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STEEL the metal are increased in a remarkable manner. See Iron and Steel; Besse- mer Steel. STEEL ENGRAVING, the art of en- graving on steel plates for the purpose of producing prints or impressions in ink on paper and other substances. The process of decarbonizing steel so that it could be engraved was invented by Jacob Perkins, of Newburyport, Mass., in 1814. STEEL, MRS. FLORA ANNIE (WEB- STER), an English novelist; born in Harrow-on-the-Hill, England, April 2, 1847. At 21 she married an Indian civil- ian and went to Bengal, where she be- came prominent in educational affairs, and was appointed inspectress of female schools. On the expiration of her hus- band's term of service, she returned with him to England and devoted herself to literary work. Her published works in- clude: "From the Five Rivers" (1893); "Miss Stuart's Legacy" (1893) ; "The Potter's Thumb" (1894) ; "Flower of Forgiveness" (1894) ; "Red Rowans" (1895) ; "On the Face of the Waters" (1895); "In the Tideway" (1896); and "In the Permanent Way" (1897) ; "The Host of the Lord" (1900) ; "Voices of the Night," etc. STEEL, FREDERIC DORR, an Ameri- can illustrator, born at Marquette, Mich., in 1873. He studied art at the National Academy of Design and at the Art Students' League, New York. Beginning with 1897 he contributed illustrations to many of the leading periodicals, special- izing in drawings for "direct process" reproduction. He was awarded the bronze medal at the St. Louis Exposition, in 1904, and was a member of the Society of Illustrators. STEELE, SIR RICHARD, a British author: born in Dublin, Ireland, in March, 1672; was educated at Charter House School and Oxford; entered the army and was promoted captain. He commenced his literary career in 1702 by writing for the stage. In 1709 he be- gan the "Tatler," and four years later assisted with the "Spectator" and "Guardian"; soon after he entered the House of Commons as a member for Stockport, but was expelled for writing a satire, supposed to be a breach of privi- lege. On the accession of George I, he was knighted, given several lucrative posts and returned to Parliament. Steele is best known as an essayist. He wrote a religious treatise, "The Christian Hero" (1790). Among his plays are: "The Funeral, or Grief a la Mode," "The Tender Husband," "The Lying Lover," 69 STEEL SKELETON CONSTRXTCTION and "The Conscious Lovers." He died near Carmarthen, Wales, Sept. 1, 1729, STEELE, WILBUR DANIEL, an American author, born at Greensboro, N. C, in 1886. He was educated at the University of Denver and studied art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Academie Julien, Paris, and the Art Students' League, New York. He wrote "Storm" (1914); "Land's End" (1918); and many short stories in numerous monthly and weekly magazines. STEEL SKELETON CONSTRUCTION, a form of building construction by which the loads and stresses are transmitted to the foundation by a framework of metal or re-enforced concrete, with girders at each story supporting the walls enclosed. It represents one of the greatest devel- opments in building from the earliest days of architecture. It proves the solu- tion to the problem that arose from the concentration of population in a confined area and it was only natural that the idea should first take shape in what was des- tined to become the most congested area, in respect to volume of business interests and number of people, in the whole world. The height of buildings had al- ways been determined by consideration of security, utility and cost, and until the advent of the steel skeleton six or seven stories were regarded as nearly as far as the builder could go. In the seventies the rising value of real estate set prop- erty owners seeking for a plan of raising more revenue from their investments, and gradually buildings rose until a height of 10 and sometimes 12 stories. The huge quantities of masonry- called for in these lofty buildings set property owTiers and builders under the necessity of seeking out devices that would enable them to economize in mate- rial and in the ground occupied. Piers were made thinner and columns were put up to receive the ends of the beams and girders and so relieve the piers of the weight of floor. Finally, in 1889, it was found that the thickness of the piers could be reduced still further by taking from the piers the weight of the walls and placing the four walls on girders set between the wall columns at every floor level. It was thus that the princi- ple underneath Steel Skeleton Construc- tion was revealed. It relegated stone to a subsidiary relation in construction. The essential part of the building became a firmly bound framework of steel able to support not merely the floors and roof, but the walls, interior and external, to- gether with every other part of the building, and constructed on lines suffi- cient to withstand every condition of