222 the president's address. 



popular philosophy of the hour. Let not the student of nature be 

 discouraged by the taunts of those who think to evolve a new arti- 

 ficial nature from the recesses of their consciousness, who consider 

 themselves privileged to substitute for facts of observation fairy 

 fancies of the imagination. 



Proclaiming an intense distrust of all that does not rest upon 

 positive evidence, the strong brethren of the new philosophy try to 

 force us to accept, without examination, the dogmas of a con- 

 jectural mist science positively negative in its tendency and 

 character. 



Compared with the rapid flight of many a physical aspirant it 

 may be truly said that the progress of the microscopical observer 

 is terribly slow. Moving onwards at a snail's pace, but still on- 

 wards, we have, alas, little to attract the mere sightseer, nothing to 

 dazzle or excite the listless and languid in search of some new 

 sensation, nothing to amuse those who are exhausted by their 

 enervating anxiety to discover something worth seeing or doing 

 that does not necessitate the painful effort of working or thinking. 

 But we must submit to this disadvantage. Our work teaches us 

 patience, and enables us to bear unpopularity. By prosecuting it 

 we learn to avoid endorsing hasty decisions, which might gain for 

 us the applause of the public, but would certainly retard science ; 

 and at the same time we learn to work on quietly, but steadily. 

 The veriest tyro in microscopic work soon becomes conscious that 

 there is more to learn than he can ever hope to discover, if he 

 work unremittingly and a long life be granted to him. 



Some, by concentrating their attention on one department of 

 microscopic research, add vastly to our knowledge, but the most 

 talented soon reaches a standpoint from which he discerns ever 

 increasing fields requiring careful examination. He looks forward 

 to never-ending labour in which he cannot take part, and to never- 

 ceasing discovery in which he is not to participate, and which he 

 can never know. 



But in these days not even the humble microscopist is permitted 

 to work in peace. His conclusions are unceremoniously tossed 

 aside in order to make way for conjectures of the fancy, and his 

 labour fields are invaded by the reckless and ambitious who profess 

 to despise his careful quiet way, though jealous of the results he 

 may perchance achieve by the aid of the instrument he loves. 



Ignorant of his implements and of the methods of using them, 



