Septembeb 2, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



293 



more liberal aid than almost any other 

 science. This has enabled astronomers to 

 develop ■vvell-organized observatories, and 

 to carry on large pieces of routine work. 

 They are, therefore, especially fitted for 

 undertaking researches on a scale that will 

 constitute a real advance. It is the object 

 of the present pamphlet to show how this 

 work can be carried still further, how the 

 quality of the work can be raised to a new 

 plane, and how a large or small sum of 

 money may be expended so as to obtain the 

 best results. 



There are seven methods by which astron- 

 omy can be aided, each of which may be 

 considered in turn. 



1. Fellowships for Astronomical Stu- 

 dents. — A large sum of money would not 

 be required for this purpose. Ten fellow- 

 ships, each yielding annually $500, would 

 probably be suiScient. They should be 

 used for students especially interested in 

 astronomy, proposing to make it their pro- 

 fession, and showing a capacity for original 

 research. The successful candidates should 

 be sent to universities where special courses 

 in advanced astronomical work are given. 

 It is not desirable that there should be too 

 many such fellowships, since the number of 

 permanent positions for astronomers is lim- 

 ited. This diiSculty is partly remedied by 

 No. 7, described below. A large part of 

 the expenses therein contemplated will be 

 for personal services, and as work of the 

 highest grade will be demanded, it is only 

 fair that suitable salaries should be paid. 

 The future of astronomy will depend large- 

 ly on giving a proper preparation to the 

 men to whom the most important equip- 

 ments will be intrusted. 



2. Astronomical Expeditions. — Large 

 sums of money have been wasted in send- 

 ing out expeditions, in charge of incom- 

 petent persons, to observe total eclipses of 

 the sun. If the weather is cloudy at the 

 time of the eclipse no result is obtained; 



if clear, the newspapers at once announce 

 that a great success has been attained, and 

 results secured which may prove of vast 

 scientific value. In many instances, noth- 

 ing further is ever heard of such work. 

 The real addition to our knowledge of solar 

 physics during the last thirty years, from 

 such expeditions, considering the money 

 expended upon them, is discouragingly 

 small when compared with what might 

 have been obtained by a more judicious 

 expenditure of the same amount of money 

 at a fixed observatory, where some results 

 of value would surely have been obtained. 

 It is often said that a discovery of so great 

 importance may be made that it would 

 compensate for the entire outlay, but this 

 applies with equal force to almost any other 

 plan of work. The fact that a government 

 or individual will often make the appro- 

 priation desired for a special expedition, 

 and would not make it for other astronom- 

 ical work, in no way lessens the responsi- 

 bility of those who ask for such aid. 



Undoubtedly, every eclipse should be 

 photographed by at least one skilful ob- 

 server, and especial pains should be taken 

 to solve particular problems, as the exist- 

 ence of an intermercurial planet, sudden 

 changes in the corona, etc. The best 

 method for securing results of real value 

 appears to be that adopted by the English 

 astronomers. A permanent committee is 

 appointed which attempts, year after year, 

 to solve certain problems of great impor- 

 tance. The experience gained during each 

 eclipse aids later expeditions. Government 

 assistance is often obtained in sending war- 

 ships. Even then, the expenses are likely 

 to be very great, and clouds may cause en- 

 tire failure. If, therefore, good photo- 

 graphs are obtained, neither time nor 

 money should be spared in making a care- 

 ful examination and discussion of them. 



3. New Observatories.— A new observa- 

 tory of large size should only be established 



