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 much stronger and more 

 elastic than either metal. It is mixed with copper in the 

 proportion of one to ten. It has also been 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. Col. 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 ranking 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 aloof 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 Ridge in a brief and he- 

 roic action on Thanksgiving day, 1863. 



