motor was in perfect condition, bar a slightly carbonized valve or so, and the pilot was not at all exhausted. Why? Well, the machine was inherently stable. All the pilot had to do was to adjust the mixture occasionally, eat his chocolate and sandwiches, quench his thirst from a vacuum bottle, and stay awake. * * * * * Until Germany, about eighteen months ago, developed her remarkable biplanes, France led the world in the excellent quality and number of her aeroplanes. Beginning with the early days of Bleriot and passing through the subsequent years of castor-oil smokethat ever-present haze of aviation's history-we find France partial to monoplanes and insistent on air-cooled revolving motors; also that the machines have never approached inherent stability. French machines have always been the fastest in the air and perhaps the hardest to handle. Even the comparatively slow biplanes such as the Farman and Voisin, machines whose worth is attested to by the Allies, tend toward spiral instability unless delicately handled. Stability would not be an essential quality in military aeroplanes were it not for the fact that in war, aeroplanes must be flown in all kinds of weather by all kinds of pilots. When it is remembered that damaged aeroplanes are usually burned on the spot and not repaired, it will be realized what ease in handling means. And so the French built fast machines. But for all their speed they were of insignificant military value. They were hard to see out of, they were hard to land, and their motors required considerable attention. For a while they captured numerous world's records for various feats, solely on their lightness and on the pilot's skill, for French pilots are the best in the world. The French Government bought large numbers of monoplanes - Bleriots, Henri and Maurice Farman biplanes. But there came a day when the performances of all these machines were eclipsed, and a really useful military monoplane evolved. The Morane-Saulnier firm went to work in earnest and turned out their wonderful monoplanes, and France went "Morane mad." The machines that first brought fame to Morane were ordinary monoplanes carrying an unusually heavy angle on their wings and having a pair of semi-balanced elevators unhampered in their action by a fixed tail. The machines were beautifully designed and immensely strong, and nothing on them was superfluous. They were not machines for novices to experiment with, as far as easy flying went, but their remarkable climbing and gliding qualities, as well as their speed and "touchiness" to control made them. popular with the more skillful pilots. They were second only to the Bleriot among the loop-the-loop artists, and this is ample testimony as to their strength. But, like all monoplanes, their field of vision was restricted, and this was a military drawback. When war was declared, a surprise was in store for the aviation world. The Voisin had "come back!" The earlier machines of this make, with their long noses, were hopeless once they started to spiral, because the covered-in fuselage acted as a pivot for the rest of the machine to spin around. Result: several dead Frenchmen and some Russian naval officers. Voisin Frères left the public eye. True, they built a more or less conventional biplane that was adopted by the French army, but it was not a remarkable flyer. The Henri Farmans, with only 80 horsepower, were far more popular than the Voisins with their 130 horsepower. But where the Farmans would only carry a light mitrailleuse on the Out of the War Clouds-Light! A 416-page encyclopedia of the European war, with 1,000 photographs, diagrams, charts, maps; edited by the eminent scholar, Dr. Rossiter Johnson, aided by a staff of international authorities. A rare bargain for Technical World readers. Only Standard Encyclopedia of the European War A Massive $3.00 Work Given with TECHNICAL WORLD "This War is a Muddle to Me” Want to follow it understandingly? One hundred pages are given up to a popular technical description of the implements of warfare, that are now deciding the fate of battlefields- and each gun, mine, torpedo, rifle, shell, submarine, etc., is illustrated, not only in photographs, but also in exclusive and authoritative diagrams, giving cross-section drawings, with all parts labeled. Wonderfully Interesting Descriptions Remember that this work has been written by European scholars, in London, Leipzig, Paris, and that each department was under the care of a specialist, an authority. The text is illuminating, enthralling-you will not be able to exhaust the interest this book holds for every reader. Dr. Johnson, editor of "Appleton's Encyclopedia" and "Great Events in History," has built another monument to his high record of scholarship in creating this master work of master minds. 1000 Striking Illustrations Every point considered (and every angle of the conflict is explained exhaustively) is graphically brought home to you by illustrations-photographs, drawings of the detailed parts of ships and guns, etc., diagrams, tables, charts. The maps are by Bartholomew, of Edinburgh, unquestionably the world's greatest chartographer. In all its features the work is the supreme and final voice of science and scholarship upon this war. It is the authority-today, or ten years hence. The CLASH OF ITS CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES WAR You Cannot Realize What is Going on Unless You Have this Expert Guide It is a splendid volume, more than ten inches high, more than seven inches wide, more than two inches thick. Typographically it is a delight-the type large, clear, new, printed on smooth, thick book paper. The list of contents herewith gives but a hint of its resources. This great work is not for sale, but if purchased in the regular way would cost you at least $3.00. You can obtain it now for a trifling cost through this Big Special Offer Good for 20 Days Only TECHNICAL WORLD MAGAZINE for a full year-12 Wonderful Issues the 416-page War Encyclopedia "The Clash of Nations" Total Value $4.50 For only $1.95 (Add 25c if you wish book sent by parcel post prepaid,) otherwise it will be forwarded express collect. Avoid disappointments by clipping off the blank at once, attach your remittance of $1.95 ($2.20 if you wish the book sent prepaid) and mail it today-NOW. Your money back if not satisfied. You may order through your newsdealer or direct as most convenient. A Condensed Outline of Contents 1. Original and immediate causes of the war. Pages 1 to 31 (Chapters 1 and 2). 2. Mobilization of the armies. Pages 31 to 41 (Chapter 3). 3. Military implements of warfare. Pages 41 to 131 (Chapters 4-8). European wars since 1815. These twelve wars began impulses that are many of them behind the present conflict. Pages 131 to 213. 4. 5. Countries at war or likely to be drawn into it. History, industries, etc., of Austria-Hungary, Belgium, the British Empire, France, the German Empire, Japan, Russia, the Balkan States, Servia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey. Pages 213 to 379. 6. The Hague Conference and peace treaties. Pages 379 to 385. 7. Effect of the war on the Western world. Pages 385 to 403. 8. State papers and official correspondence bearing upon the war. 9. Chronological list of events. 10. Maps, charts, tables, diagrams, etc. Index. OUR TWELVE GREAT SCIENTISTS Dr. Jordan's research work; every suc- With equal vigor and pertinacity, Dr. Jordan fought to preserve the remnant of the vanishing fur-seal herd in the North Pacific. American, Canadian, and Japanese pelagic sealers, following the herd in its migrations and indiscriminately slaying males and females, had reduced the herd from two millions to barely one hundred thousand when the scientist's efforts two years ago brought about the international agreement which ended pelagic sealing for five years. Aside from this work, Dr. Jordan undertook and completed a task so tremendous that its accomplishment, alone, would insure his reputation with posterity. That task was the building up of Leland Stanford University. To the wife of Leland Stanford, one of the four builders of the first transcontinental railroad, there was born a son. When this boy was sixteen, he died. Out of the parents' grief was created Leland Stanford Junior University, at Palo Alto, the splendid estate of the founders, not far from San Francisco. Leland Stanford called the president of Indiana University, David Starr Jordan, then the youngest university president in the United States, to shape the destinies of the new institution. In 1891 Leland Stanford University, to be endowed with the entire Stanford fortune, opened its doors. In 1893 the Great Panic broke. Leland Stanford died. His estate, valued at $45,000,000, was tied up in the probate court, pending the settlement of many claims. But the university did not close. Though final settlement of the estate. was delayed for six years; though the the distribution of the estate, brought suit; though the Constitution of California had to be amended to legalize the trust deed creating the endowment fund the university never closed. It was a wonderful achievement. The university had no legal status. It had to be supported out of a personal allowance granted Mrs. Stanford from the estate for her expenses, and this allowance, of $150,000 a year, insufficient to defray the annual cost, might be reduced any month. The cradling of a great institution like Stanford University-especially under so tremendous a handicapsurely was worth a strong man's undivided effort, the full labor of a lifetime. But the task by no means exhausted Dr. Jordan's mental mental and physical energy. Before the call came from Palo Alto, his reputation as a scientist was firmly established, and he has become perhaps the most eminent among the world's active biologists. Dr. Jordan is not a typical university president; he is too big, too simple, too warm-hearted, too impetuous, to be an ideal administrator, disciplinarian, or educational financier. The students of the early days recall, with fond glee, the bulky figure of "Prexy" striding across the quadrangle, accompanied by a huge St. Bernard on one side and a large ape, kept for observation purposes, on the other. Few portraits bring out the bulk, the rugged power and repose of his body. and features. He does not gesture when he speaks. Even the granite-gray eyes are impassive as he talks-turned inward as it were except when a faint humorous twinkle gleams in their cor ners. A great scientist, a great teacher, a zealous apostle of spiritual and physical aristocracy through universal democracy, is David Starr Jordan. And the world is better because of his life Delivered to You Free A sample 1915 model "Ranger" bicycle, on approval Write at once for large illustrated catalog show. ing complete line of bicycles, tires and supplies, and the most marvelous offer ever made on a bicycle. You will be astonished at our low prices and remarkable terms. 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