The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-22
POPULAR OBSERTATORLFS.
A Letter from the Director se the Lick
Observatory.

A Letter from the Director sr the Liek
observatory.
To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: should
like to say few words in respect to an expert
ment which is now about to be tried In New
York. namely. tho illustrated astronomical
lectures to be given in the Music Hall at tho
suggestion Of Mr.. Carnegie. and under the
direction OF DR.. NJ. W. Meyer Of tho Urania
Institute Of Berlin. The Urania Society is a
stock company OF amateurs and friends Of
astronomy who have formed an association
aud built and equipped fine observa-
tory. DC. In Berlin for the purpose
OF dihusing Information regarding the
science and OF awakening new interest in
It, The society was formed in March. 1885,
and has capital stock OF 100000. One Of
the conditions OF the charter s. that under no
circumstances can the dividends exceed five
per cent Any surplus OF earnings over this
proportion must be devoted to pcrfectins the
building md apparatus. Tho stock subscrip-
tion is thus loan on easy terms.
Tho working observatories of Germany arc
comparatively few in number. and their entire
force is given to the advancement OF science.
The Crania Observatory was devised for
the purpose Of popularizing the knowl-
edge amused by the professionals. This
is done by maintaining CORPS Of astronomers,
whose chief business is to prepare and deliver
lectures to popular audiences. to explain the
nature and use OF instruments to visitors, and
to show the principal plsnets and stars at GER
tain specified times. &c. In this way. it is Dos
sible to give to thousands Of visitors. for a very
small admission foe. some living idea OF the
results reached by working observatories. and
to do this without trenching on the
limited timo OF the latter institutions.
The lectures on astronomy have been
prepared by DR.. Meyer. himself a pro.
fossional astronomer Of high standing, and
they are illustrated in a superb and very
realistic manner. Your New York audiences
will have an opportunity Of Judging Of the lee.
lures for themselves. for Mr.. Carnegie has
spared no expense in importing from Berlin
all the Theatre properties necessary to re.
peatins the Berlin lectures in their best FORM
l have not the latest report OF the Urania In.
stitute at hand. but note from the report OF
1888 that in one year the institute in Berlin
was open on 268 days: that more than 90. 900
persons visited it: that among these visitors
We're 11.OOO school children. about {. 900 men,
bers OF workingmens societies, about 5000
members OF other societies. &C.: that 3l3 lee
lures OF ninety minutes. and no less than $50
haf-hour lectures had been delivered.
1t is obvious that such an institution.
equipped with all the apparatus for research.
with all the latest appliances for teaching. and
conducted by highly intelligent and educated
men. cannot fail to be Of immense USE tbs
university extension in an excellent form. and
it has approved itself in Germany under.
stand that Mr. Carnc2ies idea is to discover
whether there is a real demand for such an es-
Enlistment in New York and in other Ameri-
can cities and to help to found such institu-
tions If there is The demand certainly exists
in America. as know from personal expert
ence. More than 10000 visitors have been
registered on the Lick Observatory books in
Tie three years 2: its existence and to visit
Of .Nfty miles. an expense Of two days
tyne ah the f least over $40 IN
to visitors The demand certanly exis st.a ani
i w 20 % Les in NeT
very useful. My object in writing this letter is
to hear Testimony to this effect, and to do what
lam Obliged. IN closing to exp pre- sFG mV dis.
appointment that it was necessary for Amer.
leans toimncrtthis excellent idea from abroad
smithsonian Institution. spent most Of a long
life in dem"nstratinGto the present gen GRAFTON
tie great usefulness OF dfrusing the informn-
professional scienti fic men himself eminent
In the latter class aiso>. Mitchell Of Cincinnati
followed the same path. and the interest he
Awakena,l in astronomy accounts for much OF |
the. lavish expenditure on existing observa.
tories in the United States. But these lessons |
40 h net seem Gem to have borne all the fruit they
these and few other examples before us, are |
Obliged to confess that the idea Of the Cranin |
by DR.. Meyer is AN admirable one. and thatwe |
are grateful that he has brought 1t over to us |
IS ts haye aonn q
EDWARD S. HOLDEN.