Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1910. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... PREFACE IN January, 1909, a friend of the Scientific American, who desired to remain unknown, paid into the hands of the publishers the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, which was to be awarded as a prize for the best popular explanation of the Fourth Dimension, the object being to set forth in an essay not longer than twenty-five hundred words the meaning of the term so that the ordinary lay reader could understand it. The essays, 245 in number, were submitted under pseudonyms, in accordance with the rules drawn up by the Editor of the Scientific American, and were judged by Prof. Henry P. Manning, of Brown University, and Prof. S. A. Mitchell, of Columbia University. The Five Hundred Dollar prize was awarded by the judges to Lieut.-Col. Graham Denby Fitch, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. The prize-winning essay was published in the Scientific American of July 3rd, 1909, and three essays, which received honorable mention, made their appearance in the issues of July 10th, 17th, and 24th, 1909. Despite the character of the subject, extraordinary interest was manifested in the contest. Competitive essays were received not only from the United States, but from Turkey, Austria, Holland, India, Australia, France, and Germany. In fact, almost every civilized country was represented. Because of this unexpected interest in the subject, it has seemed advisable to preserve in permanent form a few of the essays 208107 which were submitted. Accordingly Prof. Henry P. Manning has chosen from the essays those which lend themselves best for the purpose of a popular book on the Fourth Dimension; in other words, those which present the subject from as many different points of view as possible. With the exception of the prizewinning and honorably mention...
