April 13, 1911] 



NATURE 



217 



the differences may be due to pressing, punching-, or 

 to wear and tear. 



Therefore you are, dear old penny, from my point 

 of view simply a token, without definite weight, 

 definite dimensions, and with a variable expression. 



The Spanish "penny" is marked ten grammes, 

 and it also reads loo pieces make one kilo. The 

 "halfpenny" weighs 5 grammes, and, like the larger 

 coin, is largely used for purposes of weighing. These 

 coins also have useful dimensions. 



If Britannia could be induced to sit a little more 

 forward on her shield, with thTs and other slight adjust- 

 ments, the penny would have a definite centre of 

 gravity, and be of use as a plumb-bob, or as a 

 pendulum in our board schools. With properly spaced 

 milling on its edge, pennies could be used by Boy 

 Scouts as angle measurers or rough protractors. 

 When drawing plans, with one penny, and another 

 to buy a compass, he could tell the time, or without 

 a compass and with a watch he would know his 



arings. With a piece of thread, a pebble for a 

 vcight, and a penny a clinometer could be made. 



Whether any of these suggestions could possibly be 

 carried out in practice remains for the consideration 

 of the controllers of our coinage. A penny has had an 

 up and down time of it. It has been altered often, 

 and why not once again. The Romans possibly were 

 too proud to accept small change, which, when handed 

 to them, they flicked off the counter with the back 

 of a finger, remarking " Romanus sum." At all 

 r:\ents Roman coins seem to have been scattered over 

 (iiuntries where Romans once resided, and now their 

 coins are among the most common evidences of their 

 former occupation. Six hundred years ago, when the 

 penny was made of silver, it would pay a wage or 

 buy a horse. Now it is only a little brown token. If 

 the Chancellor of the Exchequer could see how to cut 

 off "the little bit," make "the little hole" and use a 

 less expensive metal the penny would be reincar- 

 nated, become the admiration of the world, taxation 

 would be relieved, and Lloyd George worshipped. But 

 do not forget to treat other tokens as you would the 

 penny. Make them more cheaply and increase their 

 usefulness. John Milne. 



IHE BRITISH SCIENCE GUILD. 



"T^HE fifth annual meeting of the guild was held at 

 *■ the Mansion House on April 7, under the presi- 

 dency of the Lord Mayor. There was a fairly good 

 attendance, and the number of well-known leaders in 

 the field of technical and scientific education was 

 large. Sir William White presented the annual re- 

 port, and referred to the progress made during the 

 year in various directions. Of the special activities 

 of the guild, he mentioned the work of the subcom- 

 mittees upon agricultural education, the proposed 

 museuin at South Kensington for the physical and 

 mechanical sciences, medical education, and the rela- 

 tion of the Imperial College of Science and Tech- 

 nology with the Universit}' of London. From the 

 annual report itself we learn that committees have 

 also been investigating the problems involved in the 

 conservation of natural sources of energy and the 

 coordination of charitable effort. The guild has 

 further benefited science and the community by its 

 successful action in regard to the site of the Solar 

 Physics Observatory ; the existence of the science 

 section at the Japan-British Exhibition, and the in- 

 clusion of a similar section in the plans for the forth- 

 coming Coronation Exhibition, are also in large 

 measure due to the guild's influence. 



The features of the year's progress which Sir 

 William White emphasised were the improved attitude 



2163, VOL. 86] 



of the Government towards agricultural research, and 

 the greater readiness of Government departments 

 generally to seek the advice of highly qualified men 

 of science. In certain instances this readiness led to 

 the appointment of consultative committees, which 

 were acting in an advisory capacity to several depart- 

 ments. At the same time. Prof. R. A. Gregory's 

 report showed how much more was being done in 

 other countries to promote research. The organisa- 

 tion of the Canadian Committee has made good pro- 

 gress, and its first annual report has been issued. 

 The spread of evening classes and the movement in 

 favour of continued education are hopeful indications 

 of the public recognition of the value of technical 

 instruction. 



Lord Haldane thought that the technical education 

 which was at present being given in England was 

 underrated. In higher education, in the application 

 of science to industry, Germany had marked features 

 which we did not possess ; but evening schools and 

 classes connected with the universities or great tech- 

 nical colleges were little known in Germany. Tech- 

 nical teaching had developed in a very striking way 

 in London and throughout the United Kingdom. It 

 was not without result. The quality of British goods 

 commanded the respect of the world. Science was 

 present in every corner of the Sheffield factories in 

 which engines of war — offensive and defensive — were 

 being constructed. Our Government was a very un- 

 scientific-looking machine, but it was being substan- 

 tially and rapidly improved every year. There was 

 far more intercommunication between various Govern- 

 I ment offices than was generally supposed. He hoped 

 I to see remarkable developments before long in the 

 domain of public health. 



We cannot refrain from expressing our regret that 

 Lord Haldane should have dwelt so strongly on the 

 merits of our evening-class system without qualifying 

 his praise of this system by some mention of its in- 

 evitable shortcomings. The Technical Education 

 Committee of the guild views the matter in a different 

 light. This committee presented a very valuable re- 

 port, and we quote from the last sentences preceding 

 the recommendations which it contains : — 



Most of the technical instruction carried on in Great 

 Britain is evening-class work. The committee, however, 

 are strongly of opinion that day work is of infinitely 

 greater value than work done in the evenings, when neither 

 instructor nor student can possibly be at their best ; con- 

 sequently, evening work cannot be compared for thorough- 

 ness and efficiency with such day-class work as is done 

 in the German, and in some of our higher, technical insti- 

 tutes. Until this is recognised, it is impossible for this 

 country to expect to compete technically with other 

 countries. (The italics are our own.) 



There are valuable contributions appended to this 

 committee's report by Dr. H. T. Bovey, Prof. Meldola. 

 Dr. Pohl, Prof, Gregory, and Prof. Perry. The last- 

 named awards an overdue meed of praise to the too- 

 belittled work of the Science and Art Department, and 

 has a word of encouragement for workers in evening 

 classes, but he adds a strong appeal to employers to 

 allow apprentices to attend science classes "d»rM/,q' 

 the, rcf^ular ri'orking hours " (the italics are Prof. 

 Perrv's). It is evident from these reports that the 

 guild is doing more than interest public men and 

 impress them with the importance of scientific method, 

 for through its committees it is doing the spade-work 

 essential to the conversion of aspiration into practice. 

 It is to be regretted, however, that no mention is 

 made of the Education (Choice of Emplovment) .Act 

 which was passed in November, iqio. Though this 

 mav appear to be a very modest piece of legislation, it 

 mnv well prove to be the starting point of national and 



