The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01

easily within working distance of a sta
tionary office chair The book case, situated
in the center of the BILE, revolves indie
pendently, so that any book may be
brought within reach without disturbing
the table itself.
There are several ways of carrying out
this revolving principle. AS it has been
erected at the observatory the table oc-
cupies the major part Of one of the smaller
rooms, with a good light just where it is
most needed by the person using it, The
main axis of the table proper, the part
used as a writing desk and covered with
the materials manuscript, photographs.
letters, folders, pens, ink and dozens of
other scientific and literary miscellany-of
the various subjects which are constantly
taking up the directors personal attention,
rises from floor to ceiling and turns slowly
around as one section after another passes
in review before the stationary chair i'm
which the director Is himself seated. Above
this table and in the center Of il is the spe-
cial library containing all the books and
pamphlets likely to be needed in the days
work These books are far enough back
not to interfere with the writing space of
the table and yet near enough to be
reached comfortably without interrupting
the process Of composition, study, proof
reading or correspondence, as the case
may be. But there are really six little Ii
braries, and between each of them another
smaller triangular compartment for pens.
ink, mucilage, letter scales, paper weights
and all the other things that accumulate
on ordinary desk and are always in the
way when you don't want them and in
variably hiding when you do.
Each section is about four feet long by
tive deep and in addition has two good
sized drawers for stationary, stamps. en-
velopes, measuring charts. diagrams,
photograph slides and the other para
phernalia Of modern astronomy, since the
director of an observatory keeps in touch
with the various details of its work, edits
and supervises its constant output Of scien-
tific publications and records. and carries
on the clerical part of his own personal
Investigations. One section is, therefore.
for scientific correspondence, the answering
of questions about the stars from astro-
nomical centers, here, there and every
where all over the world. Two sections are
devoted TO photometry-the constant record
of the light or brightness of the stars An
other section is for studying and comparing
the records of the thousands Of spectre
scopic photographs yearly taken by the
observatory instruments and including all
the visible stars both in the northern and
southern hemispheres. Another is devoted
to the proof sheets of the observatory an
nails, bulletins and catalogues: and yet an
other TO the odds and ends that must be
daily attended TO although they do not ad-
nit of general classification. And the new
revolving table is thus very like the whole
observatory in miniature. In fact, every
bit of scientific information that goes out
from the observatory will ride round and
round upon il in process of being digested.
OF course, the expense involved in the
table was a mere drop in the $4,000. half
Of which has been invested in a new build
ing for storing the constantly growing coll
lection of Photographic plates which makes
the observatory worlds center for scien-
tihc Photographic information about the
stars. But what makes il especially inter-
esting is that il is a new application Of
the revolving bookcase that almost any
body can have constructed for his own
uses. Also, it shows that when a scientist
turns furniture designer he does not al
ways make mistake in his new venture.