The herald., 1893-05-07

llbneu MOu6rn M0to0r0lOgyj III uubiiuo
of the growth and present condition OF
it's phases, by Frank Waldo, Ph. d.,
member of the German and Austrian
meteorological societies and late junior
professor, Signal Service, U. S. A. The
material which the gifted author has
brought together in this volume will be
OF interest, mainly to those persons who
take a special delight in meteorology,
but who have little access to original
sources OF information; among this class
are the great majority az the small army
of meteorological observers and many
teachers OF physical geography and gen.
eral physics. The general reader may
find it partly supplementary to such
works as Scott's meteorology, Aber-
cromby's weather, or the articles
in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
The author has been mainly
student of the German school OF meteor
ology, and so probably has not brought
into sufficient notice the names and
work OF French, English and Italian
meteorologists. The various lines of
meteorology have been 30 rapidly devel-
oped within the past decade or two that
a comprehensive treatment OF any one
of the half dozen divisions of the sub
ject which are brought into notice in
this edition, would have required an ar
ticle much longer than this volume; 30
that variety of topics is obtained only at
the expense of the completeness OF detail
which is necessary to render the treat
ment of subject generally interesting.
The msin object of this little book is to
bring the reader into closer contact with
the work which has been and is Actually
engaging the attention of working me-
teorologists, rather than to present fin
ished results. In chapter one is made
mention of some of the principal sources
of information concerning the recent
progress in meteorological science. Chap
ter two contains history and description
of some important meteorological instru-
ments and the method Of using them.
Special attention is called to the details
of equipment and routine OF the Paw
lowsk (Russisn) observatory, which has
been obtained through the courtesy of
Director Wild and DIR. Leyst. Chapter
three ia mainly made up of an abstract
of the import memoirs on Thes-mody-
namics of the atmosphere, recently COM
municated to the Berlin acade my of
l.
ter four contains partial outline OF the
history of the development of theories
of the general atmospheric circulation,
with a brief statement of Professor
Ferrel's completed theory, and an ac-
count of some recent contributions to
the subject by Moller, Oberbeck, Won
Siemen's and Won Helmholtz. Chapter
we is devoted to historical sketch
and partial explanation of the second
ary atmospheric circulation to which
the local character of winds can usually /
be referred--at least in the middle lati-
tudee. In this chapter the author
calls attention to the attempt of Won
Bezold to unite the older and newer
theories, as explained in his commune
cation to the Berlin Academy of Sciences
and the results of his study occupy
considerable portion of this chapter. In
chapter Blk we find some Of the princi-
pie results obtained by DIR. Brickner in
his recent discussion OF the results of
meteorological observations from the
time of their commencement to the pres
ent time. The points mainly dwelt on
are the long period oscillations OF cli-
matte factors. The second part OF the
chapter treats OF the application of me-
teorology to agriculture; all in all, it is
q very interesting book, as well as very
scientific one, for readers interested in
this line OF thought.
x*w Ass y ID
Macmillan & Co. have just issued
"Shadows OF the STAGE" second series,
by William Winter, author Of Shake
speales England. The little volume is
appropriately dedicated to Edwin Booth,
''honoring noble character, gentle
and benefcent lie, a fine dramatic ge-
mus and an illustrious career" What
ever William Winter writes is marked
by felicity OF 'diction and by refinement
of style, as we'll as by the evidence Of
culture and wide reading. He is care
full writer, and at the Same time a firm
though kind critic. In this volume he
regrets that the note of censure makes
itself audible. 1t is easy to utter blame
1t is difficult, and much better, to utter
intelligent and thoughtful praise. He
says that certain subjects, however,
which NUT be treated, if theatrical his
tory is to be written, can oniy be treated
in one way. The life of Forrest,
be excluded from the theat-
rical record, and it cannot be
Justly recounted without censure. The
presence OF foreign schools Of acting can
not be ignored, and assuredly the ira
tional claims that are made in their
behalf ought to be met with an occa-
sional word OF protest. In the face of
wayward innovations the plea for reason
and simplicity is always appropriate.
No word has been written in an uniust
spirit. The subjects discussed have
prompted the method OF their discus
dion. The purpose is mainly commemo-
rative and historical. This volume, like
Its predecessor, is composed OF ESSAYS OF
the author collected from the New York
Tribune and other periodicals to which
he has contributed during many years.
The record of dramatic achievement on
the American stage within the period oi
pne generation could be largely ex-
tended. An effort has been made to in
tlude aa much as possible within brief
compass. Many shining names and in
terestlng subjects are omitted for want
,pace. The fame of the actor
more than that of any other artist
8 an evanescent one--a bubble
tation"-indeed, and necessarily 90
rom the conditions under which his
genir1s is exercised. While the impress
lion it makes is often more vivid and
nepiring for the moment than thatoof
The poet and the painter, it vanishes Ell
most with the occasion which gave il
birth, and lives only as a tradition in
he memory of those to whom it had
Immediately appealed. 'Shadows they