n giilar session assembled, that the thanks of this Body be tendered to 

 Professor Simon Sarasola, 8. J., for his valuable contribution; and, 



Eesolved, further, that a copy of these Resolutions, together with a 

 translation of his scientific paper, which was used, be forwarded to 

 Professor Sarasola. 



APRIL, 1908. 



The subject of discussion on this evening was "The applications of 

 Electricity," especially to wireless telegraphy, and was most fully and 

 ably presented by Prof. Twining of the Polytechnic High School. The 

 lecturer introduced his subject by a general discussion of the all-per- 

 vading ether which occupies space, affording the medium of transmis- 

 sion of waves of heat, light ami electro-magnetism from one cosmic body 

 to another. He claims that ether is without weight, weight being a 

 condition and not a quality of matter. The difference between funda- 

 mental and harmonic waves in ether was well illustrated by vibrations 

 (if a rubber rope made to vibrate both as a whole and in sections at the 

 same time. The characteristic differences that distinguish the various 

 forces that are transmitted by ether are due to differences in wave 

 length and in frequency. 



The speaker described the various forms of transmitters, trans- 

 formers, condensers and other electrical apparatus, to be used in his 

 experiments, and then proceeded to demonstrate some of the most 

 striking effects of high-frequency electricity. His illustration of the 

 principles and methods involved in wireless telegraphy was most vivid 

 and satisfactory, showing (dearly the capacity of the atmosphere to 

 transmit electro-magnetic waves that may be made by proper apparatus 

 to subserve the interests of man in the communication of thought. It is 

 worthy of mention that all of the apparatus used in the various experi- 

 ments on this occasion was constructed by students in the scientific 

 department of the Polytechnic High School. 



MAY, 1908. 



The Academy met in regular monthly session, the Secretary in the 

 chair. After preliminary announcements for the guidance of the Acad- 

 emy, he introduced President B. R. Baumgardt, who proceeded to address 

 the Academy on the "Overthrow and Reclamation of Pompeii." The 

 speaker gave a vivid historical account of the conditions prevailing in 

 the ancient city previous to the memorable catastrophe, and of the 

 physical aspects of the then long extinct volcano of Vesuvius. He 

 painted in glowing colors the dreadful magnificence of the scene as 

 beheld by Pliny from Cape Misenum, when the great mountain belched 

 forth flame and smoke and ashes, and lava, to the imminent peril of the 

 cities upon its slope, and pictured the awful consternation that prevailed 

 as Herculanenin and Pompeii were entombed by the overwhelming ava- 

 lanche of lava in the one case and the rain of ashes in the other. 

 He pointed out that this distinction in the cause of the overthrow has 

 made the difference in the method and difficulty of reclaiming the 

 two cities. Herculaneum having been overwhelmed by lava, is held in 

 the grip of a glassy cement, as hard as flint, which must be chiseled 

 away by a slow and tedious process; while Pompeii, having been 

 enveloped by falling ashes, is readily exhumed by pick and shovel. 



The speaker then unfolded to the view of the audience, by means 

 of exquisite stereopticon slides, the strange yet fascinating scenes of this 

 ancient center of Roman fashion and art and culture. The streets and 

 houses, the frescoes and statuary, the domestic utensils and evidences 

 of social refinement, were presented with striking naturalness, and 

 decribed in terms so clear and direct as to piace the auditors in imagina- 



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