1895.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 59 



and apparatus (one of the most interesting and important 

 features of the annual meetings), no place or arrangements for 

 the "working sessions," of whose interest and value it is super- 

 fluous to speak, not the slightest for the annual conversazione 

 and exhibition, a feature hitherto the pride of the Association 

 and the delight of thousands of citizens of other cities in which 

 the society had held its meetings. There were no badges, and 

 not even a programme had been provided. To cap the climax, 

 the president had not shown up! Is it any wonder that the 

 little handful of the faithful huddled lonesomely in the large 

 and handsome hall of the Polytechnic Institute, dispirited and 

 disappointed? 



An informal talk was held, and it was decided to postpone 

 the opening session until the afternoon, and the party adjourned 

 to the headquarters, St. George's Hotel, where, in the constant- 

 ly increasing number of arrivals of those intending to take 

 part in the meeting of the the Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, they met friends with whom they managed to while 

 away the time until 2 p. m. 



At this hour, the president not having arrived, Dr. Hyatt, 

 of Brooklyn, was installed as president, pro tempore, and called 

 the meeting to order. Little was done at the session save to 

 map out an order of proceedings, in lieu of a programme. 

 Owing to the fewness of those present it was decided not to 

 read any of the papers except by title. Dr. Seaman, the 

 Secretary, gave a brief sketch of the publications of th-:; society, 

 and of their disposition, and, after routine business, adjourn- 

 ment was had until Tuesday morning. 



On Tuesday things looked much brighter. A number of 

 the older members had arrived, and among them the Presi- 

 dent, Dr. Lester Curtis, and when the hour for meeting arrived 

 some thirty members were in their seats — not a very large 

 number, it is true, but one which redeemed the meeting from 

 utter and abject failure. The morning was passed in hearing 

 committee reports, the appointment of committees, etc., and 

 one or two papers were read. The afternoon of the second 

 day of the annual meeting has hitherto been devoted to the 

 Working Session, but, as stated, as no preparations had been 

 made for this, it was determined to devote it to a visit to the 

 Hoagland Laboratory, and the examination of the bacteriolog* 



