The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-19
AN MrEREsTINe cAREER.



How the Daughter OF an Eminent Father
sustafns the Family Fame
Miss Mary Proctor is the daughter Of
Professor Richard A Proctor, the dis
tinguished astronomer. She is further
noteworthy a. q Young woman who has
achieved considerable success in that abb
struse science upon her own account,
having not only studied and written
much concerning it. but also lectured
upon it. ''Of course I always expected
some day to become an artist or write a
book. That was the dream of my life
to be like my father and write books, =
she says of herself
Miss Proctor was born IN Dublin, and
her earliest recoIlections are astronOm-
icaL Lord Lindsay had lent to her father
particularly fine telescope. and through
the lens OF this instrument 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 in England, at
the Convent of Notre Dame. In 1885
she accompanied her father to the Unit
ed States. She now made q special study
of mythology and descriptive astronomy
and began to contribute articles upon
these subjects to her fathers magazine,
knowledge, and to other publications.
Her methods of study We're Of the sort
to yield prompt and productive results.
Il didn't pretend to follow any
course, ? she says, but when I be-
came interested in any topic simply
found out all there was known about
it.
Soon her writing adapted itself par
ticnlarly 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.
in her search for novel and excellent en-
tertainment at the Columbian cxpOsi-
ton, was inspired to ask Miss Proctor
to deliver six astronomical lectures at
the Children's building. Miss Proctor.
who had never yet stepped up0p plat
form, accepted the offer and proceeded
to write ont her lectures. Arriving at
the Children's building. manuscript in
hand. she was informed that no lights
We're permitted in the building
Nothing daunted. however, she
launched forth upon her initial lecture,
which. from post to finish, was thus en-
tirely imprcmptu. But the test, though
severe, was triumphant Since then her
platform career has been uninterrupted
ly prosperous, much Of which is due to
her making her talks descriptive and
picturesque rather than technical. Her
lectures to children have earned her
much praise. "Giant Sun and His Fam
lily" proving an especial favOrite.
1t was Miss Proctor original inten-
ton to confue herself to kindergarten
lectures, hut SO many adults came to
hear her that she was Obliged to enlarge
hcr scope Next year her course viii in
clude two Of her fathers lectures, 10Th
er Worlds Than Ours and Comets. -
ALI her success she attributes to her IA
theirs patient sympathy in interesting
her i'll 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- r 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.