Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-21
62I-623 Mutlset st.
BOY ASTRONOMER.
Scottish Youth who Has Written a Learned
Work -

Scottish Youth Who Has Written a Learned
Work. "a
Astronomers, like poets, are born, not
made, says the London Chronicle. No
man takes to astronomy from mercenary
motives, and only zeal and enthusiasm can
supply the patience and perseverance
necessary TO accomplish real and abiding
work in the study of the wonders of the
starry heavens. If Scotland has pro-
duced no Calico OF Herschel, she has
James Ferguson, Sir David Brewster and
Others of whom she need not be ashamed.
Hector Macpherson, Jr., a lad Of II, the
author OF Astronomers of Today, ,"
recently published by Messrs. Gall &
lnglis, Edinburgh, may be heard of in
future. The son Of one Of the best-known
journalists in Scotland, he has had no
systematic education and has never been
at a public school. His father an ad-
mirer and biographer of Herbert Spencer,
has "views" on education. He considers
that the first thing should be to allow the
mind of a child to develop freely and
naturally. "TOuch the young imagina-
ton, he says; "arouse a child's curiosity
and then satisfy IT,"
Young Hector's home is at Johnsburg,
Balemo, a pretty, tree-sheltered old Mid
lothian county house, several miles from
Edinburgh. The house, by the way, was
occupied about the end of the Eighteenth
Century by Prof. Adam Ferguson, the
friend Of Adam Smith and David Hume.
Here the youthful astronomer has had
ample leisure and opportunity to culti-
vate his favorite science. He has never
been made to "grind at grammar" in his
own or other language, though his father
has helped him to find out things for
himself. Tho lad has acquired in this
way q large amount Of general knowledge
unknown to the ordinary schoolboy, and
has acquired the faculty of giving express
sion to his ideas in clear, terse, vigorous
English.
When l2 or 13 he began to show
strong interest in astronomy. His father
believing il is good for the youthful mind
to occupy itself with great subjects. gave
the boy encouragement and procured for
him Astronomical primers written in
simple and popular style Instead of weary
ing, the lads wonder and interest were
aroused. He got a general idea of the
whole subject and worked steadily through
many astronomical books. increasing IN
difficulty. Bit by bit the young astrono-
mer developed, getting a corner of his
home fitted up as an observatory. with
telescope, orrery, star maps and other
paraphernalia as became a private OBJ
server.
By and by, at his fathers suggestion.
he commenced a series of articles in an
Edinburgh weekly newspaper on the
great astronomers Of the past. Next he
thought he would like TO write on the
work accomplished by living astronomers.
Having tried in vain 70 find in anv book
published in English up-to-date informa-
tion as TO the work Of such men as Schia-
pareli tlammarion and Others, the hov
wrote TO the scientists themselves. sent
on copies Of some OF his articles 10 show
what he was doing, and begged for accu-
rate information to show what each man
considered his most important contribu-
tion to science during his hfework. An
interesting and friendly correspondence
followed, with different astronomers. and
the lad got not only compliments on the
scope and quality of his articles. but
valuable, reliable and up-to-date informa-
ton from eminent astronomers both on
the Continent and in America. as well as
portraits Of the savants sent bv them
selves. The result was q series of articles.
which have now been published in book
form under the title Astronomers Of
Today