1894 THE MICROSCOPE. 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



New Series, 1893. 



For NatnralistSt Physicians, and Druggists, and Designed to Popula 



Microscopy. 



Published monthly. Price $i. 00 fer annum. Subscriptions <:hou!d end 

 with the year. The old series, consisting of 12 volumes {i88i-/8g2), ended 

 vjith December, iSgi. Sets of the old series cantiot he furnished. All 

 correspondence, exchanges, and books for notice should be addressed to the 

 Microscopical Publishing Co., Washingtoft, D. C, U. S. A. 



CHARLES W. SMILEY, A. M., EDITOR. 



EDITORIAL. 



The Microscopical Soiree. — One of our English Exchanges 

 remarks : " It istgratifying to learn that the loss on the last soi- 

 ree was only £10; for the Coroydon Club soirees are always ex- 

 cellent." Our own observation is that in America a few too- 

 zealous individuals get up these entertainments at considerable 

 expense, expecting others to pay a large part of the bills and 

 somebody or society to be $50-75 out-of-pocket. What is the re- 

 turn ? Suffocating crowds of people who do not know whether 

 an amoeba is an animal or a plant nor which end of the tube the 

 object glass goes in, crowd around and ask "" What is it? " say 

 "' oh ! my, aint it lovely," and return home with no more knowl- 

 edge than they carried there. Not once in a hundred does some 

 one develope love enough for science to go and buy a micro- 

 scope. 



We are, therefore, in disfevor wdth the idea. We do not see 

 why all this expense should be incurred. We have been told 

 that there are microscopists so vain that they enjoy exhibiting 

 themselves at these soirees and think that it pays. We do not 

 like to believe it and at all events think the game is not worth 

 the candle. 



But what shall we do to create a public interest ? In lieu of 

 the soiree, hold a dozen meetings during the year to which mem- 

 bers may bring friends selected for their a^^preciation of science, 

 and young people who in school have shown some desire for 



