Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-11-27
kN INTERESTING CAREER
How the Daughter of an Eminent Fathcs
 Sustains the Family Easnc.

Sustains the Family Famc.
 Miss Mary Proctor is the daughter of Professor Richard A. Proctor, the dis. tinguished astronomer. Sho is further noteworthy as young woman who has achieved considerable success in that ah- struse science upon her own account, having not only studied and written much concerning it, but also leotured /, , upon it. 'tOf conrse I always expected some day to become aa artist or write a book. That was the dream of my life-- to be like my father and write books, Il she says of herself.
 Miss Proctor was born in nublin, and her earliest recollections are astronom- ical. Lord Lindsay had lent to her father particularly fine telescope, and through the lens of this ilAeument the little girl, under her fathers guidance, soon learned to make stellar journeys all for herself. The education that she gained from books was attained i'll England, it the Convent of Notre Dame In 1880 she accompanied her father to the Unit ed States. She now made special study of mythology and descriptive astronomy and began to contribute articles upon these subjects to her father magazine, Knowledge, and to other publications. Her methods of study were of the sort to yield prompt and productive results. 'sI didn't pretend to follow any course, " she says, "but when I be- came interested in any topic l simply found out all there was known abon8 1t. n
 Soon her writing adapted itself par ticularly to children, although she con tinued to contribute to the standard scientific periodicals of the day. Her en- trance upon the lecture arena was al- most by accident. Mrs. Potter Palmer, i'll her search for novel and excellent en- tertainment at the Columbian exposi- tlon, was inspired to ask Miss Proctor to deliver six astronomical lectures at the Children's building. Miss Proctor, who had never yet stepped upon plat form, accepted the offer aud proceeded to write out her lectures. Arriving at the Children's building, manuscript in hand, she was informed that no lights were permitted in the building
 Nothing daunted, however, she launched forth upon her initial lecture, which, from post to finish, was thus en- tlrely impromptu. But the test, though severe, was triumphant. Since then her platform career has been uninterrupted iy prosperous, much of which is due to her making her talks descriptive and picturesque rather than technical Her lectures to children have earned hei much praise, "Giant Sun and His Fam ily'' proving an especial fayorite.
 It was Miss Proctor's original inten- tion to confine herself to kindergarten lectures, but so many adults came to hear her that she was obliged to enlarge her scope. Next year her course will in- clude two of her fathers lectures, 'tOth- CT Worlds Than Ours" and Comets. ,. All her success she attributes to her fa- ther's patient sympathy in interesting her ill these things when she was at the most impressionable age. Never do I lecture without his picture pressed close to my heart, and then I feel that he is near and helping me, she says.
 Besides her scholarship and intellec- tual ability Miss Proctor possesses much charm of voice and manner, and to this no small degree is due her popularity.