160 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [September, 



covered by the patience and genius of men is the common bond of union ; it 

 unites those having Httle else in common save an enthusiastic love of truth, 

 and naturally it gives name to these organizations. All who depend upon 

 the powerful aid of the microscope are intensely interested in its improve- 

 ment and its final perfection. Moreover, the improvements in the methods 

 of its use and the complicated and delicate operations necessary to its fullest 

 revelations are of scarcely less importance. The microscope and all that per- 

 tains to it, its manipulations and the many refinements of methods of research 

 into the constitution of the minute are, therefore, plainly the first subjects to 

 be considered as the especial province of this Society. These should, un- 

 questionablv, receive first place in its deliberations. 



This matter was forcibly put four years ago, by Judge Jacob D. Cox, in 

 opening the Rochester meeting of the Society, and quite recently Rev. W. 

 H. Dallinger, President of the Royal Microscopical Societ3^ has expressed 

 similar views. The opinions of these representative men cannot be lightly 

 set aside nor their advice neglected. Their conclusions are the results of rich 

 experience in affairs. The wise man, it is said — and is it not also true of organ- 

 izations of men — is one who profits by the experience of others ; the foolish, 

 who gains by his own experience only. Is this Society in danger, or is it likely 

 to drift into that unhappy state of forgetting ' That in proportion as the opti- 

 cal principles of the microscope are understood, and the theory of micro- 

 scopical vision is made plain, the value of the instrument over every region to 

 which it can be applied, and in all the varied hands that use it, is increased 

 without definite limits?' The records will show, I think, to any inquirer that 

 the chief reason for the Society's being has been remembered thus far in its 

 history, and the wise councillors and guides which it fortunately possesses give 

 confidence that it will not in the future depart from its safe traditions. The 

 Society has discussed and published numerous papers on the theory and con- 

 struction of the microscope, new forms, improved methods and devices ; it 

 has taken measures, equalled by no other society, to secure a standard of 

 micrometry, it has sought to secure uniformity of tube diameter, improve- 

 ment in eye-pieces, in the society-screw, etc. Again, besides the papers 

 ■on microscopy, at every meeting there has been a free exhibition of instru- 

 ments of the latest forms made at home and abroad, and annually, beginning 

 with the Chicago meeting in 1SS3, there has been, in addition, a thoroughly 

 organized, practical session or sessions, at which many difficult operations have 

 been explained and demonstrated by those fully competent to teach. The 

 Society then surelv has not fallen into the grave eiTor of neglecting micros- 

 copy for the discussion of the results of microscopical research. And may it 

 ever be kept in mind by those who direct its energies that the improvement 

 of the 'prince of instruments of investigation' and the technics of its ap' 

 plications are the chief aim, work, and destiny of this still young and pr 

 gressive organization. 



But how justifv my choice of a theme for this evening.'' First, by the 1 "^'^p^ 

 of the most renowned microscopial society, the Royal Societ}^ of Lond*"' ' . 

 proceedings of which are largely concerned with natural history ; sec^. \ , 

 custom of this Society which has grown up in accordance with the wi ' . 



advantages of its members ; and third, it seems to me there are g. .. . ' 

 sufficient reasons why this Society should continue to receive and pv ' 



the present at least, the results of microscopical investigations by itf at .1 ^ 

 in whatever field. ' Wherefore by their fruits ve shall know them.' ^ . ^*?. 

 and means are judged by establishing results tested by comparis 

 cussions ; such conclusions are verities, the ffesh and blood th.' „ 



beautify and nourish the skeleton, which in turn gives form, sta^^ ^ ' ' 

 ciency to the whole. 



