Prof. Chaplin's Lecture.

Prof. W. S. Chaplin lectured last evening in Sever 11 on "Engineering as a Profession." The subject was treated in a very comprehensive and satisfactory way.

Engineering is the "art and science of utilizing the forces and materials of nature." The profession may be divided into military and civil engineering; the latter into mechanical and mining engineering. There is no clearly definite line between these divisions. An engineer must know something of all. The number of engineers has increased of late and will increase as money grows more plenty. An engineer must first have constructive or mechanical powers. He must have a good knowledge of customs and usages of business. He must have some knowledge of law, - as he will have to decide many disputes among contracting parties. He must be honest, industrious 'energetic' and persevering. He needs not only a practical education, but also a thorough training in the theory of the profession. The work directly after graduation will be hard, it is so with all professions, but he must not yield to temptations to accept low and easy positions, such as draughting. Experience must teach him enough to enable him to criticize the work of others, and to handle men with ability.

Measured by the good it does to humanity, this profession stands as high as any. It has no legal status; the educated engineer must compete with ignorant men. But the profession in America is constantly increasing its requirements. Four years are now barely sufficient to cover all the ground necessary. For this reason, a division into a larger number of distinct departments must soon occur.

The pleasantest features of the profession are the chances of seeing men. The engineer is cosmopolitan. He will be employed more abroad in the future. Construction, too, is next to what is pleasantest of all things, creation. Variety and the element of uncertainty in his work are also attractive. There is no science which the engineer does not lay under tribute. He has as a result of his work, that he is contributing to the general prosperity, and is making the lives of his fellow men happier, safer and more profitable to themselves. The pecuniary rewards of the profession are very good. Engineering is a working, growing and advancing profession. It offers contest, excitement, victory. Can a man ask more from fortune?