Scientific American Supplement, No. 623 | Page 3

of 60 or 80 degrees. These surfaces
are protected against hot gas charged with dust.
The hot gas, which escapes from the cylinder through a valve, has
previously been cooled by contact with the sides of the cylinder and by
expansion. The eduction valve just mentioned works about like that of
a steam engine, and it is only necessary to polish it now and then in
order to keep it in good condition.--_Annales Industrielles._
* * * * *

YOUR FUTURE PROBLEMS.[1]
[Footnote 1: An address to the graduating class, Stevens Institute,
Hoboken, N.J., 1887.]
By CHARLES E. EMERY.
_Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen:_ It has not been considered
the duty of the speaker, in addressing the graduating class, to dwell on
the triumphs of science or the advantage of a liberal education. These
subjects have already been discussed, in connection with the regular
courses of study, better, and more at length, than he could do. We
propose rather to try and prepare the minds of the graduates for the
practical problems before them.
All young men are impressed with the consciousness of higher powers
as they increase their stores of knowledge, and this feeling perhaps
reaches its maximum with those who have made a specialty of the
investigation and application of physical laws. Young men who have
learned how to harness the powers of nature and guide them to do their
will are apt to belittle the difficulties they have yet to overcome, and
have a false impression of the problems of life. This feeling is shown to
a minimum extent by graduates of the Stevens Institute, on account of

their careful practical training, in connection with the thorough study of
principles; but it has been thought best for one from the outside world
to supplement such teaching by calling to mind instances which may
have a useful counteracting effect, and, like parables, serve the purpose
of illustrative instruction.
_Gentlemen of the Class of '87_: It was the pleasure of the speaker to
address the class of '79, under the title of "How to Succeed," some
words of counsel and warning, which, if they left an impression of
severity at the time, were apparently so well received afterward that he
has been tempted to continue the general subject, with the title of "Your
Future Problems." The notation of your future problems will not be
found at once among the known quantities, but with x, y, and z, at the
other end of the alphabet. Often word symbols will be applicable,
expressing at times disappointment and pain, at other times renewed
effort, and finally the active phases of individual thought and exertion.
The first serious problem with many of you will be to secure
satisfactory engagements. This problem cannot be illustrated by
parables. It needs, in general, patient, unremitting, and frequently long
continued effort. It may be that the fame of some of you, that have
already acquired the happy faculty of making yourselves immediately
useful, has already gone abroad and the coveted positions been already
assured. To be frank, we cannot promise you even a bed of roses. We
have in mind an instance where a superior authority in a large business
enterprise who had great respect, as he should have, for the attainments
of young gentlemen who have had the opportunities of a technical
education, deliberately ordered out a competent mechanical engineer,
familiar with the designs required in a large repair shop, and sent in his
place a young gentleman fresh from school and flushed with hope, but
who from the very nature of the case could know little or nothing of his
duties at that particular place. He was practically alone in the drawing
room, and did not know where to find such drawings as were required,
and candor requires it to be said that he desired to ask many questions
about those he did find. The superintendent unfortunately had nothing
to do with his appointment, and rather resented it. So he did not trust
any of his work, and the new comer was obliged to learn his practical

experience at that establishment, where he was known as the
mechanical engineer, by having all his work done over by the pattern
maker or others, under the eye of the superintendent or master
mechanic, and be subjected all the time to the jealousies and
annoyances incident to such a method of introduction.
His practical experience was certainly learned under difficulties which I
trust none of you may experience. This statement is made that those of
you who have not yet obtained positions may not envy those who have,
and that each and all of you may be careful not to take a position so far
above your experience, if not your capacity, as to become unpleasantly
situated in