CLEVELAND ABBE. xi 



Imagine his astonishment when he was shown his name on a hand- 

 some samovar standing among the gifts beside the Christmas tree. 

 To further prepare him for the astronomical work in which he would 

 be engaged during the long and rigorous winters of northern Russia, 

 arrangements had been made for his advantageous purchase of a 

 splendid great coat lined with native fur. It is easy to understand 

 the deep impression incidents and associations of this kind would 

 make upon the gentle and sympathetic nature of Abbe. Unfortu- 

 nately the samovar was early stolen from him, but the great coat is 

 still serviceable and among his effects. During the winter of 1909- 

 1910 he resided at the Weather Bureau station at Mount Weather, 

 Va., where the severe atmospheric conditions gave frequent occa- 

 sions for the use of the great fur coat. The writer, himself, was 

 snow-bound at Mt. Weather on one of these occasions and after the 

 storm, during a nine mile drive through the snow drifts to the rail- 

 way station, he enjoyed the warmth and protection of the great fur 

 coat, which was even then, after the lapse of about thirty-four years, 

 in perfect preservation, a tribute to the perfected art of tanning furs 

 in Russia. 



Returning to the United States Abbe entered upon work at the 

 Naval Observatory at Washington, D. C, in 1867. As early as 

 February in 1868, however, he had accepted the position of director 

 of the Cincinnati Observatory, to which place he removed in June 

 of the same year. A member of Abbe's family relates to me an 

 interesting incident not generally known, concerning his election to 

 the directorship of the Cincinnati Observatory and that well illus- 

 trates Abbe's gentle temperament and kindly solicitude for others. 

 During the transatlantic passage on his return from Russia he made 

 the casual acquaintance of an elderly woman of culture and refine- 

 ment. Ocean travel at that time lacked many of the comforts we 

 are now accustomed to enjoy and during the prolonged passage 

 Abbe found pleasure in telling his sympathetic acquaintance of his 

 hopes and ambitions, and his devotion to astronomy. We can well 

 imagine the frequent opportunities embraced by Abbe to extend his 

 kindly courtesies and contribute to the comfort and welfare of his 

 older companion. The journey ended with the customary partings 

 and exchange of sentiments and sympathies incident to travel and 



