20 HOW TO SEE WITH THE MICROSCOPE. 



watchmaker; he recollects, also, the exclamation of 

 one of his friends, after looking at an object as dis- 

 played by the improvised stage : " Well, I declare ! 

 This instrument was made for any thing in creation but 

 to see through." 



Hence it was, responding to the increasing call, our 

 American and London makers decreased the thickness 

 of their stages. While it is yet true that many of the 

 present stages are unnecessarily thick, the reduction is 

 still palpably manifest. 



It may be remarked, then, that the real improvement 

 of late years in the construction of American and Lon- 

 don stands may, as a rule, be manifested in these two 

 items, viz., reduction of weight and thickness of stage. 



We have learned something from the Germans, too, 

 within the past few years. It has been well known 

 that they favored the vertical stand with its short tube. 

 Our experience has taught us that both of these have 

 their advantages, and our later instruments are so con- 

 trived as to be used with short, and also with standard 

 tube, and in a vertical or inclined position. 



I desire in this place to record the fact that the stands 

 made in the United States are not excelled in any qual- 

 ity or condition going to make a number one, reliable 

 instrument. The stands produced by our home makers 

 are quite equal in every respect to those of any other 

 countries, while their cost is not one whit higher. 



Those contemplating the purchase of a stand will, as 

 a matter of course, consult their individual taste and 

 inclinations to a considerable extent: thus, A may select 



