Mr. William E. Curtis, in the Chicago Record of March 4, commenting, disparagingly, on the method of promotion in the army by seniority, rather than by merit, writes: "The experience of the medical department is a good illustration. Dr. Sternberg, surgeon-general of the army, is an eminent scientist. In his particular line he had a world-wide reputation, but he has no more executive ability than a child, and his warmest admirer would never trust him to transact a matter of business. Nevertheless, because he is the senior surgeon he is placed in charge of the medical corps and has enormous business responsibilities which he is not qualified to assume. It is no discredit to Dr. Sternberg that his talents do not run in a particular way. General Grant was a great soldier, but an utter failure in business, and it is very likely that the foremost business man in this