observed the movements of the planets and stars, and studied 

 mathematics with intense ardor. 



On the death of his uncle, Brahe inherited a fortune and 

 found himself free to follow his cherished plans. While 

 travelling in Germany an unhappy incident nearly cost him 

 his life ; a quarrel with one of his own countrymen at Rostock 

 led to an appeal to the sword ; they fought the duel in total 

 darkness, and Brahe's antagonist cut off the whole front of his 

 nose producing a horrid disfigurement which was only partly 

 remedied by cementing to his face an imitation nose cleverly 

 constructed of gold and silver; youthful folly thus earned 

 for him the soubriquet of "The Man with the Silver Nose." 



Two years later Tycho Brahe settled temporarily in Augs- 

 burg where he secured the friendship and financial assistance 

 of Paul Hainzel, burgomaster of the city and a devotee of 

 astronomy ; they constructed a huge quadrant for the purpose 

 of determining the altitude of celestial orbs, a sextant for 

 measuring their distances, and other instruments superior to 

 any then extant, with which many excellent observations 

 were made. 



Returning to Denmark, Brahe established a new observa- 

 tory at his uncle's castle and advanced greatly the knowledge 

 of astronomers ; his reputation secured for him an invitation 

 from the King to give a course of lectures on astronomy, 

 which he accepted and he greatly interested his auditors by 

 defending the superstitions of astrology. He then visited 

 southern Germany, Switzerland and Venice intending to select 

 a permanent residence; on his way northward he passed 

 through Ratisbon just in time to witness the brilliant cere- 

 monies at the coronation of the Emperor Rudolph II, on 

 November first, 1575. He made the acquaintance of the 

 monarch, was invited to dine with him, and on that occasion 

 cast his horoscope, from a study of which he advised the 



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