THE NEW PROFESSION. 25 7 



erties at the expense of another, as in mechanics it is often re- 

 quired to transform speed into force or force into speed by means 

 of fly-wheels or driving-wheels. The apparatus which produces this 

 charge is called the electrical transformer. These machines can be 

 divided into two large classes : 1. As regards tension ; and, 2. As re- 

 gards quantity. The storage-batteries of Thomson, Plant e, d'Arson- 

 val, and Varley, belong to the quantity class. All these batteries have 

 a common use. They store electrical energy and give it out trans- 

 formed. Secondary couples are electrical accumulators, as well as 

 transformers. 



II. The Electric Light. It is clear that this wonderful applica- 

 tion of electricity is thus far only in its infancy, and that it must either 

 supplement or supplant gas-lighting in the near future. In it educated 

 persons of either sex may, after a thorough course of training, easily 

 find very remunerative employment in a fast-developing branch of the 

 new profession. With all the older professions overcrowded, an elec- 

 trical engineer's prospects are, to-day, undoubtedly bright, especially 

 if he has some knowledge of mechanics, though this is not absolutely 

 necessary. Very great impetus has, also, been given to electrical in- 

 dustries by the invention of the telephone, electrical storage-batteries, 

 fire-alarm telegraphs, district telegraphs, and the introduction of the 

 electric light into the domain of our domestic economy. In all these 

 branches there are more places than qualified persons to fill them. 



III. Training for the New Profession. The person who is 

 educated simply as a mechanical engineer, or simply as a telegraph 

 engineer, can not at once make himself useful in the wider range of 

 the new profession which has created itself. The requisites for an 

 electrical engineer are, theoretical and practical knowledge of phys- 

 ics, including mechanics and mathematics. The first questions to be 

 asked a parent, who desires his son to be an electrician, are : " Has your 

 son been studying physics at the ordinary school ? Has he ever made 

 any experiments himself, or does he see experiments made by the lec- 

 turer ? " Let this son commence his technical education at once, for 

 he can learn more of real science in the interval of rest, during his 

 technical education, than he will ever acquire if he devotes himself 

 to books. By a technical college we mean one in which a general 

 education in the application of science to industries is given to all the 

 students, and a special education in the applications of science to in- 

 dividual students. 



Electrical engineering has thus a deeper interest for the parents 

 of America than they know. A knowledge of mechanical drawing and 

 designing is essential ; and new designs of instruments should be put 

 before the students for use and study, as it is important to cultivate 

 in them the powers of original thought and combination. Next to 

 machine designing and drawing, in the education of an electrical engi- 

 neer, is a practical knowledge of electricity. And by this I mean far 

 VOL. xxrv. Vr 



