152 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [May, 



EDITORIAL. 



Dr. Cutter's paper. — We print this month a paper which 

 the author prepared for the Brooklyn Meeting of the American 

 Microscopical Society. It was not read. Dr. Cutter held him- 

 self in readiness to read it hut did not have the .opportunity, 

 and evidently was much disappointed. He writes: It was 

 accepted but no time for reading assigned. So also, the offer of 

 an exhibition of the l-75th objective was accepted but no time 

 given it. By hap-hazard I heard of the meeting and when I 

 went I found my paper and objective uncalled for. Indeed, 

 the Secretary said they had gone through the whole program ! 



As near as we can learn, the facts are about as follows : Dr. 

 Cutter for 30 year? has been one of the foremost microscopists 

 of the United States. He has emphatic views and is not slow 

 to express them. There are in the American Microscopical 

 Society a handful of people who run it. They, or some of 

 them, do not assent to all of Dr. Cutter's views. They do not 

 care to waste their time and ability in trying to refute what 

 they would hear from Dr. Cutter. They think it much easier 

 to gag him and crowd him out. Having the control of the 

 Society, this is a sure process. Trying to refute his views by 

 honest argument might not prove a sure process. 



But we have seen fit to publish what the Society would not 

 accept for publication ; and now we offer the free use of our 

 columns to all who wish to antagonize Dr. Cutter's views, me- 

 thods, or results. 



And, we ask, is the Microscopical Society to be run by a few 

 who chose to rule out of sight su^-h papers as Dr. Cutter's, and 

 who, not furnishing many papers themselves, cause the meet- 

 ings to be abject failures, — or, will the membership rise en 

 masse, see fair play, put competent men in office and make the 

 Society something more than a name. If not some serious or- 

 ganic changes will have to be made. Our own view is that 

 those interested had better go back and revive the Section of 

 Microscopy in the American Association for Advancement of 

 Science, unless a large and influential and catholic society can 

 be built up. 



The Microscope in Detecting Crime. — A remarkable piece 



