Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-09

About the low walls of polished cherry
wood are hung pictures of scientific value,
and the soft light of the student lamp falls
tbrouph its green-tinted shade on rich and
harmonious furnishings. The many books
and portfolios scattered about, the mys-
terious glittering instruments and, above
all, the great telescope in the center OF the
apartment, proclaim it the workroom of an
astronomer, and such it is-the private OBJ
servatory of Mr.. Henry Berger, OF OBJ
servatory Hill, Allegheny.
A peculiar fsd for rich man 1t is, the
study OF astronomy, and the building OF an
observatory that has cost him q small for
tune. The observatory is the only one of the
sort in this section of tine country. There
are those who prefer the Berger telescope
to that of the Allegheny Observatory.
Fauth s. Co., of Washington, d. c., erected
it, and it was IA months in building. The
objective glass and number of other &C.
cessories were supplied by John A. Bra
shear, SO we'll known in astronomical cir
cleS
Loves His Telescope and Microscope.
1t is between two and three years since
the observatory was completed, and Mr..
Berger and his wife with great z"st devoted
themselves to the study of the heavens after
business hours. and one may with almost
absolute certainty find that gentleman
either with his microscope or telescope
or in his Photographic dark room. His
microscope is considered by experts one of
the finest in the world, its magnifying
power ranging from 25 to 10000 diameters
The instrument is supplied with complete
binoculsr and monocul ar attachments, me
chanical stage camera lucida and drawing
table attachment, Able condensers, full
set of Spencer's objectives and eye pieces,
microtome, fiier mIcrometer, Photographic
attachments, etc; in fact all that is required
to make the highest grade of microscopic
investigations.
When the telescope was ready for use
Mr.. Berger determined that as soon as he
familiarized himself with the heavenly
bodies the Pittsburg and Allegheny public
should have such an opportunity TO study
astronomy as it had never had before. For
it is only since Prof Keeier came to the
Allegheny Observatory that the people
have been permitted to use that instrument
When the sky is particularly interesting
MI Berger sends invitations to his friends
to come and spend an evening with the
stars. If they are especially privileged
they are allowed peep through his micro
scope at the squirming animalcules, beauti-
ful diatoms and curious veg etable cells he
has to show.
A Night With the Stars.
The other evening such party enjoyed
Mr.. and Mrs. Berger's hospitality. The
stars had all evening been coquetting with
the clouds, and when at last brisk breeze
took the matter in hand and whisked the
vapors out of sight there were still few
stars that withdrew themselves poutingly
behind the thin white mist that skirted the
horizon. Mars was marching across the sky
with nallor upon his ruddy countenaIce
that suggested that the warlike planet was
suffering from temporary attack of panic.
Mr. Berger said the sky was not as good
as might be but "would do," and swung
the great telescope into position. Mars
was easily sighted. Some of the visitors
had worked up quite an enthusiasm by re-