SCIENCE. 
29 7 
SCIENCE: 
A Weekly Record of Scientific 
Progress. 
JOHN MICHELS, Editor. 
Published at 
229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 
P. O. Box 3838 . 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1880. 
NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. 
We consider it due to those subscribers who have favored 
us with their subscriptions, previous to the publication of 
our club rates, that they should have the privileges of the 
list. They can therefore send us subscriptions for any or 
all of the publications named at the reduced double rates, 
less $4, the subscription price of “ Science.” 
Since the publication of the club rates last week, we 
have received rates from the proprietor of The American 
Journal of Science and Arts , the terms of which are $6 a 
year. The club rate with Science will be $8.50 per annum. 
The material aid given to scientific students by the 
foundation of twenty fellowships, each yielding five 
hundred dollars, at the Johns Hopkins University, 
appears to have been attended with the best results, 
and the roll of fellows, now published, shows that 
the honor, thus secured, has not been a mere empty 
title, for the majority have been selected to receive 
permanent and attractive posts in different parts of 
the country. 
The system of fellowships at this University was 
instituted for the purpose of affording to young men 
of talent, from any place, an opportunity to continue 
their studies in the Johns Hopkins University, while 
looking forward to positions as professors, teachers, 
and investigators, or to other literary and scientific 
vocations. 
The appointments have not been made as rewards 
for good work already done, but as aids and encour- 
agement to good work in the future, thus stimulat- 
ing the student to further progress, and becoming 
the stepping stone to an honorable, intellectual ca- 
reer. Although candidates for any of the three 
learned professions are not excluded, the preference is 
given to those young men who are desirous of becom- 
ing teachers of science and literature, or who have 
determined to devote their lives to special branches 
of learning which lie outside of the ordinary studies 
of the lawyer, the physician, and the minister. 
As an introduction, the candidate must submit 
his college diploma, or other certificate of proficien- 
cy from the institution where he received instruc- 
tion, with recommendation from those who are 
qualified to speak of his character and attainments. 
He is also expected to submit, orally or in writing, 
evidence of his past success in study, and of his 
plans for the future, together with samples of his 
literary or scientific work. Thus the examination 
is in a certain extent competitive, but not with uni- 
form tests, nor by formal questions and answers 
submitted to the candidate. 
We find that the number of candidates has 
been very large, and it is feared many were 
rejected whose acquirements were really superior 
to those selected. We are informed by the author- 
ities of the University that such a result may arise 
in cases where candidates rely wholly on testimo- 
nials from their teachers, without presenting such 
evidences of their own work as we have stated to 
be essential ; and in consequence the professors, for 
want of adequate knowledge, have been compelled 
to pass over many candidates whose merits were 
undoubtedly of a high order. 
We mention these facts, and trust that in the next 
year the warning we now give may prevent many 
disappointments. Candidates should also notice 
that applications should be made prior to May 
13, 1881. 
As evidence of the value of securing such a fellow 
ship, we may state, that of the forty-six students who 
have left the University with that honor, twenty- 
eight have gone forward to honorable positions, as 
instructors in colleges or other institutions of a high 
order ; two were attached to the United States Coast 
survey ; two, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at 
New York; four are engaged in the application of 
science to practical work ; two are physicians, one 
an attorney-at-law, and four are still pursuing their 
studies abroad. 
It is obvious that graduates residing at Balti- 
more have great facilities for making known 
their powers to the appointing board, but an exam- 
ination of the list of those who have been success- 
ful, shows that residence at a distance is no bar to 
the appointment, provided adequate evidence of 
claims be presented. 
The Smithsonian Institution has received from the 
Vienna Academy the announcement of the discovery, 
by M. Pennule, at Copenhagen, on the 16th of De- 
cember, 1880, at six o’clock, of a small bright comet 
in 18 hours 49 minutes right ascension and 10 degrees 
30 minutes north declination, with a daily motion of 
5 minutes in right ascension and 40 minutes north. 
Washington, December 17, 1880. 
