THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 127 
goddess of industry would continue to wear the iron 
crown." 
It is now chiefly worked as an alloy, its combination 
with copper making a compound nuich stronger and more 
elastic than either metal. It is mixed with copper in the 
proportion of one to ten. It has also l)een used in this 
alloy to imitate gold chains and watch cases, and wears 
well without tarnishing. As a bronze it is used for cannon, 
sheathing vessels, in dynamos and other electric appliances, 
and is the material used for the cap of the Washington 
monument. 
Monday, Feb. 10, 1890.— Co\. Henry Stone of South 
Boston lectured on the character and career of Major Gen- 
eral George H. Thomas. General Thomas was a native 
of Virginia, and proud of his state. Graduated at West 
Point number twelve, in a class of forty-two. General 
Sherman and General Lee being of the same class, Sher- 
man rankino^ six. He served in the Florida and in the 
Mexican war with high honors. On the breaking out of 
the civil war, he refused high rank in the Confederate 
service, cut nloof from his closest associations, was pro- 
nounced an alien enemy by the legislature of his native 
state, and his property confiscated. 
The lecturer traced Thomas' course through the civil 
war, referring to his brilliant defeat of a confederate force 
of twice his numbers at Mill Spring. At Chickamauga, 
his gallant fight against great odds, and the maintaining 
his position, won for him the recognition he had so long 
deserved. Immediately after, he succeeded to the com- 
mand of the forces at Chattanooga, and held the place 
through a most trying siege which ended in the sweeping 
away the enemy from Missionary liidge in a brief and he- 
roic action on Thanksgiving day, 1863. 
