i.e., the yellow rays, while the blue and violet photographic rays are allowed to come to a focus where they will, usually spreading over a distance of several inches. By inserting a yellow color screen at the eye end of such a telescope, the blue and violet rays may be absorbed, and only yellow rays allowed to pass through. These will form a sharp image of the object on a photographic plate placed at the visual focus of the telescope; and, if the plate is sensitive to yellow light, which it can be made to be, a sharply defined photograph will be obtained. The apparatus for accomplishing this result has been perfected and used by Mr. Ritchey, the able optician of the observatory, who has unquestionably taken the finest photographs of star clusters and of the moon ever obtained. Professor Barnard has also employed this method to obtain photographs of faint nebula which exhibit structure invisible to the eye, even with the highest magnifying power. The field thus opened for visual telescopes, hitherto supposed worthless for photographic work, is enormous.

One of the wonderful lunar photographs taken with the 40-inch is reproduced in the frontispiece. This is a photograph of the lunar crater Theophilus and surrounding region, enlarged about five times. The detail here shown has never been equalled, even with the photographic correcting lens of the Lick telescope. Professor Hale expects that photographs of the planets will be obtained in the same manner in the near future.

The above brief sketch of Hale's work would be incomplete without mention of his editorial work; for, the value of his contribution to astrophysics, in establishing and editing a journal especially devoted to this branch of science, cannot be overestimated. Recognizing the need of a medium for the publication of the rapidly increasing number of researches in astrophysics and radiation, he established in 1892 the Astrophysical Journal, which from 1892-95 appeared 'in conjunction with what was previously known as the Sidereal Messenger, but which since 1895 has been published as an independent journal. Assisted by the late Professor Keeler and an able board of associate editors, and receiving the hearty support of the leading astrophysicists abroad, Hale has made the Astrophysical

Journal an unqualified success, and the accepted organ of publication for the astrophysical research of the world.

He was also active in establishing the annual Conference of Astronomers and Astrophysicists in 1897, which at its third meeting, held at the Yerkes Observatory in 1899, was organized into the Society of Astronomers and Astrophysicists of America, of which he is vice-president. He was chosen at the Cambridge Conference in 1898 as one of a committee of three to report on the condition of the work at the Naval Observatory. His authority on spectroscopic matters has been recently strikingly recognized by his being chosen to prepare the article on Spectroscopy for the new supplement to the Encyclopædia Britannica.

H. M. GOODWIN, '90.

GENERAL INSTITUTE NEWS

CORPORATION NOTES

The President's Report, after a brief introduction, discusses at some length the question of the Walker Memorial, emphasizing especially the importance of a physical examination of all first-year students, prescribed systematic exercises, and the encouragement of such competitive athletic sports as secure out-of-door exercise and afford opportunity to the individual student. The report continues with the usual list of appointments and resignations and with other matters of the work of the preceding year, most of which have already been referred to in the REVIEW. The departmental reports are somewhat briefer than usual, the whole report occupying, indeed, but fifty-five pages. An interesting innovation is the collection, toward the end of the report, of a list of publications of members of the Faculty and Instructing Staff, arranged by departments. The report closes with the usual statistics and a statement of the work of the Society of Arts, and is followed by the Report of the Treasurer. Acknowledgment is here made of the receipt of nearly $100,000 from the estate of Robert C. Billings and of $50,

ooo added to the Teachers' Fund from the executors of the estate of Mr. Augustus Lowell, who made the original gift of $50,000 a year earlier; also, of further receipts from the estates of Henry L. Pierce, Mrs. Julia B. H. James, Miss Susan E. Dorr, and from the trustees of the J. W. and Belinda Randall Charities Corporation. The total property of the Institute has been increased during the year by more than $200,000; but the income-bearing portion is, nevertheless, smaller, in consequence of the purchase of land.

The March meeting of the Corporation, at which reports are presented on the various departments, has been postponed in consequence of the President's absence in the West.

APPOINTMENTS

At the January meeting of the Executive Committee, ten instructors were promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor.

In the Chemical Department, Dr. Henry Fay becomes Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry and Metallography, Dr. James F. Norris Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry, Dr. F. H. Thorp Assistant Professor of Industrial Chemistry, and Dr. W. R. Whitney Assistant Professor of Theoretical Chemistry and Proximate Analysis.

Dr. Fay graduated at Lafayette College in 1889, then pursued graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University, taking his degree of Ph.D. in 1895. He became connected with the laboratory of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona, where he has since conducted occasional work of value. He was appointed Instructor in Analytical Chemistry at the Institute in 1895, having charge of the laboratory work of the more advanced students, and, at first, of that in molecular weight determinations. He has had charge of the instruction in chemical French and German, and has found time for researches of value, particularly in the field of metallography.

Dr. Norris is also a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where he received his Ph.D. in 1895. From that time he has been successively Assistant and Instructor in Organic Chemistry at the Institute, having charge of laboratory and class-room instruction in that subject. He has had an important share in the supervision of

chemical thesis work, and has been specially interested in research work and in the literature and history of the science.

Dr. Thorp graduated at the Institute in 1889, and has been Assistant and Instructor in Industrial Chemistry continuously from that time, except for an interval of three years, during which he continued his studies at different points in England and on the Continent, receiving his doctor's degree at Heidelberg. He has had independent charge of the class-room instruction in industrial chemistry, and has prepared an important text-book on that subject.

Dr. Whitney graduated at the Institute in 1890, and has also been connected with the department continuously, except for two years of advanced study in Germany and France. He received the degree of Ph.D. at Leipzig. He has had charge of a portion of the instruction in theoretical chemistry, of the laboratory instruction in molecular weight determinations, and has recently taken an important share in the supervision of Thesis work along physicochemical lines. He has laid out and put in operation a successful course of laboratory instruction in proximate technical analysis, including the examination of paper, rubber, asphalt, and soap, which is unique in its character and of marked efficiency.

In the Department of Mechanical Engineering the list of promotions includes three Institute graduates of the class of '92,- Messrs. Charles E. Fuller, William A. Johnston, and Charles F. Park. All three have been connected with the Institute continuously since their graduation, in work of increasing responsibility. Each of them has given instruction in mechanical engineering, laboratory work and drawing, while Messrs. Johnston and Park have also conducted classes in Mechanism. Mr. Fuller and Mr. Johnston are now conducting classes in Applied Mechanics in addition to aiding Professor Miller in the conduct of the laboratory; and Mr. Park has charge of the mechanical engineering drawing-room, and is also conducting a class in mechanism.

In the Department of Physics, Messrs. L. Derr, C. L. Norton, and Dr. G. V. Wendell have been appointed Assistant Professors. Mr. Derr graduated from Course VI. in the Institute in 1892,

having graduated from Amherst College, of which he is also an M.A. He was appointed Assistant in 1892 and Instructor in 1893. His duties have been somewhat diversified, his most important professional work being, perhaps, the instruction in dynamo design, of which he is in charge. He has also developed an extended course of lectures upon photography, and, more recently, one upon calculating and computing machines. He has published a number of papers upon professional subjects, embodying the results of original research, in addition to valuable notes, for the use of the students, upon telegraphy and dynamo design.

Dr. Wendell graduated from Course VIII. in the Institute in 1892, and was thereupon appointed Assistant in Physics. At the end of a year of service in this capacity he was made an Instructor, and placed in charge of the newly instituted recitations in general physics, which he conducted successfully for three years, at the end of which he went to Leipzig to continue his studies. He devoted himself especially to the study of light, and took for his thesis an investigation of certain phenomena of rotary polarization. He received the degree of Ph.D. summa cum laude in 1898, remaining in Germany a third year for further study in Berlin, and then returned to the Institute to resume his former work. In addition to his regular work he has, during the past year, delivered a course of advanced lectures upon the Principles and Applications of Polarized Light. Since his return from Europe he has served the Institute in the capacity of secretary of the Society of Arts.

Mr. Norton graduated from Course VI. in the Institute in 1893, at which time he was appointed Assistant. In 1895 he was made Instructor in Heat Measurement, to which subject he has especially devoted his attention, and the course in which he has developed to a high degree of efficiency. He has made an extended series of tests of materials used for steam-pipe covering, and has also investigated very fully the diffusive effect upon light of ribbed and striated window glass of different kinds, these investigations having been made at the instance of the Factory Mutual Insurance Companies of New England. He has also published several scientific papers relating to heat measurement.