Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-07-18
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Mathematics .
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A more enlightened sentiment has OF
late years superseded the old prejudice
against the Higher mathemltics. Sociely
is remodelling or exploding entirely its old
fogy notions, and more enlarged and lib
eral views are taking theirplace. Conser.
vative ignorance is being rapidly crushed
out under the steady, onward ronderous
tread Of modern science. And mankind
are becoming every day. more and more
convinced that there il more happiness to
be derived from intellectual wealth than
from material riches.
II Is proper to define tie term that IL
may be well understood, before discussing
its benefits to US in every phase Of human
life. Mathematics is the science Of quaD
tity that is the science which treats Of
the measurements of quantity aud their
relations to each other This IL the gener-
al defbiton. The pure Mathematics has
reference to the principles Of science aud
all explanations Of the methods by which
these principles are deduced from the ab.
stract quantity. Mixed mathematics has
for It's object the application Of these prin-
ciples to Investigations involving the laws
Of matter. the discussion of all practical
questions aud the solution Of all problems
relating to abstract or concrete quantity.
While we are delving into this science
there are three operations Of the mind 90
ing on all the time Apprehension. Judg.
ment, and Reasoning. In these three op
eratIons are exercised all Of the intellectual
faculties. As each faculty is exercised il
is strengthened each works for the whole
aud the whole for each, until all are devel-
oped into their natural proportions the
mind is expanded and balanced with
completeness as a whole and perfection
in its different organs which alone render
it capable of arriving at correct conclu-
sions on all matters OF reasoning whether
abstract or material. The notions or con.
ceptions we form OF ideas in the mind
(Which must agree with our perceptions by
the senses) are either affirmed or negatived
by our Judgment, which subjects them TO
a rigid scrutiny comparing one with the
other, pronouncing their agreements or
disagreement. In this respect mathematics
cOnfers on the mind. or we might say Gre
Gtes singular powers ofanalysis. Here the
mind approaches the subjectcircumspectly;
surveys il carefully, most critically ;divides
IL and examines minutely every part ct
hich it is composed. adjusting each part
TO its proper Office. When thus trimmed,
to their appropriate dimensions. and carved
to their appropriate figures, and set in
their appropriate places. they are handed
over to Reason, which using them as premi
ses. proceeds from these TO the deduction
OF new truths varying with every assump-
tion of the premises. Judgment therefore
stands in the same relation between Ap
prehcnsion and Reason that the drill mas
ter of a squad Of soldiers, stands between
the raw recruit and his battalion Com.
mander. The master Of squad. must be
assured that his recruit, will fill exactly
his place in line, fitting squareiy at every
point before be turns him over for the ev-
olutions of the line
IL mathematics drills the mind in this
manner, ,--if il aeeustoms The mind TO think
for itself, (leaehing it hOp to think. } aud
/ il the mind - forced to rely on its own
powers Of analysis, while investigating
any subject. who will deny that it is Of
/ incalculable importance. to every member
Of society no matter what his ayocation
may be
But 10 the Mathematician, Nature delivers
her keys. Astronomy replete with won
ders, affords gigantic masses on which he
operates, and every day he elicits new
truths from this creation above US. The
discovery Of Vulcan by Lascarbault an oh
scure French mathematician, is one OF the
I brilliant achievements of this science The
3 circumstances of this recent discovery, IL
lustrate indubitably the infallibility Of
/ mathematics. A French mathematician, I,
many years ago, from observations on
I Mercury, affirmed that another planet ex-
listed between Mercury and the Sun. The
perturbations Of Mercury could not be ac-
counted for except on this hypothesis -
With this for the basis Of his calcu lations,
he deduced the orbit Of this planet. meas
ured its magnitude. and calculated the
time Of its revolution around the Sun. and
the length of It's day and night. All this
was done before any human eye had ever
seen il 4! Thirty years after the great math-
emaIician had hung his planet in the
Heavens, it is seen for the first time, while
crossing the field Of common telescope,
in the hands Of an obscure Academician.
The observations made on Vulcan by
distinguished Astronomers. since its dis
covery accord in every respect with the
calculations Of this great French mathe
matician.