A MAN OF THE STARS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 3, 15 January 1903, Page 5

A MAN OF THE STARS.

There lived in the last century a distinguished scientist whose life should throw a bright light on the subject under consideration. This was the famous astronomer Herschel, who d'ed in 1822 He was a native of Hanover, but came to England at an early age where it is said he supported himself travelling from town to town as a member of a German band. Eventually he succeeded in obtaining a permanent position at Bath, where he applied himself to his two favorite studies, music and astronomy. His sidter tells us that he used to retire every night to his bedroom with Smith's 1 Harmonies ' and Ferguson's ' Astronomy ' and went to sleep buried under his favorite authors ; and his first thought next day would be how he could obtain the instruments that might enable him to see for him°elf the objects about which he had been reading. This led him to engage in the construction of telescopes, in which he became so much absorbed that in attempting to construct one seven-foot reflector he made no fewpr than 200 specula before he attained the perfection he desired. Such earnestness secured the success it deserved, and won for him a high place in the scientific world. He made numerous astronomical discoveries, of which the discovery of the planet Uranus is the most remarkable. He effected important improvements in astronomical instruments, and died at the advanced age of 84 laden with honor and po sessed of a considerable fortune.