I 10 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



graphic methods of research give, they 

 should undoubtedly be extensively em- 

 ployed, but it may be hoped that visual 

 observations by skilled observers \\\\\ 

 not be neglected. There is a tendency 

 in certain directions to regard solar 

 eclipses as of less importance than for- 

 merly. This may be due, in part, to 

 the fact that investigations, which in 

 the past could only be carried on at 

 times of total eclipse, can noM' be stud- 

 ied throughout the year, and, in part, to 

 the very large number of observations 

 which have already been )nade. Eclipse 

 expeditions, also^ are very expensive, 

 and often end in total failure, owing 

 to clouds. Photography has multiplied 

 the results many times in recent years, 

 but for the solution of many problems 

 in solar physics, as complete records as 

 pos.sible for a long time are necessary. 

 In spectroscopic lines it seems hardly 

 possible to obtain too much material 

 for some time to come. Perhaps more 

 of mystery and interest attaches to the 

 corona than to any other feature, and 

 the present eclipse gives an excellent op- 

 portunity for several lines of investiga- 

 tion, in addition to photographs show- 

 ing its structure and extent. An at- 

 tempt will again be made to investigate 

 the rotations of the corona, by photo- 

 graphs of its spectrum, which must be 

 sufficiently good to show the slight dis- 

 placement of the lines cau.sed by the 

 motion of rotation. It is to be hoped, 

 also, that further bolometric observa- 

 tions will be made on the heat radia- 

 tions of the corona, as well as a study 

 of the polarization of the coronal light. 

 Aside from the sun itself, the existence 

 or non-existence of an intra-mercurial 

 planet has not been clearly demon- 

 strated, since investigations in that line 

 up to the present time have not been 

 conclusive. Certainly no amount of time 

 and labor can be regarded too great, 

 which may be necessary to give us as 

 complete a mastery as possible of the 

 problems which relate to our great 

 parent, the sun. 



Yale and Princeton, the two most 



conservative of our larger universities, 

 have recently taken action that will 

 bring their college courses more into 

 harmony with those of other leading 

 institutions, by giving greater oppor- 

 tunitj' to elect scientific in the place of 

 classical studies. At Yale, Greek and 

 Latin are still required through the 

 freshman year, but later these studies 

 are elective. In the sophomore year 

 five or six courses must be elected from 

 twelve that are off'ered, making it pos- 

 sible for a student to specialize in sci- 

 ence. In the junior and senior years, 

 the chief work of the student may also 

 lie in the sciences, unhampered by re- 

 strictions other than that he must take 

 two courses in languages and litera- 

 ture and two courses in philosophy, his- 

 tory and social science. Courses can 

 also be elected, as at Columbia and 

 Pennsylvania, which count as part of 

 the medical course. At Princeton, 

 President Patton has made somewhat 

 similar proposals looking towards of- 

 fering courses in physiology and human 

 anatomy, so that students may begin 

 their medical education in the senior 

 year. He, at the same time, suggested 

 adding to the electives in the sophomore 

 year. At present Princeton University 

 requires Latin, Greek and the Bible 

 through the freshman and sophomore 

 years, while about one-third of the .stu- 

 dent's time is occupied with required 

 studies in the junior year. 



Cornell now admits students to its 

 B. A. course without Latin, and Har- 

 vard requires no Latin at the Univer- 

 sity, but still maintains an entrance ex- 

 amination. Columbia requires Latin in 

 the freshman year, but has recently 

 made it possible for a student to enter 

 witliout Latin, thougli he cannot grad- 

 uate until he has studied this language. 

 The great universities of the Middle 

 and Western States have in most cases 

 established three degrees — A. B. for 

 those who pass entrance examinations 

 in Latin and Greek and study these 

 languages to a greater or less degree in 

 their college course; B. Ph. for those 



