200 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [September, 



the society might sign the articles of incorporation, papers being taken 

 out under the District of Columbia laws, and a notary public being on 

 hand for the purpose. 



The society adjourned a little after noon. 



Thursday Afternoon. 



In the afternoon the society visited the office of the Surgeon-General, 

 the Army Museum, and the National Museum, and spent the after- 

 noon in studying the mounted objects that abound in these institutions. 



Thursday Evening — The Soiree. 



The notable feature of the meeting was the microscopic exhibit 

 given for the benefit of the general public. At 8 o'clock the microscop- 

 ical soiree was in successful progress. The illuminated building pre- 

 sented a fine appearance from without. Inside it was filled with light 

 and life. The public had been invited and it accepted the invitation, 

 and not one of the many present went away feeling that he had spent 

 an evening in vain. The wonders revealed by the microscope were 

 spread before the visitors, and the scientific man could look and linger 

 as long as he pleased over the work of his scientific brother. It was a 

 popular evening, and an entertainment as full of instruction as it was 

 interesting. 



Most of the objects chosen for exhibition were those which would 

 best serve to engage and please the average visitor's attention rather 

 than those of the most particular scientific interest. Among them were 

 exquisite crystals of precious stones and metals, alloys, disease 

 growths, animal tissues, forms of vegetable and shell life, hair, the 

 parasites of various creatures, anatomical and physiological specimens, 

 bacteria, trichinae, micro-photographs. 



In a darkened room another exhibitor was throwing the magnified 

 objects upon a screen, after the fashion of a stereopticon. There were 

 crowds of people about all these exhibits, and the exhibitors appeared 

 to take as much pleasure in explaining all about them as the spectators 

 did in viewing them. The soiree was a thorough success. 



A few of the more important exhibits were as follows : 



By Dr. G. N. Acker, with Zeiss : Cross-section of Human Hair. 



By Dr. W. W. Alleger, with Mcintosh : Flea. 



By Dr. E. A. Balloch, with Zentmayer : Stomach of Turtle. 



By Mr. A. F. Bartges, with Zentmayer: Section of Small Intestine. 



By Bausch & Lomb, with B. & L. : Butterfly's Scales, Insect's Scales, 

 arranged Diatoms, Foraminifera, Cornea of Eye of Shrimp, and Rolling 

 Stones (Polariscope). 



By Miss M. A. Booth, with Griffith Club : Hairs of Carpet Beetle, 

 Flea of Cat. 



By Dr. C. T. Caldwell, with B. & L. : Micro-Photographs. 



By Mr. F. T. Chapman, with B. & L. : Electric Sparks. 



By Prof. E. W. Claypole, with B. & L. : Trichina Spiralis in the 

 Earth Worm ; Fungi Growths on the Onion. 



By Mr. Lyman Deck, with B. & L. : Foraminifera. 



By Dr. Chas. IL Dennison, with Schreiber : Eggs of Moth ; Crys- 

 tals of Gold. 



By Dr. H. A. Dobson, with B, & L. : Scales of Brazilian Beetle. 



