Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06


NANDs-PooR sPELLERs, But GOOD ISoUIRERs.
On recent visit to the Smithsonian Institu-
ton STAR reporter noticed a room fitted up
with large number Of letter-boxes, scales,
bags and all the paraphernalia of q modern
post-office. and on inquiry learned that the
mail for nearly 200 persons was received there
and that several wagon loads of mail matter
we're received and dispatched daily.
Some idea of the magnitude of the business
carried on may be gained from the statement
that last year there were received so $50 let
tiers, 2,s3l documents, 1925 cards, 1896
papers, 446 articles Of merchandise 439 regis
tered packages, and that there we're sent sc, 2O3
letters, 27,SlS documents, s,822 cards, 3,497
papers 443 packages Of merchandise and 4,30s
registered packages.
The reporter was informed that the CORE
spondence carried on by the Institution ex-
tends TO every part of the globe-that there are
over 5000 correspondents in the old world and
about the same number in this country. An
extensive system of exchange of public docu-
ments transactions of learned societies. ETC., is
carried on which adds several thousand volumes
annually TO the Library Of Congress, and is of
the greatest benefit TO the Libraries, colleges,
&c, In all parts of our country.
THE CORRESPONDENCE
of the Institution embraces a wide range of ap-
plications and of topics, in addition to the ne
cessarily large number of business and routine
Letters constantly required in the transaction of
Its daily work From all portions of the coun-
try inquiries and proposals continually re-
ceiyed, varying from modest requests for in
formation on subjects frequently common
pl9ce-son1etimes abstruse-to dogmatic an
nouncements OF new PHILOSOPHERS and cosmolo-
gies, destined to revOlutionize science or to
entirely supersede the laws of Newton. Accord
ing to Its established policy, Gll correspondents
receive respectful attention and reply and if
the information sought is not Immediately ac-
cesslble, either reference Is given to other es-
Adjustments or sources, or specialists are adj
dressed upon the subject, and the Institution
itself becomes a solicitor OF knowledge.
To correct very common Misrepresentation,
II may be stated that the Institution has not
offered any standing prizes for the solution of
difficult problems or for the discovery of new
scientific principles. The proper course for
those who wish to obtain pecuniary advantage
from their supposed contribution to knowledge,
Is to make some practical application thereof,
Tor which they may secure patent from the
L. s. Patent Office. A rule adopted by the
Board of Regents forbids the Secretary or his
assistants from giving an official opinion to
the merits Or dement's OF inventions or other
projects. Every mail brings requests from all
parts Of the country for analysis of minerals
ores, mineral waters, soils. &C., which cannot
be complied with, as the Institution has no la
ooratory In operation.
sAhfLES fhOh FILES.
As illustrations of some of the correspond
ence, the following are taken at random from
the files:
ries relative to light and spectrum analysis and
asks:
why should solid, when incandescent emit
any waves that do not belong to the definite
wave length of its molecules when in free
state some OF which in the continuous spec
trum are located between and some perhaps
below the wave length of the colored trans
verse bands?'
HOW THE WORLDS ARE INHABITED.
Another correspondent expresses himself as
sstrong believer in "a plurality of inhabited
worlds" and writes an argument to prove that
'the inhabitants of these worlds are human"
He admits that immense differences of men,
tal Character may accompany great diversities
OF organization. in accordance with the great
diversity of surroundings" but he holds that
all alike are no less essentially human. and
that the human nature is but reflection of
the divine nature, especially SO intended in
Der that human Cor reflected divine) nature
may be capable Of rising to the power of con-
temptation and comprehension of the divine
work of creation, which no other organized be-
ing can apr zach. That being So 1t is no IN
philosophical conception that the mere mate
rial world. however grand in its phenomena
and vast IN its extent Is UNNECESSARILY out
weighed by the mental and spiritual nature of
being Ike man-not the individual. but the
countless race which finds its nursery as it
were IN the lnnumerable globes of space"
OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS
of large class OF letters are as follows:
please write on enclosed postal the name
and address Of two or three of the leading
astronomers of America Such letters are
frequent. the writers conceiving that the Insti-
tuition is an intelligence office.
The financial management of the Govern
ment Is called IN question by one who writes:
when l put our great surplus lin the L. s.
Treasury to the scientific test of the crucible
and balance i cannot find il. Enclosed is a
paper on our great financial error. Too many
millions Of financial perpetual motion dollars
In the Treasury ofthe l. :. and elsewhere"
For many years the Institution carried on an
extensive meteorological system and founded
what Is known as the weather bureau Since
1874 II has discontinued its labors in this line
and rellnquished them to the Signal Office. II
still receives requests like this, however:
There is no rain gauge within a radius of
40 miles from this place. To have one would
be an addition to our scientific apparatus Will
you kindly inform me in regard to the make
np-proPortion of parts, etc OF the official
gauge"
Il am seeking data concerning the efficiency
OF man, regarding him as a heat engine. / wish
to determine !, the heat evolved BY the COM
bustion OF a unit weight of butter fat. potatoes
nesh. milk, &c. 2. the total mechanical work
intereal and external, performed in a day
etc, etc.
please state the necessary steps 10 become a
member of the Institute. You NAV consider NV
name as Candidate for membership. Please
let me know at once"
What pathological work will be most suit
able for the Moravian Missionaries in Alaska?"
A gentleman preparing lectures asks for a
drawing TO be prepared for him in coiors Of
the solar spectrum with the wave lengths in
dicatsd
Students everywhere write for the best
manuals in science and for authoritative decision
OF the merits of new publications
DISCOVERY IN GEOMETRY
correspondent communicates "a discovery
in geometry"-the problem being ito divide
any given arc or angle in any number of equal
parts" He writes as follows: SOLVED at last"
THE following conditions are based on the
uniform relations which all acute angles and
their compliments have with respect to u right
angle" After full exposition OF the problem
the author remarks: This principle has COM
Plste generality because any obtuse angle can
be bisected and then trisected by doubling one
OF the three equal angles OF its half" as he had
explained.
Here Is a man who has great confidence in
the extent of the learning of the Smithsonian
philosophers He asks: Can you tell me what
TO do to crow 10 make him talk? We have a
very Intelligent bird that we have tanned and be
uies hard to talk but does not succeed"
PLAN OF A WATER PRESSURE