1892.] THE MICEOSCOPE. 187 



are once more reminded that commonplace commercial objects 

 are of no use to the Club, that only those slides are worth con- 

 tributing that have some special ideas connected with them, some 

 history or relation worth recording or peculiarities worth discus- 

 sing. By selecting such slides, however homely, and writing 

 them up in good shape, much improvement would be made, 

 especially if the secretaries or other experts would advise, super- 

 vise, and if necessary assist, to secure circuit boxes and note-books 

 with a character like the best specials. 



Slides and note-books, like most things, wear out with age and 

 use ; and by the time they have finished one circuit they are, 

 mostly, only fit to throw away. If we withdrew them as soon as 

 they looked unpresentable, the best thing would not be seen by a 

 quarter of the members. We are therefore obliged to make the 

 most of them that can be done, trusting to members to keep them 

 as neat as possible, make such repairs as may be necessary, and 

 treat them with care and respect so long as they are capable of 

 showing the points for which they were made. 



The slides circulated during the year have presented the usual 

 and inevitable gradations from the best that experts can make to 

 the " comparatively worthless " work of beginners who have less 

 to give and more to receive in the Club and who are therefore less 

 " blessed" than those in a position and with a will to contribute 

 to their encouragement and advancement. Some of the boxes 

 have been so good that of one a very leader among American 

 microscopists wrote " Box * * * is intensely interesting ;" while 

 of another a distinguished professor remarked, '' If the Club could 

 produce specimens like these it would not be necessary to j^i^n*- 

 chase any from abroad as examples." Others have been too com- 

 monplace to use ; wdiile the great majority, naturally, have been 

 of intermediate grade, showing some things to imitate and some 

 to avoid. On mature and liberal thought it is probably best that 

 this should be so. If the Club consisted wholly of experts it 

 would have a narrow, if not selfish, character, and if the learners 

 were left alone thev would make poor progress ; only by combi- 

 nation and by mutual co-operation can the pleasure of giving and 

 the profit of receiving be adequately attained. 



Our slides are constantly illustrating the proverb, ''Many men of 

 many minds," since, if having any character at all , they are pretty 

 sure to find some one to interest. To a comment, '' An indistinct, 

 poorly stained specimen," written by a most competent judge, 

 another no less experienced and able adds. ''For one, I disagree 

 ^J^^l^Y^ * * * If he can equal or excel it, a contribution of a 

 few slides might prove very instructive to some of the Club, my- 

 self for one." An expression of disappointment by an expert 

 called out this reply from a professional in another department : 

 "' It might prove of invaluable benefit to the Club if the learned 



