The Microscope, 159 



give instructions in microscopical technology. I am sure that every 

 microscopical society in the U. S. has a number of members who 

 would gladly take advantage of such an opportunity, were it offered. 

 Now, I am informed that such an opportunity has recently been 

 presented to the different societies of this country, by Mr. Arthur J. 

 Dohei-ty, of Manchester, Eng. One would suppose that Mr. Doherty's 

 work and skill is so well known that special advertisement is unne- 

 cessary, and that he would find no difficulty in making engagements 

 in a country where just such information as he offers is so much 

 sought after. 



However paradoxical it may seem, Mr. Doherty writes me, that 

 he has received invitations, so far, from only three societies. He 

 states further that he will be obliged to give up the project of 

 coming to the U. S. to give instruction in section-cutting, staining, 

 preparing and mounting objects for microscopic study, unless a 

 greater number of societies can be induced to accept his offer. 



The Denver Microscopical Society is one of the three societies 

 which has decided to take this course of instruction. I merely 

 mention this, however, for the purpose of illustrating its effect. As 

 soon as it became known among the members of this society that 

 such an opportunity would be presented, new life seemed suddenly 

 to pervade the whole society. Members who had not attended the 

 meetings for months, eagerly subscribed themselves as members to 

 this course, and expressed great pleasure that such an opportunity 

 was expected. The truth is, they had lost interest in microscopical 

 study, just because they did not know how to prepare the objects 

 properly. 



I suppose that I may assume our members to be representative 

 of the average membership of most of the societies of this countrj'. 

 In all of them there are a few who do most of the work, and many 

 who have joined out of curiosity, and a desire to learn and see what 

 the workers do. The latter are the ones whom a course of instruc- 

 tion, such as is offered by Mr. Doherty, would change into enthusi- 

 astic and useful workers. Is it not possible to stir up enough 

 interest in this matter that more societies may decide to accept Mr. 

 Doherty's offer and thus insui'e his coming to this country ? 



H. F. WEGENER, 



Prest. Denver Mic. Soc. 



For the information of those who may not know Mr. Doherty's 

 terms I may add, that he charges ten dollars for a lesson given to a 

 class. If the class consists of ten members, it will cost each member 

 one dollar a lesson. That is the way we understand it. 



