30 



THE AMERICAN MONTHLY 



[February, 



feet instrument has become more 

 perfect, though it is manifestly 

 faulty still ; the stand has been 

 made less clumsy and more steady, 

 less complicated and more conve- 

 nient, less showy and more durable, 

 less costly and more useful. The 

 objectives have been improved in 

 definition, greatly increased in 

 available aperture, and supplied 

 with far better appliances for cover- 

 adjustment ; the immersion system 

 has become universally introduced, 

 its use extended to the means of 

 illumination, and the advantages of 

 a literally homogeneous fluid recog- 

 nized ; the binocular arrangement 

 has grown from an experiment of 

 disputed value to a priceless luxury 

 if not a literal necessity ; means of 

 illuminating at definite and known 

 angles have become available ; the 

 spectroscope, and the sensitized 

 plate of the photographer, have 

 become powerful accessories; and 

 the instrument of which that proud 

 remark was so lately made, has al- 

 ready become obsolete and grotes- 

 que, one of the curiosities of history 

 rather than an instrument of pre- 

 cision well fitted for delicate scien- 

 tific work. 

 * * * •» -^ * -Sf 



" It is as easy to found a general 

 as a local society, but not so easy to 

 secure its permanence. Our infant 

 Society, the first anniversary of 

 whose birthday we celebrate to- 

 night, begins its life at a time most 

 fortunate. Never before could it 

 have been born with half the pre- 

 sent chance of life. The favoring 

 circumstances seem strong, and the 

 hindrances those only that are in- 

 herent in the circumstances amid 

 which it must live, if live it can. 

 We enter the field with courage and 

 enthusiasm. Success seems to be 

 simultaneous with effort. The first 

 meeting was equal to our hopes ; 

 the second surpasses the first. But 



we must realize that the magnitude 

 of the project involves the most 

 serious responsibilities. To justify 

 its name, an American society must 

 be American ; it must be neither 

 meagre nor local ; it must have a 

 large, active, and permanent mem- 

 bership, well distributed among the 

 various sections of the country ; it 

 must include names of recognized 

 ability and influence, and must be 

 really representative of American 

 microscopy ; it must be a power as 

 well as a name. To make it feeble 

 would be a failure, to make it local 

 would be a farce. Yet the obstacles 

 in the way of success are such as 

 might well check any faith but the 

 enthusiasm of youth. Distances are 

 great in this country, and not all 

 men of science are men of wealth 

 or of leisure. Many persons of 

 distinguished qualifications for 

 membership have written that dis- 

 tances are too great, and that the 

 time and expense involved will 

 prevent their participation. * * * 

 Furthermore, it is well known that 

 some who can give the time to 

 attend distant meetings, have other 

 plans which, unless they can be 

 harmonized, will stand more or less 

 in the way of this. The practical 

 questions, then, of how often these 

 meetings should be held, and over 

 what range of territory, and by 

 what means a steady and adequate 

 attendance can be maintained after 

 the attraction of novelty has ceased 

 to act, and the tax upon time, and 

 thought, and money has become 

 felt, should receive the most serious 

 and deliberate consideration, and all 

 the aid that can be derived from the 

 experience of others, in order that 

 our plans may be wise and our 

 success permanent. 



" One of the most important ques- 

 tions, theoretical and practical com- 

 bined, which is now fairly before 



