Conversazione at the Corn Exchange.

The Doncaster Microscopical and Scientific Society held its second conversazione on Wednesday evening last, at the corn Exchange. The society is rapidly growing and improving, and is one which appeals to every class of the community, one if its most cherished objects being to foster a sympathy with scientific pursuits and attainments amongst the working class – to popularise, so to speak, useful scientific knowledge. To this end the excellent series of lectures, announced under the Gilchrist Educational Trust, has been organized – lectures which will prove, we have no doubt, real intellectual treats to all who hear them; indeed, Doncaster must acknowledge itself very much indebted to its Microscopical and Scientific Society for the advantages of hearing such men as Dr. Carpenter, Mr. R. A. Procter, Mr. Dallinger and the other eminent lecturers who will address audiences here in the first three months of the ensuing year.

The Rev. George Smith, the Head Master of the Grammar School, and one of the Vice-Presidents of the society, has taken up its work with the spirit and anergy so happily inaugurated by the popular president, the Rev. Canon Brock, and it is partly through his exertions, we believe, that these lectures have been arranged for, besides which he has most consistently lent the Grammar School for the meetings of the Society. A more indefatigable secretary no society could have than this one has found in Mr. Stiles, whose congenial tastes make the office a real pleasure to him and of the highest service and advantage to the members. For this particular entertainment however, Mr. J. M. Kirk most kindly undertook the duties of honorary secretary, and very admirably he discharged his manifold duties. Proverbially a good organiser and an active, cheerful worker, the Corn Exchange was quickly metamorphosed by him into a very creditable exhibition, with stalls and tables covered in crimson cloth and screens studded with oil paintings, engravings and other pictures.

 Over 400 acceptances had been received by the secretary, and there was a large and fashionable gathering, the number present being nearly 500. The Corn Exchange looked bright and comfortable but was only just enough for the company which assembled. Plants and flowers for purposes of decoration had been kindly sent by W. Cockill, Esq., P. Stirling, Esq. J. P., W. E. Shirley, Esq., Town Clerk; B. S. Brundell, esq., Christ Church House; Mr. J. Howard, of the Deaf and Dumb Institute; Mr. J. Keyworth.

On the left side of the room a screen had been placed under the gallery, and against it hung a collection of oil paintings and engravings, most tastefully arranged by Mr. F. W. Masters and Mr. Fogg, High-street, the collection being supplied by Mr. B. S. Brundell, Mr. C. D. Clayton, and Mr. Fogg. Several of the oil paintings were exceedingly valuable ones, notably Seathwaite Tarn, belonging to Mr. Brundell; and an engraving, after Dore, the property of Mr. Clayton, was often commentated upon. Mr. Kirk’s very handsome wedding present was conspicuous amongst the microscopes, the object shown – of course it possessed a name of extraordinary length – being beautifully illuminated by electric light. The same gentleman had other objects for exhibition, including a series of drawings of diatoms, preserved birds and a vivarium. Al. W. C. Clark had on view an extensive collection of antiquities, which he took an evident pleasure in explaining to those who were interested in them. Mr. Cuttriss, St. Sepulchre -gate, had quite an interesting collection of articles, There was the railway of the future, propelled by electricity, an electric lamp fitted to the microscope, and another under water, a most ingenious contrivance know as the electric gas lighter, and an electric-motor driving a sewing machine and ventilating fan, The swan electric lamp was also shown on the same table, and whilst in this department we may mention that it was originally intended to light the room with electricity, an experiment which would have excited some interest at this time, but the Hammond Company, to whom applications had been made, were unable to complete the arrangements in time for the conversazione. Mr. Wilde’s collection of telegraphic apparatus and telephones, and Mr. Cowley’s exhibits deserve special mention.

 At intervals during the evening there was an exhibition behind the screen of oxy-hydrogen views, under the management of Mr. Stiles and Mr. Cowley, and some curious objects were brought yo light, not the least interesting being a small-quantity of water – let us hope not from Ravenfield – full of animal life in a most disagreeable and objectional form. Some of the fossils and diatoms were exceedingly beautiful. The tables, which were arranged in lines down the room, were laden with a numerous collection of curiosities, geographical specimens and scientific apparatus, and were also embellished with flowers and plants; and Mr. Gregory’s hand, which occupied a conspicuous position on the platform, gave a selection of music which proved a pleasant accompaniment to the evening’s proceedings.

During an interval the company assembled in the vicinity of the platform and listened to a brief but most interesting lecture by Mr. A. H. Allen, public analyst for Doncaster and the West Riding, on “Sensitive and Singing Flames.” He said he need not point out that the very sounds which struck on their ears were produced by vibrations or quiverings of the bodies which produced them. There was a difference between a noise and a musical note. A noise might be produced by a simple knock, but if he succeeded in repeating that by a number of taps, they would not know but that they were one tap, because the ear would continue to vibrate at least the sixteenth part of a second, and if those taps were regular they would have a musical note. By means of an instrument called a siren they could ascertain the rate of vibration at which any musical note was produced. The same pitch of musical note was always produced by the same vibration. A fly flapped its wings about 2,000 times in a second, and the noise produced by the humming bird was produced by the rapid flapping of its wings. If the puffing of an engine were to occur with sufficient rapidity it would herald its approach with an organ peal of great power. He placed a glass tube over a flame, and as soon as the latter came to a particular position in the pipe it began to “sing”, and the note it gave was dependant upon the length of the tube. A short tube produced a high note, and a longer tube a lower note. The flame was so sensitive that it was inclined to go out, and when the lecturer sounded a note of the same pitch it was actually extinguished. Then when he sounded a particular note, the flame responded and sung in tones which almost equalled the siren-like voices of the fair sex. He also said the alphabet to the naked flame and showed how sensibly affected it was by hissing tones or letters containing a high pitch. He said he was afraid they could not make money by sensitive flames, and he was glad of it because he would not like everything to come to a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence, but he had endeavored to find some useful application of those flames, The flame, he showed, responded to a whistle by spitting into two forks, and coming in contact with a leaden wire, an alarm bell was set in action which he said might be of use if a burglar should enter their house during the night.

This interesting experiment concluded the lecture, and Mr. Allen thanked the audience for their attention.

The following gentlemen lent their microscopes: –
The Rev. Canon Brock
Rev. W. R. Weston
Dr, J. Mitchel Wilson
Dr. A. C. Wilson
Mr. M. H. Stiles
Mr. J. M. Kirk
Rev. R. M. Withington
Mr. W. T. Jackson
Mr. Matthewman
Mr. F. Milner
Mr. H. Milner
Mr. G. Winter
Mr. Peter Thellusson
Mr. Cheesman
Mr. E. A. Kirk
Mr. B. S. Brundell
Mr. C. M. Hartley
Mr. W. Roberts
Mr. H. White
Mr. Lewis
Professor Armstrong
Dr. Burman
Mr. W. Walker, M.R.C.S.
Mr. Bunker, for the Goole Naturalists’ Society
Mr. Birks, Goole
Mr. Harrison

Interesting Collections were also exhibited by: –

Mr. Cowley : Series of Lantern transparencies, micro-photographs, and views of natural phenomena, shown by the oxy-hydrogen light, illuminated vacuum tubes revolved by electricity.
Mr. Cuttriss : Electric railway, electric lamp fitted to microscope, electric lamp under water, electric gas lighter, electric-motor driving a sewing machine and ventilating fan,
Mr. Wilde : A collection of telegraphic apparatus, telephones.
Messrs. Willoughby and Clarke : Apparatus for the production of photo-micrographs, with experimental illustrations.
Mr. Simmons : Fossils etc.
Mr. Newton : British bird’s eggs.
Mr. G. Winter : Graphoscope and views
Mr. H. Bell : Stereoscope.
Mr. Somerset : Stereoscope.
Mr. Rochefort Connor, member of the Chester Microscopical Society: 55 original pen and ink drawings from the microscope, 8 sheets of photographs, illustrations of the adulteration of food, etc.
Mr. M. H. Stiles : A series of 150 dried wild plants collected near Doncaster; snakes and insects from Demerara; photographs of microscopic objects.
Mr. Tindall : A collection of British butterflies in 6 cases; case of insects, etc., from Brazil.
Mr. Rand : Case of Indian butterflies, collection of Indian curiosities.
Mr. Bryce Wright, London : A collection of flint and bronze implements, illustrating the antiquity of man.
Mr. Ballinger : Geographical specimens.
Mr. Longbottom: Geographical specimens, a collection of preserved birds and animals.
Ald, W. C. Clark : Antiquities of various periods found in and near Doncaster.
Mr. Howard : Geological specimens, a collection of preserved birds and animals.
Mr. Storrs : Natural history specimens, a three fold scrap screen.
Mr. J. M. Kirk : Preserved birds, Vivarium. Series of drawings of diatoms.
Mr. Barlow : Microscopist’s tank arranged for the study and examination of minute pond life.
Mr. T. H. Easterfield : British fossils and minerals, British bird’s eggs, Album of Jersey sea weeds.
Mr. Peter Thellusson : Instantaneous photographs of yachts under weigh and yachts racing.
Mr. Somerville : Russian and other curiosities.
Mr. Bunker : A collection of shells from Goole and the neighbourhood.
Mr. Cheesman : A collection of 165 dried plants.

[The Doncaster Chronicle, Friday, October 27, 1882]