Scientific Knowledge in its Monetary Bearings.-In this day of visionary schemes, and almost herculean efforts to draw capital into projects, if not of a questionable character, at least ill-timed and hastily considered, it is refreshing occasionally to see evidences that real scientific knowledge is being more generally diffused among the masses. And still more gratifying to see that this knowledge is being made to bear directly upon the practical affairs of everyday life. Could we collect all the money worse than squandered in efforts to utilize useless ideas and conceptions on art, science, mechanics and manufactures, it would form a pyramid more than mountain high. Hence, it deserves our attention, when we find such minds as that of J. Thackray Bunce of England, at an annual meeting of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, engaged in the discussion and demonstration of the monetary or commercial value of scientific knowledge. As chairman of that meeting, he enunciated the following upon the relations such knowledge has to industrial pursuits, which must command the consideration

of the readers of the MONTHLY:

"By a study of Science we do not mean study in its highest and best sense, a search after knowledge for its own sake, but that amount of study which is undertaken for the advantage it gives in competition with other manufacturers or professionals, and with other nations. As a nation we must be workers, producers; we cannot afford to wander about the by-ways of learning for the mere pleasure of gaining knowledge; we must, or the great majority of us must, tread the broad roads already graded and laid out by previous workers, picking up all the information we can, and storing it in orderly fashion in our mental wallets for use by and by. Others amongst us-a gradually increasing number-will strike out paths for themselves across untrodden fields, and seek for new treasures with more or less of success. We cannot all make researches and experiments, nor are we all fitted for the work; but we can all learn something of what is known already, and so prepare ourselves to take advantage of and utilize the discoveries of scientific investigators. Every artisan in the kingdom can, if he will, make himself acquainted with the principles on which the practices with which he is familiar are based, and there is no manufacture and no industry in the country which would not be benefited by such knowledge on the part of its workers. In a few years now a considerable portion of our workers will be men who are more or less well grounded in theory; they are receiving a technical education, and when they enter the ranks of the industrial army they must, in the natural order of things, occupy prominent places. Even now Whitworth scholars, at present a comparatively small number, make their way readily to the front, and in competition with mere rule-of-thumb men gain an easy victory. This patent fact will shortly make an impression on the artisan world, and in a few years we shall see that technical education will be regarded as a necessary part of the training of our

mechanics and other workers.

It will be readily understood how important is the possession of both theoretical and practical knowledge by the worker, for, while the scientific man is capable of pointing out improvements in processes, he is so placed in the majority of cases that he is unacquainted with the methods of working; on the other hand, the practical man, looking

upon his processes as trade secrets, and being unacquainted with their defects, never seeks the aid which a knowledge of Science places at his disposal." Many instances of a be collected, but one alluded to by Mr. Bunce will suffipersistence in wrong methods or in wasteful processes might ciently indicate the commercial value of a knowledge of Science.

Birmingham, as is well known, reckons amongst its most important industries the manufacture of jewelry, and in the able waste of the valuable metals was, and probably is still processes of coloring and refining gold and silver considerto some extent, incurred. In the process of coloring gold articles a minute portion of the valuable metal is washed off; but owing to a want of acquaintance with the chemical processes involved, only a percentage of the gold is recovered the liquor, the usual process is to throw it down as chloride from the washing waters. Thus, in recovering silver from by means of common salt, but the workmen and the employ. ers being unaware of the fact that an excess of salt redissolves a portion of the silver, have for years been throwing away a considerable quantity of silver. On the authority of Mr. Woodward, the Professor of Chemistry in the Institute, it is stated that one firm has effected a very material saving in this process entirely by the knowledge gained by one of its members while attending the classes of the Institute. Here we have a definite instance of the commercial value of a knowledge of Science; but, if the proposition were not obviously true and required to be demonstrated by evidence, many instances might be gathered together."

The commercial value of such knowledge is being still more remarkably exemplified in the utilizing of the "Blue Glass" theory-now the engrossing theme all over the United States. In a subsequent issue of the MONTHLY, we hope to give our subscribers a sketch of the wonders said to have been performed and cures effected by Blue Glass.

Ornamental Iron Work.-Professor Pliny E. Chase, of Haverford College, delivered the second lecture of his course

on

"Lessons of the Centennial," at the Franklin Institute

recently. Beginning with a historical account of iron industries he referred to Tubal Cain, "an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron," about 3700 B.C.; chariots of iron and the giant Og's bedstead of iron, about 1450 B.C.; saws, axes and filters of iron, 1030 B.C.; iron work in Britain, A.D. 120; iron pillars in India over 1,500 years old; the importations of steel from China and Powtica in the times of the Roman Emperors; the common use of steel arrows by the soldiers of William the Conqueror; the medieval iron work of Quinton Mutsy's and various unknown smiths, and the revival in England about the time of the first International Exhibition of the ornamental treatment of wrought-iron, which had nearly become one of the "lost arts." The process of pressing, punching, inlaying, mosaic, electrotyping, enamelling and repousse may be applied to iron and steel as well as to the precious metals, not only in the ornamentation of armor or personal decorations, but also in nearly every variety of vase, terra, plate, casket and in many household implements. In cast-iron ornamental work there is abundant

The Illustrated Han 600 pages. Philadel This work groups to from the earliest age do order, and contains ne trations. A somewha leads us to believe tha of religious and hist liberal and impartial organization nor coll admirably guards the each, free from bias this respect cannot fa reference it must prov relative to the origin ticular sect or creed. compendious volume various religious der and, as far as possib wanted. The value knowledged by thos matters of ecclesiast writers, intricate an imperfectly informe the name, and sui presumption to say, the labors and diffic fear, likely to be ur on he says, "The : the situation of a c story was before coloring. The fa authors in each given, unless whe Where the matter sides are, in gener to draw his own c

From the extr true Catholic spi volume. As we not only attracted idea that it typifi complete harmo tian fellowship. that as all diverg book a common pages tend to br Christianhood 1 character.

The Popula

E. S. Youman original articles

Polar Color memoir to Co

report to acco the Arctic Sea

Part VI. of Mrs. Martha not lessen in s

Lamarque, Louis Philippe, Marechal Niel, Queen of Lombardy, Sofrano, and Zelia Pradel. These comprise varieties from each class, all the colors and shading, and the best in regard to vigorous growth, perfection of bud and flowers, and we believe will give general satisfaction.”

How to Rejuvenate an Old Rose-Bush.-Never give up a decaying rose-bush till you have tried watering it two or three times a week with soot tea. Make the concoction with boiling water, from soot taken from the chimney or stove in which wood is burned. When cold, water the bush with it. When it is used up, pour boiling hot water on the soot a second time. Rose-bushes treated in this way will often send out thrifty shoots, the leaves will become large and thick, the blossoms will greatly improve in size and be more richly tinted than before.

May. Pleasant, indeed, are many of the social customs observed in various sections of the country, appropriate to and coupled with the seasons. We all know of the agreeable anticipations as well as the happy realizations which cluster about Christmas and New Year, when long absent ones renew their annual greetings around the festive board. Then, at least, the shadows of the past are forgotten, and the sparkling embers, and still more sparkling eyes and joyou hearts speak of the silver linings and budding promises of life. The origin of many of these beautiful customs dates far back into antiquity, and to tradition mainly are we indebted for most of them.

The first of May is so called in England in commemoration of the festivities which, from a very early period, were and still are observed on that day. Many of the rites prac ticed, such as plucking branches of trees, and adorning them with nosegays and crowns of flowers, dancing around a pole decked with garlands, had no doubt their birth in the heathen observances at this season in honor of "Flora," the goddess of fruits and flowers. Elsewhere we find that the month of May was typical of a young woman:

"The fairest May she was that ever went."

66

What is Fortune ?-What dost thou mean by fortune? If mere chance, then to envy the lot of others, or murmur at

thine own, is folly; if Providence, then it is impiety; for whatever goodness, guided by unerring wisdom, doth, must be so well done that it cannot be mended; and whatever is

merely in the power of a blind, giddy and inconstant humor (which is the notion by which men choose to express fortune), can neither be prevented, fixed or regulated.

"Woman is a delusion!" exclaimed a crusty bachelor to a witty young lady. "And men are always hugging some delusion," was the quick retort.

The Human Face.-The countenance of every nation defines the characteristics of its people. Every human face indicates the moral training as well as the temperament and the ruling traits of its owner, just as much as every human form indicates the quality and amount of its physical exercise. This is proven by the variety of human faces everywhere visible. Those whose lives have been given to physical labor, unbrightened by an education of ideas, have always a stolid, stupid expression, even while their limbs and muscles are splendidly developed. The more savage the people, the uglier they are in facial development. The very features of heir faces are disfigured by violent and ungoverned passions. People whose employments are intellectual, have invariably a large, clear gaze, a bright outraying expression, as if from an inward light shining through a vase. Where a fine organization and a deep sensibility accompany the practice of intellectual pursuits, often the features take on a trans

parent luminous look. Persons endowed with powerful sensibility, however plain their features, always have moments of absolute beauty.

"The May of youth and bloom of lustihood." It is the time when the hawthorn blooms, and the May

apple invites to the shady and emerald groves. In Latin it signifies Maius, so named in honor of the goddess Maia, the fair daughter of Atlas, and mother of Mercury by Jupiter. It is the fifth month of the year, and, it said that the May dew falling on linen makes it a beautiful white. Indeed, many are the benefits conferred by this most charming month upon the young and the old. "I shall be queen of the May," denotes the honor and delight with which it is regarded. Its observance is certainly a very beautiful one, and we hope it may long continue.

The Company will Pay for the Bees.-Thanks, and a thousand of them, to that unknown genius who entrusted a trunk, with a hive of bees in it, to the tender mercies of a Syracuse baggage-master, the other day. The company will pay for the bees, and the doctor thinks his patient will be around again in a fortnight or so.

Knowledge and wisdom far from being one,
Have oftimes no connection. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men;
Wisdom in minds attentive to their own.