The Washington herald., 1908-04-26

WITH more philosophy, as ne shOuld, nat
uraily, because Of his profession, than his
volcanic opponent. The NEST interesting
period of Prof. Morse's life was. without
doubt that passed in Tokyo, when he
held the chair of zoology at the Imperial
University 1t was at this period that ne
made the famous collection of Japanese
ceramics which was subsequently bought
by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
and fo- which Prof. Morse prepared the
catalogue which is said to be the best ar
ranged and most comprehensive one on
this subject in existence. For his work at
the Imperial University. Prof. Morse re-
ceived the decoration OF the Order Of the
Rising Sun.
Prof. Newcomb who always takes an
active part In the sessions OF the Nation
al Academy, of which he is the foreign
secretary, was missed from the meetings
last week, as he is at present in Europe,
whittier he went TO attend various con-
ventlons. TO enjoy a well-earned vaca-
ton, and to think out in solitude work
on which he is now engaged. "A prophet
is not without honor save in his own csun-
try" is especially true of the prophets Of
America, where the people are apt to pass
by their own to seek those Of other eoun-
tries ApropOs of this, one of the for
eigners in town once told the following
story: A young student of astronomy
Travelled all the way from New York to
PulkOwa to consult the late Otto de
Struve, who was then the director Of
the observatory there. in regard to
certain line of work. But why have
you come TO me?" asked de Strives
why have you not gone to your own
cOuntryman, Prof NeWcomb, who IS the
most noted mathematical astronomer OF
our times?" The seeker after knowledge
turned sadly away after this reproof,
and. returning home, huzably sought the
counsel Of the most noted mathematical
astronomer" not only of his own, but OF
all times up to the present, Simon New
comb. This is one of many similar in
stances that could be recounted. The
names of many scientific men which are
strange to their own cOuntrymen, OF
about which there is the vaguest kn0wl'
edge, are famous in the universities OF
Europe it is small wonder. then, that
our men Of science and letters are glad
OF any excuse that Will take them abroad.
where they are known and appreciated,
and treated according to their deserts.
But TO return 70 our great astronomer
wandering on the other side; he is one of
three Americans who have been associate
members of the French Academy of
Sciences, to which he was elected in 1885,
TO fill the vacancy made by the death OF
Helmholtz and this signal honor is shared
with him By less than a half dozen other
foreigners. L would require a volume 10
IL
ceived from abroad where homage is ac-
corded and tribute given generously and
appreciatively, to all great scholars; but
nothing has brought him more applause
or won him more gratitude than the vim
dication of Father HelPs memory, the
Jesuit astronomer. which for so many
years had been under a cloud Of suspi-
cion because Of the accusation Of certain
of his contemporaries that he had falsifed
his observations When IN Vienna
number of years ago Prof NewcOmb hap
pened to see an especially bitter attack
on the Jesuit astronomer, a Hungarian by
birth. and he remained in that capital for
several days longer than he had planned
TO investigate the charge. with the result
that he found the work Father Hell had
been accused Of falsifying perfectly cor
rect and susceptible of proof, whereupon
he at once published a pamphlet justify
ing his eminent predecessor and clearing
his memory Of stain.
Among his most precious archives Prof
NewcOmb cherishes the following certifi-
cate, which is especially interesting in
view of the fact that he has become a
great mathematical astronomer, is an
associate member Of the French Academy,
and has been distinguished by every honor
in the gift Of the universities at home and
abroad;
This is 20 certify that Mr. Simon Newcomb was
well qualified to instruct children In the various
branches Of an English education, and possesses
q good moral character He exhibited q very con
siderable knowledge Of the higher branches Of mathe
matics.
JOHN W. T. SUDLER
Trustees for Primary School No. 1. Of Q. A. Co. for
year ending 1855
sudlersville, November Q. 1856
Robert 6. Woodward, the president Of
the Carnegie Institute, and one OF the
council Of the Academy, was a conspicu-
Gus figure at the several meetings of
that body on Tuesday and Wednesday
It is only three years since Mr.. Wood
ward permanently established himself in
Washington, but before that period he
was al different times connected with
the Geological Survey, the Coast and
Geodetic Survey, and was assistant as
tr0nomer on the transit of Venus expe-
dltiOn in 1SS2. Since 1898, and until he
was made president OF the Carnegie In
stitute, Mr.. Woodward has been a men,
ber Of the faculty Of Columbia Univer-
--s4-
was dean of the School of Pure Science.
President Woodward has a delightful
home in Sixteenth street, and it was
there on Wednesday evening that he
gave a reception to his visiting col
leagues, to meet whom he invited a num-
Der of Washington notables.
It Is always good to see Weir Mitchell,
and he was in splendid form and spirits
when he came over to Washington last
week for the meeting of the Academy.
DR.. Mitchell is so generally known un-
der the name of Weir that the fact that
he was christened with the good old
Quaker name of Silas IS almost lost sight
of, and it is necessary to consult the
records, too. to realize that It is Just
seventy-eight years since the boy child
Mitchell was dubbed with the names OF
Silas Weir, but in his medical researches.
DR.. Mitchell has probably come across an
elixir Of eternal youth. or. perhaps, 1t is
the novels he writes that keep him
young; however that may be. he is as
young in soul as he is in appearance,
and has as much interest and zeal in
writing his last novel, which is now run
ming as serial as though it was his
maiden effort in fiction, instead of his
fourteenth or fifteenth. It is to be re-
gretted that this venerable septuagenar-
ian did not feel moved TO read paper at
the recent meeting of the Academy. for
his researches both in medicine and his
tory would have been interesting 10 both
the layman and the specialist.