The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

Observatory--PRins NJ We'll
as Scientific i'm His CaIcuiafian-.
1t is fairly well-known fact that many
astronomers whose names have been IA
nous in this and other countries have
come from humble origin. Many others
who perhaps have achieved only local
fame have no greater claim to their prov
ess as searchers of the heavens and have
been content to rest upon the qualification
their own researches accorded them with
out their entrance into the field occupied
by men whose names shine in the stellar
lore of the universe. One Of these is de-
scribed by a writer in the indianapolis
News whose enterprises written from
Spiccland Md, his home.
His name was William Dawson, and ms
reputation was not entirely local or nus
career his eulogist says that at the age OF
twenty he began keeping a record "l the
weather. In the beginning. he aia not
take the temperature daily. but little
later he did so, taking it three times a
day-at a. m. 2 p. m. and p. m. ThiS
he kept up for period Of about thirty-tiNe
years.
The dream of his early life was the pos
session of a telescope of four or five inches
in diameter But 1t was not till 1864 that
he could spare the two or three hundred
dollars. earned at his trade as shoe
maker. that was required to obtain the
glasses and parts that he could not make
After a good deal of correspondence with
different astronomers he set to work lie
was well aware that 4 good object glass
was the main thing. and he sent to Bos-
ton for one four and one-half inches IN
diameter. This cost SIS. In addition ne
ordered three eye-pieces. which cost %
each In writing of this, he said: About
the most gratifying occasion of my life
was the arrival and sight of glasses OF
six-foot achromatic telescope.
While the glasses We're on the way lie
procured a zinc tube made larger at one
end than the other in which he placed his
treasures upon their arrival. and although
II was showing he soon had the satisfac-
ton of testing the quality of the glasses
and his workmanship upon surrounding
objects. which he could see distinctly
mile or more away.
He succeeded in mounting his telescope
satisfactorily, and in a manner that adj
mitted of its being turned in any direc-
ton. He said: Much study and work
were done before all this was completed.
and considerable shoemaking had to be
done. too But it was highly gratifying to
set the telescope in range with a star, then
see a large diamond in the sky at noon
day
Mr. Dawson was one of the most con-
scientious of men in his dealings with his
fellowmen. and painstaking to the last de-
gree III his astronomical calculations. So
accurate was he in his work that his cal
culations and observations Were accepted
at the Lick Observatory.
He was much interested in the contro-
versy between astronomy and religion.
He did not want to detract one iota from
the great benefits of the church in all
ages. but he frequently pointed out in ar
ticles written for publication, the perse-
cutions which the sciences of geography
and astronomy have endured.
His contributions to the press were
MANY and varied touching upon almost
every chase of astronomical phenomena.
In the American Meteorological Journal
for 1884 was printed a series of articles
containing tables of barometrfc obserYa-
lions for the period between lS5l and 1881.
The kansas City Review Of Science and
Industry for August. 1888, contains the
eclipses from 1900 TO 1890. as calculated by
MIR. Dawson. He wrote frequently for the
Indianapolis papers for a period of years:
occasionally for some Eastern papers, as
well as for distinctively scientific periodi-
Gals
Besides being practical he saw the beau
ty Of the relation of the heavenly bodies
to each other and to the needs of human
lily. and could express his thoughts in
beautiful language. He was an Interesting
talker. especially when conversing upon
the subject of astronomy. Many a student
of Spiceland Academy has taken advan-
tage of his obliging disposition. and while
waiting for him to mend shoe. piled him
with questions about the sun, moon, and
stars. or some kindred topic.
In 1873 he built a new residence and on
the second story of this house he con-
structed a dome about twelve feet in di-
ameter. from his own plans, in which he
mounted his telescope. This dome was
made TO reyolve, so that by a slight push
Of the hand the telescope could be turned
upon any part of the heavens.
Mr.. Dawson began his observations of
the sun in March. 1861, and for several
days saw no spots, and but few were seen
until about the middle of September, when
a group of fifteen appeared near the sun ?
centre. From this time the number and
size of the spots increased up to August.
1872. He generally used a magnifying
power Of 100 dianleters, and on one OCCASION
in the month of August, 1872. saw $40 sun
spots: changing to a 20o-eye piece he
spots. But change soon followed this
display The number gradually grew less
and the spots smaller until 1873 when
often none were seen for days. This was
near the end of the period of recurrence
which is eleven years. The size of the
spots vary much, but to be seen as mere
speck. they must have "A diameter of four
or five hundred miles. The largest one
seen by him he calculated TO be 30 eJ9 miles
long and L. coo wide This pioneer astr0no-
iner died August y, 1890 leaving the astro.
nomic world richer for his having lived
In 1t.