The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-02-20

Once professor of astronomy in the University of
Michigan at 81 200 year, writer of text books that
Washington at $4,000 year. still later chief of the
weather bureau of the United States; today
lumber Jack" earning $3.50 per day at Port Blakey
WASH such in brief, is the sorrowful story of Mark
W. Harrngtons life, the proud editor of the Amer
lean Meteorological Journal, the handler of peavy
freak of fate swept him from the top shelf into insg
nificance. .
1t not dissipation any romantic episode that
brought Harrington to his present lowy station in the
world 1t was insomnia
1t is said that While professor at Ann Arbor ne coul
rarely find rest in sleep more than one or two hours OF
the a. This strain on his system gradually broke him
down as a sound thinker.
Mark Harrington went to Ann Arbor from Sycamore,
ILL.,, in 1854 student and was graduated in 1858. He
took his masters degree three years later, in the
time acting as curator for the museum. Then he be-
instructor in mathematics and from there he was
transferred to an assistant Professorshp in geology
astronomy and director Of the observatory.
While nstrucng the undergraduates of Ann Arbor in
astronomy he pursued his Investigations along the line
of higher mathematics and wrote several works which
are now used as textbooks throughout the United
States Here he remained until 1891, when he was
made chief of the weather bureau of the United States
During this year he vice president of the nterna
t0naI METEOROLOGICAL congress at Munich whose mem
bers came from all parts of the world. He held this
position until 1891. Insomnia commenced to tell OH
him. and is said that his charts commenced to be I'M
Then he went to the state of Washington president
of the university there. change came during the
year 1885, in which the former administration was re-
moved and replaced in the state offices. The
president of the university never politician and
Harrington then came east and remained for some
months at Ann Arbor Thence he ourneyed to the Ori-
ent. Misfortune still pursued him. In Hong Kong he
had severe attack of scarlet fever He from his
bed penniless. He finally secured money by tutoring
TO buy passage to this country.
Gradually he drfed to the SOUTH poor in purse and
toiworn appearance that he proud to hunt
up his former friends Thus he went to work sugar
plantation in Louisiana. Side by side with negroes and
poor whites he abored in the cane fields and at the
great presses.
Finally he drifted back to Washington and took up
homestead claim and began the life of hermit in the
midst of heavy fir forest near Sumas. Later he went
TO Port Blakely and secured the position of nghtwac
man at the lumber mills.
The former university president now lives in cabin
built from slabs sawed from the outer faces of great fir
logs 1t contains but room, and that small
1t is furnished with couple of chairs table stove
is nailed to the wall the rude table is piled high
with books.
They are scientific treatses on mathematics astrono-
my and botany.
Each morning Mark Harrington rises, battles and
cooks his breakfast 1t is foOdhe food all mill
men eat Then he packs his lunch bucket, dons his
vas jumper and heavy spiked boots and starts for the
yard At present he works among the floating logs.
Peavy in hand along with gang of rough giants whose
speech is marked by profanity and jest he does
his share in carting the fallen forest giants into their
places.
At night he digs into his books away from the uncouth
and terate mll-hands. 1t is said that his outdoor
life is making him strong, hardy ambitious and that he
nOw gets his regular sleep.
He has hopes of once more taking his conspicuous
place in the scientific and intellectual world
Mrs Harrington is living with of her sisters in
New York city.-Detroit Journal.