CHAPTER VIII. 



A VISIT TO AN OBSERVATORY. 



IT is well known that in the United States there are many 

 more opportunities for educated women to gain useful 

 and remunerative employment than are found in Great 

 Britain. I was particularly struck with this when I saw 

 American ladies employed in doing work in the astro- 

 nomical observatories of their country, which on this side 

 would be almost exclusively performed by men. The 

 work they had to do was eminently suited to ladies ; it 

 required neatness and care, and a conscientious determi- 

 nation to perform it with unremitting accuracy and atten- 

 tion. How successful they have been is known to all 

 astronomers who have made themselves acquainted with 

 the great volume of excellent astronomical research that 

 flows from the American observatories. 



I was much interested and entertained lately by reading 

 a paper written by one of the American astronomers to 

 whom I have referred. Two years ago a new astronomical 

 observatory was opened at Carleton College, Northfield, 

 Minnesota, and at the laying of the foundation-stone an 

 appropriate a most appropriate address was delivered 



