The Topeka state journal. [volume], July 07, 1900, LAST EDITION, Editorial Section, Image 14

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
TOPE K A STATE JOURNAL, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 1900.
S ?T?Tr FAIR STAK GAZERS WHO HAVE
S TK"" 15ECOME
VERY few people are aware that
among the observers of the recent
eclipse of the sun were at least a
dozen women who have attained dis
tinction in astronomy.
These women are' employed in connec
tion with th3 observatories of the great
colleges either as computers, photogra
phers of the heavens or as teachers.
Ail the large women's colleges are sup
plied with observatories with all the
latest appliances for the study of the
sky. 'Vassar, Smith. Wellesley, Swarth
more, Bryn llawr, Mount Holyoke and
Radeliffe have observatories, and Bar
nard, through the courtesy of the as
tronomical department of Columbia, af
fords women opportunities to study the
Etars.
It is a fallacy to assume that women
can never succeed in the exact sciences.
In this country alone many women are
making a great success cf one of the
most exact of all the sciences that of
astronomy, where the variation of a
millionth part in a computation or the
swerving of a hair's breadth in the ad
justment of a delicafe instrument is a
matter of great import.
Speaking of women's work In astron
omy, the average well informed person
is apt to refer to Caroline Herschel and
Maria Mitchell as the only women who
have achieved fame in the study of the
stars". This is a mistake.
Long ago, when Egypt was writing
Its history in stone, the records show
that women were initiated into the
study of astronomy by the priestly sa
vants in whom all the wisdom of the
land was centered. Berenice, after
whom a constellation was named and
who was the daughter of one of the
Ptolemies, is believed to have been an
astronomer of ability.
The beautiful and unfortunate Hypa
tia was an observer of the stars; so
was the fascinating Eudocia, empress
of Theodosius II. In modern times
there was Mary Summervllle, whose
achievements were so well regarded
that the British government granted
her an annual pension of 300.
St. Hildegarde, the pious abbess of
the Convent of Mount St. Rupert, near
Bingen-on-the-Rhine, published as the
result of her investigations a theory of
the solar system which antedated that
of Copernicus by three centuries.
The stories of the achievements of
Marie Cunitz, Mme. Elisabeth Heive
lius. Marie Clara Muller, Marie Kirche,
Theresa and Madeline Manfredi, the
beautiful and brilliant Marquise du
Chatelet. Mme. Lepaute, Elisabeth von
Matt, Wilhelmina Bottcher, Minna
Wind and Catherine Searpellini would
put to shame those of many modern
men of science. Caroline Herschel. sis
ter of the great Sir "William Herschel,
was the discoverer of eight comets and
the publisher of seven catalogues of
stars and nebulae. Her devotion to her ,
The all over lace frock, contrary to expectations, has not lost Its graceful
Individuality, although yielding to the Importunities of Dame Fashion to discard
the flowing train. Much success is achieved by the bertha arrangement on th
feeSiss &sd. the correct piacicg ot sauz? rosettes. -
FAMOUS.
! brother was remarkable and in no small
degree contributed to his success.
Of the women astronomers Searpellini
of Italy, Mme. Rumke of Germany, Car
oline Herschel of England and Maria
Mitchell of America may be classed as
the greatest. Searpellini belonged to a
family whose members were eminent
in many lines of science. She organized
a meteorological station, edited a bulle
tin, made the first catalogue of meteors
observed in Italy, and made a study of
the influence of the moon on- earth
quakes. She was an honorary member
of many societies of scholars and was
awarded a gold , medal by the Italian
govprnment in honor of her work. A
statue to her memory adorns the
Campo Verano in Rome.
Maria Mitchell, who for about 20 years
held the professorship of astronomy at
Vassar, is too well known to require
more than passing mention.
If a congress of women professionally
interested in astronomy were to be call
ed today, it might number about 100.
The University of Harvard has con
nected with its astronomical depart
ment about 19 women who are engaged
in making calculations. Mrs. W. P.
Fleming is the most eminent of these
ladies. She was born in Dundee, Scot
land, and in 1S79, after her marriage,
came to the United States and became
one of the computers at Harvard. She is"
now in the department for the exam
ination of the photographic plates taken
with the Draper telescope. She has
discovered a number of variable stars
and confirmed the discovery of several
new stars.
Dr. Dorothea Klumpke of San Fran
cisco is the head of the bureau for the
measurement of the plates of the astro
photographic catalogue at the Paris ob
servatory. Her thesis on "The Rings of
Saturn" recently obtained for her the
degree of doctor of mathematical sci
ence from the French university at
Sorbonne. Several young women as
sist Miss Klumpke in her work in the
little ivy grown tower in which she
makes her calculations. All alone, she
sometimes spends a night at the tele
scope watching the course of the heav
enly bodies.
Miss Mary W. Whitney, the head of
the astronomical department of Vassar
college, is one of the most distinguished
of the women astronomers of America.
She was the pupil, as she is the suc
cessor, of Maria Mitchell. After grad
uating at Vassar Miss Whitney studied
at Cambridge, Mass., under Professor
Benjamin Pierce and at the University
of Zurich, Switzerland. In 1S89 she be
came the assistant at Vassar, and on
Miss Mitchell's retirement succeeded
her.
After the regular scholastic duties of
the day are over Miss Whitney and her
assistants give their time to the ob
servation of the comets and minor plan-
ets. The results are published in The
Astronomical Journal, Popular Astron
omy, Astronomisehe and Naehrichten.
Just at present the Vassar staff is study
ing stellar photographs and expects
soon to publish the result of the inves
tigation, which, as photography forms
an important part of modern astronom
ical work, will be of the utmost impor
tance to science. This work is largely
done under Miss Whitney's direction by
Miss Caroline Fairness, her assistant in
the Vassar observatory.
Connected with Wellesley are two
able women astronomers. One of these
is Miss Sarah F. Whiting, in charge of
the department relating to the new as
tro physics, who lectures to the gen
eral classes on astronomy. Professor
Whiting conducts her astronomical in
struction as a department of applied
physics.
Professor Ellen Hayes has charge of
the department . of mathematical as
tronomy and has done much fine work
In the calculation of the orbits of com
ets. Professor Hayes and Professor
Whiting received their instruction as
f - K. .-- V
guests of professors at celebrated ob
servatories. Miss Whiting was first a
pupil of Professor Pickering of Har
vard, who deserves the gratitude of all
women for the generous manner in
which he has assisted them in astro
nomical work.
Wellesley is now having completed a
handsome observatory, the gift of Mrs.
John C. Whiting, one of the trustees of
the college. Its architectural beauty is
as notable as the completeness of Its
scientific equipment.
Miss Elizabeth M. Bardwell, - for 32
years astronomical instructor at Mount
Holyoke college and one of the notable
women in her profession, died about
a year ago. She became a mem
ber of the Mount Holyoke faculty
in 1866, just a year after Maria
Mitchell joined' the faculty at Vas
sar. She was a member of the
British Astronomical association and of
other learned societies and contributed
to the astronomical journals. These
contributions were highly valued on ac
count of their accuracy and charm of
style. A fellowship of $10,000 in memory
of Miss Bardwell is now open to -subscriptions.
The object of the scholar
ship is to provide for a year's post
graduate course in the universities cf
Europe. This will serve to further the
work of women in astronomy and will
at the same time be a beautiful memo
rial of a good and talented woman.
The advanced work of the astronom
ical student at Barnard must be pur
sued under the auspices of Columbia
university, which has one of the finest
observatories and one of the ablest
staffs of professors in the country.
Five women are connected with the de
partment. These are engaged in mak
ing calculations in regard to astral pho
tographs. Their results are most valu
able, as two of the most important of
modern astronomical investigations are
being prosecuted by Columbia. One of
these is the determination of the north
and south poles by astronomical calcu
lations and the other the fixing of the
variation of latitude. Miss Flora E.
IiV'mVAW i WW X. fil. I
A PAIR OF SEASONABLE NOVELTIES.
The lace bertha, which has been Illus
trated for the benefit of those desirous
of retrimming an evening bodice, is
made from deep lace flouncing, tucked
LACE EVENING BERTHA.
and gathered In perpendicular rows. At
each end the net portion of the flounce,
which forms the drapery, is tightly
gathered up, and the falling border
neatly finished off, thus perfecting the
flounce illusion. A short length of the
lace Is then cut in half, horizontally,
the upper or net half arranged as an
arm drapery. The flounce half, headed
by rose leaves, falls round the other
arm, leaving the top visible, and at
this side of the bertha a spray of rosea
with foliage is introduced, while the
other side is finished with a velvet bow
and paste buckle. The back of the
bertha resembles the front, minus the
velvet bow.
Harpham is exceptionally skillful in the
use of astronomical instruments and is
noted for mathematical accuracy. Her
time is devoted entirely to the mathe
matical phase" of the work under the di
rection of Professor J. K. Rees, who is
conducting the investigation in regard
to the variation of latitude, as well as
several other Important astronomical
investigations. Four women assist
Miss Harpham in the examination of
the photographs and the making of
measurements from these.
Miss Mary Proctor, famous as a writ
er and lecturer on astronomy, is the
daughter of Sir Richard Proctor, one of
the greatest of English astronomers.
Miss Proctor now lives in New York.
Her knowledge of astronomy was ob
tained from her father, and her advice
Is often sought by American astrono
mers. Mrs. Mabel Loomis Todd is the wife
of Professor David Todd, head of the
astronomical department at Amherst
college and the author of several , val
uable astronomical contributions. Mrs.
Todd acquired her knowledge of as
tronomy in the observatory of her fa
ther, Professor Loomis of Washington.
She has written a book on the moon. A
few years ago, when Professor Todd
went to Japan at the head of a govern,
merit expedition to observe an eclipse of
the sun, Mrs. Todd accompanied him
and rendered valuable assistance. She
was shown the greatest honor by the
Japanese government, who put a spe
cial yacht at her command and accords
ed her many unusual privileges t en-
THREE WOMEN ASTRONOMERS.
able her to study the Ainos, the aborig
inal inhabitants of the country, about
whom she has since published a charm
ing book. ALICE DE BERDT.
TIIK CARE OF HAIRBRUSHES
There is really an art in the proper
washing of hairbrushes. The best
brushes may be ruined by careless
washing, and if the bristles are allow
ed to become soft a hairbrush becomes
practically useless for its intended pur
poses. Many people cleanse hairbrush
es by covering them with wheaten flour
and simply rubbing the bristles togeth
er. This method, however, is not thor
oughly ' satisfactory. To keep your
brushes in good condition proceed in
the following manner: Have two shal
low dishes, tpne of moderately hot, the
other of cold water. To the first dish,
which contains, say. a quart of water,
add a dessertspoonful of ammonia.
Now take your brushes, one by one,
and keep dipping the bristles up and
down in the water being careful not to
wet the backs), and in a minute or two
the dirt and dust will come out of them
as if by magic, lemving them beautiful
ly white. Now dip up and down sev
eral times In the second dish, containing
the clear water, to rinse them; shake
well and place to drain across a rack
or towel horse. No soap is needed and
no rubbing with the hands. If you
adopt this method of cleansing yonr
brushes, you will find that they will
last three times as long as if cleansed
with soap and that the bristles will pre
serve their stiffness.
When fruit is served, nothing can be
more appropriate than for the plates in
which the dishes of berries are set to
be partially covered by a doily on
which clusters of berries are embroider
ed. The one shown in the sketch is em
broidered with blackberries. For the
fruit shades of blue black silk shading
into deep blue should be used. The
EERRT EMBROIDERED DOILY. "
usual foliage green tints are needed fof
the leaves and stems. The darker part
of the berry will, of course, be that In
the shadow, the bluish tints of silk be
ing put on where the light strikes it.
The veinings are in lighter siik.
S s ss
H i THE CRIB I
FASHIONS
FOR
g f THE PETTICOAT
o k - -
BABY
OF ALL the elaborate exhibits In
fashion's continuous fair at the
moment none is more interesting
than that over which the stork presides
as patron saint. The wee person's ward
robe is positively gorgeous, and the
cost ,f it astonishes even the most ex
travagant Every" garment must be
handmade, of course, and the innumer
able thread tucks, the countless inser
tions of real lace and the hemstitched
or lace edged ruffles entail a tremen-
dous amount of work. Needless to say
this makes them very costly.
Chief among the important belongings
of the nursery god Is the crib. Nowa
days it Is a medley of silk and lace pad
ded, shirred and frilled into a beauteous
and downy nest. Usually the frame is
of wicker. One of plain pine, however.
Is less expensive and will be found
quite as satisfactory as a foundation
for prevailing decorative schemes, as no
part of the wood is visible beneath the
yards of silk and leagues of lace used.
A very handsome crib illustrating the
extravagance of the day is composed of
yellow liberty silk lavishly trimmed in
renaissance lace. There is a deep ruf
fle of silk falling from the side and
barely escaping the floor. Over this is
a closely shirred, lace .edged frill, drap
ed in wide, graceful scallops marked by
a series of narrow white ribbon ro
settes. To a gilt rod is adjusted the
silk canopy bedecked in cascades of
renaissance lace and dotted by rosettes
thrici the size of those elsewhere em
ployed. Dressing baskets are made .to match
the cribs In color, and contain ivory
toilet articles, upon which appear the
small owner's initials In letters of gold.
The color furore has invaded the in
fantile sanctum, and for the time being
few nurseries are equipped in white.
A crib which is useful and inexpen
sive, as well as unique, may be made
from a large clothesbasket. This bas
ket is lined with cotton batting, over
which is daintily sewed some delicately
colored china silk or soft finished linen
material. The outside is deftly covered
by means of a top drawstring and sev
eral widths of the material drawn to
gether under the bottom. After the
handles have been ribbon wrapped big
bows are tied upon them. As a matter
of convenience the basket is superior
to the standing crib. In it baby can
be carried from one room to another
with little trouble and less dangar of
Injuring the frail back by too much lift
ing. In selecting a basket care should
be taken to see that the sides are tall
enough to protect the head from possi
ble drafts. The square shaped basket
for this reason, if not from an artistic
standpoint, should be chosen in prefer
ence to the oval kind.
That the influence of fashion extends
to babyland may be further observed in
the use of mercerized cotton for small
clothes. This and corded dimity are the
favored materials. The latter is sel
dom tucked, but garments made of it
are elaborately trimmed in lace bands
and edgings, v
Infant dresses are shorter. They must
barely cover the toes of the silk lined
pique shoes, which are pretty and ac
ceptable substitutes for woolen bootees.
Silk slippers with lace vamps and
quilted soles are provided for the little
ones who while wearing short frocks
are still in arms.
- Another indication of fashion's Inva
sion Is found In the caps of lace. They
are close fitting and unlined. Small de
signs in all over lace are used for their
construction. . Beneath this filmy head
gear baby's soft ringlets get the bene
fit of air and sunshine, which, from a
hygienic standpoint, is most desirable.
No article of raiment has ever been
so freely- discussed as baby's flannel
band. Extreme advocates of dress re
form would discard it altogether. The
modern physician's advice is less rad
ical. He advocates the use of the band
as a protection against cold, but not
as a support or compress, and insists
that it be loosely pinned. This theory
will appeal to every experienced mother
who long since has learned the ines
timable value of the flannel strip,
though appreciating the difficulty of
thecoat 1
T FLANNEL BANDS f if
ii . ... ... ....--a 6$
proper adjustment when it was believed
to be necessary that it should encircle
baby's body tightly. The up to date
band is so great an improvement upon
the unmanageable length of flannel
with which young . mothers wrestled
years ago that there should be no ques
tion about its use. Those of today are
knit or woven of "wool or of silk and
wool and extend from the armpits
well down over the abdomen. . They
are slipped on over -the feet and are
made to hug the body closely without
binding In any way. They are elastic
and give with every breath baby draws.
Although we are apt to discredit dress
reform movements on general princi
ples, through this medium often come
some valuable health hints. For in
stance, long petticoats for infants were
first denounced by dress reform moth
ers. Today they are discarded by all
who understand anything of the re
quirements of comfortable dressing.
The flannel pinning blanket and wool
stockings keep the infant warm enough
below the body, which is already in
cased in a band and shirt. Over these
is needed nothing heavier than a cotton
slip. When the temperature varies, a
light baby blanket or . shawl .wrapped
about the Infant will . supply sufficient
additional warmth.' . - i
Box coats are the accepted mode for
infants and are decidedly picturesque.
The long, loose lines are quite in keep
ing with the simple method employed
in cutting children's clothes.
Girls in their first corsets are Ignor
ing the de Milo lines and instead are
affecting the Russian small waist. This
they obtain in a new way. After the
corset is fitted they put on a tiny belt.
which they buckle tightly over it and
wear beneath their outer- garments.
This, according to one fledgeling, de
fines the line more clearly than does
the lacing of the corset in sections by
means of several strings. The corset,
aided by this viselike belt, naturally
sooner assumes the curves of the covet
ed figure.
Parasols with half a dozen different
covers to harmonize with as many dif
ferent costumes are among the novel
ties. The parasol proper is of white or
some favorite shade of silk. The covers
are made of lace, chiffon or dotted mull.
Lace ones are composed of the all over
variety or of many ruffles. Those of
chiffon are plaited, hand painted, tuck
ed or shirred. Mull covers are plain,
with a deep frill ribbon trimmed. In
shop parlance we speak of the "petti
coated parasol," which is a name well
suited to the new and fascinating sum
mer sunshade.
The unsuccessful legislation regard
ing the length of hatpins has given
that needful but somewhat formidable
adjunct a bit of prominence. Hatpins
are now manufactured on the lines of a
broadsword rather than on those of a
rapier. For the coarse straw summer
hats these are all right, but for the vel
vet chapeaux the inventive genius will
have to try again.
Fichus and Gainsborough hats go
. Braid trimmings become more conspicuous on tailor gowns as the season
advances. A new model showing the gored skirt lends itself well to Ul'3 mod
of treatment. . - .
together that Is, if you want to carry
out the beginning of the century style
that one sees so charmingly portrayed
in fancy portraits. The prettiest fichus
are those made of soft chiffon, finished
with fine plaitings drawn into V shape
at the waiet and fastened in a bowknot.
To be au fait the Gainsborough's
broad brim" should correspond in coior,
treatment and texture.
Talking of hats begets thoughts ot
real flowers as , well as artificial ones.
If you want to keep your drawing room
ferns fresh for winter, give them a
summer outing. - Plant them in a shady
corner of the yard, where the soft
breezes may' invigorate" them. They
need the holiday just as much as hu
man beings do. An excellent plan for
the housekeeper who glories In growing
centerpieces for her" table Is to have
two at once. It Is economy in -the end.
Then one of them can always" be' in the
air, where it may be sprayed and care,
fully nursed at tbe first signs of droop-,
ing. . . - . -
New York.
A PARASOL IN BLACK AND WHITE.
The insides of .the new parasols are as
ornate as the outsldes were a season or
so ago. The covers, while corded and
striped, embroidered and appllqued
outside, are not to any extent ornament
ed with flounces or ruchings of djaph
anous material, much as that fabric is
used this season. Within, however. It
is quite a different story. The smart
est parasols are lined with bands of
ruching and rows of shirring, with a
dainty, gathered piece of lace where the
stick passes through the shade. This
stick is nearly always handsomely
carved and jeweled. One stick serves
for many parasols, for a handsome one
is too costly to be lightly thrown away.
The frames of this year's parasols are
moderately curved and of medium size.,
. LITERARY WOMEN.
It has been estimated that there ar
In England some 540 women editors,
authors and journalists, and of these a
well known publisher has declared that
five have an income of 4,000 a year. In
journalism women have met with im
mense success; at least one lady jour
nalist receives a salary of 700 a year,
and there are not a few who have no
difficulty in making from 300 to 500.
The last census in the United States
showed that there "were no fewer than
3,000 women engaged in literary, as
apart from journalistic, work.
,