8 THE ACORN There is no accounting for the wild fancies of dreams. Here is one the Editor had: He was sitting in the Acorn room, exploding brain cells in vain attempts at coaxing an inspiration. All material was due on the following day, but there was none in sight. Suddenly he was startled by a scuffling of feet and sounds of a violent struggle just outside the door. He opened it and there saw two students, manuscripts in hands, each furiously attempting to get his story in first. The Editor tried to appear indifferent, as he reached forth his hands for the papers. At that moment he heard the roll and roar of many feet as the whole student body stampeded madly down the stairs, wildly waving manuscripts, photos, drawing, etc., and eagerly striving to, but just then he woke up. THE ACORN MISCELLANEOUS NEW METAL LIGHTER THAN ALUMINUM. A great chemical factory at Hoehst-on-the-Main, Germany, exhibited a new metal at the Frankfort Aeronautic Exposition that is said to be as strong as the best aluminum alloys and but half as heavy. It is called "elektron" and has a specific weight of 1.8 as compared to 2.9 of the best aluminum. Bolts and bars that would ordinarily be thought of as heavy were placed on exhibition, and when handled seemed as light as paper mache. Popular Mechanics. THE UNEXPECTED COMET OF 1910. While the attention of the world's astronomers was concentrated upon Halley's comet, which was spoken of in our Christmas number, there came quite suddenly into the sky a great comet of which no previous record seems to have been made in human annals. It was first observed a number of weeks ago by Professor Drake, and before many days it had been photographed at the observatory of Cambridge, England, and the fact that, although comparatively close to the sun, it had been distinctly visible to the naked eye in broad daylight, both in South America and Southern Europe, proved its extreme brilliance. It seems to be the brightest of all the comets visible o nearth since 1888. It had, while still visible, a very conspicuous tail with a distinct dark streak running through the middle similar to the comet of 1874, while, as in the case of the great comet of 1878, its curvature was on a small scale. Current Literature.