The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-10-13
AN INTERESTING CAREER.
How the Daughter of I'm Eminent Father
Sustains the Family Fame.


sustains the Family Fame.
Miss Mary Proctor is the daughter q
Professor Richard a. Proctor, the dis
tinguishcd astronomer. She is further
noteworthy AZ a young woman who has
achieved considerable success in that alb
struse science upon her own account,
having not only studied and written
much concerning it, but also lecturod
upon it. "Of course | always expected
some day to become an artist or write u
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 recollcctions are astronum-
ical. Lord Lindsay had lent to her fathcc
a 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 i'll England at
the Convent of Notre Dame In 1856
she accompanied her father to the Unit
ed States. She now made a 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 were of the sort
to yield prompt and productive results
81 didn't pretend TO follow any
course, D." she says, "but when | be-
came interested in any topic / simply
found out all there was known about
it"
Soon her writing adapted itself par
ticularly to children, although she con-
tinuod TO contribute to the standard
scientific periodicals Of the day. Her on
trance upon the lecture arena was al
most by accident. Mrs. Potter Palmer,
in her search for novel and excellent en-
tertainmont at the Columbian exposi-
tion, was inspired TO ask Miss Proctor
To deliver six astronomical lectures at
the ChildIen's building. Miss Proctor,
who had never yet stepped upon "A plat
form, accepted the offer and proceeded
to write ont her lectures. Arriving at
the Children'B building, manuscript in
hand, she was informed that no lights
were permitted in the building
Nothing dauntod, however, she
launched forth upon her initial lecture,
which, FROM post to lnish, was thus en-
tirely imprumptu. But the test, though
severe, was triumphant. Since then her
platform career has been uninterrupted
ly prosperous, much Of which is duo 20
her making her talks descriptive and
picturesque rather than technical Her
lectures TO children have earned her
much praise, "Giant Sun and Ills Fam
ily' proving an especial fayorite.
Ii was hiss PIUctor's original inten-
tiCn TO confl,o herself to kiud. rgarten
lectures, but so many adults camo 10
hear her that she was obliged TO enlarge
hor scope. Next year hor course will in
clude two OF her fathers lectures, 10Th
er Worlds Than Ours" and Comets. -
/ All her success she attributes 20 her ia
TIERS patient sympathy in interesting
her in these things when she was at thC
most impressionable ago Never Go
lecture without his pioture pressed clos,
to my heart, aud then | feel that he /.
near and helping me, " she says
Besides hcr scholarship ana intellec
tual ability Miss Proctor possesses muct
chalIn of voice and manner, and to thi,
no small degree is due her popularity.