168 BENJAMIN APTHORP GOULD— COMSTOCK. [Mmio,b 1vouS 



had found time to begin his proposed private work in astronomical photography; its completion 

 was reserved for future leisure. 



The work done upon the Rutherford photographs, in the late sixties, led Gould to borrow 

 the lens that had produced these plates and to take it with him to South America for similar 

 work upon the southern sky. But the pressure of duties incident to his early residence in Cor- 

 doba left no leisure for collateral work and the photographic apparatus long rested undisturbed 

 in its packing box. When finally opened the lens was found broken across the middle with no 

 clue to suggest how or when the accident had occurred. Prolonged and partially successful 

 attempts at its repair were finally abandoned and a new lens ordered. But much time had 

 been lost, and even after the new lens had tardily arrived and was put to work Gould's feelings 

 were outraged by the treachery of an assistant, privately employed by him for the photographic 

 work. Nevertheless, by 1885 some 1 ,400 photographs of southern star clusters had been obtained 

 with the new lens, and the plates were brought back with him for measurement and study. 

 This work, extending over the remaining decade of Gould's life, was, by the care of friends, 

 published after his death, in the noble quarto volume that bears the title " Photographic Obser- 

 vations of Star Clusters from Impressions Made at the Argentine National Observatory. Meas- 

 ured and Computed with Aid from the Argentine Government, by Benjamin Apthorp Gould, 

 1897." The work is devoted to an accurate determination of the positions of stars in certain 

 regions of the sky where they are crowded together in unusual degree. It lays the foundation 

 for problems of stellar motion that are still far from solution, and as such foundation it is worthy 

 to stand as its author's last contribution to astronomical science. At a much later date, all of 

 these Argentine photographs were sent for further discussion to Prof. E. C. Pickering. 



It is perhaps a misnomer to call the Cordoba photographs Gould's last work unless there 

 be bracketed with such statement mention of a very different phase of his activity subsequent 

 to 1885. Carrying out a long-cherished purpose, in 1886 he resuscitated the Astronomical 

 Journal and announced in the preamble to its seventh volume: "The publication of the Astro- 

 nomical Journal was discontinued in 1861, with great reluctance, yet with undoubting hope that 

 the suspension would be not only temporary but brief. In August, 1869, the arrangements 

 for its reestablishment had been fully matured when they were interrupted by circumstances 

 known to astronomers. The delays thus occasioned have been unexpectedly long, but after 

 the lapse of 25 years all impediments seem to be at last removed, and no reason is apparent why 

 the resumption may not now be regarded as permanent." It must have been with a feeling of 

 profound satisfaction that Gould penned these lines and his faith has been justified by the event. 

 Under his editorial care, supplemented by that of his long-time pupil, friend, and colleague, 

 S. C. Chandler, the Journal nourished for a decade, and to the present day his successors have 

 conducted it in his spirit for "the advancement rather than the diffusion of astronomical 

 knowledge." 



Again taking up his residence in Cambridge, Gould found himself in the succeeding decade 

 a prominent citizen of the larger community, Boston, and a public character in its civic and 

 social life. His return was celebrated by a public dinner in his honor in which Boston's best 

 participated by speech as well as by presence and at which the venerable Oliver Wendell Holmes 

 recited a poem, written for the occasion, whose opening lines, despite their lurking humor, seem 

 fairly to represent the prevailing temper: 



Once more Orion and the sisters Seven 



Look on thee from the skies that hailed thy birth. 

 How shall we welcome thee whose home was Heaven 



From thy celestial wanderings, back to earth? 



The scientific staff of the United States Coast Survey sought to have Gould placed at the 

 head of that organization, but in vain. His remaining years were to be spent in the home of 

 his youth, and there, supplementing his extended scientific and professional relations, he speedily 

 became interested and active in many local organizations that collectively must have imposed 

 large demands upon his time, e. g., in addition to his active participation in Masonry, already 



