1884.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



217 



jects assigned to them. It may seem 

 a simple matter for a person to com- 

 pile an essay on a particular subject 

 suggested by a committee as a sub- 

 ject of general interest for instrviction 

 or discussion. No doubt every 

 member of the society could do such 

 work well, but many will not, be- 

 cause of dithdence or want of incli- 

 nation. 



In a nut-shell — for we must defer 

 further consideration of this subject 

 vmtil next month — if the promoters 

 of a society desire to make its meet- 

 ings of interest, and have faith in its 

 continued prosperity, they must first 

 depend upon their personal and long- 

 sustained efforts to get it firmly es- 

 tablished. If they can make the 

 meetings of value and interest to the 

 members, success will be assured. 



Studies in Microscopical Sci- 

 ence. — We learn from a circular 

 recently received, that the third vol- 

 ume of Mr. A. C. Cole's '■ Studies in 

 Microscopical Science ' is to be pub- 

 lished vmder the editorship of Mr. 

 Cole, but the publishers are J. G. 

 Hammond &. Co., Birmingham, and 

 Balliere, Tindall & Cox, London. 



It is pleasing to know that this very 

 instructive and valuable work is to 

 be continued. Mr. Cole, with con- 

 scientious devotion to his work, and 

 regardless of the continued losses 

 which its publication entailed, ful- 

 filled his promises to the letter, and 

 completed two volumes. We are 

 safe in saying that Mr. Cole has 

 thereby subjected himself to a loss of 

 not less than $3,500.00, a considerable 

 portion of which would have been 

 saved had he stopped the publication 

 at the end of the first volume. This 

 he would not do, but preferred to 

 keep his agreements even at an un- 

 reasonable sacrifice. The work in 

 Mr. Cole's hands has not been even 

 reasonably, far less adequately, sup- 

 ported. 



It is unfortunate for the few con- 

 scientious and self-sacrificing work- 



ers for the general welfare of man- 

 kind, who fondly think the best things 

 are sure to be received and supported 

 for their intrinsic merit, that they ai'e 

 so often doomed to disappointment. 

 No matter how well and conscien- 

 tiously one may endeavor to do a 

 creditable and worthy thing, fi-om the 

 highest motives, disappointment is 

 likely to follow. The best motives, 

 the most conscientious efforts, as 

 many have experienced, are likely 

 to meet with but little encouragement, 

 and may be subject of adverse criti- 

 cism, abuse and ridicule, even by 

 persons in positions of responsibility 

 and honor — for such places are occa- 

 sionally filled by persons by nature 

 and want of culture unfitted for the 

 stations where the accidents of life 

 have placed them. Mr. Cole has not 

 failed to receive high praise and com- 

 mendation for the excellence of the 

 ' studies,' but the practical encourage- 

 ment which he has so well desei"ved 

 has been withheld, or at least not 

 freely given. 



We trust that the new publishers 

 who begin the third volume will find 

 it profitable. They possess great ad- 

 vantages over a private individual ; 

 and we have not the slightest doubt 

 that, with the prestige of the two 

 volumes already published, and 

 the well-known character of the 

 work, thev will find it not unprofit- 

 able. 



There will be four sections with 1 2 

 slides each, published during the 

 year, for ^£4, or either of the single 

 sections, devoted respectively to ' Bo- 

 tanical Histology,' ' Animal Histo- 

 logy,' ' Pathological Histology,' and 

 ' Popular Microscopical Studies,' for 

 £1 Ss. 



Subscriptions and correspondence 

 may be addressed to either of the 

 publishers, or to Mr. Cole, St. Do- 

 mingo House, Oxford Gardens, Not- 

 ting Hill, London. 



We trust the third volume will re- 

 ceive adequate support, and that many 

 subscribers will be found in this 

 country. 



