Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-17
IN LOVE WITH SCIENCE.
A Washington Woman Seeking a Degree
at Johns Hopkins
Remarkable Work fn Higher Mathe-
ed Men-An Interesting sketch.

ed Men-An Interesting Sketch.
Written for The Evening Star.
MIS- Arthur Davis. well known in this
city as Miss Lizzie Brown, where she was
reared and educated, has entered Johns Hop
kins University as a member of the post
graduate class. She will do the work and
take the prescribed course TO win the de-
gree of doctor of philosophy, but as she is
woman will not receive the customary
$500. and may never receive the degree. Pro-
lessor Simon Newcomb of the Nautical
Almanac Office. who has always taken a
deep interest in her progress. secured per-
mission 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 will live in
Baltimore near the university, so as to
keep her small family near her Her hus-
band Arthur Powell Davis, a nephew of
Maj. Powell of the geological survey has
charge OF important work for the survey
near Los Angeles. Cal, which viii keep
him in the field, except at rare Intervals
Tor the next two or three years, during
which time his wife proposes to pursue her
studies in the university. Mr.. Davis SYM
pathizes heartily with his wife's ambition
anu promises to Cooperate with her in every
way in his power until she finishes the
degree.
Mrs. Davis came to Washington when a
mere girl. She was educated here, and lived
mere TWO years after her marriage, when
sne accompanied MIR. Davis to Los Angeles
A NfrgiEian by Birth.
She was born at Front Royal, Va, March
IL. 1863. Her father was Mai. Victor M
brown, c. 5. A, a member OF the stan of
COrSa nf xz.so
mother was the daughter Of the late state
senator Edward Jacobs, who REPRESENTED
.he countes OF Clarke and Warren, L think
IL was.ln the legislature a number of FERNS
he was colleague and Intimate trend
curing this period. of the late lamanted
senator Barbour. Maj Brown died soon
Sis a,,,I sne close OF the war. Mrs. Brown,
MS widow, came here and secured a govern,
meht cierkship, that she might support ana
eoucate her two fatherless Children the
eidest OF whom. Elizabeth Preston Brown.
Is the subject of this sketch
AT the age OF seven Elizabeth Brown i'm
pressed her first teacher with her wonSerfu,
aptitude for mathematics. This gentlemsn
MI. marshall. an A. NJ. Of the University of
virginia, and a grandson of the great CHER
justice. told Mrs. Brown that her little girl
was prodigy, and that she ought 10 he
gwen better advantages than the mountain
Town OF Front Royal then afforded This
inston.
At the age of fifteen Elizabeth Brown
graduated from the High School and had 10
wait until she was seventeen. the prescribed
age limit. before she was permitted to enter
the Normal School In one year after her
entrance she graduated from the Normal
Scnool and became at the age OF eighteen a
puohc school teacher. During her school
life her remarkable mathematical ability
mad astonished her teachers.
I'm the Corcoran school,
A broader field. however. was soon to be
noa -
talented girl. The philanthropist, w. w.
Corcoran. had about this time endowed the
Scientific School of Columbian University
and caused its doors to be. thrown open to
women. Miss Brown utilized her first
salary by helping her mother and paving
ner own tuition In this school. Here her
professors became much interested in her
mathematical proficiency. Prof Gore was
50 impressed by her exactness and QUICK
ness with figures that he employed her 10
read the proof sheets of his geodesy during
her vacation. She did this work so accepta-
bly, that he acknowledged his Indebtedness
to her In a preface to the book. This
brought her to the notice of Prof Simon
Newcomb of the Nautical Almanac Office
ne had just completed his calculus, and
after one interview with Miss Brown he en-
ployed her to read his proof sheets and
verify his problems. Prof. Newcomb gen
eroSsly acknowledged Miss Browns services
In his preface and paid her a high compli-
ment He was determined to use his power
fui influence in the young girls behalf and
relieve her. If possible, of the onerous and
teacher. Just then a Mr. Bancroft Of Mass
achusetts, who had filled a place in the
Nautical Almanac Office worth 81 200 a year
died. Prof Newcomb advised Miss Brown
70 pass the competitive examination he had
ordered to be held to find a person COM
petent to I'LL the place. She promptly filed
her papers. So did several men, all college
graduates, On the day set for the examina-
tion Miss Brown, the only woman appli-
cant, and these men entered the examina-
ton room. In three hours every man had
given up, and retired from the room utterly
routed by the difficult problems in higher
mathematics and astronomy which con-
fronted them. In five hours Miss Brown
had answered every question, solved every
problem. The board of examiners were so
enthusiastic over her success they forgot
their own regulations for exactness and
gave her loo-lO0 being the mark to denote
perfect" They went on record es saving
she was more than perfect and she was at
once appointed. The chief Gle X of the Nav
Department. taking II for granted she was a
man. addressed her as sir in her official
appointment. and ex-Secretary whitney
signed it in that shape. Her mother keeps
1t, and showed II to me few days ago.
Tasks Accomplished.
Prof. Newcomb was delighted at his Young
protege's success, and thinking she deserv-
ed It added to her income by giving her
tne contract Tor calculating the ep emeris
of the sun, which calculation she has al
ready made as far ahead as 1896 While she
was in the Nautical Almanac Office she in
vented and copyrighted a Washington
Greenwich table. which is now used in the
departments, IS Ii greatly facilitates the
work. She also discovered and corrected
an error in one of the tables Of La Place.
which had caused inaccuracies since that
great mans day.
In the meantime she kept UP with her
class at the Columbian University and
graduated with the class honors in 1856.
Thirty days after she graduated she mar
ried a classmate, Arthur Powell Davis, Esq,
a son of John Davis. farmers alliance MEM
Der of Congress from Kansas.
Mrs. Davis resigned the 200 place in the
Nautical Almanac Office when she married,
but retained the contract to calculate the
ephemeris Of the sun, which she still holds.
She also calculates the orbits of new comets
discovered by Prof. Newcomb Of this city,
and Of those discovered by Prof. Barnard
of the Lick observatory. A recent issue of
the Astronomical Journal gives her credit
for calculating the orbit of the latest comet
discovered by the learned head OF the Lick
Observatory hear Prof. Barnard. as well
as Prof Newconb, is strongly impressed
by her unusual mathematical ability.
The outcome OF her Johns Hopkins ex-
pertinent Will be watched with interest by
her friends this city. c. w. II.