vestigators, has added much to the science and will contribute, in the future, even greater results, for those in command are equipped and long for the opportunity which is now theirs. Personally, I am very happy that the name attached t o this structure is that of my friend, Francis P. Venable, whose achievements are most favorably known far and wide and who from long association I have found to be "One of those golden Natures who help us form our ideals of life."
FRANCIS PRESTON VENABLE* The father of Dr. Venahle, who was professor of mathematics a t the University of Virginia, no doubt hoped that he would take up a career in mathematics, but it was not so foreordained. For some considerable period the choice, mirabile dictu, lay between Greek and chemistry. The decision was reached after he had been admitted to assist Dr. J. W. Mallet in his famous research on the atomic weight of aluminum. I t is noteworthv that the present accepted atomic weight of aluminum comes from this investigation. Dr. Mallet was careful in the selection of his assistants and frequently allowed a period of probation to elapse before admitting a candidate to all the rights and privileges of an assistantship. In the present case the probationary task was the preparation of numerous gallons of distilled water, the drops of which should never come from the condenser faster than could be counted. After a week or more of drop counting the candidate was found to have passed a preliminary examination. It is not surprising that Dr. Venable has required of his students utmost care and a FRANCIS P. V m n n d scrupulous search for the facts, with all the possible confirmatory tests. After a period of study in Germany under several of the masters, Dr. Venable returned to the United States to accept a call as professor of chemistry in the University of North Carolina, just a few years after its re-
* Abstract of article under above title by James M. Bell, Ind. Eng. Chew., 16, 755 (1924). t Cut by courtesy of Induslriol and Engineering Chemistry.
opening following reconstructiou days. In spite of the inadequacy of equipment and of the overload of teaching, Dr. Venable, already known as "Old Ven," on account of an awe-inspiring beard, with the cooperation of the late Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, then professor of geology, and other kindred spirits, organized the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society. At the recently celebrated fortieth anniversary the history of the society was read by its first president, Dr. Venable. The foundation of this society may be truly said to mark the beginning of the research spirit in the South. It is a marvel that with this heavy load of teaching and class preparation there was any time left for investigation. Yet a t nearly every monthly meeting of the Mitchell Society the results of some work in chemistry were reported by professor or students. One of the early volumes of the Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society has a description of a modification of the Bunsen burner designed by Dr. Venable, a modification still in general use, although it goes by another name. After twenty years of service in the department of chemistry he was elected president of the university, and for fourteen years he served in that capacity. During this administration, one new building was added to the campus group each year, often under adverse circumstances. To his constant insistence on sound scholarship and high academic standards may be attributed the high regard in which the university now stands. In 1914 his health required that he relinquish the increasingly onerous duties of president, and he returned to his beloved chemistry. An historical sketch of Dr. Venable would have recounted his numerous honors-several honorary doctor's degrees, secretary and vice president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and president of the American Chemical Society, and a long list of contributions to the literature, mainly in inorganic chemistry. This sketch is a failure if the reader has not gained the conviction that here we have a sound scholar, an inspiring teacher, a careful experimenter, a wise counselor, and withal W. R.W. a deliphtful companion and true friend.
THE REVOLT AGAINST EDUCATION* During the last hundred years, according to Dr. Frank, the same thing has been happening to our education that has been happening to our civilization as a whole. It is suffering from structural overloading and is finding i t difficult to carry with ease and efficiency the increasing burden it has itself been creating. Sir Francis Galton puts his theory in these *Glenn Frank, "The Revolt against Education," Nation, 122, 574-6 (1926); Srk.and Sac., 23, 729-41 (1926).
