Mr. Bertram G. Nelson, of the Englewood High-School, spoke on the "Problem of History," and obtained first prize. Mr. Harrison S. Smalley, of the North Division High-School, spoke on the subject, "Are We Free?" and received second prize. Miss Nellie M. McPherson, of South Division High-School, spoke on "War," and earned third prize. Altogether there were eight contestants.
The system of marking was the average system, in which the marks are averaged up, and the highest average gets first place. Mr. Smalley received, out of a possible six firsts, five firsts, but because Mr. MacVeagh, "the Scholar in Politics," marked him down, he was deprived of a victory, which under any other system of marking would rightly have been given to him.
The Washington Chapter, No. 176, has organized an educational department, to which members may send their questions and have them answered on the following subjects, viz., arithmetic, grammar, United States history, physiology, advanced English, algebra, Latin, Roman history, book-keeping, zoology, etc. Test papers are issued every three months on the above subjects.
GEORGE P. PAUL, 824 RIVER STREET, TROY, N. Y.
Any questions in regard to photograph matters will be willingly answered by the Editor of this column, and we should be glad to hear from any of our club who can make helpful suggestions.
Whatman's drawing or water-color paper is a very pure paper, and may be sensitized and used for photographic prints. The process is quite simple. Dissolve 75 grains of chloride of ammonium in 1 quart of water, filter through cotton or filtering-paper, and soak the paper in this solution for three minutes, or until it is thoroughly saturated; then lay it on a clean flat surface to dry, using care in handling so as to avoid stretching or tearing. This process is called "salting the paper." The sensitizing solution is prepared as follows: Dissolve 3/4 oz. of nitrate of silver in 8 oz. of water. Take two-thirds of this solution, and precipitate the silver by adding strong ammonia water drop by drop. This will cause the solution to turn brown. Continue adding the ammonia till this brown precipitate is dissolved and the solution becomes clear again. As soon as it clears, turn in the rest of the silver solution which contains no ammonia. The mixture will again become discolored, and must be cleared by adding a few drops of acetic acid. Filter and place in a glass-stoppered bottle.