The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-01
The Popular Science M0nthly for Ne
yeMber,

The place of honor in the November
Popular Science Monthly is ably filed by
the first of series of Illustrations Of
the Logic of Science by G. S.. Pierce,
assistant of the United Coast Navy. We
should conclude, from the descent, the
training, and the known ability Of the au-
thor, that these would be very valuable
contributions, and this first paper con-
firms the conclusion. The subject is SO
we'll handled that it caunot fail to be
both instructive and interesting. The I'll
| tie of this paper is "The Fixation of Be-
lief I" in it the author Classics and de-
SERIES with great clearness the methods
by wi. ich beliefs are. required and held.
Tie OBJ ,iect of his work is to describe
the meth cd of scientific Investigation"
The import. tnt .e of the scientific method
in all lines Of in quiry is becoming widely
recognized, and a; popular exposition OF
it will be timely. Prof. R. H, Thurston
has paper. also he first OF a series, on
1.-THE Growth Of t. he Steam Engine" in
in which, beginning with the most print
tive efforts recorde d, he purposes tracing
the gradual Develop nent OF this agent,
which has, perhaps, m ore than any other
been instrumental in re. volutionizing mod
crn life. The text is to be enriched by
illustrations of the varfot Is devices and by
portrait-gallery Of the n senwhose iaoors
have made the steam-eng me what II is.
The third article on "Thc law OF Contin-
uity," though dealing with a somewhat
abstruse subject, is mode OF clearness.
The Modern Troglodytes,'' described by
DIR. Oswald, arc not jewellers In caves, but
ulus urU tue uons1~.-- 0dern ten.
ement-houses, factories, and SC, hools. l.
is fanciful title to an earnest md able
plea for fresh air!
The article on "The Differen ces OF
Things" is. perhaps, the most emf, 'yabie
one in the number. Who John WI saxon
may be we do not know. but the a, 1thor
Of this article is practised writer, pos
,essing q vigorous style, humor-gen. uine
.hoIgh slightly realistic-and an orig. nal
way, If not of thinking, at least of putt. ing
things. His illustrations are apt; MS
robust and jolly, but, it ma y
be added, none the less wholesome an 4
because it sometimes raises tn. ;
corners of our mouths.
Man and the Glacial Period" is by
Thomas Belt, F. G. g., author of that
book The Naturalist in Mica
ragua." ''Near-Sight in the Schools" is a | ,
paper Of practical value to parents.
There is the usual installment Of strictly
,cientific articles, and the list closes with Y
he tragic story Of Michael Servetus.
The departments, as usual are strong.
Those who turn to the Editors Table will
ind it marked by the earnest vigor to {
which they have become accustomed. !
This month the Editor makes q plea for
his life-work, the popularizing of science.
We commend it to scientific men; when
hey fully realize the Importance of apop- !
liar style that can DO understood by the !
general reader" and when that ubiqui-
ous parsonage has arrived at just idea !
II the importance of science and its init !
nate relations to practical life, then will
scientific research have received Its most
valuable endowment s 81 IT