MINTTKS OV MKKTINCJS. 47 



spoke al some length on the formation of mud cracks and 

 l)asalt columns, givring the mathematical theoiy of the forma- 

 tion of cracks in a nniformly stressed material. Henry L. 

 Broomall gave the history of the abbreviations used in Latin 

 writings, from which have been derived the Spanish tilde and 

 other signs. Additions to the Library : Cyclopaedia of Cera- 

 mics, presented by the author, Mr. William P. Jervis ; Trees 

 of North America, by Charles S. Sargeant, presented by the 

 P'orestry Association of Delaware County ; Bulletin of the 

 Bureau of American Ethnology on Mexican Antiquities ; Pro- 

 ceedings U. S. National Museum, Volume 28. 



December 14, 1905. — Adjourned meeting. Discussion: 

 " Scientific Paradoxes.", 



December 21, 1905. — Adjourned meeting. Illustrated 

 lecture. on " Pocono Pines," by Prof. L- Whitaker. 



December 28, 1905. — Adjourned meeting. Miscellane- 

 ous scientific discussion. 



INSTITUTE NOTES. 



P^nwARD A. Price, Esq., a life member of the Institute, 

 died of heart failure October 31, 1905. Mr. Price was born at 

 Chester in 1835. He was a lawyer by profession and occupied 

 many prominent public charges during his lifetime. He was 

 a member of the Institute many years, and although a very 

 ):)usy man found time to devote much attention to local histo- 

 rical matters. He was the author of a work entitled " Jacob 

 Alricks and his Nephew Peter Alricks," a copy of which is in 

 the Library of the Institute. 



Charles J. Bechdolt, a member of the Institute, died 

 suddenly on December 5, 1905. Mr. Bechdolt was born in 

 Germany in 1852, coming to this countr>' when quite young. 

 He was educated as a civil engineer, being a graduate of 

 Lehigh University. In 1S75 he entered the service of the 



