_Size_ is not so important as people generally suppose.

Nicety and accuracy are what is needed in all scientific work; startling effects by large telescopes and high powers are too suggestive of sensational advertisement.
The relation between herself and her pupils was quite remarkable--it was very cordial and intimate; she spoke of them always as her "girls," but at the same time she required their very best work, and was intolerant of shirking, or of an ambition to do what nature never intended the girl in question to do.
One of her pupils writes thus: "If it were only possible to tell you of what Professor Mitchell did for one of her girls! 'Her girls!' It meant so much to come into daily contact with such a woman! There is no need of speaking of her ability; the world knows what that was.

But as her class-room was unique, having something of home in its belongings, so its atmosphere differed from that of all others.

Anxiety and nervous strain were left outside of the door.

Perhaps one clue to her influence may be found in her remark to the senior class in astronomy when '76 entered upon its last year: 'We are women studying together.' "Occasionally it happened that work requiring two hours or more to prepare called for little time in the class.