1883.., 
Correspondence . 
49 
“ pass ” them. I know well that many students unquestionably 
my superiors have been rejected, whilst I have the good fortune 
to subscribe myself — 
“One who has Passed.” 
[We shall be very happy to hear further details from this cor- 
respondent. — Ed. J. S.] 
THE FOG QUESTION. 
To the Editor of the Journal of Science. 
Sir. — In an otherwise able article on the fog-nuisance I was 
surprised and shocked to read the following sentence : — “ The 
vast majority continue, with mingled stupidity and selfishness, 
to build up fires of bituminous coal, and as the law compels 
factories, but not householders, to consume their own smoke, 
few houses fail to contribute something to the vast pall which 
perpetually hangs over London.” Surely the writer of the 
article knows, or might know, that at least two-thirds of the 
householders of London cannot raise the money which the intro- 
duction of smoke-consuming stoves in their houses would cost. 
Further, if they could lay down (say) £5 per room, their land- 
lords would not permit the alteration without an undertaking to 
restore the ordinary stoves at the conclusion of the tenancy, 
when, I suppose, the tenant is to go and repeat the expenditure 
in his new dwelling. If, without altering our fire-grates, we are 
all to use anthracite, what will be the price of this kind of fuel, 
brought as it is on one only line of railway and without sea- 
competition ? The writer in question reminds me of a French 
princess of the olden time, who advised the poor to eat pie-crust 
in default of bread. — I am, &c., 
“ Stupid and Selfish.” 
