Jan. 37, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEV/S. 



9i 



Carnelly, D.Sc, University College, Dundee, and Mr. 

 Frew was read, in which an interesting description was 

 given of the action of water on lead, showing that 

 corrosion was much greater when exposed to air than 

 when air was excluded. Mr. J. J. Coleman, F.R.S.E., 

 F.I.C., communicated a paper on "The present aspects of 

 the sewage question." He first glanced at the position 

 of matters in Glasgow fifteen years ago, and remarked 

 that in spite of Royal Commissions, Acts of Parliament, 

 and deputations, affairs remained in statu quo, sewage 

 flowing into the Clyde as usual. Mr. G. G. Henderson, 

 M.A., B.Sc, exhibited Franke's gas burette. 



«-^»^^5«^* 



TECHNICAL EDUCATION NOTES. 



Birmingham. — Mr. Turner is giving an evening course of 

 practicallessons on Qualitative Chemical Analysis at Mason's 

 College under the auspices of the South Staffordshire Insti- 

 tute oi Iron and Steel Works Managers. 



The Apprentices' Exhibition. — At the distribution of 

 awards in connection with this exhibition, Sirjohn Jennings, the 

 chairman, remarked that it was generally admitted that to form 

 an expert workman in mechanical and in many other trades an 

 apprenticeship was absolutely necessary. Technical schools 

 were, in his opinion, not only useful but indispensable, but 

 their function was to supplement, not to supersede, appren- 

 ticeship. 



Belgium. — A report just published by the Foreign Office 

 describes the working of the Institut Superieur de Commerce 

 of Antwerp. The college at present contains 150 pupils, a 

 third of whom come from foreign countries. The special 

 character of the instruction is described as " practice combined 

 with theory." Thus if the subject under consideration be 

 sugar or coffee, or some mineral or chemical product, the 

 course of instruction would not only include the commercial 

 operations connected with the purchase or sale of these 

 commodities, but would also embrace a thorough examination 

 into the nature of the product from a scientific point of view. 

 An extensive museum of mercantile productions, natural or 

 manufactured, a chemical laboratory, a library comprised of 

 books relating to the subjects treated in the institute, and a 

 numerous collection of geographical and statistical maps form 

 part of the institution. A class for the study of the new lan- 

 guage " Volapuk " has been established during the last term 

 as an experiment, and it is said to be now taught in the com- 

 mercial schools of France, Germany, Austria, and Russia. 



Bromley. — At the annual meeting and distribution of 

 prizes at the School of Science and Art at Bromley, Kent, on 

 the 17th inst.. Sir John Lubbock remarked that Mr. S, Smith, 

 one of the Commissioners on Technical Education, had 

 wisely said, as the result of his experience, that it was not 

 so much the longer hours and lower wages of continental 

 workmen, nor the tariffs, which were having such objection- 

 able influence on our industries, but rather, in nearly all 

 instances, the great attractiveness of the goods themselves, 

 which had been made by workmen who had received special 

 training in schools. If we had spent one tithe of the treasure 

 which we sent abroad every year to buy the produce of the 

 skill of other countries on the training of our own people, 

 we should have been making these goods ourselves. We 

 were apt, indeed, to forget how much we owed to science, 

 because many things which were in reality scientific dis- 

 coveries had become so familiar to us that we looked upon 

 them almost as a matter of course. The electric light was 

 still felt to be a triumph of science, but we forgot sometimes 

 that the common candle was the result of a whole series of 

 chemical discoveries. The Chinese were said to have 

 examined candidates for the army until lately in the use of 

 bows and arrows. We could see the absurdity of this, but 

 we were not free from the same error ourselves. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The Editor does not hold hi^nself responsible for opinions expressed 

 by his correspondents J nor can he take notice of a7ionymous coni' 

 ■inunications . All letters must be accompanied by the name and 

 address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a 

 guarantee of good faith. 



THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. 



During the month of December last the planet Venus 

 happened to arrive at its maximum brilliancy as a morning 

 star Thousands of persons, who are easily influenced by 

 superstitious fears, beheld the planet with sacred awe, and 

 asked, "Is that the star of Bethlehem?" When Venus 

 appeared last summer as an evening star, a great number of 

 persons in England and America asked the same question. 

 A large number of letters have been received by the Astrono- 

 mer-Royal upon the subject. In his reply, which has ap- 

 peared in public, he says : " For some tmaccotintable reason the 

 planet Venus has been supposed by some to be a reappear- 

 ance of the star of Bethlehem. " Sir R. S. Ball, who recently 

 delivered a course of lectures on astronomy, at the Royal 

 Institution, referred to his correspondence upon the same 

 subject, and said, " Of course it sometimes happened that 

 Venus was seen as a bright morning star at the Christmas 

 season," and he supposed that that was the origin of the idea. 

 The fact is, the idea had its origin in a sensational article 

 which appeared three or four years ago in a well-known 

 religious periodical (noted for its sensational articles), which 

 has a large circulation in England and America. The writer 

 of the article gave an account of some events which were 

 then about to commence, and were to last over a period of 

 ten or twelve years. The names of some noted persons in 

 Europe were given who would take part in the events which 

 would startle the world. But time has proved the fallacy of 

 these prophetic assertions. It was stated in the article that 

 during this period the star of Bethlehem would appear. The 

 writer knew that a star was expected to appear, and made the 

 astounding assertion that it was the " Star of Bethlehem." 

 Hence when our "old friend Venus ' appeared, thousands 

 were alarmed, and believed that it was the star of Bethlehem. 



The expected star appears about every 300 years, and is 

 the one supposed to have been seen in the year 945 A.D., 

 again in 1264, and in 1572. Tycho Brahe, the astronomer, 

 informs us that he saw it on November 11, 1572.It appeared in 

 the constellation of Cassiopeia. This remarkable star sur- 

 passed the brilliancy of the planet Venus, and changed its 

 colour from time to time. At its first appearance it was 

 white for two months, and then changed to yellow. In the 

 spring of 1573 it became red, and in May its white colour 

 returned, and remained so up to the time of its disappear- 

 ance, which took place in the month of March, 1574. There 

 is a small star now under telescopic scrutiny, because 

 astronomers believe it to be the one seen by Tycho Brahe. 

 Should it suddenly blaze out, as it did in 1572, the display 

 will be very interesting. Various new stars are recorded in 

 history, which afterwards have shone with great splendour for 

 a short time, then gradually faded away until they ceased to 

 be visible. Thus Pliny asserts that the appearance of a new 

 star in 130 A.D. was the occasion of inducing Hipparchus, the 

 astronomer, to construct his famous catalogue of stars. 



J. Webb. 



WATER SNAILS. 



In answer to your correspondent, " Inquirer," I may state 

 that I am the possessor of several kinds of fish, molluscs, 

 etc., and have repeatedly observed the ascent of water-snails 

 to the surface of the water. I believe that this is due to the 

 presence of an opening near the head (somewhat equivalent 

 to the "air-bladder" of fishes), into which, by means of 

 muscles, air may be taken or expelled as the case may be, 

 resulting in the rise or fall of the animal. Buffon mentions 

 this in his " Natural History," and I have myself noticed the 

 snail with the aperture above water, apparently taking in 

 air. 



Your correspondent does not mention what kind of water- 



