The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-18

Brief Reviews or Important aud Intere sting
New Publications

Iotcntlnl ana tilRn Frequency. delivered De-
fore tho Institution OF Electrical Engineers.
London. and supplemonting his first lecture
upon this subject delivered before the Ameri-
can Institute OF Electrical Engineers last year.
is published. together with portrait and
biographical sketch OF tho author. by tho W.
J. Johnston Company OF this city.
Familiar Studies in Homer" by Agnes N.
Clerke tLoncmans. Green h Co... presents for
general reading. and yet very carefully and
thoroughly within It's scope. n number OF tho
points which have arlscn out OF the now way OF
studying Honor. II deals with IIomeric ar
chnology. 1tconsdcrs what the author or tho
authors OF tho Hind and the Odyssey know Of
astronomy. OF zoology. OF trees and flowers. OF
medicines OF metals OF food and cookery. and
80 on. This sort OF research makes use OF tho
poems rs ronocting tho range and the degree
OF tho scientific knowledge Of tho day In which
they were composed. II may occur to anybody
that the poet hns more things to think Of than
mere accuracy: that he does not always
seem to feel called upon to DO either
comprehensive or conscientious: that he
Ignores things that no knows and even
hazards things that he docs not know; that he
enjoys a proverbial license In many respects
as sort Of compensation for tho shaving no
has to do to keep his metro straight. and that
80. perhaps. no Is not to be relied upon to
tHo SCteutlIC longing utterly. Hp pCT-
mits wide gaps OF silence indeed. and some
OF the things ho says when tho afflntus is on
might certainly as we'll DO silence so fnr as tho
uses OF science AFRO concerned. Still the poet,
II he Is ut oil worth whilc. can hardly help in
forming us OF many things. for ina ginntion Is.
after all largely observation: and so It Is
proper that wo should pursue knowledge in
such way. and incidentally there is worry
keen interest in such inquiry. Homer him
self. as the archpologists have lately proved.
Is n poet OF very remarkable observation. He
misplaced n Crock island occasionally. but
he may not often TO caught nodding.
II no did not recognize the north star as an
excellent star for ship's Captain to steer
by. tho omission was doubtless warranted by
circumstances. Tho axis OF tho earth's rota-
ton. tho astronomers tell us. Is not laid to the
Same points in tho heavens that 1t was 200
or $500 years ago and the star in question
was not north star In Homer's day. The
poet certainly noted several OF the signs
whercwith the heavens nre crowned" spc-
officially the "reiads and Hyads. md Orion's
might. nni tho Dear that men call also the
Vain. her TINT turncth in her place. and watch
eth Orion. and alone hath no part in tho baths
OF Ocean" Tho epics arc full. too. OF other
Information. which. fortified by tho recent
discoveries OF the arrhnovgtsts and supple
WIN testimony from Quiet souTCcS.
affords n record OF fact Of remarkable detail
and Of fascinating interest: and sufficient of 1t
all Is SGT forth In these essays, ably. clearly.
and in way to carry the attention and excite
the admiration Of any reader.
1t Is n great pity that the narrative OF the
late DR.. John Call Dalton. relating his personal
experiences rs n surgeon in the war OF the re-
bcllion. should be only q fragment. DR.. Dali
ton. who at the time OF his death. in 1889. was
President Of the College OF Physicians and
Surgeons in this city. WAS professor OF phys
ioloey In tho college at tho outbreak Of the
war. He resigned his post to go to Washing
ton with the Seventh Regiment in the capacity
Of assistant surgeon. and continued in the
army. affording invaluable service in the limo
OF his profession until March. 1854. when tho
state OF his health. impaired by his duties In
the malaral regions o: the South. forced him
to resign. He began. toward the close Of his
life. to write this record OF his experiences.
now privately printed and Issued by the River
side Press. Cambridge. Tho story was under
taken at tho request OF his family. and was in
tended for the instruction OF its younger gen.
GRAFTON. 1t relates with simple and admira-
bic narrative art tho incidents OF tho journey
| OF the seventh Regiment to Washington. the
| expedition to Port Royal. and the operations
on the sea islands OF South Carolina and Geor-
Gia. terminating with tho capture OF Fort Pu-
| lRski. 1t is the last and the interrupted writ
ing OF n man Of great and varied abilities and
of very high character, and 1t reflects tho
| qualities TINT distinguished him and made
| him charming In all his work and intercourse.
| "Autol Biography and Recollections." by L.
Menand Weed, Parsons 4 Co.. Albany. is the
story of veteran gardener Mr.. Menand was
born in France. but lnd by his love OF republi-
can principles. he came to this country at IN
| early age. and it was here tina. he found celeb
rity and fortune. His book Is an unrcserved
record OF tho many interesting experiences
| that have befalen him in his long life of
eighty nve years He tells OF his early labors
In Franco and here. OF his marriage and his
wedding journey down the Hudson. OF his es-
tablishmcnt ms florist and nurseryman In
the ne!Chborh"od OF Albany fifty years ago.
and OF tho plenty OF honors and OF material
good things TINT he has since forced from tho
earth and from liio generally. Tho fac-simile
1F tAO nj, Lott frsr = H,,c ta