The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-22
For the Union.
Mechanism, No. VIII,
BY JOSIAH HoLBR COX

BY JOSIAH HoL BROOK.
In mathematics an empty cask and stick of timber
both solids; aso tumber OF water and bar OF iron
empty room and a block of granite, and noun
tain perfect and OF platina. The terms
air gas, vapo liquid, and vacuum have place in pure
mathematics; they belong TO chemistry Any figure with
length breadth, and thickness is a mathematical solid
Five such figures called Irregular solids" Three OF
these enclosed in equilaera ranges. Their espec-
tive number of sides are four eight and twenty; and
they hence called ieraedon, octaedron and cosae
don One OF the five is enclosed in six squares and is
hence called bexaedFon, or, more commonly, cube
The remaining OF the five is enclosed in twelve pen
agons or five sided surfaces, and cae dodecaedron
OF each Of the '.fve regular solids" the SIDES corners
and edges all alike. No matter which sde corner
or edge is presented the eye, the appearance is the
same This is true and be true OF no other plain
figure but OF the regular soids-a fact OF great i'm
portance in the subject OF mechanism.
No, long since a chemist paid carpenter nine dollars
for set OF regular solids made of some common wood
say two or three inches in diameter. Thousands have
been made by children, their richest amusement, far
superior in many respects, and much instructive
from being made by The pupils own hands Being made
OF pasieboard the ouspread surface showing the
mode OF combining. well as the solid in its regular
form
Not long since box containing the cube, modified BY
several sections and combinations, was procrred from
France al the cost OF six dollars. Last winter girl
seven years old the daughter OF member Of Congress
made principally under the instruction Of another girl oil
ten years old of illustrations far complete in
eecting their object than those procured from France
though in workmanship inferior, OF course. To pupil
aud teacher il need not be sail the work amusing
sruction. and instructive amusement With the cube
under several divisions and combinations the other reg
nlar solids variously modified, also formed hy the
same young pupil aided by her juvenile teacher
By these practical lessons the facts that in an inch
cube are eight half-inch caves that in twoinch cube
are eight inch cubes and that in iour-inch cube
sixty. four inch cubes. and the whole principle OF the
ratio of increase in all Solids become familiar both
teacher and pupil that lead is heavy and cork light
or any other physical truth learned by repeated expert
menis The doctrine of the cube, thus Familiarity, be.
cause practically and agreeaby learned is OF very great
importance being the foundation Of thousands oil
daily business operations, with tina, Importance greatly
increased from the constant and gross bunders in bust
ness arising from The general ignorance OF this unda
entail principle OF cubic measure even among our mos
intelligent business men The five regular solids together
are al the foundation of the beautiful, wonderful and
instructive science Of crystallography, they
natural and artificial mechanism generally as exhibited
in the works Of God and man One or bundfe red dol
lars are frequently paid for models of crystals imported
from France
ExprmmrNr. The clerk Of a steamboat once charged
freight for pile Of rope for passing cars o. an in
clincd plane according to his measurement one fourth
of the price intended not having learned the differ.
ence between an eigh,oot cube and eight cubic feet OF
other mysteries OF the cabeaso locked up from thou
in broad daylight