GALILEO GALILEI. 



same memorable day is marked by the 

 setting of one of the most brilliant stars in 

 the firmament of art and the rising of another 

 in the sphere of science, which was to enlighten 

 the world with beams of equal splendor. On 

 the 18th of February, 1564, Michael Angelo Buo- 

 narotti closed his eyes at Koine, and Galileo 

 Galilei first saw the light at Pisa.' 7 



Thus writes young Karl von Gebler, in the best 

 life of Galileo ever written, his dying contribu- 

 tion to literature. Some other authorities place 

 Galileo's birth on February 15. 



He was the oldest in a family of five children 

 born to Vincenzo Galilei, a Florentine noble, and 

 Giulia Ammanati, who also belonged to an ancient 

 family. Vincenzo wrote learnedly about music, 

 and taught his boy to play on the lute and the 

 organ; but he was poor and life was a struggle. 

 However beneficial poverty may be in the develop- 

 ment of character, most of us do not crave it for 

 our children, so Vincenzo decided to place his son 

 where he could earn a comfortable support. Music 

 did not bring money. Galileo therefore should 

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