strength and vitality up to a very short time
ago, and, during the erection of the massive
new college building, the venerable man
climbed up TO the top Of the high tower that
he might enjoy the view. He was especially
gratified that the study of astronomy, in which
science he had gained such high distinction,
was about to be renewed in the college, and
welcomed Rev. Father Hagan, who is to have
| charge of the observatory, most heartily.
Father Curley was q man of singular SIM
plicity and purity of thought, diffident and re-
firing in manner, and yet, Notwithstanding his
| great age, his intellect up to within very few
weeks was clear and vigorous and his fund of
"reminiscences was inexhaustible. He was de-
lightful talker and loved to tell of the incidents
that had occurred during his period of sixty
two years connection with the college, and yet
he always realized that his end was very near.
To STAR representative who few weeks ago