Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-09-25
AM INTERESTING CAREER.
How the Daughter of an Eminent Father
 sustaIns the Family Fame.

husthihS tbe HAHiaAg Ehhios
 Miss Mary Proctor is the daughter of Professor Richard A. Proctor, the dis tinguished astronomer. She is further noteworthy as young woman who has achieved considerable success ill that ab- struse science upon her own account, having not only studied and written much concerning it, but also lectured upon it 40f course 1 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 i'll Dublin, and her earliest recollections arc astronom- ical Lord Lindsay had lent to her father particularly fine telescope, and through the lens of this irAeument 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 iii England, at the Convent of Notre Dame. h 1886 she accompanied her father to the Unit ed States. She now made a special study of mythology and descriptive astronomy
 
 these subjects to her fathers magazine, Knowledge, and to other publications. Her methods of study were of the sort to yield prompt and productive results. "I didn't pretend to follow any course she says, tbut when l be- came interested i'll any topic l simply found out all there was known about it. "
 Soon her writing adapted itself par tieularly 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- tion, was inspired to ask Miss Proctor to deliver six astronomical lectures at the Children's s building. Miss Proctor. who had never yet stepped upon plat form, accepted the offer and proceeded to write out her lectures. Arriving at the Children's building, manuscript in hand, she was informed that no lights were permitted ill the building
 Nothing daunted, however, she launched forth upon her initial lecture, which, from post to finish was thus en- tirely impromptu. 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 ily' proving an especial favorite.
 It was Miss Proctor's original inton- tion to eonfine 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. "0th= CT Worlds Than Ours and Comets. . All her success she attributes to her ia ther's patient sympathy in interesting her in these things when she WAS at the most impressionable age tNeYer do l lecture without his picture pressed close to my heart, and then feel that he is near and helping me, she says
 Besides her scholarship and intellee- tual ability Miss Proctor possesses much charm of voice and manner, and to this no small degree is due her popularity