43 



Olub was established hardly any purchaser of microscopical 

 material was allowed to go until its numerous advantages were 

 expatiated upon, and unless that man was very obdurate indeed 

 he was as good as proposed, and thanks to the persuasive manner 

 of Mr. Curties scores of members were added to our list. He 

 was a very regular attendant at the meetings in those days, and 

 everything interesting or novel which passed through his hands 

 was sure of being exhibited and explained ; but the more social 

 functions of the Club — and these are, for the most part, only 

 traditional now — seemed to be his particular province, and the 

 success of the various dinners and other convi\ial gatherings 

 was largely due to the unflagging energy he always showed when 

 anything of the kind was under way. Moreover, his interest 

 was not merely confined to proposing and directing : all the 

 resources of the Holborn warehouse were put at the disposal of 

 the Club in case of necessity ; and if I, or any of my predecessors, 

 was in want of microscopes, lamps, screens, or what not, all was 

 freely provided, and often, I am afraid, at an absolute pecuniary 

 loss. For some time past failing health prevented Mr. Curties 

 getting here ; but his interest in whatever pertained to the Club 

 never fell off, and, although his death was not unexpected, when 

 the end came the sense of loss was great, and many of us deeply 

 feel the parting from an old and valued friend. 



Mr. J. E. Tngpen said he should like to add a few words to 

 those which had been spoken concerning their old friend and 

 colleague, whose uninterrupted friendship he had enjoyed for 

 forty-five years. The "house of call for Queketters" was a 

 well-known term, and on looking through some of the old lists of 

 members it was surprising to find what a number of them had 

 been induced to join by Mr. Curties. Whilst he was Secretary 

 of the Club scarcely a week passed without some personal 

 communication between himself and his late friend, who always 

 had something to suggest for the benefit of the Club, which he 

 always considered to have been originally initiated at his house ; 

 and the last hour he spent with him was occupied in discussing 

 a plan he wanted to carry out by getting some kind of publication 

 of the early history of the Club. He never would, however, 

 allow himself to be nominated on the Committee, because he felt 

 he could be of more real service to the Club in the freer capacity 

 of a private member. Personally he had lost an old and valued 



