The Washington times., 1901-11-10

recording will come that of measuring.
In order TO conceive the scope of this
phase of the exhibit alone, one has
only to reflect that mans utilization OF
the forces of nature, upon which is pri-
marily based the Industrial pre-eml-
nence of the present age. is dependent
| directly upon his capabilities for meas
uring those forces. But this is the later
| development of the subject. Measure
ment in one form or another, must nave
been employed among men from the
very commencement of society, as,
without it. no comparison of values
| could have been effected, and hence
there could have existed no commercial
| intercourse or useful arts. Measure
ment was contemporaneous with oruer
among men; that is, it was the hrst
step in human progress. 1t is neeoless
/ to point out its relation to the sciences
and useful arts, as it is, apparently at
| the foundation of all.
The art of measuring, like that of
| numbering. began, it may be conceived
| bv the use, in that connection, OF the
human hand and afterwards. perhaps
| of the human foot. The words ioot
and hand are still employed TO cesls
nate units of linear measurement, winch
annroximate the average length OF
1 those members of the body. In early
| apes II was the hand and foot of the
king that were selected as the stand-
| ards. and. as it would have been palpa-
| bly, inconvenient, not to say undigni-
| fed. for a potentate to go about in the
capacity of a measure, sticks were
gauged the required length or lengths.
and hence the origin of our modern foot
rule.
From the methods of measurement
employed in primitive times up to the
art as practiced today-this is long
vav indeedi In connection with the lat
| ter phase of the subject, there will be
shown the methods and apparatus for
measuring light and heat; even the
| light and heat of the most distant star.
bv means of the bOlometer; the methods
for the measurement of the impalpable
| and the invisible; tie micrometer, that
| measures .00G05 of an inch, and the
means for determining the sizes ana
| distances Of the sun, moon, planets, and
| stars. the means of measuring the
| globe and all that it inhabits for
determining the bulk of liquids, solids.
| and gases. Even flying Time himself
has long had to submit to accurate
measurement, as evidenced by the
clock. which measures the day, and the
| calendar. which measures the year
Today. the chief aim of the science of
physics itself is measurement, and the
most important measurement is that OF
heat. In order to recognize this, IL is
| only necessary to reflect that all mod
ern mechanical operations depend upon
! the employment of heat. In the words
of a recent writer heat generates
steam. is changed into electricity,
drives steamships, reduces ores, warns
, buildings. Is it not, then, of the great
est importance 10 measure heat accu-
| ratsly? For. unless this is done, ii can
not be properly controlled. 1t is found
| essential, also to measure the effect OF
| heat on gases, liquids, and solids, to md
out how much it expands them, how
and at what degree it consumes. OF
| melts, or CASTLES them. knowledge
such as this Is necessary to all manner
of manufacturing, smelling. power-pro'
| ducing operations. In regard to the
measurement of temperature, 1t may be
noted that the German Government re
Gently expended much money and EN-
Moved the protracted labor of distin-
guished scientists. IN carrying certain
established temperature calculations
from the fifth to the seventh figure be
ycnd the decimal
1 All measurement is three kinds
linear. square, or superficial, and GU
bic; that is, it embraces the three
known geometrical dimensions. This
consideration opens the interesting
speculation. now engaging the attention
Of scientific men, as to the existence OF
fourth and other dimensions. at pres
ent inccnceivable by the human intel
lect, but the knowledge OF which, it i:
contended, would explain important
points in the mystery of the universe.
Last In the collection will come meth
DDS for weighing. Weighing machine:
and devices of all kinds, from the mos
primitive to the most complicated, vii
,, be shown: some of the latter capable O
Weighing hundreds OF tons, and otheri
so delicate as to determine the force o
gravity upon a human hair, or th'
, weight Of lead-pencil line upon Z
, sheet of paper.
; Nothing more is attempted. in thii
brief sketch, than to hint at very few
of the many points of interest whici
the collection will embrace. Suffice 1
to say. in conclusion. that, when it il
even approximately complete, few eth
nologic exhibits win better answe
. what Prof Mason describes as the pur
, pose Of ali such exhibits, the histor.
i. of humanity in things"
THE CORONATION CHAIR.