HENRI PERROTIN
M. Henry Perrotin and his assistant, M. Thollon, have been quoted in previous pages as having markedly confirmed the discoveries of Schiaparelli. Through the courtesy of Professor Lowell I am enabled to present the likenesses of these two astronomers. I am indebted to the exhaustive work of Miss Agnes M. Clerke, entitled the "History of Astronomy during the Nineteenth Century," for the following memoranda of some of the work accomplished by these men. Perrotin made a series of observations on Venus fully confirming Schiaparelli's inference of synchronous rotation and revolution: "A remarkable collection of drawings made by Mr. Lowell in 1896 appeared decisive in favor of the views of Schiaparelli." In other words, Venus, like the Moon, presents the same face to the Sun in its revolution about that luminary. Perrotin has made important observations on the rings of Saturn; his double-star measurements are also considered work of the highest character.
M. THOLLON
Thollon has made many spectroscopic studies, among which were delicate experiments showing the lateral displacement of lines in the solar spectrum arising from the Sun's rotation. In the Annals of the Nice Observatory he published a great atlas consisting of thirty-three maps, exhibiting in quadruplicate a subdivision of the solar spectrum under varied conditions of weather and zenith distance. He also studied the spectrum of the great comet of 1882, and by the displacement of its lines estimated that the comet was receding from the Earth at the rate of from sixty-one to seventy-six kilometers per second. The Leland prize was awarded to Thollon for a hand drawing he made of the prismatic spectrum obtained with bisulphide of carbon prisms of high dispersive power.
The character and reputation of these men, as well as others who have been quoted in these pages, must be weighed against the few who, not content with denying the existence of the canali in Mars, have in strong language abused those who accept them as veritable markings on the planet's surface.
[XVII]
LAST WORDS
The uniformity of the course of Nature will appear as the ultimate major premise of all inductions.
John Stuart Mill.