New-York tribune., 1903-03-01

on the part Of the applicants. The reason Tor
this is that electricity of all things accurate
and precise and requires the part of its prac-
titioners trained minds definite ideas, grasp
of principles and fund of authentic informa-
tfon. The man who sells telephones motors
has to be ready with all kinds of data as to con-
struction and operation. The salesman repre-
senting wire house has all the odds in his
favor IL familiar with the esoteric theories of
phase currents, load factors and line loss, as
we'll as with wind pressure and tensile strength
The preparation of "ad' copy for dynamos or
transformers, setting forth technical merits or
moot points in a legal controversy, exacts ability
that could hardly be we'll shown off in
graduation thesis.
Electrical courses at the universities and col
Ieges have multiplied greatly of late years
that student can put in his four years profit
ably almost anywhere in the country, although
some seats of learning have made name for
their men in this field. At first Annapolis and
West Point drawn upon, and army or
navy men are thick among the officers Of the
nassed electrical forces. Cornell was about the
first to take up electrical engineering distinctly,
under Professor Anthony; but the modest Ste
vens Institute of Technology has turned out
numbers of we'll known "electricals, and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology cannot be
beaten Columbia University in New-YOrk is
supplying admirable graduates to every branch,
and Dr. Perrine did good initial work at STAN
ford University, just as Professor Ayres has
done at New~Orleans He is poor student
who ca mot get his electrical training
home. In some instances. special research is
the ambition, and he Elm the body of men to
whom the late Professor Rowland commune
Gated the touch of his genius at Johns Hopkins
have been notably eminent. At the other end OF
the scale, but in their way just useful, come
the night classes and particularly the corre-
spondence schools The electrical courses of these
institutions for young men who cannot go
through college are admirable a general thing
They have been prepared in many instances by
experts and authorities, and are even used in
some OF the colleges. The writer could quote
many instances of the decided benefit resulting
from a study OF their papers at home amid
daily avOcations. But. OF course, the thing to do
If possible is to go through college; and, if time
and money allow, to top that off either with
some shop practice or with postgraduate work,
preferably in Europe-with Nernst in Germany,
for example; Mascarr in France. or J. J. Thom-
son in England. This is especially sought after
by young men who propose to give instruc-
ton, and as every self-respecting college
has its electrical department, the demand for
professors is growing all the time. while their
pay is also going up.
It IL rather difficult say what type Of young
man should take up electrical engineering, but
the beginner should certainly have taste that
way. The probability is that most of the elec-
trical engineers OF to-day would have found their
profession q hundred years ago in mechanical.
civil or mining engineering as analogous careers;
and many would have been military engineers. In
fact, IL a man has no bent toward mechanics, 1t
is pretty safe to let electricity also alone since
the two are closely allied: but in its higher
physical aspects. or because 1t Is a more subtle
agency than steam or air for getting things
done. electricity appeals to certain enthusiastic
young minds does nothing else. 1t is said Of
electricians that with them the art they prac-
tise IL often q religion rather than an ordinary
profession; &nd II that spirit possesses a man in
regard to, the work to which he proposes to de-
vote his lie he has assuredIy made no mistake.