Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-01-10

Tommy ventured TO ask " Whyg'
Because it'd divide the work, but
nothing can't divide l."
"But what IS all this about division?"
inquired Tom, whose escape from the af-
ternoon lesson had led him into far
wider field of figures.
"Why, don't you know that every fig
ure may order about those that divide itS
They're his slaves 2, 4 and 8 have to
wait on 16, and 16 has to wait on 32, and
they all have to wait on 64 Some of them
may have many servants, some have but
few, but they all have me.
There was world of pathos in his
tone.
"Of course" said Tom, divides ev.
"Yes, everything, even Q and 3; and
they're the hardest masters of all they've
deal of waiting to do; but they shift
most Of it on to me. But here we are at
arithmetical progression"
"What's thatp" asked Master Spratt.
"The kings palace, of course. Stop
moment, though" And drew respect
fully back, as an elderly gentleman with
large board, on which was inscribed
| 4S2964, stopped up the doorway.
"Where are you going, l, the indivisi-
ble9"
grew red at the taunt; his weak point
was his indivisibility.
81 am going, o many.fgured 482964, to
the king, and bear with me this unnum-
bered boy"
4S2964 drew back his skirts to let them
| pass, and the boys hurried on through q
| long ling of soldiers who, Tommy OBJ
served, were all uneven multiples of 5.
On his requesting an explanation of this,
1 said:
"They're the army; all the SIS are SOL
diers, and all the rs are sailors, and
where the two meet, as in 80 or 105, they
serve as marines on alternate days"
"Ohl" said Tommy and the matter
dropped.
They passed on through the outer
courts into the inner chamber, where a
large and merry party were Assem- bled.
In one corner group of prlnceses, the
very lowest of whom was at least mil
| lion, were playing at "buZz," with such
rapidly and precision that Tommy head
| swan with the effort of following them.
In another portion of the room little
princess Whose number terminated in
! five naughts, such being the royal prerog-
ative) was doing her sums by means OF
her fathers subjects, who stood on one
another's heads, and whirled in and out
in a manner incemprehensible to ordi-
nary mortals, accustomed to the COM
paratively tame use of slate and pencil.
The king reclined upon couch, dictat-
| ing new novel, entitled Comic Ses-
TONS" to four secretaries at once.
"Whence comes this numberless crea'
ture? And 1, too! /, how darest thou
intrude within the groves of arithmetical
progression?"
20 thou of many numbers" answered
1, prostrating himself, ~ have brought
hither this boy who has descended on
this earth by a strange conveyance, hith-
erto unknown, in order that thou, o most
diyiable, shouldst bestow on him a num-
ber and place in the royal register"
The king frowned, the secretaries fol-
lowed suit, and the unhappy / sank be-
meath the glowering storm of their eyes.
"What number shall we give him?"
said the king, pensively Fetch hither
the register"
a small detachment of subjects carried
in with great difficulty 6, 900 volumes, and
the four secretaries set to work with a
will.
After looking for some hours, one OF
the secretaries, with low bow, announc
ed all were occupied that the last mum.
Der used was SO, ,999, 999, and that there
fore the newcomer must be 10000, 600.
The king for one moment foamed at
the mouth; then, recovering his speech,
flew at the secretary, (71O32), and, tear
ing eff his number, cried:
"The traitor has dared to propose that
this stranger, this indivisible boy, shall
henceforth become of the royal family
one of the nearest to our own personW
Every one hooted 7l,032, who hid be
hind his fellow secretaries to escape the
popular storm.
"No," continued the prince, "some
other plan must be thought of. Who
ever brings, before tomorrow at noon, al
unoccupied number, not over 80, 999, 999
for this boy, shall have nought added tt
his name"
The people shouted and withdrew ; bu
Tommy, who had never before looked or
royalty, fingered behind to stare open
mouthed at the gorgeous rooms and granc
company.
The king continued his dictation, never
! observing the absence of II ,032 so every
fourth chapter of the novel was missing
but this, of course, only made it the mor'
interesting.
Tommy's curiosity soon got the bette
of his manners, and he Interrupted then
with
"What did yeu have for dinner what
your name and how old are you ?"
"Boy," said the prince, 'you are a
yet unnumbered."
'Well, come now, that amt my tault
you know" argued Tommy.
The king had never seen it in this ligh
before, and his face grew milder ant
more gentle as Tommy dared to add
"What's your name or number ?"
81" said the king with pride, II an
the Innumerable NOught."
"Whatever is that 7" thought Tommy
but he didn't ask only went on to him
self, thought into nought, nought re
/, mains multiply by nOught, and then di
vide by nought, and the answer /
: nought." But he soon became confuse
and gave it up. -,
You do not seem to understand"
: And so saying, the king unwound fron
his waist white satin scarf ofprodigiou
: length, ON which was embroidered Il
gold thread an endless succession o
noughts-thus, 000000OO, etc. Tom look
ed at him with awe.
"What divides your" he asked, repeal
3 ing the current phrase, and acting up I
the spirit of that proverb which advise
you what course TO pursue when you nm
Yourself in the city of the seven hills.
"Everythingp was the proud reply; o.
which Tommy resumed his former calcl
! lations, and relapsed into temporar
: state OF hopeless imbecility.
: No. / and Tommy both passed, a res
less and feverish night; but ere they lei
= for Arithmetical Progression in u
: morning, the mind of No. ! was mad
up. He would gain the promised nough
and being thus promoted to 10 (while tn
I, original of that number was degraded
y his humble position), he would have n
4 less than three servants.
4 "And which of you" asked the II
y Vulnerable Nought, "has thought of
= number to bestow on this waif of th
|. skies?"
4 His majesty piqued himself on Ii
4 poetical turn of his sentence.
n "Please sir, have" And / steppe
forward with little bow and flourish,
- Wall - said O. eyeing him sCOrnfull