James Edward Oliver might have been one of the great mathematicians of his time had he not been absolutely wanting in the power of continuous work.

I finally reached the conclusion that mathematics was the study I was best fitted to follow, though I did not clearly see in what way I should turn the subject to account.

Though born in Nova Scotia, I am of almost pure New England descent.

In 1860 a total eclipse of the sun was visible in British America.

One hardly knows where, in the history of science, to look for an important movement that had its effective start in so pure and simple an accident as that which led to the building of the great Washington telescope, and went on to the discovery of the satellites of Mars.

Quite likely the twentieth century is destined to see the natural forces which will enable us to fly from continent to continent with a speed far exceeding that of a bird.

Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible.