The Microscope. 43 



Working Session of the A. S. M. As far as I am acquainted with 

 the facts, and I believe I am pretty fully conversant with them, 

 not only the idea but also the actual organization, was the work 

 of Mr. Griffith. I am aware of the fact that sometime before 

 1 became a member of the Society, he had been trying to see 

 the reality of some such scheme. At the Elmira Meeting he, 

 and a number to whom he had often spoken upon the subject, 

 desired to hold such a session, but there was neither opportu- 

 nity nor encouragement given for it. At the Chicago meeting 

 those who were interested in the matter determined to break 

 through the diatomaceous crust of learned treatises and to trav- 

 erse the mighty seas swarming with all the new species of poly- 

 syllabic wrigglers which abound in the foaming Niagara, and 

 have a start at the Working Session anyhow. The thing was 

 done, not with the cordial cooperation of all the officers and 

 members of the Society, although we had the good will of Pres. 

 McOalla, but it was done because we felt that if this meeting 

 went by without any move towards the realization of the idea, 

 then the idea was consigned to everlasting burial among those 

 microscopic fossils which no objective yet made can resolve. 

 " Uncle Ezra " may remember how discouraged he was at Chi- 

 cago because of the coldness with which all his efforts for a 

 working session was seconded by certain officers and leaders of 

 the Society, and how a friend of his had a rather excited little 

 discussion with him, urging him not to recede from the attempt 

 after all his past labors on its behalf. The following day I made 

 a few pointed remarks in support of the Working Session as a 

 permanent feature, which were received with favor by those 

 present, and drew a half- supporting, half -apologetic, reply from 

 the president. (See Jour. Chicago Meeting, p. 260.) I know 

 that Mr. Griffith saw personally, during the previous two years, 

 nearly everyone interested in the Working Session; that he 

 wrote numerous letters to them on the subject ; got each one to 

 take up some specialty of work, mounting, etc. ; supplied a great 

 deal of material; and, finally, came to Chicago with a ponder- 

 ous load of microscopes and material, a head full of ideas, and a 

 heart full of enthusiasm for the Working Session. And I am 

 quite certain that those who were interested in this matter will 

 have recollections of it similar to my own. 



