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left his mark upon his age。 No optician of modern times has
gained a higher reputation； and I for one do not hesitate to call
his loss national； for he cannot be replaced at present by any
one else in his own peculiar line。 I shall carry the
recollection of the affectionate esteem in which I held Thomas
Cooke with me to my grave。 Alas！ that he should be cut off just
at the moment when he was about to reap the rewards due to his
unrivalled excellence。 I have said that F。R。S。 and medals were
to be his。 But he is； we fondly trust； in a better and higher
state than that of earthly distinction。 Best assured； your
husband's name must ever be associated with the really great men
of his day。 Those who knew him will ever cherish his memory。〃
Mr。 Cooke left behind him the great works which he founded in
Buckingham Street； York。 They still give employment to a large
number of skilled and intelligent artizans。 There I found many
important works in progress；the manufacture of theodolites； of
prismatic compasses （for surveying）； of Bolton's range finder；
and of telescopes above all。 In the factory yard was the
commencement of the Observatory for Greenwich； to contain the
late Mr。 Lassell's splendid two feet Newtonian reflecting
telescope； which has been presented to the nation。 Mr。 Cooke's
spirit still haunts the works； which are carried on with the
skill； the vigour； and the perseverance； transmitted by him to
his sons。
While at York； I was informed by Mr。 Wigglesworth； the partner of
Messrs。 Cooke； of an energetic young astronomer at Bainbridge； in
the mountain…district of Yorkshire； who had not only been able to
make a telescope of his own； but was an excellent photographer。
He was not yet thirty years of age； but had encountered and
conquered many difficulties。 This is a sort of character which
is more often to be met with in remote country places than in
thickly…peopled cities。 In the country a man is more of an
individual； in a city he is only one of a multitude。 The country
boy has to rely upon himself； and has to work in comparative
solitude； while the city boy is distracted by excitements。 Life
in the country is full of practical teachings； whereas life in
the city may be degraded by frivolities and pleasures； which are
too often the foes of work。 Hence we have usually to go to
out…of…the…way corners of the country for our hardest
brain…workers。 Contact with the earth is a great restorer of
power； and it is to the country folks that we must ever look for
the recuperative power of the nation as regards health； vigour；
and manliness。
Bainbridge is a remote country village； situated among the high
lands or Fells on the north…western border of Yorkshire。 The
mountains there send out great projecting buttresses into the
dales； and the waters rush down from the hills； and form
waterfalls or Forces； which Turner has done so much to
illustrate。 The river Bain runs into the Yore at Bainbridge；
which is supposed to be the site of an old Roman station。 Over
the door of the Grammar School is a mermaid； said to have been
found in a camp on the top of Addleborough； a remarkable
limestone hill which rises to the south…east of Bainbridge。 It
is in this grammar…school that we find the subject of this little
autobiography。 He must be allowed to tell the story of his
lifewhich he describes as ' Work： Good； Bad； and Indifferent'
in his own words：
〃I was born on November 20th； 1853。 In my childhood I suffered
from ill…health。 My parents let me play about in the open air；
and did not put me to school until I had turned my sixth year。
One day； playing in the shoemaker's shop； William Farrel asked me
if I knew my letters。 I answered 'No。' He then took down a
primer from a shelf； and began to teach me the alphabet； at the
same time amusing me by likening the letters to familiar objects
in his shop。 I soon learned to read； and in about six weeks I
surprised my father by reading from an easy book which the
shoemaker had given me。
〃My father then took me into the school； of which he was master；
and my education may be said fairly to have begun。 My progress；
however； was very slow partly owing to ill…health； but more； I
must acknowledge； to carelessness and inattention。 In fact；
during the first four years I was at school； I learnt very little
of anything； with the exception of reciting verses； which I
seemed to learn without any mental effort。 My memory became very
retentive。 I found that by attentively reading half a page of
print； or more； from any of the school…books； I could repeat the
whole of it without missing a word。 I can scarcely explain how I
did it； but I think it was by paying strict attention to the
words as words； and forming a mental picture of the paragraphs as
they were grouped in the book。 Certain； I am； that their sense
never made much impression on me； for； when questioned by the
teacher； I was always sent to the bottom of the class； though
apparently I had learned my exercise to perfection。
〃When I was twelve years old； I made the acquaintance of a very
ingenious boy； who came to our school。 Samuel Bridge was a born
mechanic。 Though only a year older than myself； such was his
ability in the use of tools； that he could construct a model of
any machine that he saw。 He awakened in me a love of mechanical
construction； and together we made models of colliery
winding…frames； iron…rolling mills； trip…hammers； and
water…wheels。 Some of them were not mere toys； but constructed
to scale； and were really good working models。 This love of
mechanical construction has never left me； and I shall always
remember with affection Samuel Bridge； who first taught me to use
the hammer and file。 The last I heard of him was in 1875； when
he passed his examination as a schoolmaster； in honours； and was
at the head of his list。
〃During the next two years； when between twelve and fourteen； I
made comparatively slow progress at school。 I remember having to
write out the fourth commandment from memory。 The teacher
counted twenty…three mistakes in ten lines of my writing。 It
will be seen from this； that； as regards learning； I continued
heedless and backward。 About this time； my father； who was a
good violinist； took me under his tuition。 He made me practice
on the violin about an hour and a half a day。 I continued this
for a long time。 But the result was failure。 I hated the
violin； and would never play unless compelled to do so。 I
suppose the secret was that I had no 'ear。'
〃It was different with subjects more to my mind。 Looking over my
father's books one day； I came upon Gregory's 'Handbook of
Inorganic Chemistry；' and began reading it。 I was fascinated
with the book； and studied it morning； noon； and nightin fact；
every time when I could snatch a few minutes。 I really believe
that at one time I could have repeated the whole of the book from
mem