August 27, 1896J 



NA TURE 



407 



2'366 ami l'874, or two gases of the densities 2'I33 and 

 I -580. 



But although this explanation is the most suitable, there 

 exists another which deserves our attention. The spectrum of 

 these two fractions shows no difference. It is not probable 

 that two gases exist the densities of which are so near each 

 other. The different gases do not possess a refraction propor- 

 tional to their densities. It seems to us that we might admit 

 that we have effected a real separation of the light mols. from 

 the heavy mols. The idea that all the mols. of a gas are 

 homogeneous has never been submitted to the test of ex- 

 periment. We do not know of any attempt at a separation 

 of this kind of a gas regarded as homogeneous into two dif- 

 ferent parts. But our experiments show that this question 

 deserves to be studied. If it can yield us similar results we 

 must change our ideas on the nature of matter. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The Marquis of Bute has signified his intention of contribut- 

 'iR .if 10,000 to the University of South Wales, to be applied for 

 the purposes of technical education in Wales, the sum to be 

 handed over to the authorities as soon as required. The 

 Drapers' Company have also promised ^f 10,000 towards the 

 fund for providing new buildings, and the Government have 

 promised ^20,000 on condition that an equal amount is raised 

 by public subscriptions. 



.\i'ROi'OS of the complaint from the Local Government Journal 

 referred to last week, we see in the recent report of the Somerset 

 County Council that " manual instruction in agricultural pro- 

 cesses has made no progress." Though some successful classes 

 in sheep-shearing, thatching, and hedging have been held at a 

 few centres. Committees that have endeavoured to organise 

 instruction ol this kind report, as a general rule, that they have 

 been unable to obtain from the farmers that support and co- 

 operation which is indispensable if the work is to be carried 

 out successfully. 



We notice in the report of the Technical Education Com- 

 mittee which was adopted by the Northumberland County 

 Council at their recent meeting, that it has been decided to 

 renew the grant of /500 to the Agricultural Department in the 

 Durham College of Science on the following conditions, which 

 differ somewhat from those which obtained last session :— The 

 college is to undertake the direction of the school of agriculture 

 and demonstration farm in accordance with the Technical 

 Education Committee's requirements, as well as to arrange and 

 ■supervise not less than six manurial trial stations at local centres 

 in Northumberland, and to arrange for as many as sixty lectures, 

 examinations, or inspections in agriculture and dairy work. On 

 the other hand, the farm in Northumberland is to be open to 

 the students of the Durham College of Science at times which 

 are to be specified. This mutual arrangement should prove 

 very beneficial. 



The Kast Sussex Committee for Technical Instruction com- 

 plain that attention is given too exclusively to elementary 

 science teaching in the various classes throughout their county, 

 and that scarcely any work of an advanced character is 

 attempted. This is bad, but it will be much worse if they 

 attempt advanced teaching too soon. .\ completely new form 

 of agricultural instruction has been undertaken by the authorities 

 of the agricultural school at Uckfield, which is maintained by 

 this Committee. The students are taken to many of the sales 

 of agricultural implements and produce which occur in the 

 neighlxjurhood, as well as to the fortnightly cattle auctions. 

 The idea, which is to give the students an acquaintance with 

 current values of farm and live stock, seems to have some good 

 in it, though considerable discretion will have to be used by 

 the instructors to prevent erroneous notions being imbibed by 

 the students. 



TitE programme of the Princeton University sesqui-centennial 

 celebration has just been announced as follows :— Tuesday, 

 fJctober 20, commemorative religious services in Marquand 

 Chapel, discourse by President Patton ; reception and intro- 

 duction of delegates in Alexander Hall; probably a musical 

 concert in Alexander Hall, not yet fully arranged, and some 

 other suitable event may be substituted. Wednesday, October 

 21, Alumni Day, oration and poem in Alexander Hall, Prof. 

 Woodrow Wilson, orator ; Rev. Dr. 1 lenry Van Dyke, poet ; 

 NO. 1400, VOL. 54] 



reception by President and Mrs. Patton at Prospect ; students' 

 torchlight procession and illumination of the campus ; addresses 

 from the steps of Nassau Hall, and student songs by alumni and 

 undergraduates. Thursday, October 22, one hundred and 

 fiftieth anniversary day ; the sesqui-centennial celebration, 

 academic procession marches to Alexander Hall ; announcement 

 of university title ; announcement of endowment secured ; con- 

 ferring of honorary degrees, and other appropriate ceremonies ; 

 farewell dinner to the invited guests in Alexander Hall. 



There are, it seems, only twelve scholars at the Swanley 

 College in Kent, including six .who hold scholarships which 

 have just been awarded. Since the Kent County Council are 

 bound to pay for twenty pupils as a minimum, the Technical 

 Education Committee desire a more satisfactory state of 

 things, and have recommended an entire reconstruction of the 

 college. Nor is everything quite what is desired in Berkshire. 

 The lectures for teachers provided by the education authority in 

 this county cost .1^550 a year, yet it is reported that there is a 

 want of appreciation of the value of the courses on the part of 

 those for whom they are intended. Moreover, the object for 

 which the lectures were instituted, viz. the provision of teachers 

 to hold evening continuation schools, has not been attained. 

 The Committee for Technical Instruction has therefore recom- 

 mended that no new students be admitted for attendance at 

 science lectures, but that the three years of existing students (if 

 duly qualified) be completed. It is further complained that 

 teachers have not availed themselves of the good work which is 

 being done at the Reading University Extension College. 



The Programme of Technological Examinations of the City 

 and Guilds of London Institute (Whittaker and Co.) furnishes 

 abundant information on the valuable work which the Institute 

 is doing for technology and manual training. The programme- 

 contains the syllabuses of the sixty-six subjects in which examina- 

 tions are now held (a helpful list of works of reference being 

 given at the end of each), and the examination questions set 

 this year. Among the changes in the Institute's programme, we 

 notice the following : — The subject of" Brickwork and Masonry " 

 has been divided into two, '• Brickwork " and " Masonry," and 

 a practical examination, to be held in London, has been added 

 to each. The regulations for the examination in "Photo- 

 graphy " have been altered. In future, all candidates will be 

 required to pass a local practical examination before being 

 admitted to the written examination in the ordinary grade. 

 The syllabus in " Paper Manufacture," in " Pottery and 

 Porcelain," in "Boot and Shoe Manufacture," in "Dressing 

 of Skins," in "Cotton Spinning," has been re-written. In 

 several other subjects the syllabus has been altered. Provision 

 has been made for admitting, under certain conditions, teachers 

 of secondary schools to the manual training examinations. 



The report of the Somerset County Education Committee for 

 the financial year ending March 31, 1896, gives abundant evi- 

 dence of the accomplishment of much good work. The plans 

 of the Committee are laid upon a carefully thought-out basis, 

 and reflect no small credit on the wisdom of their organising, 

 adviser. These arrangements have been the same as in previous . 

 years, with the exception of discontinuing the courses of Uni- 

 versity Extension Science Lectures, which has meant a saving 

 of more than .^1000 per annum. We are glad to notice that 

 the Committee are able to report that the work as a whole 

 " shows a distinct and satisfactory tendency to develop along 

 certain well-marked and permanent lines, with a corresponding 

 reduction in the number of classes of a more or less ephemeral 

 character." In no case has an evening continuation school been 

 reported to them by the inspectors as generally inefticient ; and 

 " there is a general tendency towards an increase in the average 

 attendances" in all of the 141 of these schools. As regards the 

 work in the secondary schools of the county, many of which 

 have been substantially aided by the Committee, it has beeri 

 rightly laid down " that the best foundation for technical in- 

 struction is a really good secondary education sufficiently com- 

 prehensive in its character to include, in addition to the ordinary 

 English subjects, natural science, mathematics, modern lan- 

 guages, drawing, and some manual training, and it is with a 

 view to place an education of this kind at moderate fees within 

 the reach of all in the county who wish to avail themselves of 

 it, that the County Committee gives the aid specified." It is 

 not to be wondered at, after so sensible a declaration, that the 

 report is able to call attention to excellent results from all 

 divisions of their administrative area. 



