The Doncaster Chronicle, Friday 6 March 1885

The Conversazione.

The Microscopical and General Scientific Society, moved by a worthy and hospitable impulse, took advantage of the occasion to invite the principal residents of the town and neighbourhood to a full-dress conversazione in honour of the visit of Lord Walsingham and the Yorkshire Naturalists to Doncaster. By kind permission of the Mayor, the Mansion House was placed at their disposal, and upwards of300 guests assembled soon after eight o’clock and found ample preparations made for their reception, after the intellectual fashion of a society which in the past few years has modestly yet persistently and successfully sought to respond to the more cultivated tastes and to promote the higher education of the community amongst whom, we are happy to say, it has found a fairly well-established place.

The invitations were issued in the name of President (the Rev Canon Brock), the Vice-presidents, and the Committee of the Society, and it must have been gratifying to every member to find that their efforts were so well appreciated. The company was not only large but thoroughly representative, and the beautiful rooms of the fine old Mansion House, generally associated with scenes of animation, more frequently of muscular gaiety, were alive with the amateur patoise of science and discovery, It was all so wonderful, so scientific, as all too consummately clever!

But, nevertheless, there was real solid pleasure and much ground for thought and reflection. The splendid array of microscopes and the really magnificent collection of “objects” were all the while doing good, if silent, work. The daisy or cowslip in the meadow, the primrose or the bluebell in the wood, the woodbine or the wild rose in the hedge, in their own sweet and natural way, preach by day the one great and all-absorbing lesson which scientific research aided by scientific appliances has here engaged in emphasing by night – the wonderful mystery, the surpassing beauty , the marvellous symmetry, and the splendid economy of Nature, and hence the incomprehensible wisdom of Nature’s God. This surely, and no other, was the only true and rational interpretation of all the proceedings, whether of the naturalists or the scientist, of Tuesday last. Both did their work well.

An exceedingly fine collection of microscopes had been brought, and chiefly through the exertions of Mr. M. H. Stiles, the able and energetic secretary of the Microscopical Society, and Mr. J. M. Kirk, one of the cleverest and most industrious exponents and demonstrators, the whole had been admirably “fixed” with a rich succession of valuable and attractive slides. The Rev. George Smith, M.A., (Head of the Grammar School), to whom the Microscopical Society is immeasurably indebted for his kind and practical assistance on all occasions, was also a skilful helper in the preparatory work. The microscopes were arranged on crimson-covered tables in the saloon and banqueting room, each with its lamp and condenser cleverly placed – the ball-room being reserved for music, and the drawing-room as a lounge, and light refreshments being constantly served in the little apartment over the vestibule close by.

The microscopes were principally lent by members of the society. Ten years ago, or fifteen, the microscopes in Doncaster might probably have been countered on the fingers of one hand, and here we had a collection of sixty, the majority of them local instruments, and exhibiting, in some cases, objects secured and mounted by the exhibitors.

Mr. Stiles and Mr. Kirk were especially successful, the latter gentleman showing his handsome presentation microscope and other instruments illuminated by the Electric Light. There were here two objects at least of marvellous beauty and phenomenal interest, namely, the stephenoccros eichornii, and the marine algae under polarised light rotated by electricity. In the one the presence of life was detected in the spasmodic appearance of a fibrous lobe of tiny dimensions, but exquisite form, which, after unfolding itself leisurely and systematically, seemed to rest awhile, and then close up again, and so suddenly disappear, and this went on again and again. The effect of the polarised light in rotation was to give some wonderfully pretty casts of colour, the prisms changing constantly and gradually. The electric appliances were clever and ingenious. Mr. Stiles’ vovox globator under black ground illumination had as many admirers as any thing in the room. Here was life again – beautiful, symmetrical, marvellous life, and very splendidly shown. Dr. Crowther’s young spider, just hatched, was a most remarkable baby to look at, and Mr. J. H. Branson’s (Leeds). Microscopical atom, the cholera bacillus of Koch was grimly fascinating, Mr. B. S. Brundell’s pollen of Marsh Mallow, and Mr. W, Roberts’s scales of Lepidoptera – heard so much about during the day – arranged to represent groups of flowers, were also very attractive. The diatom and spine exhibits, took well as they always do, and a current of electricity under the microscope proved very curious.

Messrs. Watson and Sons, of London, and Messrs. Chadburn, of Sheffield, showed microscopes and apparatus of their own manufacture, and several of these were most powerful and beautifully finished instruments. Both makers are evidently well abreast of all the latest developments and improvements of the day. A novel and entertaining feature was Mr. Cuttriss’s electric railway, which occupied nearly the whole length of one side of the saloon, and was always running, the motor being given from a small battery under the table.

In the orchestra of the Ball-room Mr. Kirk’s band, led by Mr. C. Reasbeck, had taken up a position, and played a charming selection of music during the evening, with skill and effect, and at intervals there were performances on Metzler’s organ-piano, mentioned in these columns last week, and shown bt Messrs. Meacock and Son, the sole agents.

We conclude with a more detailed list of the principal exhibitors of Microscopes and objects : –

Rev. Canon Brock – Section of Ruscus aculeatus
Mr. Stiles- Volvox globator under black ground illumination
Mr. J. M. Kirk – Stephanoceros eichorn under paraboloid illumination by electric light. Marine algae under polarised light, rotated by electricity.
Mr. W. Roberts – Scales of Lepidoptera arranged to represent groups of flowers.
Mr. F. Milner – Polycistina.
Mr. Matthewman – Cordylophora.
Dr, Mitchell Wilson – Diatoms.
Mr. Lewis – Echinus spines.
Mr. W. T. Jackson – Section of Osmunda regalis.
Mr. R. S. Brundell – Pollen of Marsh Mallow.
Dr. Burman – Cuticles of leaves.
Dr, Christy Wilson – Diatoms.
Mr. G. Winter – Lophopus.
Mr. H. Milner – Proboscis of fly.
Mr. P, Thellusson – Foraminiferoe.
Mr. W. N. Cheesman – Mosses.
Mr. C. Mandall Hartley – Section Eucalyptus globulus
Rev. W. R. Weston – Polariscope objects
Mr. Comer – Triceratium septaugulum.
Mr. W. Tindall – Various infusoria.
Mr Tindall – Rotifers.
Mr. H. Cockill – Heliopelta.
Rev. E. H. Bennett – Polycistina
Rev. A. E. Blomfield – Foraminiferoe.
Rev. F. H. Allen – Section of lung.
Mr. W. H. Stott – Botanical preparations.
Mr. Croft – Infusoria.
Dr. Crowther (Wakefield), Young spider just hatched.
Mr. Hasselby – Various.
Mr. W. T. Gent – Polycistina.
Mr. Allen – Crystals.
Mr. Peet – Wool sections.
Mr. J. H. Branson (Leeds) – The cholera bacillus of koch. Micro spectra of metals.
Messrs. Watson & Sons (London) – A collection of microscopes, various apparatus, and a number of cases of objects, etc.
Messrs. Chadburn (Sheffield) – Nine microscopes and objects.
Mr. J. Bennett, F.R.M.S. (Bradford) – Butterfly scales arranged in a bouquet, and a group of diatoms.
Mr. Cutriss – Electric railway.