Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-06-14
MECHANISM, No. vI.-Bt JOSIAH HoLnRooK.

About Eve kindred yeals before Christ hundred
were sacrificed to commemorate the discovery Of principle
combng the properties Of the triangle and square, The
sacrifice of hundred oxen is called aheeaomb The propo
siton presenting this principle hence called the "HEcA-
TOME FaosLEM." tits also called the RrEsrERs THEo
REM from the fact that carpenters make special use Of in
squarng their buildings and determining many other points
shout their work. tits constantly brought into by ach
iees engineers surveyors nsvgstors and other
classes of business In colleges this principle is known
by the title "AssEs BRIDsE, grounded The suppoion
that the student who gets we'll over BY satisfactory demon
straton hss proved himself to be quite the most stupid
animal 10 the world is also known among students by the
somewba, gentee title On FoRTT-szvESra being
the piysevenh proposition Of the first book Of Euclid
II the principle referred to warranted hecatomb for its
at the time Of its discovery it must at this
of the world at deserve place subject Of insruc
sion in course Of practical business education.
squares be drawn the three sides Of any ighangled
triangle the square upon the longest side in all
<se equal in surface the Of the squares the other
sides. This presents the proposition and embraces the
principle referred to- The longest side h all cases. opposite
che right angle The two sides containing the rightanse
may be equal or they may vary infinitely The variation
does affect the principle, always with The proviso that The
figure contain right angle.
To illustrate by particular Suppose the side oppo-
site the ghange is ten inches those containing the right
angle are eight and xix inches The square Of the first will Of
course contain one hupded square inches squares Of the
latter will contain sixty -four and hiysI square inches the
sum also one hundred This shows precisely the plan
Of carpenters in squang their buildings BY measuring from
corner 90 one sill eight feet and on the other six feet the
distance hstreen the extreme points Of the two lines will be
made precisely ten feet less, the building be
exactly square The length Of braces rae and other parts
of building. required BY the general plan may also be de-
,ermined with perfect eIacness by the "oLn Fonrr-
SEVENTH"
As great the importance Of this principle to various de-
paments Of science and to almost every useful art in col
lege single mode only Of demonstrating frequent
ly adopted and that abstraction In school in Wash
iug,on the principle shown by eight different lustra-
ons ell psc,ica prepared by the bands Of the pupil, and
capable being by the whole all times when in their
seats
Erpriments-A boy in New York got passion for rum
ming with fire engines apparently beyond all restraint greatly
actrg his mother and slsrmng her for his safety friend
OF the boy suggested the mother her aiding him in practical
illustrations Of mechanm-the hecstomb pr blem and many
Others She svaled herself Of the SUGGESTION and in few
days. 10 her great pleasure she found her intent
his work a. TO take no notice Of engines their rafting By
their door B. me Of the work inside by him and others
sent at the request Of agent the British and Foreign BIZ
be Society," to the city Of Mexico which the Reverend gentle
afer visited. These specimens brought in return
several psckages containing variety Of the work Of the
young N, xicsn Indians.