TO KNOW THE STARRY HEAVENS 
changes. As an illustration of the 
length of a tropical year we may state 
that the sun crossed the equator in 
1919, March 2, 4:19 P. M. ; in 1920, 
March 20, 9:59 P. M. ; in 1921, March 
2, 3:51 A. M. The first interval is 365 
days, 5 hours and 40 minutes and the 
second interval is 365 days, 5 hours and 
52 minutes, yet each is a tropical year. 
The length of the tropical years freed 
from irregularities is 365.242,198,79 
days less .000,000,061,4 days times the 
number of years which have elapsed 
since 1900. This formula is only ap- 
proximate. The length of the year is 
determined not so much by direct ob- 
servation as by mathematical discus- 
sions based upon observation. 
>|c ;fc ;Jc 
The star Algol at A, Figure 1, is 
eclipsed January 1, 6:50 P. M. ; Janu- 
ary 18, 11 :40; January 21, 8:30; Janu- 
ary 24, 5 :2o. 
New Exhibits at the Bruce Museum. 
The Bruce Museum is congratulat- 
ing itself upon the receipt of a new 
loan exhibit of colonial antiques which 
have been gathered by Mr. C. C. Weed 
of Stamford. 
This exhibit, which is now being in- 
stalled and labeled in the historical 
room at the museum, is unique in the 
rarity of its specimens, some of which 
it would be impossible to obtain at the 
present day at any price. 
Mr. Weed, in his letter delivering the 
loan to the museum, says, “It is our 
desire to preserve to posterity the arti- 
cles used by the early settlers of New 
England in their hard struggle in 
building the foundation of that society 
or civilization which has stood the test 
of time and is a monument to their 
fortitude, frugality and interesting dili- 
gence.” Ana indeed no more fitting 
place could be found for the preserva- 
tion of such priceless relics than the 
Bruce Museum, which was founded for 
the very purpose mentioned by Mr. 
V eed as well as for the preservation 
and exhibition of the various branches 
of natural history which make up the 
rest of the museum. 
In this collection is an enormous 
wooden plow, Hanged with hand- 
wrought shares, which is a very fine 
specimen. One wonders how any team 
of even sturdy oxen could pull it. Other 
articles are such rarities as rawhide 
sieves, cobbler’s bench and tools, eel 
spears, baskets, etc., in endless variety. 
Another new exhibit now in prepara- 
tion in the historical department is one 
which will show the entire development 
of illumination. Starting with the lard 
lamp used by the early Pennsylvania 
Dutch and traceable back to Roman 
days, the exhibit leads one through all 
the stages of lard lamps, fluid lamps, 
kerosene lamps, gas burners, mantles, 
carbon electric bulbs and finally to the 
modern nitrogen filled mazda of today. 
In connection with this, lanterns will 
be shown in their development together 
with tinder boxes, tallow dips, candle 
molds and similar objects of interest. 
The deposit in automobile cylinders 
commonly called “carbon” is really sul- 
phur, largely that left over from the re- 
fining process. 
Daniel Webster in his Bunker Hill Monument Speech of June 17, 1825, 
stated as follows : 
“Our proper business is improvement. Let our age be the age of im- 
provement. In a day of peace let us advance the arts of peace and the works 
of peace. Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its powers, 
BUILD UP ITS INSTITUTIONS, promote all its great interests, and see 
whether we also, in our day and generation, may not perform something 
worthy to be remembered. Let us cultivate a true spirit of union and 
harmony.” 
George Washington in his Farewell Address on September 19, 1796, stated 
as follows: 
“Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the 
general diffusion of knowledge.” 
