local departments are at least full. We should
suggest that its interest abroad might possibly be
increased by representing or in some way intim
ating the special features of the institution in its
work.
The Pennsylvanian regularly puts in its most
welcome appearance. We count it our good
fortune to receive encouraging recognition from
such a college journal. We are glad to find in
the arena so good an example as the Pennsylvan
ian in live spirit and journalistic character. Its
vigor in its news and home department we think
worthy of emulation.
BOOK REVIEW.
A New Feature in Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary,
The publishers of Webster have recently added
to the Unabridged a “ Pronouncing Gazetteer of
the World," containing over 25,000 titles, brief
ly describing the countries, cities, towns, and
natural features of every part of the globe. It
makes an addition of a hundred pages.
Trautwine’s Engineer’s Pocket Book. New
York; Wiley & Sons. Price, Morocco, $5.00.
This is essentially an era of reckless book
making and its evils are full upon us, There is
a mania to “publish,” the more the better, with
a general tendency to gaugement by quantity
rather than by quality. This book of John C.
Trautwine’s is of the nobler class ; it is a pearl
of great price, embodying the results of a long,
active and professional life. It is to the engineer,
epitomic of sound, theoretical and practical
knowledge ; hence he really needs and wants it ;
therefore it can be said that it has a raison d'etre,
a quality that is rapidly becoming unique. The
author holds a high place among those men
whose names are associated with the success of
many of the projects for internal improvements
undertaken by the state of Pennsylvania. He
was prominently associated in canal projects in
South America and Panama, and in 1858 was
consulting engineer in the harbor improve
ments at Montreal, Canada. About 1864 he re
tired from active work, and gave himself up to
original experimental research, the results of
which form a portion of the “Pocket Book,” and
command confidence, because of the thorough
ness of the man and the honesty of his work.
THE FREE LANCE.
“A Century of Electricity,” By J. C, Men
denhall. Boston and New York ; Houghton,
Mifflin & Co., 1887. Price, cloth, #1.25.
The above work is an excellent sketch of the
development of the science of electricity and its
application since the great discovery made by
Galvani, in 1786. Before this date there was no
science of electricity, only a few unconnected facts;
and but one application, Franklin’s lightning
rod. Within this hundred years have occurred
the discoveries that immortalized Galvani and
Volta, Oersted and Ampere, Faraday and Henry,
and rendered illustrious many lesser names ; and
also those applications of principles that have
made Wheatstone, Morse, Bell, Edison and others
famous. 'Phe author’s purpose is “to give a some
what connected account of this wonderful pro
gress, and especially to bring into prominence
the few principal points from which the success
ful attacks upon the mysteries of nature have been
made.” 'Phe book is not a scientific treatise,and can
be readily understood by those who are not
specialists in this or any of the physical sciences.
To intelligent readers it cannot fail to be highly
interesting. While mathematical formulae are not
employed and the use of technical terms is avoided,
the explanations of principles, unlike those in
too many “popular science” books, must tend to
the formation of only correct conceptions.
—We are pleased to acknowledge the receipt
of the following donations to the general pub
lishing fund: Capt. C. W. Roberts, West Ches
ter, $10.00; Jno. Hamilton, Lcmont, $5.00.
We are pleased to add the following names
to our subscription list since the last issue :
FI. P. McCrea, Franklin ; Henry Greena
wait, Dauphin; Mrs. D. L. Patterson, Allegheny;
Rev. R, Kessler, Brandt ; Miss Helen M. Steven
son, Pittsburg; Prof. J. Gilbert White, Lincoln,
Neb.; Edgar J. Parker, West Chester; H. B.
McDonnell, Baltimore, Md.j Horace Fluey,
Phila.; R. M. Foster, Phila.j Geo. L. Potter,
Bellefonte; W. FI. Kemler, Pittsburg; Ralph
Crump, Merchantville, N. J.; W. I. Fleming, W.
E. Gray, E, R. Chambers, Jno. M. Dale, Jas.
Alexander, S. D. Raj',and A. Allison, Bellefonte;
Jno. I. Thompson, Lemont; J, C. Barrett,
Uniontown.