THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
13 
subscription) we will send a set of these 
designs free. The subscriptions maybe 
for 1878, 1879, or 1880. Eemember, one 
of the subscribers must be new. It will 
not do to send i renewal of the subscrip- 
tions of two old subscribers. 
BOOK NOTICES. 
Some Practical Hints on "Wood-Engraving-, 
for the Instruction of Reviewers and tlie Public. 
By J. W. Linton. Price $1.25. Boston : Lee & 
Shepard. 
Some time ago Mr. Linton published an article 
in the Atlantic Monthly on " Wood-Engraving," 
and the present volume is a reply to the criticisms 
which that article called forth. In his first article, 
Mr. Linton criticised severely, and we think with 
justice, certain new departures in wood engraving, 
which have recently appeared in some of our 
prominent magazines- As distinguished from 
the older styles, these new methods are charac- 
terized by a certain nebulousness which the 
authors seem to mistake for softness or some- 
thing else, but which gives us simply the im- 
pression that the photographer who transferred 
the original drawing to the material on which it 
is cut, did not take the reauisite pains to get his 
picture sharply in focus. It is, consequently, in- 
distinct, as well as flat and inexpressive. Those 
who go into extacies over the new style seem to 
toe led astray by the idea that because in some 
paintings the outlines are indistinct and yet 
wonderfully suggestive, therefore this quality may 
toe transferred to a wood cut simply by blurring 
the outlines. No greater mistake can be made- 
Every painting and every engraving is valuable 
for two things— what it tells and what it suggests, 
and the latter is often as valuable as the former. 
And it often happens too that the most suggestive 
part of a picture is not that which is most sharply 
outlined. Indeed, the reverse is more often the 
case, and yet, as we have already remarked, sug- 
gestiveness cannot be imparted by indistinctness 
alone. 
Aside from the mere controversy, the book con- 
tains much information that will be of value to 
all who are interested in the art of -wood engra- 
ving. As regards the merits of the fight, Mr. 
Linton certainly has greatly the advantage of his 
adversaries in accuracy of knowledge and clear- 
ness of perception. 
The Builder and "Wood "Worker. A Journal 
for Architects, Cabinet Makers, Stair Builders, 
Carpenters, Car Builders, etc. Monthly. $1.50 
per year. Chas. D. Lakey, 176 Broadway, New 
York. 
The American Builder has now been consoli- 
dated with the Wood Worker, and under the able 
editorial management of Mr. Hodgson, whose 
contributions to the Young Scientist have always 
been so welcome, the combined journals present 
a most attractive appearance, as well as a table of 
contents, which render them worth many times 
their cost to those who are interested in the sub- 
jects of which they treat. The Wood Worker had 
already attained a high degree of success, and the 
Builder is well known as one of the oldest journals 
in this department of the industrial arts. Every 
one interested in building and wood working 
should subscribe for this journal. 
Astronomy for Amateurs. 
BY BERLIN H. WEIGHT. 
February, 1880. 
EPHEMEKIDES OP THE PLANETS. 
(Calculated for the Latitude of New York City.) 
D. H. M. 
Venus rises 10 4 56 morning 
Mars in Meridian 
Jupiter sets 
Saturn 
Uranus in Meridian 
Neptune sets 
29 
10 
20 
29 
10 
20 
29 
10 
20 
29 
10 
29 
29 
21 evening 
1 
45 
34 
7 
42 
36 
1 
31 
20 morning 
58 evening 
41 
NEAR APPROACH OF MOON TO STARS AND 
PLANETS, ETC. 
Day. 
1. Moon 4° North of Spica. 
5. " 2° " Antares. 
7. " 1|" South of Venus. 
7. " 5° North of " Milk Maid's Dipper." 
12. " 6f " Jupiter. 
14. " 8° " Saturn. 
14. Mercury superior conjunction with Sun. 
17. Moon in Pleiades. 
18. " 1^° North of Mars. 
18. " 10" " Aldebaran. 
19. " 18° " Betelguese. 
22. Moon midvv^ay between Procyon and Pollux. 
23. Mars 90° East of the Sun. 
24. Moon near Eegulus. 
25. Uranus 180° from Sun. (Brightest.) 
28. Moon 5° North of Spica. 
EASY TELESCOPIC OBJECTS. 
Uranus may be seen with any ordinary tele- 
scope, but it requires an aperture of 4 inches or 
more to give sufficient light to define a disc, 
which only subtends an angle of 4^', and the best 
telescopes only show a dull bluish disc. Place, 
Feb. 10, K. A. lOh. 38m. 33s. Dec. 9, 9° 27' 29" +. 
Orion is favorably situated for observation, 
not having an uncomfortable altitude, and 
being on the meridian at 8 o'clock in the evening 
in the early part of February. This is con- 
