Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-16
THE YOUNG PHILOSOPHICAL.

The YOUNG PHILOSOPHER.
"Tell me, father what is meant By geometry p
Such were the words Of a child of nine years old
one summer evening in the year 1882 They were
uttered in large room in house in Paris and
addressed 10 pale, Misunderstanding man in the
prime OF life. lie was seated at a table covered
with books, maps, &C., and the shade which deep
thought and incessant study had cast over his brow
was dsspatedby the WeIl-peased smile with which
he gazcd on the upturu9d face of his little son. 1t
was no common countenance he looked on: child
ish as were the features mind had stamped them,
and tervent soul looked through those br ght Young
eyes, as the boy anXousy awaited his fathers re-
ply.
"Gcometry, my child, is the science which con-
sidGrs the extent Of bodies; that is to say, their
three dimensions-length, breadth, and depth it
teaches how to form figures in just, precise man
ner, and to compare thom one with another"
"Father," said the child. 81 will learn goomo-
tryw
"Nay, my boy, you are too young and sicliy for
such study; you have been all day poring over
your books. Go now into the garden with your
cousin Charles, and have pleasant game Of play
this fine evening"
81 don't care for the playhngs that amuse
Charles, and he does not like my books DO, father
let me stay here with you; and tell me ifthe straight
and round lines you often draw are part Of geomc-
try"
The father sighed as he looked at the slight
taking the little burning hand in his, and putting
aside his books, dwell, Baise," he answered, :" !
will take a walk with you myself, and we will
breathe the fresh air, and smell the sweet flowers
but you must ask me no more questions about &C.
onetry."
Such was one of the first manifestations of Baise
PascaPs intellect: the early dawning of that math-
ematcal genius destined IN a few years to astonish
Europe, and which would probably have achieved
wonders in science, rvalllng the subsequent dis
coyories of Newton and La Place. had he not,
while still young, abandoned the pursuit Of earthly
knowledge, and dedicated all his powers Of mind
and body to the service Of religion and the good
of his leow-men
His father, Etienne Pascal, was a man OF talent,
well known and much esteemed by the literati Of
his day. lie felt parents pride in watching the
opening powers of his sons mind, but he also felt
parents fears for the fragile form which enshrn-
ed it, and he wisely sought to draw the little Blnse
from his darling sedentory studies, and induce hun
to share in the outdoor amusements which boys of
his age in general love- Having himself expert
enced the absorbing nature of mathematical pur-
suits, he did not wish his son to engage in them
until his mind should be maturcd and his body in
greaerygor; and as 3lase did not again mention
the word geometry, and ceased to linger SO long in
the study, his father hoped that balls and hoops had
at length chased circles and trpngles from his BRAIN
At the end Of a long corridor in Nj. Pascals house
there was an apartment which was used only as Il
nmber.room, and consequently seldom opened
lie one day entered it in search of some article,
and what was his surprise to see li,te Baise lnce-
ing on the floor, and, with piece Of charcoal in
his hand, busily occupied in drawing triangles, cir
Giles, and paoilclograms The child was SO much
absorbed in his employment that he needed not the
opening Of the door, and it was not till his father
spoke that he raised his head. "What are you do
ing, child"
so father, don't be angry; indeed could not
put geometry out Of my mind; every night used
10 lie awake thinking of it, and SO came here 10
work away at these lines"
Nj. Pascal looked, and with delighted astonish.
lnont perceived that his child without instruction.
without knowing the name of a single geomclrcul
figure, had demonstrated that the three angles Of
every Triangle taken together, are equal 10 two
right angcs-a truth established by the thirtv-sec-
ond proposition Of the first book Of Euclid The
father now saw that it was in vain to rcpress his
sons thirst for knowledge: he gave him every as
eistance in the study Of mathematics while at the
same time he watched over his health. Arrived at
the age Of eleven years, this wonderful boy COM
posed Il treatise on the nature of sound; in which
he sought to explain why glass, when struck by
knife, gives sound that ceases as soon as the
hand is applied to it. Five years afterwards APP
peared his celebrated "Treatise on Comic Sec.
tons" admired by the great mathematcians of the
time. The famous Descures could not be persua
ded that work displaying so profound an acquaint
ance with science, was the production of youth
Of sixteen Yet it is quite certain that Baiso Pas
cal was its sole and unaded author
lie had observed that the science of numbers
is, like the thoughts Of men, subject to oTor he
had seen that, in the everyday use Of calculation,
1t is very difficult to preserve eXacness for any con-