Maria Mitchell: Life, Letters, and Journals | Page 9

his enormous
appropriations of $400,000 out of Congress, every winter, for the
maintenance of the United States Coast Survey.
"For a few days Science reigns supreme,--we are fêted and
complimented to the top of our bent, and although complimenters and
complimented must feel that it is only a sort of theatrical performance,
for a few days and over, one does enjoy acting the part of greatness for
a while! I was tired after three days of it, and glad to take the cars and
run away.
"The descent into a commoner was rather sudden. I went alone to
Boston, and when I reached out my free pass, the conductor read it
through and handed it back, saying in a gruff voice, 'It's worth nothing;
a dollar and a quarter to Boston.' Think what a downfall! the night

before, and
'One blast upon my bugle horn Were worth a hundred men!'
Now one man alone was my dependence, and that man looked very
much inclined to put me out of the car for attempting to pass a ticket
that in his eyes was valueless. Of course I took it quietly, and paid the
money, merely remarking, 'You will pass a hundred persons on this
road in a few days on these same tickets.'
"When I look back on the paper read at this meeting by Mr. J---- in his
uncouth manner, I think when a man is thoroughly in earnest, how
careless he is of mere _words!_"
In 1849 Miss Mitchell was asked by the late Admiral Davis, who had
just taken charge of the American Nautical Almanac, to act as
computer for that work,--a proposition to which she gladly assented,
and for nineteen years she held that position in addition to her other
duties. This, of course, made a very desirable increase to her income,
but not necessarily to her expenses. The tables of the planet Venus were
assigned to her. In this year, too, she was employed by Professor Bache,
of the United States Coast Survey, in the work of an astronomical party
at Mount Independence, Maine.
"1853. I was told that Miss Dix wished to see me, and I called upon her.
It was dusk, and I did not at once see her; her voice was low, not
particularly sweet, but very gentle. She told me that she had heard
Professor Henry speak of me, and that Professor Henry was one of her
best friends, the truest man she knew. When the lights were brought in
I looked at her. She must be past fifty, she is rather small, dresses
indifferently, has good features in general, but indifferent eyes. She
does not brighten up in countenance in conversing. She is so successful
that I suppose there must be a hidden fire somewhere, for heat is a
motive power, and her cold manners could never move Legislatures. I
saw some outburst of fire when Mrs. Hale's book was spoken of. It
seems Mrs. Hale wrote to her for permission to publish a notice of her,
and was decidedly refused; another letter met with the same answer, yet
she wrote a 'Life' which Miss Dix says is utterly false.

"In her general sympathy for suffering humanity, Miss Dix seems
neglectful of the individual interest. She has no family connection but a
brother, has never had sisters, and she seemed to take little interest in
the persons whom she met. I was surprised at her feeling any desire to
see me. She is not strikingly interesting in conversation, because she is
so grave, so cold, and so quiet. I asked her if she did not become at
times weary and discouraged; and she said, wearied, but not
discouraged, for she had met with nothing but success. There is
evidently a strong will which carries all before it, not like the sweep of
the hurricane, but like the slow, steady, and powerful march of the
molten lava.
"It is sad to see a woman sacrificing the ties of the affections even to do
good. I have no doubt Miss Dix does much good, but a woman needs a
home and the love of other women at least, if she lives without that of
man."
The following entry was made many years after:--
"August, 1871. I have just seen Miss Dix again, having met her only
once for a few minutes in all the eighteen years. She listened to a story
of mine about some girls in need, and then astonished me by an offer
she made me."
"Feb. 15, 1853. I think Dr. Hall [in his 'Life of Mary Ware'] does wrong
when he attempts to encourage the use of the needle. It seems to me
that the needle is the chain of woman, and has fettered her more than
the laws of the