10 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Jan. 



that a busy worker cares at the end of a hard day's work 

 to go to them. 



(1.) Because often they are inconveniently situated. 



(2.) Members come or meetings begin after time. 



(3.) Arranged so late that suburbanites have to leave in 

 the midst of a discussion or miss the last train. 



(4.) Business is not so well conducted as it might be 

 and speakers brought to time. 



(5.) Papers are often not particularly adapted for the 

 Society or only of slight interest to the majority. 



(6.) That the subject has to be discussed off-hand and 

 few people are ready to do that quickly and well. 



(7.) That free discussion in some instances has to be 

 limited on account of length of paper or business. 



(8.) Lack of practical work in societies. 



(9.) Danger of "clerkism." 



(10.) The lack of a good microscopical loan and ref- 

 erence library and cabinet. 



The exact way to secure a better attendance and more 

 interest is first to offer some advantage, the next to secure 

 working people for the society and exclude those who 

 will not work or contribute and avoid such members. 



The old saying is true — we cannot please all but we can 

 a few and that few will help and do it willingly. A few 

 suggestions I would offer for society work in general. 



If the essayist be chosen long enough, let him or 

 one of the programme committee secure debates on the 

 question. All papers when possible should be illus- 

 trated by photographs, preparations, and if possible 

 methods should be shown and criticism offered. 



Once a year an annual Soiree should be held and a well 

 known but excellent popular lecturer secured to give a 

 short address, illustrating with the lantern and speci- 

 mens. After the lecture a social looking over of speci- 

 mens, discussing what was seen, modes of staining and 



