Page:Galileo (1918).djvu/21

 now come to the most important epoch in Galileo's career. In 1609, being at Venice, he heard for the first time of the invention of a telescope the previous year in Flanders, and at once determined to think the matter out to see whether he could find the principle of construction. He soon succeeded in fitting two lenses in a tube, so that objects viewed through it were magnified, and his second attempt was still more satisfactory. His success was speedily reported to the Venetian Council, who summoned him to exhibit his spy-glass, which was already much more efficient than the Flanders one, besides which it showed objects upright whereas the first telescopes inverted them. The Doge wished to possess one, and Galileo promptly offered to present the one with which the Council had been so pleased, and when he had taken it to the palace he was complimented on the efficient manner in which he had served the State for seventeen years, and informed that instead of waiting until his third term of office had expired, the Council had determined to raise his salary at once to nearly double what it had been at the last augmentation, and to confirm the appointment for life at the new salary of 1000 florins, or about £220.

It is considered by some that Galileo's discovery is greatly discounted by the previous success in Holland, but as the latter was due to a pure accident, while Galileo's was by design, others will be inclined to give