1898.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL 61 



Here's richness — it is painful nonsense — to offer sucli 

 stuff is an insult — with pain tempered by uncontrolable 

 laughter — without malice. May I presume to ask, if I do 

 it humbly — with a loud noise — to amaze the groundlings ? 

 Does the Smithsonian know any elementary micros- 

 copy ? Where outside of Washington is tomfoolery 

 taught ? It is useless. I feel pretty sure — an uncorrec- 

 ted Abbe condenser — has for some time been smarting — 

 but it belongs to the public that buys it. Any scientific 

 nonsense the more absurdly inaccurate the better — the 

 reader will be repaid — the back settlements will be im- 

 pressed with millions of diameters and all the preposter- 

 ous results — the other fancy fixings will resolve — a small 

 hole. Won't Abbe Dalliuger and Van Hurk be glad to 

 learn about that hole ? It is not necessary to disturb 

 these — ubiquitious and irresponsible — gentlemen. Is 

 the editor equally ignorant ? Is he a crazy man ? It is 

 of little importance. The beads are in the ash-box- 

 according to his dictum. There is no more ardent lover 

 of salutary medicine than — Pleurosigma pellucida [sic]. 

 I propose to imitate — I am to all intents and purposes 

 — public property open to criticism^ — I don't believe the 

 Smithsonian knows that — even the American will even- 

 tually turn and — the amateur microspist — receives scant 

 courtesy from the amateur — half-informed editors. The 

 editors over the sea possess knowledge enough lo keep 

 from such absurdities — scientific nonsense — painful non- 

 sense. 



Extraordinary manipulative skill — with same nominal 

 focus — would take his objectives apart and hurridily or 

 in any other way — offer such stuff. Where is the leather- 

 medal? It is of little importance — we shall never know. 

 Is there no protection from such balderdash ? When 

 was the whole mass of microscopical rubbish set up ? 

 Where was the editor when that went into print ? 

 Outside of Bedlam — good fun if less sorrow — for incor- 



