January 9, 1891.] 



SCIENCE. 



25 



•'To the fourth element, nhristianity, attention is given not 

 only by way of historical iastiuction, but especially in the course 

 of ethics, in such a measure that the pupil obtains an insight into 

 the historic importance and the civilizing effects of Christianity, 

 to the influence of which all the civilized Western nations owe 

 their mental superiority over the other people of the globe." 



To raise the standard of the university, T aimed at an elimina- 

 tion of the elementary studies which until now imi)eded true uni- 

 versity work. These elementary studies were placed on the cur- 

 riculum of the middle school, which was at the same time relieved 

 from premature specialization. The former threefold division 

 (English, German, French) was made to yield to one uniform 

 course for every student. The endless variety of preparatory 

 schools was reduced to two; viz., the elementary school and the 

 new lyceum. The latter provides for an organically constructed 

 course of studies extending over ten years. The student will now 

 come to the university not only better prepared than formerly, 

 and with a sufficient knowledge of three European languages, but 

 also at a considerably earlier age. 



Thus we see education in a steady progress in Japan. The 

 many deficiencies and drawbacks which the hasty introduction of 

 Western learning has t)rought about are the natural outgrowth of 

 the circumstances. However deficient, the system of Western 

 leaning employed until now has done good work, but it has out- 

 grown itself with the advanced stale of Western learning which 

 the Japanese have now acquired. The fact that not only is the 

 government aware both of the importance of education and of the 

 deficiencies of the present system, but that so illustrious a body as 

 the Gakushu Kwai in, that imitation of the Academic Frangaise 

 in Tokio, has given its attention to the educational question, justi- 

 fies the hope that the steady progress made hitherto will be con- 

 tinued in the future. 



DANGER FROM HEAVY SEAS. 



The following reports received by the United States Hydro- 

 graphic Office illustrate the danger to vessels from the terrific 

 seas that may. be encountered during the winter storms in the 

 North Atlantic. ■ It may well be remembered that by heaving-to 

 in time and riding out the worst of the storm, using oil to pre- 

 vent seas from breaking on board, very serious damage may be 

 prevented. 



Second Officer Paterson of the British steamship "Vancouver" 

 (Capt. Williams) furnishes the following additional details relative 

 to the disaster that happened to that vessel on Nov. 7, eastward 

 of the Strait of Belle Isle: " Toward midnight of the 6th the wind 

 hauled west-north-west, bringing a tremendous sea along with it, 

 which, with the head sea still running, caused a very treacherous 

 cross-sea. We kept shipping heavy bodies of water, but without 

 damage, the ship rising to the sea very nicely until 6 a.m., when 

 two tremendous seas seemed to meet close aboard, and, the ship 

 not rising to tbeni in time, passed right over her, causing fearful 

 havoc. The starboard breakwater on the forecastle-head, of heavy 

 pitch pine, was torn out of the deck. Tlie iron rails on the fore- 

 castle-head went also, and the light-tower was badly damaged. 

 A large square iron companion on the main deck was bulged in, 

 and an iron bulkhead crushed. The two iron doors of the alley- 

 way were torn down, and the mass of water rushed through the 

 alley and burst in the saloon-door, flooding the cabin. But the 

 worst damage was caused on top of the saloon deck: the chart- 

 house, wheel-house, and bridge were swept clear over the side, 

 leaving only a portion of the weather side of the bridge, with the 

 third officer, who was saved. The captain, who was in his room, 

 and the quartermaster at the wheel, were both carried away with 

 the wreckage. Another quartermaster was in the wheelhouse, 

 and he was found lying across the brass pedestal of the steering- 

 gear, very badly cut up. The lookout on the lee side of the bridge 

 was jammed among the wreckage, and badly hurt; and two 

 stewards, who were in the alley-way, were injured. The whole 

 affair was over in a minute, so quickly that the captain and quarter- 

 master had no time, probably, to realize what had happened." 



Capt. Leask of the British steamship "Venetian" sailed from 

 Liverpool on his westward trip Nov. 34. On Nov. 30, at 7.30 a.m. 



(about latitude 47° north, longitude 41° west), a mountainous sea 

 came tumbling on board over the bows, rushing down the deck 

 with tremendous force. It stove a hole in one of the bow plates 

 above the main deck (breaking four angle-ii-ons inside the plates), 

 badly damaged three life-boats, carried away six ventilators, and 

 stove in the engine-room skylight. Ore of the iron turrets, 

 which protects No. 4 hatch, was torn from its fastenings and 

 somewhat damaged. 



The British steamship " Maryland " was in latitude 39° north, 

 longitude 65'^ west, at noon, Greenwich mean time Nov. 30. The 

 wind increased from south-east during the day and night, and on 

 the morning of Dec. 1 it was blowing with hurricane force. At 

 7 A.M. an enormous sea was shipped that ran as high as the fore- 

 yard, carrying away the bridge, chart house, steering-gear, and 

 all boats but one. Capt. Luckhurst was killed, together with the 

 boatswain and cook; Chief Officer Lloyd was seriously injured; 

 some 350 head of cattle wei'e killed ; and all nautical instruments, 

 compasses, etc., were swept away. The only chart left after this 

 terrible disaster was a copy of the "Pilot Chart," which was 

 utilized in navigating the ship back to Delaware Breakwater. 



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. 



*** Correspondents are requested to be as brief as possible. Tlie writer^s name 

 is in all cases required as proof of good faith. 



The editor will be glad to publish any queries consonant with the character 

 of the journal. 



On request^ twenty copies of the number containing his communication v:ili 

 be furnished free to any correspondent. 



Copper Implements. 



While most of the implements made of native copper by the 

 aborigines have probably found theh- way to the melting-pot, 

 when discovered in recent years, a moderate number have escaped. 

 Could full notes be secured of those found in the State of New- 

 York, it would possibly appear that they form a large proportion 

 of all those known. Besides those of whicii I have merely heard, 

 I have figured about thirty-five articles, two-thirds of them from 

 this vicinity. Since I drew some of these for Dr. Abbott's " Primi- 

 tive Industries," I have met with several well worthy of no- 

 tice. 



The largest of these is a long chisel, found near Oxford, Che- 

 nango County, N.Y. , in 1856. Like most others, it is flattened 

 on one side and ridged on the other, and of nearly uniform width 

 throughout. It measures 14f inches in length by If in breadth, 

 and weighs 5^ pounds. This is the exact counterpart of a smaller 

 one found here some years since. The latter is 11^ inches long 

 by If broad, and is 2 pounds 14 ounces in weight. Both are very 

 fine examjiles. 



I have seen several copper chisels with expanded edges, a num- 

 ber of spear-heads, knives, gouges, tubes, and nondescript articles. 

 In no case here have I met with an implement perforated for 

 attachment to a handle, and very few with a socket. A figure of 

 one with both these has been sent me, the implement having been 

 found at Cold Spring, on the Hudson River, and closely resembling 

 some from the West. The most remarkable one with a socket, of 

 which I know, recently came to light here. It is a massive imple- 

 ment, and the raised and angularly inclined edges seem intended 

 to receive a handle, resembling some of the figures in Foster's 

 " Prehistoric Races," but more No. 4 of Fig. 87 in Squier's 

 " Ancient Monuments." That was one of a number from Brock- 

 ville, on the St. Lawrence River. The raised edges are at the 

 broad end, extending about one-third of the length on either side. 

 Between these the general surface is depressed, rising by an 

 abrupt shoulder 3i inches from the broad end. This shoulder is a 

 little over a quarter of an inch high, but is sufficient to prevent 

 the handle from slipping through the socket towards the narrower 

 end. I am inclined to think the handle was sometimes removed, 

 and the broad end used as a gouge, the ends being about equally 

 sharp before they were hammered by some later hand. It is lOJ 

 inches long, 2f broad at the wide end, and If at the naiTower, 

 weighing 3 pounds 2 ounces. 



There is a class of recent copper articles founi in New York 

 which may have interest for some. Under this, for convenience. 



