, 1870-05-16
Is thc World Round :!

In apite Of the teachings Of tho modern
school-teacher, there arc not wanting men who
persist in believing the old theories that tho
earth is plane, and Occupies the centre Of
motion Of the vieible universe. Scarcely a year
passes in which some ono Of these bewildcred
gentlemen does not succeed in getting " an at
ticle into the papers, hoping to obtain little
cheap notoriety by opposing truths which arc
almost Belf-evident, and arc certainly capable
Of direct demonstration
The latest instance is of gentleman Of the
good old English school, living in village
called suindon, Eng.), bearing the historical
nar,e Of John Hnmpden. Ho has come sum-
marily to grief, and is now the laughing stock
Of Britain. he th7ew out q challenge, offer
ins to bet $500 on his ability to prove that the
earth ia a plane. His wager was accepted
by Mr. Wallace, who agreed to "proFe
the conyeIity or curvature Of canal, river. Or
lake" Referees we're duly appointed, and tho
editor Of the Fistd-a sporting paper-Was
chosen umpire and stakeholder. a portion Of
the old Bedford Canal, sir miles in length, in
straight line, was chosen as the place on
which the bet should bodecided A signal was
placed at each end Of the si1 miles, and one
half way between them, each signal being e1-
act1y the same height zboro the surface OF the
water. Sights were then taken from esch end
md the result WAS the Same:
The central signal seemed to be shout five
inches higher than that at the other end.
The referee Of Mr. Wallace argued that this
| fact proved the convexity Of the surface. MIR:
Hampdcn's referee admitted the fact, but
| would not admit that inference. Tho umpire
| decided in favor OF Ar. Wallace, whereupor
MI. Hampden wrote him - follows:
"At your peril, sir, touch it, and I will serve
YOU boin (the editor and Mr. Wallaco) with
wit on tho following day Tor conspiIing to OBJ
money on falss ana fI2panlent P5Ns
following note to MI. Hampden's eplstle: :"
undertaking the disagreesble task Of settling
this matter between two persons who Tert
perfect strangers to rs, We did 40 IL the belle!
that ne ve1e dealing with gentlemen Ehs
were actuated BY honorable feelings. Tht
above letter, in addition to others still
mere abusive, plainly shows that re were mis-
taken NJ far as A1r. Hampden Is concerned
and he has only himself to blame If we deefinl
any further controversy with him, either pm
vatcir, or through the columns Of thus papez
We have simply done what Nc engaged TO Do
and as part Of onr contract "o AaTe pala ore
the E., 900 to 11r. Wallnce.T ....
dpropos Of this VIC may state that som
recent Discoveries hare beon made in 1eterenc
to the size and shape OF the earth. tn
French academicians, at the end OF the Las
century, determined that the earth IS
spheroid, 1lattened at the poles about ono pa'
IN aoo OF its equatorial diameter, and dete1
mined the distance from the equator to eithe
pole to be s2,sos, ,s9a English feet on the Sc
| level. They dec1eed that the one ten-ml1ont
nart Of this should be the standard Of Frenc
measures, and called it the '"etre' which il
therefore, equal to little more than sA EN-
liah feet. But recent comparisons Of al th
principal measured distances made d, On @po; POI
tons Of tho earth's surface have led Capita,
Clarke, Of the British Royal Navy, to eonslaa ,a
th,t tbs above ratios are too small, and nj
only that, but he has also dedueea me n s,;[ 1g[
singular result that the equator a.ssn ~ si
teal in shape, having its greatest alame.ei
IS degrees IS minutes 80 seconds, east long
tude from Greenwich, and about 1866 desret
west. vs. give. the following as bis neasurf