Ti2 HIDDEN BEAUTIES OF NATURE 



' Yet what are the facts ? Not only will the 

 microscope reveal this object, and show it to be beau- 

 tiful, but also complex, symmetrical, and covered 

 with a multitude of lines crossing each other in 

 astonishing regularity, resembling the lines on the 

 cases of some gold watches. Each variety of diatom 

 has its own special pattern. Owing to this multitu- 

 dinous crossing of lines, there are spaces between 

 which make up devices of exquisite beauty and of 

 geometrical accuracy. 



' After viewing the diatom as a whole, we shall put 

 on a higher power to the instrument and examine 

 one of the intervening spaces formed by the inter- 

 crossing lines, and then we shall have an enlarged 

 and magnificent design, only one out of thousands, 

 on one side of the diatom ! There seems to be no 

 end to minuteness. We fail because our microscopes 

 fail, just as the telescope cannot limit infinity. But as 

 these are both progressive instruments we are looking 

 forward to further conquests in both directions 

 telescopic and microscopic. The end wall of this 

 drawing-room is about twenty feet long and seventeen 

 feet high. With the lantern we can show you a 

 photograph of our diatom taken through the micro- 

 scope.' 



1 Stop a minute, please,' interposed the lady ; ' I do 

 not quite follow you, for you say you photograph the 

 diatom through the microscope. This seems as if 

 the invisible could be brought into view. How is this 

 done?' 



