Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-18
TESTING THE GREAT LENS.
Pleased with the Result" VII" '"s
4O-rnch Glnss-A Novel Telescope'
llostnn EyenlnR Transcrir

Boston Evening Transcript
A select party OF ladies and gentlemen
met ~ the establishment OF AiVan w.
Clark In Cambridge, last evening, on the
occasion OF the second testing OF the W.
inch lenses which are under construction
for the great telescope OF the Yerkes
Observatory In Chicago The observatory
WIS represented by Professor T. J. see'
while ex-Mayors Of Cambridge, leading
citizens repre- sentatlyes Of Harvard. and
scientific men iostled each other In tho
dim religious light which j. necessary
on such occasions.
The earlier part OF the evening was
spent III viewing different objects. among
them the bright star Arciurus. the
bear-driyer. who. for some peccadilO or
other IL condemned forever 20 chase the
Great Bear around the Northern Pole.
little later Saturn came within the
range OF the instrument. and magnificent
Views OF the ringeI planet were afforded
10 all. The division between the rings
was plainly visible 10 the experienced
eye. although the mir was not thought
TO be in its best condition for seeing. ami
the satellites shone forth az tiny attend
ant stars. Later IN the evening when
the civilian part Of the company hal been
satisfied and had departed. the astrono-
mcTs remained en- convention. and far
into the night the huge gla.H was subject
ed TO tests on double stars and other
special objects Professor See expressing
himself as highly delighted with the per-
Torrance OF the instrument. nJw almost
ready for delivery.
\ most novel form % telescope which
was highly praised BY the company
gathered at Mr.. ClarEs shop was the
binocular telescope constructed for ID.
W. Edgecombe. ~ Newington Conn.
Thi, may be popularity described as
huge opera-glass. II consists 81 twin
telescopes OF s Ia inches aperture. which
lie side by side. precisely as 30 the tubes
Of the Opera-glass. The length OF the
instrument Is above eight feet. so thar IL
can be used only with "A permanent
mounting. which will be ~ the alt-azl-
muth pattern. The cye-end of the in
Strument presents p novel construction.
The rays, which are gathered hy the
large lenses. are caught 20 tho focus by
prisms two OF which are employed FOR
each tube. In passing through these
they present 10 the observer 40 erected
image as does the terrestrial eye-piece.
although In the new construction some
advantages are gained. The tubes which
carry the prisrns are free 20 rotate abou,
the axis Of the telescope. and by means
OF this the distance between the two eye
pieces may be graduated 10 suit the spaca
between the observers eyes which f.
OF course. different for each person. II
IL Mr.. EdgecOmbc's intention Ia use the
instrument as a terrestrial telescope.
and 1t will be mounted az his seashors
home. on Long Island Sound. IL IL.
however. suitable for, the observation Of
the stars. being more effective than
single telescope OF six or seven inches
The construction OF the telescope Is
an instance Of the marvellous accuracy
OF the methods Of modern opticians The
detectives are 6i-i inches In diameter
their focal length IS feet and inches.
and the two lenses have the same focal
distance 10 within less than one hundred,h
of an inch.