the class that entered a year ago.

These young men as they

arrived were given such work as they could do, and then, as soon as the regular work of the Institute was closed and instructors were available, special classes were formed for them in mathematics, applied mechanics, electricity and in the theory and practice of ship design. These young men are now taking the work of the senior year of Course XIII. A in a satisfactory manner. The reason for this extraordinary course was the great need of the corps of Naval Constructors for additional men as soon as they can be prepared. It was expected that the detail of additional officers to the senior class of Course XIII. A might leave us without a junior class in that Course this year, but very recently the Chief Constructor has secured the detail of three officers for whom special arrangements are requested, in order that they may be formed into a regular junior class. We have further the assurance that a class of four will be sent next fall, thus keeping up a sequence which is much to be desired.

C. H. PEABODY.

MATHEMATICS.

The work of the department has been conducted during the year along the lines indicated in the last report. Conferences of members of the department have been held at intervals, with discussion of matters of general interest and participation by members of related departments, with a view to a clearer appreciation of mutual interests. The entrance requirement in algebra has been made considerably more effective by an increase of the time allowance from two to three and one-half hours, and the division of the examination into two parts. The papers have also included problems of a practical character, as well as purely algebraic questions. The first-year course in algebra has been revised in subjectmatter and sequence of work, and now includes the greater part of what was formerly given under theory of equations in

the second term. The combination of instruction by lectures and by recitations in analytic geometry and calculus has been continued with satisfactory results, and with some consequent reduction in the size of recitation sections.

At the end of the year, Professors Bartlett and Skinner were granted leave of absence for a year, and Professor Bartlett is now engaged in study and visits in Germany, paying special attention to mathematical work in the Polytechnics. Dr. Haskins has accepted appointment as instructor at Yale University, with attractive opportunities in the line of mathematical research. These changes have made it necessary to appoint three new instructors for the present year.

Professor Bailey has taken charge of the Runkle Library during Professor Bartlett's absence, Mr. George, of the course in Least Squares.

In addition to the usual course, lectures are given the present term on Potential by Dr. Mason and on the Calculus of Variations by Professor Woods, Dr. Mason, and Mr. Miller.

The American Mathematical Society held its summer meeting at the Institute August 31st and September 1st, and the usual colloquium was held during the remainder of the week, Professor Woods giving three lectures on "The Connectivity of Non-Euclidean Space."

H. W. TYLER.

MODERN LANGUAGES.

The instruction in modern languages, in the four principal courses of my department (French I., II. and German I., II.), is carried on in accordance with the views expressed by members of the Visiting Committee and with the general plan and principles indicated in the new edition of the Annual Catalogue.

An innovation, which is likely to be of some importance, is tests to be written by second, third and fourth-year students of the courses French II. and German II. once in every term; to be corrected by the instructors of the Modern Lan

guage Department in regard to the actual rendering of the meaning of the original; and to be criticised by members of the English Department in regard to English form and expression. It is to be hoped that this arrangement will increase considerably the efficiency of the two courses French II. and German II., and will tend to improve the English style of the students, as well as their capacity for reading intelligently scientific books written in French or in German.

The new conditions regarding the entrance requirements have naturally affected the size and number of sections of the courses in elementary French and German (I.). There are now four sections of French I. with 106 students; seven sections of French II. with 179 students; nine sections of German I. with 219 students; and twelve sections of German II. with 335 students. It has not been deemed necessary this year to engage an assistant to help us in our work in German as we were obliged to do last year.

It

A great many students have been able to fulfil the new entrance requirements in languages, and have passed off French I. and German I. in their entrance examination. appears, however, that the secondary schools, at present, are less well prepared to do the elementary work in German than in French.

The method of instruction in the optional advanced courses of French and German (III.) and in the Spanish classes necessarily differs from that followed in French I., II., and in German I., II., where the language taught is principally considered but a tool in regard to professional work. It gives me great pleasure to call attention to the fact that the courses in Spanish, which are expected to transmit to the students a thorough practical (reading, speaking, and writing) knowledge of Castilian, and the advanced course in French (III.), which pursues a similar aim in connection with the study of the literature and "cultural" life of France, seem to be very popular among students, and are in a flourishing condition. There are 16 students in French III. (in charge of Professor Rambeau); there are four students in the course of German Sight Read

ing (in charge of Professor Dippold); there are five students in German III. (in charge of Professor Vogel), with aims similar to those of French III.; there are 48 students in Spanish I., three students in Spanish II. (both courses in charge of Mr. Erhardt), and seven students in Spanish III. (in charge of Professor Rambeau). Many members of the class in French III. belong to the Department of Architecture; the courses Spanish II. and III. are taken principally by students of Naval Architecture.

The Department will offer, in the second term, also optional courses in French Literature and in French Sight Reading. The demand for Italian has not been sufficiently large to warrant the formation of an Italian class.

A. RAMBEAU.

ECONOMICS.

Political economy is taken by all students of the school in the third year (students in Course X. on account of a crowded schedule in the third year take it in the fourth year). Fortyfive exercises in all are given; thirty in the first term, and fifteen in the second. Originally, thirty exercises were given in the second term, but upon the introduction of the course in business law, fifteen exercises were withdrawn to provide for this subject. On account of the limited amount of time allowed, the course must be restricted in character, and in no way can it be regarded as comprehensive. We, however, lay stress upon the practical portions of the subject, giving no more attention to theory than is necessary to secure an orderly arrangement. Special stress is laid upon the descriptive matter of money and banking; at least one-third of the time is given to these and related subjects. About six exercises are devoted to railway economics, and four more to the trust question.

During the first term one exercise a week is devoted to a lecture, and in the second term all of the exercises are by lecture. The second exercise during the first term is a dis

cussion, and, in order to make this as valuable as possible, the class is divided into sections; this year into eight, so that there is opportunity to engage students in discussion; students also answer certain questions in writing at this exercise and these papers are carefully read by Mr. Doten. After a number of these papers have accumulated, the students who appear to need special attention are requested to meet Mr. Doten in personal conference to talk over deficiencies or to straighten out misunderstandings.

Any amount of time could be spent to advantage in personal conferences, and, whatever arrangements may be made in the future in regard to the Department of Economics, I hope that a generous provision will be made for the enlargement of this part of our work.

In addition to the general course in political economy, a special course is given to students in Course VI. in the fourth year on economics of corporations; this is a lecture course of fifteen exercises; no time is given to students for preparation. The topics included are: development of corporations, forms of securities issued, analysis of a corporation account, restrictions in Massachusetts upon issue of securities, position of quasi-public corporations concerned with the industrial application of electricity, taxation of corporations, street railway franchises and control of electric lighting.

A third brief course consisting of fifteen exercises on vital statistics is given to students of Course VII., fourth year. The main object of this course is the interpretation of registration reports and census mortality statistics.

I should like to call attention to the desirability of securing special instruction in accounting. I believe that such a course would be useful for a large number of students at the Institute who are likely to have close relations with the business side of manufacturing and transportation industries. I hope that such a course can be provided for in the department of economics when the new courses are substituted in the place of modern languages in the third year.

DAVIS R. DEWEY.