672 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



of its hands by the societies and museums to which it has given rise. 

 Among these is the Photographic Society, -whose inception was due to 

 the exhibition organized by Dr. Diamond. The South Kensington 

 Museum itself may be fairly regarded as an offshoot of the Mediaeval 

 Exhibition, while the Government Department of Science and Art is 

 directly descended from the parent body. But the mission of the So- 

 ciety is not to repose on its laurels. It comes to the fore with a formi- 

 dable list of premiums, at the head of which is a series of gold medals 

 and prizes of 50 for improved cooking and warming apparatus ; 500 

 are devoted to this purpose, and have been placed at the disposal of 

 the Society by a single member. A large number of prizes in money, 

 and many gold and silver medals, are also offered to inventors. Much 

 interest is excited at the present moment concerning the award of the 

 Albert Gold Medal, a prize established in memory of the late prince 

 consort, to reward " distinguished merit in promoting arts, manufact- 

 ures, or commerce." This medal was first presented in 1864, to Sir 

 Rowland Hill, K. C. B., in 1865 to the late Emperor of the French, 

 and in 1866 to Faraday. Since then, this distinguishing mark of the 

 Society's appreciation has been conferred on Wheatstone, Whitworth, 

 Liebig, Henry Cole, Henry Bessemer, and has this year been awarded 

 by the council to Dr. C. W. Siemens, " for his researches in connection 

 with the laws of heat, and the practical applications of them to fur- 

 naces used in the arts; and for his improvements in the manufacture 

 of iron ; and generally for the services rendered by him in connection 

 with economization of fuel in its various applications to manufactures 

 and the arts." 



For some years the Society's examinations, conducted through 

 local institutions about the country, have assisted the spread of gen- 

 eral education, and, now that this work is being more completely exe- 

 cuted by the university local examinations, the Society has set on foot 

 a scheme of technological examinations, which it is hoped may bear 

 good fruit. 



THE FIRST TRACES OF MAN IN EUROPE. 



By Prof. ALBEECHT MUELLEE. 



TEAS SLATED FEOM THE GERMAN, BY TKOF. JOSEPH MILLIKIN. 



I. 



IN a fine contrasting of Europe's wealth of historic memorials with 

 his own country's yet new civilization, Washington Irving says 

 of the former country, " Its every stone is a chronicle." 



The remark is true, applied, as he meant it to be, to our older cities 

 with their ancient edifices and defenses. But, belonging to a yet re- 

 moter past, are the remains of Roman and Celtic arts and architecture ; 



