1895.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 387 



often done in the past — sit still in silence — theywill have them- 

 selves only to blame — not us. 



By contributions, we mean not merely scientific results of 

 labor. We refer to suggestions looking to the development of 

 the society and its plans. At this moment, we and our readers 

 want to know all about the new secretary and his hopes and 

 purposes. We want his portrait and a sketch of his life from 

 some appreciative friend. If he chooses to speak through these 

 columns twelve times per year to the membership in the 

 interests of the society, he shall be entitled to all the space 

 he requires. If he has nothing to say, eleven out of the twelve 

 months, he is not realizing his duty. That society, like every 

 other society, must live on enthusiasm or die. It came near 

 dying in 1892, 1893, and 1894. This year it seems to have re- 

 covered considerable lost ground, for the moment. No one 

 needs to do anything to throw it back into its cataleptic condi- 

 tion of 1892- '4. Simply do nothing and it will be there. An 

 annual meeting of this sort cannot be neglected till a few 

 weeks in advance and then succeed. You should begin now, 

 Messrs. Mercer, Pennock, Latham, Krauss, Eigenmann, Schrenk, 

 and Booth, to create in peoples' minds the idea that the 1896 

 meeting is to be so excellent that they cannot afford to make 

 plans that will interfere with their attendance. The summer 

 schools, foreign travel, seashore and mountain vacations 

 other societies without limit, public and private interests all 

 stand in competition with you. The older and best members 

 of the society are not going to give up superior attractions for 

 the sake of the society meeting merely on some vague sentiment 

 — such as "loyalt}'- to the organization." Unless the organiza- 

 zation shows its loyalty to the membership by furnishing them 

 enthusiasm and superior attractions the membership will laugh 

 in the sleeve when they are exhorted to loyalty. Loyalty be- 

 gets loyalty. Apathy produces apathy. We call on the new 

 officers to announce their programme. Is it loyalty or apathy? 

 We forewarn our readers to look in this for communicat- 

 ions from the seven persons above-named in response to this 

 question: "What can you, the members and the Journal be doing 

 at once towards making the 1896 meeting the best ever held?" 



Some things the Journal can do. We now offer free of 

 all charge, an advertising page (worth $100 dollars per year) to 



