XVIII. TECHNOLOGY.--Artificial India Rubber.--This article describes some important experiments which have been made in which India rubber substitutes have been produced from oil of turpentine 18495 Deep and Frosted Etching on Glass 18496 The Koppel Electric Locomotives.--This article describes a system of electric trolley traction for narrow gage railroads.--7 illustrations 18497 Slate and its Applications.--This article details some of the various uses to which slate is put in the arts, with a view of slate store vats for breweries. 18496 Birthplace of the Oilcloth Industry. 18496 * * * * * [Illustration: LATEST PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM II. OF GERMANY] EMPEROR WILLIAM II. OF GERMANY. Since William II. of Germany ascended the throne as German Emperor and King of Prussia, on June 15, 1888, the eyes of Europe have been fixed on him. He has always been rather an unknown quantity, and he is regarded by the powers as an _enfant terrible_. The press of the world delights in showing up his weak points, and the "war lord" undoubtedly has them, but, at the same time, he has qualities which are to be admired and which make him conspicuous among the rulers of Europe. He is popular in Germany, and it is not surprising, for, in spite of being autocratic to the last degree, he is honest, courageous, ambitious, hard working, and, withal, a thorough German, being intensely patriotic. Indeed, if the people of the Fatherland had the right to vote for a sovereign, they would undoubtedly choose the present constitutional ruler, for, while the virtues we have named may seem commonplace, they are not so when embodied in an emperor. One thing which places William at a disadvantage is his excessive frankness, which is, in him, almost a fault, for if he couched his utterances in courtly or diplomatic phrases, they would pass unchallenged, instead of being cited to ridicule him. His mistakes have largely resulted from his impulsive nature coupled with chauvinism, which is, perhaps, justifiable, or, at least, excusable, in a ruler. Since the time when William was a child he evidenced a strong desire to become acquainted with the details of the office to which his lofty birth entitled him. It is doubtful if any king since the time of Frederick the Great has studied the routine of the public offices and has made such practical inspections of industries of all kinds; indeed, there is hardly a man in Germany who has more general knowledge of the material development of the country.