Besides the well defined groups of chemical elements, there are now recognised underlying sub-groups, very slightly differ-Jent, which have received the mame of meta-elements, The new idea, which Mr, Win. Crookes firms has passed the stage of hypothesis to the rank of theory, is that the atoms were originally generated by two forms of energy—one working uniformly in accordance with a continuous fall of tem perature, and theotherhaving periodiceycles of ebb and swell and intimately connected with electricity. At this genetic stage the new-born particles, vibrating in all direc: tions and with all vel gradually tended to assemble in groups moving in different parts of space. Bach particle sought out the group whose average of orgy governing atomic weight was nearest in accord with its own. Tu time condition of stability was established, giving the preent series of chemical elements each with definite atomic weight—definite on account of its being the average weight of an enormous number of sub-atoms, or meta-elements, each very near the mean.
A plan for converting peat into a more convenient form of fuel has been doubtfully received in Sweden, but has been to; tested with results that seem to be very satisfactory. Several new manufactories are to be started soon in different parte of the country, and peat coal" is likely to prove an important product, and to have stimulating effect upon other industries, The danger from alternating currents is found. by Professor Elihu Thomson to diminish as the rapidity of the alternations is increased. It tonk twenty times as strong a current to kula dog when the alternations were 4,500 per second, and twice as long when they were 300 per second, as when j 120 per second.
A submarine gun has been successfully tried in the Lake of Come, its discharge at a depth of 100 yards causing a buat to ca "Recent political events on the south-cast coast of Africa give renewed interest to the theory that the famous Kingdom of Ophir, from which came much of the vast
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.