30 HOW TO SEE WITH THE MICROSCOPE. 



capable of giving- very pretty shows, particularly where 

 a certain stereoscopic effect is supposed to add force. 

 Hence the binocular is eminently fitted for such dis- 

 plays, and is eminently adapted, too, for the entertain- 

 ment of those of our lady friends who visit the soirees 

 of microscopical societies, without feeling specially 

 interested in microscopy as a science. 



If so be that there can be structure displayed by the 

 binocular that cannot be seen equally well by the mon- 

 ocular, be it so, and the author will joyfully add his 

 testimony to the same, after having arrived at the fact. 



Many of my friends have binocular instruments, but 

 I can not recall the name of any person who uses one ; 

 that is, when I am present, for inevitably the first thing 

 <lone by the owner is to displace the prism, and to use 

 the stand as a monocular. I have never found a soli- 

 tary exception to this rule. 



But some one may say: " What possible objection can 

 there be to purchasing a binocular, since, as you admit, 

 the instrument can be changed instantly to a monocu- 

 lar, and the purchaser has his choice. He certainly has 

 all that you have got, and perhaps (allowing force to 

 the opinion of others) more too." 



Well, that looks lucid enough ; and in truth that 

 argument has sold many a binocular. Nevertheless, 

 " all is not gold that glitters." Let us take a look from 

 iinother stand point, thus : 



First. The binocular involves greater weight ; as a 

 rule, they are unwieldly, lumbering things, destitute of 

 grace, symmetry, or aught that goes to make a clean, 

 well proportioned stand. 



