The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-22

most difficult and the most delicate ques-
tons OF a high moral kind in full liberty.
and love-"
The Mount Blanc Observatory is one of the
greatest achievements of modern science,
both as regards the obstacles which had to
be overcome in order TO build IL and also
with respect to the meteorological equip
ments, which had to be constructed to suit
the atmospheric conditions of such a high
altitude.
The highest observatory in Asia is that on
the side of Point Everest. ten thousand feet
above the Medterraneans level, and the
highest In the United States is that on the
top of Pixies Peak. IN Colorado. 1t is IA, lat
feet above the level of the Gulf Of Mexico.
The highest on the Atlantic coast of North
America Is the one situated on Mount WASH
ington, height 6,2SS feet.
No LONGER A CHIMERA.
What but decade ago was regarded by
most scientists as chimera is now a most
successful reality. Not that the great
scholars of the European continent feared
the great height to be scaled, but they con-
tended that it would never be possible to
erect a durable structure for astronomical
observation where other foundation could
be found than thick layers of perpetual
snow.
But the eminent Professor Jansen has
solved the problem. and the worid-famous
observatory stands trim and habitable on
no other foundation that frozen vapor.
Although during the greater part of the
winter months this observatory is only con-
nected by telegraphic communication with
the rest Of the world, yet 1t Is easily access
sible during the summer months, when few
tourists neglect a visit of inspection to sur
vey this most interesting point on the face
OF the earth.
Looking at the little building on this the
once realize the magnitude of Professor
Janssen's undertaking 1t meant. first of all,
years of laborious study in the French scen-
lists villa, at Bas-Meudon, one OF the SUBJ
urbs OF Paris. on the Seine.
Professor Jansen surmised that II would
be impossible TO determine the nature of
the suns atmosphere through a spectroscope
so long as the observer was hampered by
the vapors surrounding the earth The OBJ
servatories on lower mountains which exist
ed at that time were still too far within this
atmosphere OF the earth, SO the Professor
| yearned for spot high enough not to be
nampered oy these. heavy. vapors. Then,
| also, other astronomical and meteorological
| purposes needed fully as high an altitude
as that OF Mount Blanc.
| These studies and experiments OF Profess
| sor Jansen date back more than thirty
years.
Since then the great scholar pondered over
these problems simultaneously with the
| whether or not the planets were inhabited
| That Jansen is a poet as well a scien-
| list is shown by his description OF the view
| II cannot express the emotions" he wrote
| In his diary, which seized me when, once
| the summit gained, my eye overlooked the
immense circle which was stretched out be.
| fore me-. The weather was perfect, and the
purity OF the atmosphere such that my ey.
reached to the bottoms of the most distant
valleys The far horizon alone was veilet
by light fog. I had under my eyes all the
| southeast of France. the north OF Italy ant
| the Apennines, and switzerland, with IL,
sea OF mountains and glaciers.
Hills, valleys, plains. cities. In the i'm
mense thickness OF the atmosphere which
separated them from me, gave me the i'm
preston OF a world lying az the bottom O
| an immense ocean of celestial blue water. i
seemed TO me that heard the noises an,
movements which rose from below and cam,
| to die at my feet
when my eve left these distant marvel
and turned 10 the scene near me, the pictur
was striking. 1t was world OF glaciers. o.
| ragged peaks, of white precipices, where
loud silence reigned. 1 fancied myself II
the midst OF one of those scenes which W,
can imagine on the earth when she shall
have grown old. when the cold shall hav
driven away her life, and the profound 81
lence OF tho end shall reign upon her frozel
face"