The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-07-11
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BY Mary Proctor

Miss Mary Proctor, daughter OF the
late Prof r. A Proctor, the English as
tronomer and author, was educated in
London and came to the United States IN
1856 In 1893 she was invited by Mrs. Pot
ter Palmer to give lectures on astronomy
at the children's building of the worlds
fair. Her lectures were SO successful that
she became a public lecturer on astron-
omy, and since then has lectured more
than GOO times on astronomical subjects.
She has written much on the science of
astronomy and has published book en-
titled Stories of Starlight" which is
used as a supplementary reader in the
schools of New York, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, Washington and other cites.9
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 a
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 Kavolevsly seemed to
take rather gloomy view of science
e as a 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 hu-
manity. 1t is folly to waste ones
youth in such pursuits. Scientific
gifts are a veritable misfortune, and
especially so to a woman, for they
compel her to enter feld of action in
which she can never find happiness" T"
These words seem to confirm the
statement of Nine. de Stael: For a
woman glory is always built on
wrecked happiness" Nevertheless, it
does not necessarily follow that wom-
ans happiness is wrecked If she has
voluntarily chosen to devote her life
and energy to scientific pursuits; that
is, provided the work is congenial and
she has the patience and ability to
overcome the difficulties which nat
nrally 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. Hevelins, 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 a catalogue
containing 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 1748 to the ia
nous clockmaker, Jean Andre Le-
paute, a man of great scientific attain
ments, by means of her quiet but eff
tective influence continually urged her
husband to make greater exertions
and renewed endeavors. She assisted
him in making observations and cal
eulations and in the solution of as
Economical problems, In fact she be-
came SO renowned as a computer that
in 1857, when the astronomer Lalande
engaged Clairant to make certain diff
icult calculations required for the
determination of a comets return to
oerihelion, that able mathematician
expressed the hopelessness of the task
unless Nine. Lepaute should consent
10 assist him. She eagerly came to the
rescue and they toiled faithfully to-
gether over the intricate problem for
Is months, their combined efforts being
eventually rewarded with success. The
comet made its temperance in 1858,
reaching perihelion in 1859, within the
limiting date fixed by Clairant and
Nine. Lepaute. Clairant was enthu-
siastic in praise of his assistant, de-
scribing her energy as surprising