106 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Apr. 



Since tlie time of tlie last report we have suffered the 

 loss by death of several of the oldest and most expe- 

 rienced and representative members, who have been ac- 

 tive and efficient in the Club since its earliest years. 



SLIDES. 



The average character of the slides circulating during 

 the last year or two has been exceptionally good, mainly 

 on account of the special Da series which was added to 

 the regular circuit boxes. There was nothing new in 

 the character or use of the special boxes. Ever since the 

 Club was founded it has been favored with frequent 

 boxes illustrating the work the more active members 

 were doing in their specialties. About a hundred such 

 special boxes have been accepted and circulated, to the 

 great interest and profit of the members. But it has not 

 been attempted, before, to get together enough at one 

 time to make a complete series. When the formation of 

 such a series was under consideration, and the writer, 

 with some doubt as to whether the members and the 

 management could find the time required, expressed a 

 fear that a half year's work would be required to ac- 

 complish it, some members were inclined to regard the 

 statement as a joke. It was not a joke, but it was cer- 

 tainly a mistake. At that time, in March, 1891, much 

 work having already been done in conference and corre- 

 spondence, a well-elaborated plan was published and ex- 

 plained, both in the Annual Report and in a special cir- 

 cular, and every effort was made to carry on the work 

 promptly ; but the series was not completed and ready 

 to hand over to the Secretary for service until exactly 

 two years later, in March, 1893. This is only a part of 

 the truth, however, as some of the promised boxes, in- 

 cluding those expected from some members who were 

 most certain that it would be no responsibility to enter 

 upon such a scheme and no trouble to carry it out, are 

 not in yet — after the series has been in use nearly two 



