Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-11-20
Farm er Boy Catches Comets.

A farmer boy, hardly, out of his
teens, modest and reticent, who has
discovered two comets before thesas-
tronomers of the world located them
is now one of the interesting fig
ures in the scientific world. This
boy, with a chin assyet unacquaint-
ed with razor, with home made
telsacope in the back yard Of his
grandfather's farm house, within
six months made two discoveries
either one Of which would have at
tracted attention anywhere.
The young astronomers name is
j. E. Mellish, and his searching Of
the heavens has been done after a
hard days work on the farm for
pure love Of the wonderous stories
told him by the stars. The atten-
tion attracted to him is not appreci-
ated by this slight, retiring youth,
who only wishes to be let alone to
pursue his studies and explorations
among the stars.
Mellish's first comet was discoy-
cred on April 10, soon after he had
completed his home made telescope.
The other was located recently and
has brought queries for more details
from .observatories in different parts
of the country.
The discovery has brought to,him
what is worth much more to this
ambitious lad, namely,l the use Of
the instrument in the Washburn OBJ
servatory at the University Of Wis
consin, where with properly equip
ped instruments, he will be able to
pursue his searches of the heavens
with more zest and more opportuni-
ty to add to his fame as a discover
er of strange things.
Young Mellish is not at all in
clined to talk of his achievements.
he shuns publicity, and it was with
much reluctance he would give even
a brief story of his work.
"Six years ago said the youth, 81
obtained an old spyglass and used
it for looking at things about the
farm, but | could not view the heav.
ems, which | wished to do. Finally
/ saw an advertisement of small
telescope for sale for 81. / had the
money and sent for it, / was sur.
prised at what it disclosed to me
when l tried it on starry night.
could see streaks across the ..moor
and wavy things that looked like
flames, but the telescope was tor
small to get any clear views as
longed for.
During 1904 I worked for my
uncle who is carpenter, as a help
er. The wages were small and
could not save much money. Still
) saved some and with my savings
5 was able to secure books which
needed and a new telescope with
J Pinch lens, which cost SIG. Will
: that I could see more stars, and, OK
!. ploring these fresh fields, my ambi
a ton grew.
X In few months I had read 8
: much about the stars that I jus
y ached for an. instrument whic
n would enable me to gaze on th
planets of which l had read.
n wrote to a manufacturers and wa
: told the kind of telescope I want
f ed would cost 5000. l was great
j, disappointed, for such sum {
! money | could not get, and.I ha
!, to give it up for while.
$ "Then l got,hold of a book whic
! described how one could make n
s llecting telescope. sent to Chico
s go and get two pieces of plate glas
Q six inches thick and six inches i
3 diameter. Then, with some emer
e l began the slow, tedious work {
o grinding a lens. 1t was. hard wor
II and took me from late in the fa
'r until the next spring. By Apri
70 however, l had the telescope con
% pleted, with a 6-inch glass and nea
70 ly six feet in length. AS soon as