164 
POPULAR SCIENCE NEWS. 
[November, 1891. 
©he ©tit-®©op ^orld. 
Edited by HARLAN H. BALLARD, 
President of the Agassiz Association. 
[P. O. Address, Pittsfield, Mass.] 
AWARD OF THE MICROSCOPE PRIZE. 
In awarding the microscope prize offored last 
spring by the publisliers of the Popular Science 
News for the best record of personal observations 
liept by any member of the Agassiz Association, 
tlie same difi\eulty has been met with that so 
greatly puzzled tlie committee of last yeai' — that 
of deciding whicli one of several papers nearly 
equal in merit and utterly ditl'erent in topic and 
method ought fairly to be considered the best. 
Although the number of papers entered in compe- 
tition was not as large as could have been desired, 
they were all excellent in every way, and it was 
difficult to malie any distinction between them. 
•However, after due consideration, the committee 
has decided to award the prize of a fine Acme No. 
5 microscope, made by Queen & Co., of Philadel- 
phia, to Miss Mattie VVadsvvohth, of Hallowell, 
Maine, whose ol)servations of plant and animal 
life in her neighborhood indicate a true love of 
Nature and unusual skill in observation ; and tliey 
are all the more meritorious in that they were 
obtained and recorded under unusual difficulties. 
We hope to publish this paper in whole or in part 
in an early number of "The Out-Door World." 
Honorable mention is also made of each of the 
following competitors : Mr. C. E. Waters, Balti- 
more, Md. ; Miss Mary Louise Fostei-, Jamaica 
Plain, Mass.. and Miss Laura J. Aldrich, Phillips, 
Maine, all of wliose papers were of the very high- 
est value and in hardly any respect inferior to 
that to which the prize was awarded. The pub- 
lishers of the Science News have indicated their 
w illingness to renew their ofl'er of a prize for the 
season of 1892 if the interest taken by the mem- 
bers of the Agassiz Association in their •'official 
organ " is sufficient to warrant them in so doing. 
Erratu.m. — The address of Professor Doggett 
of the A. A. Council is 107 Lexington, street. East 
Boston, instead of Livingstone street, as incor- 
rectly printed in the October number. 
SEA-SIDE ASSEMBLY, AGASSIZ ASSOCIA- 
TION. 
A new Chapter of the A. A., with twentj'-two 
members, was organized at Avon-by-the-Sea, N. J., 
on August 21, 1801. An "Agassiz Day " had been 
arranged for, and the organization of a society at 
that time had been determined upon by a number 
of those connected with the Sea-Side Assembly. 
A circular was also sent out early in August, 
extending a general invitation to all members of 
the Agassiz Association to be present. 
Agassiz Day, August 21, was observed as fol- 
lows : 
In the morning a reception and microscopical 
exhibition was lield in the new Biological Labora- 
tory. The building was filled with visitors during 
the whole of the morning, who viewed the objects 
placed under the microscopes and inspected tlie 
various collections of plants and animals. It was 
admitted by all that the new laboratoiy, which 
had been built for the purpose, was admirably 
adapted, by its location and equipment, for the 
study of biology in its various branches. 
In the afternoon a public meeting was iield in 
the auditorium. Prof. Arthur M. Miller, of Wil- 
80U College, Chambersburgh, Pa., spoke on the 
history and objects of the Agassiz Association ; 
and it was found to be the \\ ish of those present 
that a society should be organized at once. The 
form of application for a charter was signed by 
twenty-two persons, and a name was chosen for 
the Chapter — "The Sea-Side Assembly Chapter of 
the Agassiz Association, Avon-by-the-Sea, New 
Jersey." Prof. George Macloskie, Sc. D., LL. D., 
professor of biology in Piinceton College, was 
elected President, and Rev. John E. Peters, Sc.D., 
was elected Secretary and Treasurer. Prof. Lyman 
A. Best, B. Sc, Principal of Pjublic School No. l.S, 
Brooklyn, N. Y., a member of the Chapter, then 
delivered by request an address upon "Methods 
of Teacliing Natural History in Our Public 
Schools." 
* 
In the evening Prof. A. M. Miller gave an illus- 
trated lecture on "Fossil Collecting in the Bad 
Lands of Oregon." 
The next day was set apart as a "field-daj^," 
and it was given up to marine collecting in the 
morning and to botanizing in the afternoon. 
This Chapter is necessarily somewhat excep- 
tional in its nature, as it is made up of members 
from all parts of our land, and can only meet dur- 
ing July and August of each year. Nevertheless, 
as the membership is a very strong one, it may be 
expected that most excellent work-will be done. 
Why cannot we have other similar vacation 
A. A. Chapters organized in others of our sea-side 
resorts? Certainly there is a place for many such 
Chapters as the Sea-Side Assembly Chapter at 
Avon-by-the-Sea, N. J. 
We cordially welcome this new Chapter, which 
is new in a double sense — new in that it is not 
only one very recently organized, but also new 
since it represents a new department of work, 
namely, that of vacation work by the sea-side. 
We shall await the report of the work done in 
1892 with much interest. In the mean time this 
new Chapter has been enrolled as No. 593, and 
the roll of its charter members follows: 
1. William M. Albertl, U2 West 23d street, New York 
City. 
2. Mrs. William M. Albertl. 
3. Principal Lymau A. Bent, B. Sc, Public School No. 13, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 
4. William M. Barr, 3,225 Powelton avenue, Philadel- 
phia, Pa. 
5. Mrs. William M. Barr. 
6. Miss Marie Dacie, Washington Heights, Now York 
City. 
7. Mme. Le Prince, .Jumel Mansion, 163d street, St. Nich- 
olas avenue, New York City. 
8. Miss Marie Le Prince. 
9. Miss Lucy Edgar, 133 Linwood avenue, Buffalo, N. Y.; 
care Mrs. Fred Hodge. 
10. Francis E. Lloyd, A. B., Williams College, Williams- 
town, Mass.. 
11. Prof. George Macloskie, Sc.D., LL. D., Princeton 
College, Princeton, N. J. 
12. Prof. Arthur M. Miller, A. M., Eaton, Ohio. 
13. Miss Eleanor T. Morrison, 11 Mountain avenue, 
North Plainllcld, N. J. 
14. Rev. John E. Peters, Sc. D., Pleasantvllle, N. J. 
15. H. T. Pearce, 3,104 Mantua avenue. West Philadel^ 
phia, I'a. 
16. Mrs. H. T. Pearce. 
17. Miss Florence B. Held, 354 Madison street, Brooklyn, 
N. Y. 
18. Miss Mary Sterling, Mansion House, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
19. A. L. Turner, M. D., 3,S58 Chestnut street, Pliiladel- 
phia. Pa. 
20. Miss Katlierine M. West, Instructor in City High 
School, Bridgeport, Conn. 
21. Rev. Alfred A. Wright, D. D., 38 Bromlleld street, 
Boston, Mass. 
22. A. Wesley Wright, 9 Clinton slreet, Cambridge, Mass. 
A CHAPTER IN TASMANIA. 
Since our previous report an interesting Chap- 
ter has been organized in 'I'asmania — a land so 
distant and strange that most of us will have to 
resort to our atlases to refresh our memories of 
its precise location. This is a family Chapter of 
four members, and the Secretary — ^Irs. H. Bar- 
nard, 8 Molle street, Hobart, Tasmania — will be 
pleased to hear from Chapters in the United 
States, and will doubtless be able to give her cor- 
respondents many interesting facts concerning 
the natural wonders of her island home. Postage 
to Tasmania is twelve cents for each lialf ounce. 
We note with equal pleasure the formation of a 
strong Chapter in Williamsport, Pa., of which 
Miss Emma Campbell, 160 East Fourth street, is 
Secretary. Now is a most favorable time to or- 
ganize for a pleasant winter's work. All are cor- 
(Jially welcome. 
CHANGE OF ADDRESS. 
Prof. L. C. Wooster, whose helpful " Key to 
the Families of Insects " was recently noticed in 
"Tlie Out-Door World," desires us to note that 
his addix'ss is now Eureka, Kansas. Professor 
Wooster is organizing a Chapter of the Agassiz 
Association, and will gladly render any needed 
assistance to students of cntomologj'. 
"The World of Matter: a Guide to the Study 
of Cheniistr3' and Mineralogy,"' the first of the 
series of popular "science guides," by the Pi-esi- 
deut of the A. A., will be issued from the press 
November 1. 
Arrangements have been made with the pub- 
lishers of Popular Science News to continue 
the A. A. department, "The Out-Door World," 
and we again invite the cooperation ot all Chap- 
ters and members in extending the eiiculation of 
this magazine. During 1891 the A. A. secured 
one hundred new subscribers for Popular Sci- 
ence News. Can we not get one thousand dur- 
ing 1892 •? 
AN AGASSIZ GIRL LIVES TO TELL HOW 
THE LIGHTNING STRUCK HER. 
When an "Agassiz girl" sees a mouse, a spider, 
or a snake, instead of screaming and running away 
in foolish fright, she picks it up for study ; and 
when she is struck by lightning she impi-oves the 
opportunity to add to her knowledge of electrical 
science. The following interesting account comes 
from Miss Mary A. C. Avery, of Ledyard, Conn., 
Secretary of Chapter 739 : 
I was struck by lightning about 11 o'clock Sun- 
day morning, Oct. 19, 1890. We live a mile and 
a half from churcli, and so always ride. That 
morning it threatened rain, but we went as usual. 
When near the "gieen" it thundered and began 
to rain; so we drove quickly under the first shed 
to wait until the shower passed, as we knew we 
were in good season. While sitting in the car- 
riage — mother and I on the same seat, and father 
between us on a small extra seat- — the ciash came, 
but I neither heani it nor saw the lightning. The 
church, row of sheds, and store were all included 
in the path of the curi-ent. Our horse began 
floundei-iug, and father sprang to free him from 
the carriage, lest we be hui-t by his kicking. 
Mother scrambled out as best she could. She 
says she remembeis noticing that I said nothing 
during the confusion, but she attributed it to my 
courage with a horse. Presently father, looking 
up, saw me toppled over in my place, and, calling 
out that I was hurt, they secured help to carry 
me to a house, where they dashed on water, an<i 
after a time gave me brandy and water. My body 
was limp and no pulse could be felt. At the end 
of Iialf an hour I revived enough to saj', " Where 
