The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-10-23

| make use OF rule and compass to make his
calculations, he inquired the meanin, of tho
proceeding, and then learned what he did
not know before, that there was such n
science rs arithmetic and that he nigbt
know all about it in books. lie MANAGED
to buy or borrow book OH arithmetic. and
setting fimselfio work, thoroughly mastered
its contents. Hearing from the builders
mat there was another important science
called geometry, he procured book upon
| That, and soon mastered That also in like
manner. His reading informed him thai
the best m oks on this science were written
in Latin, whereupon he bought Latin die
tionary and grammar, and labored dlipcri.
~ I'LL he had acquired the language. Some
one told him that there were excellent
scientific works in the French tongue SO he
got possession Of French dictionary and
grammar, and successfully learned tliat, Ian
guage also. The curious part of the husi
ness is that the boy did ali this While learn.
ing his trade rs a gardener under his father.
between the ages Of eight and eighteen, and
without suspecting all along that he was do
ing anything extraordinary. He was cirh-
teen years OF ago when the duke coming in
10 liie garden one day, saw latin COPY of
Sir Isaac Newtons celebrated 'Pfincipia' ".
my on the grass. Concciving that it belong.
ed TO HIMSELF hc gave orders that it shoulJ
be carried back tc the library. The vounr
gardener stepped forward ..a ..'.....
y our Grace. the book belongs TO me-
TO You said his Grace do YOU under.
stand geometry--Latin, Newton p
Il know little ofthem,' said the youtb
with an air of simplicity arising from Il pro-
found ignorance OF his own knowledge and
talents.
The duke, an accomplished man, with n
turn for the exact sciences, commenced u
conversation on tho subject of mathematics.
lie asked him several Searching questions,
and was astonished with the force, thc accu
racy, and the simplicity Of his answers. lie
then questioned him on his past life, and
learned from the lads own lips the details
given above. There was nothing like boast,
ing in the young mans narrative, and no
apparent consciousness that 10 deserved
praise for what he had done; il only seemed
to him natural consequence that whoever
could read might learn whatever he choose.
Ills account charmed the duke, who drew
Tie unconscious gen;as from obscmtv, and
provided him with an employment which
left him plenty of time for the cultivation OF
the same genius for music. for printing. for
architecture, and for all the sciences which
depcal Oh calculations aud propnrtinns. @.
Such is the history of the youth of Ed.
mund Stone, the well known mathematician
lie hrcd to an advanced age, preserving an
nnblemlshcd reputation and rendering i'm.
po'tant services to science. Among the
works Which he left behind him arc n Math.
ematical Dictionary Treatise on FIux.
ions, another on Euclid, and another on the
nse Of mathematical instruments. lie died
in l7GS.' "
In the year 1900, the son of n carpcnter
named Harrison, of Fculhy, in York kshire,
iay ILL in bed unable 10 move abont. lie!
was child of six years Of age; and among thc
indulgcnces that were offered him TO Willie
away the tcdium Of sickness, he chose
TO have the works Of watch laid open upon
his pillow, that he might mark its move |
ments. As he grew up he received very lit-
lie education, and was put TO learn Ills ia !
Tiers trade, working with, him IN the car.
renter's shop and at the lou,cs Of his patrons. J
As lie had no lime for study by day, lie made
time by sitting up at night, anu was in. the
habit OF writing out in full whatever lie wish. ,
ed to learn thoroughly. Clocks, watches,
and wheel machinery Of all kinds, had moro
charms for him than anything else; and to
the construction and improvement of these
he directed all bis energies and experiments.
With this view he pursued the study of
arithmetic in it's higher branches. and he
came good practical mathematician He |
invariably embodied any new Jea that
struck him in new lime piece; and by q
series Of trials in this way attained TO
sounder knowledge of his snljcct than was
possessed by any professed heroIegiet of his
time. Iia 'sH r.. .
In the reign Of Queen Anne, n reward was
offered by the government for the discovery
OF successful mode, of ascertaing the long.
itudo at sea. IIarrisou's attention was
drawn to the subject, and lie had the amLi.
ton 10 compete for the twenty thousand
pounds which was to reward tho difficult
achievement. He first produced clcsk |
whose movements ho expected would be
proof against irregularities Of climate and
the motion Of q vessel. An experiment
made with it during foul weather on tho
river Humber, showed that he had calcula.
ted rightly and he brought the Clock to
London and submitted it to the, members
of the Royal Society," They gave him
ceriificatn IN Tho cffacl that lie machine