Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-22
DEVOTED TO SCIENCE
A FAIR WaeiNIAN SEEKING A DEGREE
AT JOHNS HOPKINS
Her Remarkable Work In Higher Mafhs-
matics--IIow She Has Aided Learned
Meu-Inseresting Story.
&C. ". a., in washington star,


city as Miss Lizzie Brown. Where she was
reared and educated, rms entered Johns
Hopkins University as a member OF the
postgraduate class. She will do the
work and take the prescribed course ~
win the degree of doctor of philosophy,
but as she Is a woman Will not receive
the Customary $500. and may never re-
ceive the degree. Professor Simon New
comb, of the Nautical Almanac oihcc.
who has always taken a deep interest IN
her progress. secured permission for her
TO enter this class. 1t will be remembered
that he occupies the chair OF astronomy
In Johns Hopkins, besides having charge
of the Nautical Almanac.
Mrs Davis has three small children. one
not yet three months old. She VIII live
In Baltimore near the University, so as
TO keep her small family near her. Her
husband Arthur Powell Davis, nephew
OF Major Powell. of the geological survey.
has charge OF important work for the sur
vey near Los Angeles, Cal, which Will
keep him In the field, except at rare inter-
walls, for the next two or three years,
during which time his wife proposes to
pursue her studies at the university. Mr..
Davis sympathizes heartily with his wife's
ambition, and promises to cooperate with
her In every way in his power until she
finishes the course requisite for winning
the coveted degree.
Mrs. Davis came to Washington when
n mere girl. She was educated here, and
lived here two years after her marriage
when she accompanied Mr.. Davis to Los
Angeles.
vIRGINIAN BY BIRTH
She was born at Front Royal, Va,
March IL, 1863. Her father was Major
Victor NJ. Brown, c. S. A., member OF
the staff OF the late General Corse, OF
Alexandra. Her mother was the daughter
OF the late State Senator Edward Jacobs,
who represented the counties OF Clarke
and Warren, / think It was, in the legis-
lature number of terms. He was a
colleague and intimate friend, during this
period. OF the late lanented Senator
Barbour Major Brown died soon after
the close of the war. Mrs. Brown, his
widow, came here and secured a govern
ment clerkship. that she might support
and educate her two fatherless children,
the eldest of whom, Elizabeth Preston
Brown, is the subject OF this sketch.
At the age OF seven Elizabeth Brown
impressed her first teacher with her won
derful aptitude for mathematics. This
gentleman. Mr.. Marshall. an A. NJ. OF the
University OF Virginia, and grandson or
the great Chief Justice, told Mrs. Brown
that her little girl was prodigy, and
that she ought to be given better advan-
tages than the mountain town OF Front
Royal then arfor led. This determine
Mrs Brown to come TO Washington.
At the age OF fifteen Elizabeth Brown
graduated from the High School and had
TO wait until she was seventeen, the pre-
scribed age-llmit, before she was per-
mitted 10 enter the Normal School. In
one year after her entrance she gradu-
ated from the Normal School and became
at the age OF eighteen, a public-school
teacher. During her school life her re-
markable mathematical ability had aston
ished her teachers.
IN THE CORCORAN SCHOOL.
A broader field, however, was soon 10 be
| opened to the ambitious, deserving and
talented girl. The philanthroplst w. W.
| Corcoran, had about this time endowed
the Scientific School OF Columbian Uni
versity and caused its doors to be thrown
| open TO women. Miss Brown utilized h"i
| first salary by helping her mother and
paying her own tuition in this school
| Here her professors became much inter
tSieu In ntT n1lHtfldlitdi piOhNiNhNS
| Professor Gore was 80 impressed by hel
exactness and quickness with figures thai
he employed her to read the proof sheets
of his geodesy during her vacation. She
| did this work so acceptably that he ac
| knoyledged his Indebtedness TO her In 4
preface to the book. This brought hel
| to the notice of Professor Simon New
! comb. OF the Nautical Almanac ONCE. ~
! had lust completed his calculus, and ate
one Interview with Miss Brown he EN-
| Moved her 10 read his proof-sheets am
verify his problems. Professor Newconl'
| generously acknowledged Miss Brown
| services in his preface, and paid her
high compliment. He was determined U
| use his powerful influence In the youn'
| girls behalf and relieve her, II possible
| OF the enerous and poorly paid duties o
| a public-school teacher Just then a MI
| Bancroft, OF Massachusetts. VINO ha'
| filed n place in the Nautical Almanac
| office. worth 81 200 a year, died. Professo
| Newcomb advised Miss Brown to pas
the competitive examination he had or
| dered to be held TO find a person com
| petent to fill the place. She prompt.
| filed her papers SO did several men, al
college graduates. On the day set for IN
| examination Miss Brown, the only woman
applicant, and these men entered the ex
| amination-room. In three hours ever.
| man had given up and retired from IN
| room. utterly routed by the difficult prob
| lens in higher mathematics and astroho
my which confronted them. In flve hour
| Miss Brown had answered every question
| solved every problem. The board
| axarnipers were so enthusiastic over ne
success they forgot their own reputation
for exactness and gave her l0O-lOO benz
the mark TO denote perfect" They wen
on record as saying she was more ina
| perfect, and she was at once appointed
| The chief clerk of the Navy Department
| taking II for granted she was mar
addressed her as "Slr" In her Notncla
appointment. and ex-Secretary Whltne
signed IL in that shape. Her mothe
keeps II, and showed 1t to me a ie" u"S
ago.
TASKS ACCOMPLISHED.
Professor Newcomb was delgnted
his young protege's success, ana thinklh
she deserved II added TO her income u
giving her the contract for calcuiatlhl
the enhemeris of the sun, which calcula
t,or she has already made as far ahea'
"a 1896. While she was In the Nautica
| Almanac office she invented and copy
| righted n Washington Greenwich tapie
| which Is now used In the departments a
n greatly facilitates the work. she ais
| discovered and corrected an error In on
OF the tables of La Place, which ma
caused inaccuracies since that great man
day. 80.
In the meantime she kept up with ne
class at the Columbian University an
graduated with the class honors in 1871
Thirty days after she graduated sh
married n classmate, Arthur rowe
Davis. ESD, n son OF John DAVIS Far
mers' Alliance member of Congress fror
Kansas. /,
Mrs. Davis resigned the $500 place y
the Nautical Almanac office when sn
married. but retained the contract 10 ga
culate the ephemeris OF the sun, wnic
she still holds. She also calculates IN
orbits of the new comets discovered o
Professor Newcomb, of this CITY an
those discovered by Professor Barnard
OF the Lick observatory. recent ssu
OF the Astronomical Journal gives ne
credit for calculating the orbit OF IN
latest comet discovered by the learne
bend of the Lick observatory. hea
Professor Barnard as well as Professo
! Newcomb Is strongly impressed py he
unusual mathematical ability.
The outcome OF her Johns Hopkins eN
periment will be watched with interest o
| har frfap1a In thia CITY.