Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-04-06
FOR THE LANCASTER GAZETTE.
GEOMETRY

We have before us two works upon &C.
ometry. one by T. Walker, and the other by
~. Grund, recently published, which de-
serve to be examined, and introduced as
text books into our Academies and High
Schools. From Mr.. WIS introduction we
gather much useful information respecting
the history of Geometry.
1t sprung up in Egypt, about six centuries
before Christ, and was from thence immedi-
ately introduced into Greece, where it arose
into the beautiful and perfect science we now
have it. 1t was studied by the philosophers
of Greece. Plato placed over the door of
his school this inscription :-"Let no one
ignorant of Geometry enter here p and told
his disciples that the mind of Deity was
constantly employed with the truths of &C.
ometry. Pythagoras was so overjoyed at
discovering the proposition respecting the
square of the hypotenuse, that he sacrificed
one hundred and fifty oxen to the Muses..
Anaxagoras was imprisoned for some hetero-
doxy in his astronomical opinions, and anus
ed himself in his prison with attempting to
find the quadriture of the circle. The great
Pascal at twelve years of age covered the
walls of his room with diagrams, from his
enthusiasm in science which his father
had prohibited his studying so young. He
had demonstrated the equality of the three
angles of triangle to two right angles,
when his father discovered what he was
about. DR.. Barrow? the ilustrious precep-
tor of Newton, deserves admiration for his
love and enthusiasm of Geometry. Like
Plato, he considered its truths as not unwor-
thy of the contemplation of God, and in
scribed treatise which he published with
these words =" God himself geometrizes !;
oh 1! Lord how great geometer thou art !"
Such is the esteem which Geometry has
gained among the great for more than two
centuries.
Works upon this subject have, till lately,
been any thing but what they should be for
young learners. The science has been lock-
ed up in Euclid, and the editions of his
numerous commentators and even the more
modern work of Legendre is too difficult to
be used as text boook in Academies and
High Schools. 1t is science that ought to
be studied, and studied early, especially by
those in whose course of education it may
in after time form an important branch. 1t
comes into practice at every angle we turn,
and, simpliied as it now is, would form de-
lightful branch of female education-and as
such we hope its claims will be we'll exam
ed by those to whom is committed the guar
dianship of young minds.
From careful examination of these two
works of Messrs. Walker and Grund, and
from the use of one of them as text book,
we think them excellently calculated to
make the study easy and interesting. Eve
ry thing is omitted which tends TO perplex,
rather than inform, the mind. Mr.. Crumbs
work is intended for such as are not versed
in Algebra; and it is wonderful how clear
and simple the study'is rendered, even to
the youngest mind. The subject is treated
in somewhat novel method, by number
of Queres and Answer upon each PROPOSE
ton. Mr.. Walkers work will be found
equally clear and ineligible to those who
are acquainted with Algebra; and when
they have finished the book they will won-
derit contained so much which they never
knew before. C.