GIVE ASTRONOMER PARTING TRIBUTE

A dinner was given last evening at the Colonial Club to Professor Solon I. Bailey who retired from the University Observatory on February 1 after 32 years service. About 50 prominent guests were present, including members of the Observatory, members of the Visiting Committee, and members of Professor Bailey's family.

After the dinner short addresses were given by Mr. George Russell Agassiz '84, who presided, Professor W. P. Gerrish, Professor Harlow Shapley, Professor Frederick Slocum of Wesleyan University, and Professor Bailey.

Dr. Bailey is the man responsible for the founding of the "Harvard" station at Arequipa, Peru, which has been maintained since 1892. He was originally sent down in 1889 and travelled up and down the west coast of Africa in order to determine the best location for this southern station of the University Observatory. Since its foundation at Arequipa, Professor Bailey has been in complete charge of the work there. In 1893 he established a meteorological station on the summit of the famous Andes peak, El Misti, which rears its head 19,000 feet above sea level. In this little hut which is by far the highest station erected for scientific observation in the world observations of the greatest importance were carried on for over 10 years.

Peru Work Valuable.

Professor Bailey's own research work has dealt largely with the meteorological problems of Peru and with the southern stars which he has photographed with several high powered telescopes at the Arequipa Station. This work has been of the greatest importance to astronomical research, partly because of the station's high altitude of 8000 feet and partly because of its southern location. A large proportion of the material that is used in the astronomical investigations at the Observatory is obtained from the Arequipa station.

In 1908 Professor Bailey visited South Africa and carried on astronomical observations on an elevated plateau in the northern and more remote section of Cape Colony, and conducted careful investigations during the next year in regard to the desirability of establishing a station in that region.

Member of Scientific Societies

Due to his remarkable contributions to the world's knowledge of astronomical subjects Professor Bailey has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the National Academy of Science, the Geographical Society of Lima, Peru, the Astronomische Gesellschaft, and an associate of the Royal Astronomical Society of London. These honors have been showered on him by the most prominent societies in nearly every important country in Europe and South America in recognition of his unparalleled services not only to the United States but to other countries as well.

He has been connected with the University Observatory since 1893, and since 1912 has been Phillips Professor of astronomy. He became acting director of the Observatory in 1919. Less than two years ago he was given the degree of doctor of Science by the University of San Ajustin at Arequipa, and at the same time was made Honorary Professor of Astronomy at that University.