Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/30

 [Vol-, v., Nn. 100

��leclureR are by S. NewcDinb, Matlii^malics and edii- caCiooi J. Rendel Hmria, On the study o( andent tnuiuscriplB; W. K. Brooks, The zoological signiG- cance at (^tlucatloui M. Warren, Application of the historical method to the tUidy of Latin; R. T. Elf, Educational value of political economy; M. Bloom- tield. Method of comparative philology as pursueil lo-day: E. M. Hartwell, Physical training in Ameri- can colleges; A, M. Kllioit, Methods In Uie study of modern languages; W. £. Story, Methods of teach- ing arithroetie; T, Craig, Mathematical teaching in

— A statue of Claude Bernard is to he placed at the top of the grand staircase of the College de France. It will be the work ot Ciiillaume, whose aketcli id plaster was erected on the site intended for the work when completed.

— Professional paper xi v. of the signal-service, en- titled " Charts of relative storm frequency for a por- tion of the northern hemisphere," by John P. Finlcy, is Just Issued. It gives one annual and twelve month- ly charts, which show the " distribution of tracks of centres ot barometric minima over North America, the North Atlantic, and Europe," based on observa- tions of the last twenty yean. The annual chart, for example, explains at a gliince why the region around our great lakes has so much more variable a climate than that of central Europe. With ns, every rectangle bounded by two and a lialf degrees of latitude and longitude, from Minnesota to Maine, is visited by from twelve to fifteen stonu-centres a year; France and central Germany have less liian three nn corre- sponding areas; even Great Britain and most of Nor- way have not more than sii. The chief appreciation of the paper will be found, however, among navi- gators of the Nortli Atlantic, as the principal object sought was the study of Atlantic storm-tracks, whose relative frequency Is now shown graphically for the part of the ocean most commonly traversed. The eiccutlon of the maps by the signal -office lllliogra- pbers is by no means satisfactory.

— The second anuuni convention of the Modern language association of America was held at Colum- lila college on the SOth and 30th of December. The modern pedagogic claims on instructors aro fairly recognized by the titles of papers whtcli were reail. and of the subjects which came up for discussion, some of which were (lie following; How far may the latest acientlSc results be embodied in the text- book? by Prof. H. C. G. Bmndl of Hamilton colle^ie; 'i'he modern language ijuestion, by Prof. A. Jt, Eltlotl of Johns Hopkins university; What place has Old- Kngllih philology in our elementary schools f by Prof. Francis B, Qummere of New Bedford, Mass.: Would it be desirable to allow the substitution of one mod- ern in place of one ancient language for admission to college? What amount of modern language study should lie regarded as an equivalent for Greek? 'I'he exienl to which purely scientific grammar should «nt«r the instruction ot ordinary college classes; A uniform pronunciation of Latin ought to be adopted in American colleges, and the Roman recommended.

��— The January Century contains an article or National museum from the pen of Mr. Ernest Ingeiv. soil, admirably illustraled. Our readers will be veiji much Interestad In it. We wish that some modifica- tions might have been made in the Introductory e< tences, which seem to iis to do scant justice to tha past. Mr. Ingersoll develops the grandeur of the scheme of the museum with lavish hand; and It would appear as if, were the plan to be carried o: detail, the District of Coiumbia would not be lat^ enough to hold the museum.

— A special despatch to the Philadelphia 7'iniM from Washington, condemning Ihe report of tha National academy of sciences concerning the organization ot the different scientific bureaus of \bt government, and endeavoring to set forth the ci lainty ot Mr. Cleveland's antagonism to the govet ment scientific surveys when he shall have beeoms installed as president, has given occasion to an ezV ccllent reply In the Ttmea for Dec. 21, from Mr, Charles A. Ashbumer of the Geological survey e Pennsylvania, in which he says that the views ex- pressed by Gov. Cleveland in his veto of the ^ proprialions for the New-York state survey lul yeAr"do not necessarily hidicate his position In regard to the appropriations which shall be made by congress during his term of oIBce for the support a the geolt^lcal survey. If he shall view this matter from a practical businessstand-polnt, he will nn doubt conclude, ^t others have who thoroughly uiiderBtan4 the subject, that the results of the U. S. geological survey are of immediate practical Importance, that such government surveys in the past have bu much to do with the great material advancement a the states. The Importance of geology as an aid U the discovery, exploration, and exploitation of min- eral deposits is acknowledged by intelligent persons;: and there Is scarcely a civilized government that dM not recogniie the fact by giving liberal appropriations in support ot official geological surveys or by govern- ment aid to special geological investigation."

— Prof. Pliny E. Chase ot Haverford college. Penn- sylvania, who tor several years past has been publish- ' ing in the Transactions ot the American philosophical society the result ot his, to say the least, recondite researches on the cosmic influences of harmonic waves, has lately prepared a small work, In two parts, on the 'Elements of meteorology' (Philadel- phia, Porter it Coa£e«, without date). Although one of the objects in view in its preparation was to pro- vide a 'simple introductory text-book,' we cannot find that this has been realized. Even on the pages devoted to subjects that may be called orthodox, logi- cal arrangement, precise definition, and sufficient explanation are wanting; while other p^es, whose topics are, again to say the least, very heterodox, do not seem to us to tuniish suitable material for the use of teachers in common schools. It Is nn u pleasant task to condemn a book, but justice to a readers requires that this one should be characterlMd fl as not representing the generally approved principle I of meteorology of the present dav.

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