man, Alexander Graham Bell, invented the telephone, and some things not generally known about him will be told. for the first time in the December issue. The article forms one of our "Twelve Great Scientists" series. is needless to say it possesses great general interest and will point a moral to those who are making the mistake of fishing for nothing but big ones.

For a long time the art or science, whichever you may wish to call it, of growing babies seemed to be at a standstill. Eugenists spoke largely of eugenic marriages and the tremendous advantages sure to follow if their ideas -their very large ideas-were put into practice. They were fishing for something big, namely, a complete reorganization of the human race. Well, that is one big fish that was not caught; but, while the eugenists were angling for it, some people who were not looking for anything quite so large pulled out an idea which promises to be of more immediate value at least than everything the eugenists have ever advocated, for this idea has produced what may be called "certified babies". Now certified babies are becoming quite a fad, and there is an excellent reason. This reason and full particulars regarding it will be given in the December issue.

The most striking example of the man who fishes for the big ones and gets nothing is the average European tourist. A man I know has been all over this country, and Europe as well. He told me recently that he had seen more fine scenery during his business trips in the United States than during all his foreign travels. At least one benefit will be gained by the present war, and it is this: People who formerly poured their money into Europe. will be compelled by circumstances to turn their attention to their own country. It is estimated that about one hundred million dollars a year have been spent by Americans abroad. With Eu

America for the first time will get its just dues. Tourists will climb the Rockies, the Adirondacks, and the Sierra Nevadas instead of the Alps, and drop in at the Metropolitan Museum or the Art Institute instead of the Louvre or the Vatican. Read in the December issue what all this means to America both today and tomorrow.

There is also another story of a good catch-one made by a farmer in what is called the semiarid region. A worthy agriculturist going year after year about his business in the usual way, developed an idea for doing a necessary thing for about one-twentieth of its original cost. We give this idea to our readers in order that other agriculturists may take advantage of it, and at the same time emphasize the fact that the lesson contained in the story of this man's achievement is of value not only to other farmers, but to the man at the bookkeeper's desk or the mechanic's bench, who will get from it a knowledge of life worth-well, how much is it worth? You know as well as we do.

And another queer catch recently made was the discovery of a ruined. city in the jungles of Guatemala. Employes of a great fruit company, while about the regular business of collecting bananas, discovered this overgrown city entirely by accident. For the details of that discovery we refer you to the December issue, as we refer you there likewise for twenty-five or thirty other interesting articles of great and small catches men have made in all parts of the world; that is, the great or small things they have accomplished for the benefit of their fellow men. We feel safe in assuring you that the December issue is going to mark another step in our progress forward.

TECHNICAL WORLD MAGAZINE is always full of little fish, and occasionally some lucky reader gets from it a regular whale in the way of a money-making idea. The habit of reading it is always pleasurable and often profit.

MINING ASPHALT

UR asphalt pavements of tomorrow are now a part of a great lake in Trinidad. Extending in a series of great folds in which the rain water gathers, the black surface of the asphalt lake looks like the skin of an enormous elephant. Gas and oil bubble up through the pools of water.

The negro miners use mattocks, with

PLOW IS TRACTOR

A SELF-CONTAINED motor plow

has recently been put on the market, which, when once started in a furrow, continues straight to the end without turning. The same machine can be used as a power plant on the farm or as a traction engine on the road. It is capable of hauling a load of six tons, although the engine weighs

but four and one-half tons. By applying the power to one drive wheel and braking the other, it is possible to turn the machine around in its own length. Spuds are provided which protrude through the tire for use on slippery ground.

which they break out big lumps about two feet square; each gang is composed of about thirty bare-footed men. In one day they ordinarily dig to a depth of about three feet, but in the course of twenty-four hours this will all be closed up. Operations at Trinidad have reduced the level of the lake perceptibly, but there is a supply large enough to last for many centuries.

TRINIDAD ASPHALT LAKE IS WRINKLED LIKE AN ELEPHANT'S SKIN