The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-04
SCIENTISTS TO LECTURE HERE
PROPS. LORENTz AND BJERK-
NESS COMING TO COLUMBIA.


First Fruits OF the Interchange OF Instruc.
tors With Europe Pref. LOrentZ
Won the Nobel Prize for Development
OF the ElectrO-Magnetic Theory.
II was announced at the meeting Of the
trustees Of Columbia University yesterday
that two Of the most distin guished European
scientists had accepted appointments for
the year i9O5-O6 TO direct and stimulate
advanced research in the field Of expert
mental physics. This il the first step In
the scheme by which Columbia il 20 inter-
change Instructors with European insti-
stutions. The men who will lecture at
Columbia are Wilhelm Friman Bjerlmess,
professor Of mechanics and math ematical
physics in the University Of Stockholm,
and II. A. Lorentz. professor Of physics in
the University Of Leyden.
When President Butler returned from
his vacation trip to Arizona, recently, 1t
was understood that he would have some
thing to say about proposed interchange
Of professors between Columbia and the
German universities. II Is desired to at
tract TO the university annually the greatest
European experts in the field Of scientific
endeavor, and thus place before the public
an even greater advantage than that OF the
first plan.
Michael Idvorsky Pupin. professor OF
electro-mechanics at Columbia, and well
known for his inventions in the electrical
field, said yesterday OF the newcomers:
Prof. Lorentz Is one Of the most distin-
guished mathematical physicists In Europe.
He contributed more than any other one
man to the development of Clerk MaxwelIs
electromagnetic theory, particularly IN the
solution Of the important problem OF the
nature Of the electric and magnetic forces
produced by moving electrified ana mag
netized bodies.
1T was he who predicted from his extern
sion Of the modern electromagnetic theory
that an incandescent gas when placed IN
strong magnetic field will change its
spectrum. Prof. q Imam, also OF the Uni
versity OF Levden, actually observed TINS
change. which consists OF the splitting up
Of the spectral lines. Il is known TO-DAY
as the Imam effect. The Nobel prize q
$40 900 was awarded 10 Lorentz and Zal-
man for this discovery.
zone Of the most remarkable differences
deducible from this discovery Is the physical
fact that the ultimate parts OF matter are
electrified and that the light emitted by
an incandescent body Is due to the vibra-
tons Of these minute electric particles.
The modern researches in the domain Of
radio-activity and Cathode discharges con-
firm this view and demonstrate the I'M
portance Of the mathematical work done by
Prof. Lorentz. His discoveries and theories
will form the subject Of his lectures at
Columbia in April and May, next year.
Prof. Blerhness Will lecture on the
field Of force. The title Of this lecture
does not disclose fully the subject he il 20
cover. Bjerlness the elder first showed
that mechanical forces similar to electric
and magnetic forces can be produced IN
space by fitting up that space with an ideal
fluid in which there are at several points
pulsating spheres. His son, Prof. '. Blerk-
ness, has extended considerably his rather's
theory so as 70 include the fields OF force
produced in fluid by pulsating and os-
cillating bodies Of any shape, thus giving
a remarkable mechanical illustration OF the
field surrounding electrified and magnetized
bodies. Some of these researches have
not vet been published and they will be dis
cussed for the first time IN the lectures
Prof. Bjerkness will give at Columbia IN
November and December this year.
The trustees announced that the chair
Of social and political ethics, held by Prof,
Felix Adler. had been endowed 4 vote
Of thanks was rendered TO the donors OF
the endo ment fund, among whom were
Jacob II. Schif. V. Everit Macy; Isaac \,
Fulton Cutting Oswald Garrison Willard,
Otto H, Kahn, Adolph Lewisohn, Alfred
T. White. Charles Stewart Smith, James G.
Phelps Stokes Felix NJ Warhurg. Seth
Low and Robert W de- Forest.
Other Rifts announced were from Francis
Lynde Stetson. 80 law, $4,000 toward the
cost Of a new building FOR the law school;
from the Ciermanistic Society Of America.
81 100 TO provide the salary 81 lecturer on
the history Of German civilization: from
Dr. s. Weir Mitchell Of Philadelphia, a re-
production for the library Of the perTnis-
sion granted by King George III. TO William
Smith and James jaw 70 collect money IN
Great Britain for Kings College and for
the College Of Philadelphia. This il re-
garded as a most valuable addition 70 the
historic documents IN possession Of the
college.
Prof Harlan F. Stone Of the law faculty
offered his resignation. to take effect A. the
close Of the present academic year.
McKim, Mead White were formally
appointed consulting architects 70 the