1895.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 215 



a man of property, he looks after his houses and lands. Being 

 a camera club man he spends time making pictures. Wanting 

 something from the American Microscopical Society and its 

 " Proceedings," he has held on the office of Secretary till he 

 certainly must be sick of it. Who but a man that lets his am- 

 bitions run away with his reason would undertake and persist 

 in retaining the office alluded to in face of such numerous and 

 time-consuming duties? Who but a man half-insane from 

 over work would persist in such a course. What society but 

 the A. M. S., would permit it ? 



We have spoken plainly. With equal plainness and sincer- 

 ity, we humbly and modestly ask for Professor Seaman the 

 honor of election to the Presid^^ncy for 1995-96. He is quali- 

 fied, as we have proven. He has erred and injured the society 

 by his overweening ambitions, but we all errand some do worse 

 than he has done. He has at various times done much work 

 for the society. Who has done more ? That the honor will 

 gratify him is shown by his ambitious character. There is no 

 one whom we prefer to see receive it this year. 



As to dues. We know that many microscopists are feeling 

 compelled to economize. The calls for mone}'- are legion, some 

 of which are imperative. To pay dues is not an absolute ne- 

 cessity. And then one has so many dues. A friend recently 

 said that he found himself paying dues to over 20 organiza- 

 tions. He sat down and wrote resignations from 15 of them. 

 And yet he has a very fine income. Think over the list of socie- 

 ties to which you belong. Do you pay the dues to all of them? 

 Can you afford it ? Ought the money to go elsewhere ? 



It is our solemn conviction, after hearing both sides of the 

 question, that one of the things the A. M. S., has to do is to re- 

 duce its charges for membership. We have on our subscrip- 

 tion lists several hundred names of peo])le who are not mem- 

 bers and who evidently will not pay the price. Yet any one 

 who has taken a microscopical periodical for 10 years ought to 

 be a desirable candidate for membership. 



Professor Leslie A. Lee will conduct the Bowdoin College 

 Summer Courses in chemistry, physics and biology at Bruns-o 

 wick, Maine, beginning July 9. Those interested will be fort- 



