Evening star., 1909-06-20

By Mary Proctor

A y amusing anachronism By Mar,
n recently brought to the
notice of an astronomer who is
stamp collector. 1t was stamp from Hon
duras, with picture of Columbus discovering
America by means of telescope.
AS matter of fact, the first telescope was
not made until 1909, the month of May of the
present year Q9O9), being the tercentenary of
the invention of this instrument.
So far as | have been able to ascertain, the
only celebration was by the Astronomical So
ciety of Mexico, which issued invitations to a
special meeting May ID 1t is surprising
that neither Holland nor Italy noticed the an
niversary, as both countries had their share IN
the honor of the discovery well as the in
vention of the telescope
Early in October 1905 the use of the tel
escope was discovered in Holland as the result
of an accident. As the story goes, an appren-
tIce playing with spectacle lenses IN the shop OF
an optician named Hans Lpperhey of Middle
burg, noticed that by holding two of them in
certain position, large and inverted view OF
objects was obtained. On hearing of this, Lip
perhey fixed two glasses IN tube, so that the
weather vane a ne1ghboring church splre
could be seen apparently nearer and upside
down. This toy was shown IN his window,
where one day Marquis Spinola chanced to see
it. and entered the shop to make inquiries con-
Cerning its purpose We are told that he pur-
chased one of these magic glasses" as they
called. and afterward gave it to Prince
Maurice of Nassau.
When Calico Heard of 1t
u EPORTS of the invention more orless vague,
spread slowly over Europe. and reached
tlalileo Galile one of the greatest experimental
philosophers of the modern world, when on
Short visit to Venice about the middle of June,
1909. As Galileos independent invention of
the telescope, like many more of his dis
coveries, has been denied or belittled by envlous
detractors in his own and later times, the story
had best be told in his own words. In letter
1ofa
20. 1909, he SAYS:
Il write now because have piece of news
for you. You must know that about two
months ago report was spread here that IN
Flanders spvglass had been presented to
Prince Maurice, ingeniously constructed
that it made the most distant objects appear
quite near, so that man could be seen quite
plainly at distance of two miles This result
seemed to me extraordinary that it set me
thinking. and it appeared to me that it de-
pended upon the laws of perspective, re-
1ected on the manner of constructing it, and
at length SO entirely successful that made
spygass which far surpassed the report OF the
Flanders one.
AS the news had reached Venice that l had
made such instrument, six days ago | was
summoned before their Highnesses, the Sig
nors, and exhibited it to them to the astonish-
Inent of the whole Senate. Many of the mobiles
and Senators, though of great age, mounted
more than once to the top of the highest church
tower in Venice, in order to see sails and ship
ping (Which were SO tar off that 1t was two hours
before they were seen without my spygass)
steering full sail into the harbor; for the effect
of my instrument is such that it makes an OBJ
iect fifty miles off appear as large as if it were
only five.
'Perceiving of what great utility such an in
strument would prove in naval and military
operations, and seeing that his Serenity, the
Doge desired to possess it. l resolved on the
twenty-fourth instant to go to the palace and
present it free gift.
As reward for his courtesy in presenting the
spyglass and in particular for having invented
the instrument, the Senate offered Calico a
professorship for life in Padua, a recognition
Of his discoveries and inventions.
Soon Made Others
OF the first telescope referred to in this ex-
~ tract, no further mention is made; so
may suppose that it of little value; but the
second, which he presented to the Doge and is
unfortunately lost was shown for the first time
IN public on August p, 1909, from the top of the
campanile of Saint Marks. The farthest OBJ
ect that could be plainly seen was the cam
panle of the Church of San Gustna in Padua,
distant about twenty-five miles in straight
line.
The third telescope Calico made had mag
L.,