telescope or
microscope was then dreamed of), yet, estimated by the era in which they
were made, they are marvels of accuracy, and not a single mistake due
to carelessness has ever been detected in them. In fact they may be
depended on almost to minutes of arc, _i.e._ to sixtieths of a degree.

For certain purposes connected with the proper motion of stars they are
still appealed to, and they served as the certain and trustworthy data
for succeeding generations of theorists to work upon. It was long,
indeed, after Tycho's death before observations approaching in accuracy
to his were again made.

In every sense, therefore, he was a pioneer: let us proceed to trace his
history.

Born the eldest son of a noble family--"as noble and ignorant as sixteen
undisputed quarterings could make them," as one of his biographers
says--in a period when, even more than at present, killing and hunting
were the only natural aristocratic pursuits, when all study was regarded
as something only fit for monks, and when science was looked at askance
as something unsavoury, useless, and semi-diabolic, there was little in
his introduction to the world urging him in the direction where his
genius lay. Of course he was destined for a soldier; but fortunately his
uncle, George Brahe, a more educated man than his father, having no son
of his own, was anxious to adopt him, and though not permitted to do so
for a time, succeeded in getting his way on the birth of a second son,
Steno--who, by the way, ultimately became Privy Councillor to the King
of Denmark.

Tycho's uncle gave him what he would never have got at home--a good
education; and ultimately put him to study law. At the age of thirteen
he entered the University of Copenhagen, and while there occurred the
determining influence of his life.

An eclipse of the sun in those days was not regarded with the
cold-blooded inquisitiveness or matter-of-fact apathy, according as
there is or is not anything to be learnt from it, with which such an
event is now regarded. Every occurrence in the heavens was then
believed to carry with it the destiny of nations and the fate of
individuals, and accordingly was of surpassing interest. Ever since the
time of Hipparchus it had been possible for some capable man here and
there to predict the occurrence of eclipses pretty closely. The thing is
not difficult. The prediction was not, indeed, to the minute and second,
as it is now; but the day could usually b