SKETCH OF RUDOLPH KOENIG. 545 



4. The Earth Connection. — It is not easy in all cases to insure 

 that this is satisfactory. Electricity will not pass at all so easily 

 into dry earth as into wet earth, and merely plunging the end of 

 the rope or tape into wet earth is not sufficient. The conductor 

 from the building should be soldered at its end to a large sheet of 

 copper, say at least two square yards in area, buried in damp soil, 

 or else soldered to the water or gas mains, so as to insure that a 

 large surface of metal is in contact with damp earth. 



Supposing that the whole system of protection against damage 

 from lightning has been properly planned, the work should be 

 carefully tested after its completion, because injury to it often 

 occurs at the very last, owing to accidental causes, or to the care- 

 lessness of workmen. Conductors should also be examined from 

 time to time, throughout their whole length, to make sure that 

 all the joints are sound. Care should also be taken that the earth 

 in which the terminating plate is buried is kept thoroughly moist. 

 If any of these particulars be neglected, the conductor will be 

 practically useless, and will afford no protection to the structure. 

 — Abridged from Longman's Magazine, 



•+ * ♦■ 



SKETCH OF RUDOLPH KOENIG. 



Br Professor W. LE CONTE STEVENS. 



IN examining the personal records of men who have contrib- 

 uted to the advancement of human knowledge, one of the 

 features most frequently noticed is the necessity to meet adversity 

 in early life. Perhaps it is but little less frequently the case that 

 they are compelled throughout life to content themselves with a 

 minimum of pecuniary reward for the mental work which meets 

 due appreciation only after its final close. The thirst for dis- 

 covery, the craving after truth, apart from all considerations of 

 emolument, exist germinally in every young human being ; but 

 the rewards that the world gives for brain-work, other than what 

 is directed toward the discovery of truth, are sufficient to deter- 

 mine most men and keep them occupied in fields other than 

 scientific. Native bent, if fortified with force of character, finds 

 its channel in time, whatever may be the accidents of childhood ; 

 and uncongenial occupation has been the lot of many who have 

 used it as the basis of future renown. 



Quite a number of those who have achieved distinction in 

 physical science have, in early life, or throughout life, given a 

 considerable share of attention to the mechanical details involved 

 in constructing the instruments needed for investigation. New- 

 ton began in youth the making of machines, and his skill as a 



VOL. XXXTII. 39 



