Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-12
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
WOMEN sTAR-GAzeRs.
Astronomy l. Not a Fad With Them, But
Their Chosen Life Work.

on liberal scale at Harvard college
under the name of THE Henry Draper
Mem rial"
The Draper memorial work at Cam
bridge is carried on by nine women.
under the direction of Prof f. C. Pick
ering. an detail it consists of explora-
ton in the visible and invisible regions
of the spectrum of a star by means of
photography, the study OF the picture
obtained and the written record of the
analysis, giving the elements of which
the star is composed.
Miss Nina Fleming is at the head of
these astronomical workers with
camera and spectroscspe. She had be
fore made several valuable researches,
and had been commended by scientists.
Miss Maury is another promising as
tronomer in the memorial corps. She
Is the niece of Prof. Draper, and has
shown marked scientific ability, which
no doubt she inherits.
Her grandfather was Lieut.. Maury,
whose meteorological work has been of
great Importance to seaman. Before
going to Cambridge, Miss Maury
studied astronomy under the Late Maria
Mitchell, at Vassar
Although Harvard has been especial
ly appreciative of woman's achieve
ments in astronomy, these women who
carry on the Draper memorial work
have given a fresh impetus to the inter
est and now the university not only
employs women as computers, but en-
courages them to undertake original
research.
Mrs. Drape-s interest in the explora-
tions is constant, and she has given inn
portant advice, and provided literally
for the work and encouraged it by her
frequent personal inspection, but the
success of the vast contribution to
science which the Draper memorial
catalogue will be is due to Mrs Elem
ing and her assistants.
All the actual labor of descriptive
cataloguing the spectra of 10000 stars
has been done by them. The catalogu-
ing of these 10000 stars involved the
measurement of IS, 600 spectra or lights
of celestial bodies. 1t dazzles the mind
and confuses it to consider the tremen-
dous amount of detail, exactitude,
neatness and precision such work re-
quires
There is first the proper and peculiar
preparation of the plates, then the set
ting of the camera to catch the most
distinctive rays, such as will reveal to
the investigator of what substances
and gases the star photographed is COM
posed. The instrument must be nicely
adjusted and delicately handled. Moist
ure and other atmospheric disturbances
that prevent the taking of good photo
graphs must be watched for.
After the photograph of the spectrum
Is taken then comes the seemingly end
less detailed study of it The picture
looks to the uninitiated like simple
line of lines of light without any signifi-
canoe whatever but the astronomer
literally sees volumes in it."
1t is classified. A determination of
the wave lengths of the lines is made,
and then its light is compared with
terrestrial light, and several other
things are done that only those who are
versed in chemical or spectrum astron-
omy could be expected to understand or
appreciate Three manuscript copies
were made of the descriptive records
regarding the 10000 stars before the
final copy was sent to the press.
From the foregoing data can be re-
allied to some degree what a tremen-
dous work is the Draper memorial cata-
logue, which is not yet half finished.
The daring conception of it by Mrs.
Draper is worthy of the learned man
whose name it perpetuates
Mrs. Draper has also contributed
funds to establish an observatory in
Peru. 1t is stationed at Chosica on an
almost inaccessible height of the Andes
mountains. Two valuable observations
made there by Messrs. NJ. l. and NJ. II.
Bailey have been catalogued and pre-
pared for the printer by the Draper
memorial women.
Notwithstanding this absorbing as
Economical undertaking. to which she
gives her enthusiastic attention, Mrs.
Draper does not neglect her social
duties She entertains frequently dur
ing the winter, either giving evening
receptions or series of dinner parties.
Her dinners are generally in honor of
some man or woman of note. This sea-
con at one of her most charming dinner
companies, Mrs. French-Sheldon, the
African explorer, was the guest of
honor.
AS Miss Anna Palmer, daughter of
the late Cortland Palmer, Mrs Draper
enjoyed beleship among the social
elect of New York, which she did not
resign as the wife of Prof Draper, who,
notwithstanding his scientific tastes,
was fond of society, music, art and out
of-door sports, in all of which Mrs.
Draper was his comrade-as well as in
his work
She accompanied him on nearly all of
his expeditions to view the 'doings'' of
the stars. The most memorable of the
journeys was to Rawlings the astro-
nomical station in Wyoming. 1t was in
1878 The party was notable one, DIR.
and Mrs. Draper, Thomas Edison, Prof.
Henry Morton and George Barker.
They went to study a total solar eclipse.
Mrs. Draper is a system maker, as
every efficient American housewife
is, and by the aid of her secretary, Miss
May Ingersol, dispatches before lunch