Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-09
LECTURE ON ASTRONOMY
AT THE WOMAN'S CLUB
IL. II. DnumGnrdt Speaks to Large Au-
dlcnce on Progress Made In
study of the Stars.

| Il. H. nnumgnrdt Speaks to large Au-
dicnce ON Progress Made In
| study of tho Stars.
Il. II. Baumgardt. the distinguished
scientist and explorer. spoke yesterday
at the Woman's Club before an audi
ence that filled the hall and overlooked
into the foyer. 1t was one OF the most
brilliant and scholarly addresses that
has been delivered here in many years
OF English and Swedish extraction,
! Mr.. Baumgardt was educated in
Sweden. and Is a graduate OF Strengnas
College. He is lecturer of much
charm and dramatic ability. and his
story OF the stars as given yesterday
In The Latest From the Heavens"
was rcplete with subtle huInor and the
wide culture and learning OF the great
man OF science and letters that he is
Mr. Baumgardt reveals himself in Il
lecture as much the artist and poet as
a scientist. and his message from the
wonderful study OF astronomy was full
of humble p!ety before the greatness
or the supreme Ruler OF the universe.
The speaker said that to interpret
the movements and meanings of the
heavenly bodies one must approach the
subject from three different view
n.
intellectual and the aesthetic. There is
God in the infinite hosts OF golden
stars. They shine like little islands
OF light in the great ocean of dark
ness. and one sees in the stars the key
10 creation-the greatest mystery of
the world. Therein lies scientific GER
tainty for Immortality. What Is the
explanation OF the cosmic drama or
the stars? 1t is the immortal part
OF him, the Godgiven instinct. that
makes mere insignificant man able to
! foretell the movements OF these great
bodies Nothing is complicated in
science: whatever il is. it's merely a
matter of putting il right.
Mr.. Baumgardt gave an interesting
explanation OF the telescope, from the
small one made BY Galileo to the last
and greatest telescope in the world in
California. He said that the study of
this sublime science aimed to destroy
three great enemies of man-igno-
rance. error and superstition. Truth
lives forever. and truth is what the
scientist seeks for always. He said
that the eyes OF the whole world are
riveted on California for research in
the science OF astronomy. and it was
, there, in the midst OF natures fairy
land that the lecturer had arranged his
celestial drama Of the stars. His phi
losophy and faith are as deep and wide
as the spaces between the stars that
his camera had reproduced. and the
speaker Illustrated his address, not
only with pictures, but marvellous
poetry OF the masters The lantern
| slides used by Mr.. Baumgardt are of
! great excellence, artistically colored
and bear directly on the subject. They
are never introduced for effect a
| critic has said that the astronomical
| slides are revelations in celestial pho
| Biography and are unsurpassed. In
| many instances the miracle Of photo
| graphing the invisible has been accom-
| plshed.
| Mr.. Baumgardt stated that there
| would be total eclipse of tho sun
! this summer. visible in this country, a
very rare occurrence. In closing his
address he asked his audience to place
themselves in communion with the stars:
to know that matter is not finite, and
that through the great abyss OF space
that holds the stars. the suns and other
planets. there is surely some greater
power behind it all that controls
| everything. The truth never plays YOU
| false There is nothing pessimistic in
| the study of astronomy, there is moth
| ing pessimistic about truth: one sim
! ply pins his faith to the Supreme Ruler
| OF the universe. The universe remains
/ true to It's princiDles-the mechanism
| OF the stars never changes and the
! laws governing the world are always
/ the same.
! Mrs. John G. Munce was chairman
! OF the afternoon and introduced the
! speaker.