. Bulletin. Science. Figure i i .—Standard Plate Glass Company, Butler, Pennsylvania, with x marking building where Peate's 62-inch disc was cast. (From Preston, fig. i.) of Dr. Peate, indicates the impression his hobby had made on his contemporaries. According to this leg- end, John suddenly realized at the age of seventy- three that he must have something to occupy his time while retired. "What am I to do all the rest of my life?" he asked of the presiding officer of the meeting. Bishop Hurst, who was also chancellor of the newly founded University. "Oh, study astronomy,"
. Bulletin. Science. Figure i i .—Standard Plate Glass Company, Butler, Pennsylvania, with x marking building where Peate's 62-inch disc was cast. (From Preston, fig. i.) of Dr. Peate, indicates the impression his hobby had made on his contemporaries. According to this leg- end, John suddenly realized at the age of seventy- three that he must have something to occupy his time while retired. "What am I to do all the rest of my life?" he asked of the presiding officer of the meeting. Bishop Hurst, who was also chancellor of the newly founded University. "Oh, study astronomy," said the Bishop. "Make a big telescope lens," said Dr. Wythe. Dr. Wythe, whose doctorate was in medicine, was a minister well known in the conference as an in- ventor and technologist. The legend continues that, urged on by Wythe, Peate announced to the confer- ence, "1 will make for the new University the largest telescope lens in the world, if you will defray the out of pocket ; "Well, how big a lens can you make?" asked the Bishop. "Oh, as big as that chart on the wall," said Peate. "Get a rule and measure the ; The chart was 62 inches across. "Offer accepted. One 62-inch reflecting telescope from Dr. Peate," ordered the Bishop.'^ The minutes of the conference state: '^ Proposition of John Peate. . John Peate made a proposition to manufacture a large reflecting lens for the University providing material for the same was furnished him ... a committee of 5 was appointed to take the same into consideration. R. N. Stubbs, G. H. Humason, N. T. Arnold, G. P. Hukill, and G. B. Chase were appointed to that committee. Although he was 73 )-ears old Peate was in good health and had treinendous vitality for one his age. He had already made a number of large mirrors, so that he could estimate the amount of time and energy he would expend in this work. He knew that if he retained his health for the next few year
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Keywords: ., bookauthorunitedstatesdepto, bookcentury1900, booksubjectscience
