The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1907-07-18
,Cppyrlght by Joseph q. BowIes.J

tCppyrght by Joseph Is. BOwles.)
Miss Mary Proctor daughter of the
mte Prof X. A. Proctor. the English as
tronomer and author, was educated In
London and came to the United States in
1856 In 1893 abe was invited by Mrs Pot
ter Palmer to give lectures on astronomy
az the children's building of the world =
fair. Her lectures were SO successful that
she became "A public lecturer on astron-
omy, and since then has lectured more
than COO times on astronomical subjects.
She has written much on the science of
astronomy and has published n book en-
titled Stories of Starlight" which Is
used as IA supplementary reader In the
schools of New York Philadelphia. Bos-
ton, Washington and other cities)
Women astronomers are rare, but
the few who have achieved success
have we'll earned the laurels due to
their untiring energy and persever-
ance. 1t is true that no important
original contribution to observational
astronomy has yet been made by Il
woman, and that independent investi-
gators such as Hypatia or Mary Som
erville are unusual. but with the in
creased educational advantages of our
day. we may certainly look forward to
original work from women In the near
future. Their patience, persistency
and enthusiasm. added to intellectual
gifts, are specially suited to researches
In practical astronomy. where the
greatest accuracy is necessary, or to
mathematical calculations which must
be conducted for weeks or even
months without an error.
The most recent example of wom-
an distinguished In scientific work is
Sonia Kovalevsky, whose great sue
cess In the field of pure mathematics
has won deserved recognition among
scientists. Nevertheless, according to
her biography printed at her own re-
quest, Sonia Kavolevsky seemed to
take rather a gloomy view of science
as desirable pursuit for women Her
own final verdict was: Happiness is
not to be found In scientific labors,
nor do they advance the cause of hui
manity. 1t is folly to waste ones
youth in such pursuits. Scientific
gifts are veritable misfortune, and
especially so to woman, for they
compel her to enter field of action in
which she can never find happiness"
These words seem to confirm the
statement OF Nine. de Stael. For a
woman glory is always built on
wrecked happiness" Nevertheless, 1t
does not necessarily follow that wom-
ans happiness is wrecked II she has
voluntarily chosen to devote her life
and energy to scientific pursuits; that
is. provided the work Is congenal and
she has the patience and ability to
overcome the difficulties which nat
urally arise. Her enthusiasm contin-
ually urges her to make renewed eff
forts and enables her eventually TO at
tain success.
However. woman's greatest work in
the realm of science has been accom-
plished by means of her sympathy and
encouraging influence. as in the case
OF Nine. Heyelins, Nine. Lepaute, Car
oline Herschel and others. Nine. Le-
paute rendered her husband valuable
assistance In his astronomical obser-
vations. thus insuring his success de-
spite the most trying circumstances.
Together they constructed catalogue
the position of nearly 1000
stars, the largest number included in
any catalogue, made from observations
without telescopes.
In the same way, Nine. Lepaute,
who was married in 174S to the ia
nous clockmaker, Jean Andre Lee
paute, man of great scientific attain
ments, by means of her quiet but eff
fective influence continually urged her
husband to make greater exertions
and renewed endeavors. She assisted |
him In making observations and cal |
rulations and In the solution of as
problems. In fact she be- |
'ame so renowned as a computer that |
n 1851, when the astronomer Lalande |
ngaged Clairant to make certain diff |
icult calculations required for the
determination of comets return to |
that able mathematician |
oppressed the hopelessness of the task |
lnless Nine. Lepaute should consent
o assist him. She eagerly came to the
escue and they toiled faithfully to-
,ether over the intricate problem for
s months, their combined efforts being
rewarded with success. The
,omet made its temperance in 1853,
eaching perihelion in 1859, within the
limiting date fixed by Clairant and
line. Lepaute, Clairant was enthu-
iastic in praise of his assistant, de-
cribing her energy as surprising.
danny other valuable calculations We're
made by Nine. Lepaute and the great
Lalande stated that she
vas the only woman in France who
ad acquired true knowledge OF as
ronmy.
Probably the most notable instancs
I a woman contributing indirectly To