Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-07-04

For the Standard.

-. H. 49, For the Standard.
an Elementary t-sotise on Alge6ra By D. H. HILL,
= Professor Of Mathematics in Daoidson College,
North Carolina. Pu6lished By Lippincott, Gram
s DO d Co., Philadelphia.
1t was with great interest that took up some of
the proof sheets of this book and have laid them
down grati6ed that this contribution to the advance
of Mathematical Science is creditable its author,
and so likely to be truly "auxliary" to our young
students. Judging from its definitions demonstra-
tons, illustrations, problems, &C., Prof Hill is an
accomplished, enthusiastic and pains-taking teacher.
If he be not successful, it must be because as an
artist. he has poor material to work upon
This book begins at the beginning, and so tells
what Mathematical principles, sciences, quantities,
&C., are, as well what they are not. Such dual
stic descriptions frequent with Prof Hill, and
evidently tend to give q novice distinct notion of
what is described. The great bane to pleasant
and improving religious, scientific and literary in
tercourse between man and man, is indulgence
in notions and conceptions half formed, indstinct
whose shadows grit about with penumbra that
mars their outline, and runs them together when
ever they are nigh to one another If Mathematical
studies of any use in education, it is because
they enable the purblind, the immature, and the
appropriated to recognise, love and use Alright
precise definitions, to know when things are "alke,"
well as when they unlike" and to "operate"
on them accordingly.
Prof Hills book has evidently come from mind
that has noticed and sympathistd with the difficult
Ties anu uaIlSsTS VI young StuuentS Ibis appears,
not only in the places noticed above, but in the
very construction of the book Not only are para
graphs abundant, but the sections are distinctly
NA@bered, and the headings of the " Gases in
I elkipg type and properly spaced. We should have
been Had to see more italic type used, especially
Ehel Rme important principle beautiful result
il to. hnnonfssed with emphasis. These the
Mathe4 icians Apos. The carpenter or the black
smith y n Keel4his tools in his chest or in his
shop, HWASpEH Rsnpher and the scholar must have
. Uodk 4a4fk spemory well stored with first
.princi9e and 1at deductions expressed in terse
and cor brehensfye language. The young student
needsth4t thesetb in remarkable type else he may
not nesiSe that ffiey are remarkable realities.
BnfFlthough Prof. Hill begins at the beginning,
he byko means stays there. After treating very
fullytf the four fundamental operations, he gives
ten cases of reduction in fractions. Here find
things not often met with in print the greatest
Common Divsor, Fractions as we'll as their least
Common Multiple. There is also lucid introduce
ton to the all-important doctrine of Equations;
full discussion of the properties of Proportions
exhaustive analysis of the origin and Specifications
of Negative Quantities. the general Theory of Equa
tons, Combinations, Vanishing Fractions, Logar.
ithms &C., &C. We have here all the subjects
usually discussed in Algebra and in the discussions
we are refreshed by Original remarks, and furnished
with new terms which show that this book is the
result of patient and minute thought not of ster-
eotyped use of the scissors
good text book is "a great medicine" 1t
strengthens the weak; it developers the uniformed;
it stimulates unhealthy torpdty, and it cauterizes
excessive activity. 1t is thing of beauty, well
Of power 1t is the work of genius, and it is i'm
moal 1t teaches the truth in the true way, and it
suits every body every where. So we cannot let it
die Surely an experienced and accomplished teach
er can confer no greater boon on his race, than an
embodiment of his rhetorical knowledge and prac-
teal experience in book for which all teachers and
all students will bless his name. Such book will
10 irfor
students curious and progressive. Now, whie'it
should always be fair representative of the Science
of its day, it should not attempt to teach little of
every subject, nor all of any. 1t is not to be a
IhesGu7'us nor yet mere aide men0sre. The
quantity and the quality of information it contains
should be consistent with its design. If it is for
students denied the help of living teacher it may
be minute in its Instructions and profuse in it's
illustrations. But when sit at the feet of Gamalie
our books should be succnct in their enunciatous,
and sparing in explanations. Else the teacher is
costly and useless adjunct and the recitation room
loses much of its importance and interest The
most of the text books for Schools and Colleges
seem to us to have been put together without
proper appreciation of this most important dstinc
ton.
We rejoice to see such books as this issuing from
North. Carolina minds. They hymns to the praise
of the great Creator and if pitched the right key
it is no matter, that they have no symphonies to
prepare ears for their music North Cardinals
famous teachers may not have been using North
Cardinals books in matters of Science But then
none of us can be working all the time. Those who
wake early may retire early. Those who watch
while others sleep may sleep while others watch.
So then they who taunt North Carolina with drowsi-
ness even was the allegation true, become them
selves the objects of ridicue. They know not that
whereof they affirm. DR.. Emmons, our accomplish
ed State Geologist tells US that though the East
contains the birth place of Man. the West contains
the birthplace of Life, that the Paleotrochis of
Montgomery county, n c., is the oldest represen-
tative of the animal kingdom on the globe" Let it
then be ever remembered that among the &C messen-
gers" sent to announce new dspensations, North
Cardinals was the first" the old" one. Our good
old State woke up at the first crack of day. and did
the most of her work while as yet there was no.
body else to work. and but few places for them to
work on. So then if the old lady has ever nodded,
hers was not the noddDg of sluggshhess. She was
only sitting by the wayside, waiting for the children
to catch up. When others were born, she was
venerable matron and for ages they have been reap
ing the fruits of her labors. Then when she wakes
she has right to start even, and we are much
mistaken if she does not maintain her rights
STIRRING THE Soil IN DRY WEArnER-That fire.
quent stirring the soil is the cheapest and most
efectual way of protecting crops against drouth, is
proved by the fact that soil plowed or cultivated
often in dry time is moist almost to the surface,
while land that is neglected is dry to great depth.
Some farmers from false reasoning infer that if
new surface is continually exposed to the sun and
air. the effect will be to dry the soil still more But
the atmosphere in the hottest and dryest weather is