134 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [June, 



ciency of these reasons, it is still impossible not to regret, as a 

 matter of national repute if not of pecuniary profit, that we could 

 not have been represented. We should not have hoped to com- 

 pete for the first prize, as it was evident from the beginning that 

 that must go to Jena ; but with a reasonable effort we could have 

 expected to take several in the very high grades. 



Excellent local arrangements were made. The exhibit was 

 housed in the palatial building of the Athene Royal. Competent 

 local agents cared for the interests of non-resident exhibitors, at 

 a reasonable cost. The greatest courtesy was shown to foreign 

 visitors, and unlimited opportunities were offered, to those known 

 to be competent, for examining everything at their own pleasure. 

 Nothing could be more unjust, according to the writer's experi- 

 ence, than the representations, that somehow got into print, 

 that the articles could only be seen in glass cases. 



A series of lectures, illustrated by projections with the screen 

 microscope, was given, during the continuance of the exposi- 

 tion, by Dr. Van Heurck and his associates ; and occasional con- 

 certs furnished entertainment to the visitors, and improved the 

 financial situation at the ticket office. 



Probably most visitors were disappointed, at first sight, at the 

 smallness of the exhibition. It was difficult to wholly throw off 

 the feeling that an international exposition ought to be a great 

 affair, extending through a large number of rooms. But it soon 

 became evident that a great microscopical exhibition need not 

 occupy a very large space. The display grew with familiarity, 

 imtil it finally presented itself as an interesting and instructive 

 demonstration, chiefly of continental microscopy, too large to be 

 seen satisfactorily in many days, or, when seen repeatedly, to be 

 remembered in its details as one would wish. Few persons in- 

 terested in the microscope could have spent two or three weeks 

 in serious study of the exposition without being amply repaid 

 both in pleasure and in profit; while they would certainly have 

 enjoyed, meanwhile, a delightful visit in the quaint and charm- 

 ing town. 



Historical Exhibit. 



Amidst the chaos of instruments displayed, a thoughtfid per- 

 son naturally turns first toward the historical exhibit, and espe- 

 cially to the one microscope of unique claims and interest, the only 

 known original by Hans Janssen or his son Zacharias, who are 

 claimed to have invented the instrument in or about 1590. Upon 

 this claim rests the character of the exposition as a tricen- 

 tennial, and to the memory and honor of these modest Dutch 

 spectacle-makers the enterprise was officially dedicated in the 

 form " To Hans and Zacharias Janssen, of Aliddelliourg, in- 

 ventors of the compound microscope, on the occasion of the 300th 

 anniversary of their admirable invention, the first cause of the 

 most important discoveries in the medical and natural sciences." 



