The Washington herald., 1909-07-12
MILITARY HONORS
FOR PROF. NEWCOMB
Astronomer to Be Buried at
Arlington Wednesday.
SERVICES WILL BE AT CHURCH
Revered ns One OF Most Celebrated
Astronomers OF HIS Time-ReceIved
Highest HOnOrs from Seventeen
Universities in Ten CoanfrieS.
Distinguished Men Pay Tribute.

The funeral OF Pr0f Simon Newcomb.
the noted astronomer and mathematician.
who died at 80 o'clock yesterday morn
ing at his home, 1920 P street northwest,
VIII take place from his late residence on
Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock He
win be accorded the military honors due
bis rank as rear admiral OF the United
States navy. retired Interment viii be
in Arlington Cemetery, and Commander
Sells, L. s. y, win have charge of the
funeral arrangements.
Brief services viii be held Wednesday
morning az the Church OF the Covenant
Rev. Tyler bennett, OF the Church OF the
Covenant. and Rev. Dr. Chids. Of Chevy
Chase. viii oflciate
Won Worldwide HOnOrs.
When IL became known last September
that Prof. Newcomb was suffering from
IN incurable disease-cancer OF the bad
dsr-his friends and the friends OF sci
ence throughout the wcrld awaited the
end with fun realization Of the great
loss that his death would occasion
Many knew that he was az work upon
the c-ownlng labor Of his lie. and all
shared with him the hope that strength
might be given him 10 see hs completion.
The JOY felt three weeks ago when the
last word was written and The Motion
OF the Moon was sent 10 the press was
daTkened by the thought thar IL ter
minated the labOrs OF the greatest
scientist this country ever knew.
Seventeen universities In ten different
countries conferred upon him their hieh-
est honOrs. Learned societies IN all paris
OF the world included his name upon their
list OF foreign members. Sovere-eEls IN
many lands gave him decorations 10 show
Their high appreciation of his attain
ments- Governments bestowed upon him
gifts which, had he been a citizen Of their
own land. would have found expression
ln weI-Geserved Jitles
Publishers coveted his manuscripts. and
periodicals sought his writings: astron-
omy and mathematics were enriched bv
his contributions. and students OF political
economy have read hts books with proft.
He discussed with clearness the latest
questions az the day. and with prophetic
vision outlined some OF the problems Of
the future. topics in lighter vein were not
neglected. and his "reminiscences VIII for
years be read with pleasure.
Laden with HOnOrs.
Although laden with honors and ereera5
6y tie plaUdits OF his fenow-men. con-
scious OF his strength and coEnlzant OF
his powers. looking back upon his
achievements and forward 20 his oppor-
tunities for even greater successes. he
was modest IN regard 10 self and ap-
prec.ative OF others.
he was foreign associate OF. the Insti-
tute of Frauce-0ne OF eight. and the only
American 10 hold that honor since Frank
lin; medalist o. the Royal Astronomical
Society. Of the ROYAL Society Of the
Dutch Society Of Sciences and the As
Economical Society OF the Pacific lie was
given the sylvester prize OF Johns Hop
klns and the Schubert prize OF Russia
France. ia ISs2 made him an officer in the
Legion OF Honor, and In 1907 promoted him
20 the grade o. commando. Prussia be-
slowed upon him the unusual honor Of
knighthoOd in the Order OF Science and
Art Notwithstanding an Of these dis
tnctions. he was loyal 10 the scientific
interests lying close al hand. He served
as president OF the Cosmos Club. and
only last January entered upon his ses-
Ond consecutive term as president Of the
Philosophical Society OF washington.
Prof Newcomb was D0rn in Nova
Scotia March T. 1S35 He came 10 the
United States IN 1S3 and graduated from
Harvard IN ISIS In 1873 he married a
daughter of the late DR.. HassIer. surgeon.
United States navy. and granddaughter
Of F. r. Hassler. founder and first super
intendent Of the United States Coast and
GeOdetic Survey He IS survived by his
wi-e, three daughters. all married. and
eleven grandchildren.
French Scientist Praises.
Ioewy. late director of the Paris OBJ
servatory, paid this tribute 20 Prof. New
comb.
''Neweomb must be considered as one OF
the most celebrated astronomers OF our
time
"An Newcomb's work has constantly
tended 10 this ideal end. First. 70 arrive
az a more exact knowledge OF the magni-
tudes serving as points OF reference. and
then TO establish the theory. not only OF
all the planets. but also of their satellites.
on a system Of constants as precise as
modern observations permit
IN order to determine the masses OF
Neptune and Uranus and the elements or
their satellites. he made a series OF OBJ
servations of great value. on which are
partially founded the ephemerides. insert
ed in al nautical almanacs.
The solar parallax is one OF the most
essential data which intervene IN an re-
searches concerning the planetary sys-
TEN. NeWcomb undertook 10 TX its value
by the discussion Of all the transits OF
Venus observed previously 70 1872.
BY minute and impartial discussion
OF all existing documents Newcomb ar
rived at a value almost Identical with
the one adopted in 1896 by the interna-
tional conference Of Paris.
Again. IN order 10 obtain an alto
gether independent means Of value OF
this same constant. NewcOmb undertook
a determination OF the velocity OF light.
based on the Ingenious method suggested
by Leon FoucaUlt. The agreement be-
tween the different results obtained in
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