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In reply to various correspondents who are desirous of as certaining the best methods of coating glass with silver, we would say that we give in our SUPPLEMENT of this week (No. 105) a collection of the best methods, all of which we think will be found practical and useful. The method described by Chapman will be found especially convenient. By its use almost any experimenter, old or young, may make excellent mirrors, either of plane, concave, or convex glass, and produce a great variety of silver ornamentation for home objects, that will well repay the trouble, and in some cases result in substantial profit. Professor Huxley on Technical Education. Professor Huxley has recently delivered a lecture on technical Education before an English working men's association, in the course of which he gives his views as to what working men sliould know. He defines technical education as the teaching of handicrafts, and the requirements thereoi he sums up to be reading, writing, and ciphering, a taste for one's calling, an acquaintance with the elements of physical science, a knowledge of a foreign language, and the scrupulous avoidance of the practice known as "cramming." As to the means for carrying out this ideal education, Professor Huxley strongly advocates the more extended teaching of natural science in the public schools, and he thinks that the mode of instruction should be especially practical and experimental. He also recommends some special means for utilizing in the public interest unusual talent or genius found in schools. It was Edward Everett, we believe, who regarded anyone who could read, write, and cipher as well educated, and ii to that a knowledge of a foreign language was added, the education, he considered fine. Professor Huxley goes a step beyond this, it would seem; and besides his recommendations while excellent, appear rather too general to be susceptible of ready practical application. The New Museum ot Natural History in New York City. The new American Museum of Natural History, the corner stone of which was laid by Ex-President Grant in 1874, was formally opened recently by President Hayes. The ceremonies consisted in addresses by the President of the Board of Trustees, the President of the Association for the Advancement of Science, and others. It is not generally known that the fine structure now open, and which is located at 77th street and Eighth avenue in this city is but a small portion--one eighteenth--of the colossal edifice ultimately to be erected. Four entire city blocks have been purchased and set apart for the building, which will be 850 feet wide and 650 feet long, surmounted by a dome 130 feet in diameter. The structure now finished con tains the various collections of objects of natural history hith erto kept in the Arsenal in Central Park, besides a large number of new and rare specimens lately added. It is of brick trimmed with granite, and is 70 feet wide and 300 feet long. There are four exhibition stories, and the entire structure is built of iron, concrete and other fireproof material. A Remarkable Little Steamer. The small steam yacht Estelle was lately tried at Bristol, R. I., under the direction of Mr. C. E. Emery, C.E. The test lasted eight hours through the waters of the bay as far at times as Beaver Tail, where they met quite a heavy sea. The thermometer stood at 35 Fah. when the torch was applied to the furnace fires. In four minutes afterward the engines worked water out of her cylinders, with a steam pressure of 25 lbs. to the square inch. One minute later the large cylinder moved. At the expiration of ten minutes from the time the fires were lighted, the Estelle had been backed out of the wharf, turned, and was on her course. During the trip of eight hours she made 103 statute miles, including five sharp turns. Her average pressure of steam was 65 lbs. only, at a temperature of 345. Her average revolutions of propeller per minute were 131). The expenditure of fuel was considerably under two tons. On the return trip, after the course to be run was fimshed, the blower was put on the fire, running steam up to over a hundred pounds, and the little craft showed her heels on a spurt at the rate of sixteen miles an hour. AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVES FOR RUSSIA.-We understand that the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pa., are now proceeding with the construction of fifty large-sized, first-class locomotives, lately ordered for Russia. They are to be completed during March next. In all, nearly 3,000 men will be required on the job, for which about $500,000 are to be paid. NEW STEAM FOG WHISTLE.--A new fog whistle was lately tried at Bristol, R. I., and in just four minutes after the fire was lighted, it gave a blast which was heard ten miles distant. SUCCESS OF THE PnoNOGBAPHMr. Thomas A. Edison, the inventor of the talking phonograph which we recently described, informs us that he has constructed a new and larger machine which net merely speaks with all the clearness which we predicted would be obtained, but loud enough to be audible at a distance of 175 feet.
