“(3.) A measure or estimate of the height of the waves.

“(4.) The depth of the sea if it is known, but, at any rate, the position of the ship as near as possible, either by cross bearings of land or any other method, so that the depth may be got from charts or other sources.

          “For a Ship at Anchor.

    “(1.) The periodic time.

    “(2.) The true direction from which the waves come.

    “(3.) A measure or estimate of the height of the waves.

    “(4.) The depth of water where she is anchored.”

[Footnote 2:  The period of a wave is the interval of time which elapses between the transits of two successive wave crests past a stationary floating body, the wave crest being the highest line along the ridge.]

It is the opinion of scientists that when the period of oscillation of the ship and the period of the wave are nearly the same, the turning over of the ship is an approximate consequence, and thus the wave to such a ship would appear more formidable than to another ship with a different period of oscillation.—­Nautical Magazine.

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PRACTICAL EDUCATION.

It is now recognized that one of the elements in which the public school systems of the United States are most lacking is in the practical branches in teaching trades and industry.  There is too much book learning, too little practical education.  Throughout the continent of Europe there are trade and industrial schools which have accomplished much in turning out skilled workmen for the various branches of industry.  Here we have one.  Our deficiency in this matter was recognized by the late commissioner of education, and attention called to it in several of his reports, and a number of the State superintendents of education have also urged the establishment of manual or training schools as a part of the State systems.  We have such an institution here in the Tulane Manual School.  In Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Chicago, the system has been adopted on a large scale, and made part of the high school course.  Another city which has inaugurated the manual training school as a part of its public schools is Toledo, O. A rich citizen of that town, who recently died, left a large sum for the establishment of a university of arts and trades.  Instead of founding a separate university, however, the money was applied to the establishment of manual schools in connection with the public schools, for both boys and girls.