Annals of industry and genius . thiscelebrated astronomer without feelings of admiration mingled with surprise,—Ad-miration for the genius of the man and for the ener-getic and resolute character which enabled him, inthe pursuit of his noble object, to overcome the pre-judices of his station and steadily to persist in hiscourse; Surprise at the credulity which made him adupe to the fallacies of astrology and caused him tocherish idle superstitions. He was born on the 14th December 1540, atKnudstorp, the estate of his ancestors, a small lord-ship near Helsingborg, in Scania. His father. OttoBra
Annals of industry and genius . thiscelebrated astronomer without feelings of admiration mingled with surprise,—Ad-miration for the genius of the man and for the ener-getic and resolute character which enabled him, inthe pursuit of his noble object, to overcome the pre-judices of his station and steadily to persist in hiscourse; Surprise at the credulity which made him adupe to the fallacies of astrology and caused him tocherish idle superstitions. He was born on the 14th December 1540, atKnudstorp, the estate of his ancestors, a small lord-ship near Helsingborg, in Scania. His father. OttoBrahe, having a large family, Tycho was educatedunder the caie and at the expense of his uncle,George Brahe, who, having no children, deteimined toadopt him as his heir. In the opinion of the aristo-cratic head of the family, the profession of arms wasthe only one suited for the scions of a noble race ;and he accordingly resolved that his sons should betrained to it. Tycho. however, at a very early age, A YOUNG LATIN SCHOLAR. 69. TYCHO OBSERVING AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN. showed a decided aversion to the choice that hadbeen made for him, and, with the connivance of hisfoster-parent, began the study of Latin in his seventhyear, and continued it under the instruction of propermasters, from whom he also received occasional les-sons in various other branches of knowledge. 70 WONDERS OF THE HEAVENS. When thirteen years old, the lad was sent to tlieuniversity of Copenhagen, where he seems to haveshown no fondness for any particular study; butwhen he had been there three months, an eventoccurred which first directed his attention to astro-nomy. This was a total eclipse of the sun, whichit had been foretold was to happen on the 21stAugust 1560. Three hundred years ago, such aphenomenon was regarded in the light of a portent-ous sign, linked with and influential over the des-tinies of nations and of men. Tycho watched forits appearance with the curious eyes of youth; andwhen he saw the sun o
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