1884.] 



MICKOSOOPICAL JOUKNAL. 



213 



continued improvement. We may 



be well content if it has been our 

 privilege to give assistance and good 

 advice to some of our many readers 

 who use the microscope to unfold the 

 beauties or the mysteries of the micro- 

 scopic world. 



It has not been our privilege to 

 please all, but long ago we gave np 

 any hope of doing things which ex- 

 perience had shown were not possi- 

 ble. Probably no man ever held the 

 position of editor who gave universal 

 satisfaction. From this thought we 

 derive consolation. 



Popularity, however, is not what 

 we have been aiming at in conduct- 

 ing this Journal. While earnestly 

 wishing f o r the advancement of 

 knowledge in all directions, and in 

 every branch of science, we have 

 niore than once given offence by 

 withholding cordial support to popu- 

 lar movements when every consider- 

 ation of policy and personal benefit 

 clearly demanded a difierent course. 

 Yet one must have opinions, and, 

 without regard to their value in any 

 particular instance, is it not more 

 creditable for one to be actuated by 

 convictions well considered rather 

 than by any personal interests that 

 may be at stake? Well, we have 

 sometimes been rather outspoken, 

 and have oftended a few now and 

 then who have, with what reason 

 they themselves best know, given 

 personal application, to themselves 

 or others, to our very impersonal re- 

 marks ; but, so far as we know, the 

 world goes on about as usual, and so 

 does our magazine — only it is im- 

 proving all the time, and its circula- 

 tion is increasing. 



The point of all this is, that this 

 Journal is conducted, as no other 

 microscopical paper in this country is 

 at the present time, purely in the in- 

 terests of science and of persons en- 

 gaged in scientific study, whether 

 professional men or amateur observ- 

 ers. It is, therefore, absolutely inde- 

 pendent. It is untrammeled by con- 

 siderations of trade ; its opinions are 



freely expressed without regard to 

 their influence upon the sale of any 

 article or device that may be brought 

 into notice. Its criticisms are well 

 considered from the stand-point of ex- 

 perience, and in view of the numer- 

 ous applications of the microscope, 

 and not random attacks, indicative of 

 restricted experience and narrow per- 

 sonal opinions. 



These features have been recog- 

 nized by some from the beginning of 

 its career, and in five years they have 

 given a character to the Journal in 

 which we may well find satisfaction. 



To the many contributors who 

 have favored us with interesting arti- 

 cles for publication we extend our 

 thanks, and to the still larger number 

 of constant readers we can promise a 

 coming volume full of interesting mat- 

 ter, and we trust they will all take early 

 steps to secure the January number. 

 o 



To Subscribers. — The subscrip- 

 tion-book for the ensuing year is al- 

 ready opened, and a few names have 

 already been entered in it. This year 

 the plan of requiring subscriptions to 

 be paid in advance was adopted, and 

 it has given such perfect satisfaction, 

 and lessened the work of keeping the 

 records so greatly, that we shall here- 

 after open a new subscription-list 

 each year, and no names will be en- 

 tered upon it until payments are 

 made. The Januaiy number of 1885 

 will only be sent on receipt of the 

 subscription-price. Sample copies 

 will not be sent to old subscribers 

 next year. 



The terms of subscription will be 

 the same as this year, viz., $1.00 if 

 payment is received before April i, 

 1885, ''"<^' $^-50 if received on or 

 after that date. These terms will be 

 strictly adhered to. W^e have hard- 

 ened our heart against the excuses or 

 apologies based upon '■ procrastina- 

 tion' or 'negligence' both of which 

 are reprehensible, and especially so 

 when applied to such a small matter 

 as the payment of one dollar deferred 

 three months. 



