258 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



more than an ordinary acquaintance with the effects of glass electri- 

 cal machines, sealing-wax experiments, etc., etc. The knowledge must 

 be experimental, and it must be quantitative, not merely qualitative. 

 No person ever learned electricity from a book. If one wants to know 

 why a particular dynamo is more efficient than another, he must enter 

 on a course of professional education, like that of studying medicine 

 or reading law. Night after night, in England, many young men 

 come thirty miles to learn how the efficiency of an electric lamp, stor- 

 age-battery, or a dynamo-machine, is actually measured — how to ob- 

 tain experimentally the characteristic curves of dynamo-machines of 

 different speeds, calibrating galvanometers, testing magnets, etc. 



It would not have been extremely difficult to give lectures on 

 electrical engineering twenty years ago, but the development of the 

 science now is so great that it would be an exceedingly laborious 

 matter to prepare a course on the subject without efficient apparatus. 

 Of the importance of such lectures there can be no doubt, and the time 

 will come when the principles, at least, of electrical engineering will be 

 taught in our schools. The new developments of the science and art 

 can hardly be exaggerated ; and while at one time scientific men were 

 of the opinion that the popular mind erred in supposing that elec- 

 tricity would supersede steam as a motive power, engines are now em- 

 ployed to produce power, while electricity affords us the very best 

 means yet discovered of distributing that power. 



Electricity does not yet take the place of steam, but it takes the 

 place of cogs, wheels, belting, etc. 



A word as to the time necessary to become an electrical engineer. 

 It is claimed by some that six months' study suffices to make a good 

 electrician ; but experience teaches us that a year and a half of as- 

 siduous work would not be by any means too much. 



In conclusion, I may say that this is a profession suitable for 

 women of a scientific, studious, or inventive turn of mind. It is not 

 a profession requiring physical force, but rather keen abilities, good 

 mathematical and scientific training, and the special education of the 

 telegraph engineer. 



I can not suggest a brighter prospect for young men, or for intel- 

 ligent and energetic young women, who wish to learn a profession, 

 than this art, which year by year is steadily assuming more and more 

 importance. 



