The length of the Yerkes telescope is 62 feet, and is provided with all accessories pertaining to astrophysical research. The world-renowed Lick Telescope is of thirty-six inches aperture. The story of the foundation of this monster instrument is not much less wonderful than the telescope itself. Brought up in poor circumstances, with few opportunities for intellectual development, James Lick, nevertheless, amassed a fortune in business, and having few relations, he was anxious to dispose of his wealth in such a way as to bring him that fame which he had failed to achieve in other directions. Although it is very probable that he had never looked through a telescope in his life, the idea of a large telescope had taken a very firm hold upon his mind, and, thanks to the influence of his advisers, it was definitely announced in 1873 that Mr. Lick’s bid for immortality was to take this form. Several sites were examined by experts, and finally Mount Hamilton, California, 4,200 feet above sea-level, was selected. An excellent road, twenty-six miles in length, made at the cost of the county authorities, connects the observatory with the nearest town, San José, thirteen miles distant. Owing to various delays, operations were not commenced until 1880, and five years were consumed in clearing away 72,000 tons of rocks and in erecting the buildings. Mr. Lick had stipulated for the erection of “a telescope superior to and more powerful than any telescope yet made,” and Messrs. Alvan Clark & Co. contracted to supply a lens of thirty-six inches aperture for the sum of $50,000. It turned out, however, that it was much easier to make such a contract than to fulfil it. To produce large disks of optically perfect glass, even in the rough, requires the greatest possible skill and patience, and this part of the work was undertaken by Feil & Co. of Paris. The flint glass disk was safely delivered in America in 1882, but the crown disk was cracked in packing. The elder Feil having retired from business, the duty of providing a new block of crown glass devolved upon his sons, who, after two years spent in vain attempts, ended in bankruptcy, and it was only through the elder Feil again resuming business that the much-required disk was finally completed in 1885. After the lapse of another year, the rough disks were fashioned, in the workshops of the Clarks, into the most marvelous of telescopic lenses.