The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-28
A Poetical Grammar.


among Europeans, is not considered gener-
ally a poeticaf pursuit. Nothing, as RUE,
conld be more prosaic that grammar or
an arithmetic, and, though PROFESSOR lyn-
dali has most admirably shown the import
ance Of scientific use OF the lmaglnatsoh,
vet such fields of research are not usually
strewed with the flowers OF poesy. Witn
the Hind docs it is different. The luxoriance
of their tropical nature trails garlands over
matthew atIcs, and their simple problems
are nut in this style. we quote an ~,
stance from " Bhascora Acharya Li!irdti,"
a mathematical work, translated by J.
TAYLOR, and published in bombay, 10 1910,
Alto. The author, after having invoked the
deity with the head of an elephant, pro-
poses problem thus:
"Tell me, dear and beautiful LiliWatl,
thou who hast eyes like fawn, tell me
what ia the result of the multiplication OF
1876 by IL ~ This work of Bhascord Are-
nryn like most Eastern treatises upon math-
! ematical and astronomical subjects, is
| written in verse. In these days of research
after the prehistoric migrations OF the great
| Aryan race, it is interesting to see traces,
though faint, of this tendency to poetic ex'
preston cropping out in our own literature
| "a an evidence Of our inherited tendency.
We have ga Poetical Grammar Of the
English Language, by Joseph Fitch, pnb,
lished in London early in this century, Oh
which the following specimen will snflce
SSies sst @ssn ha erS xS COMFY ssy
i The fret we call indicative;
j oe says II sh sls as WiiMsm skates.
And an on through the whole of the parts
of spe och and their numerous subdivisions
. | In mathematics we have q French treatIse
, on arithmetic, mise en verS, ny l.. Chavlng
maud Lyons, the seventh edition, In lo4o
T In his preface the author says: Convinced
> bv twenty years of experience, that 6
| -. ha nrOnOrtlOl :
: clear and simple, have, without aiterlne
it's principles, adorned it with the charms
a of poetry. This is sure way to shorter
4 the study of the first part q mathem atics
t which, as is we'll known, is indispensable
? to all. How many young persons, dis
6 gusted with it's difficulties, will thank I'D
for having made an abstract science agree
able. the dryness Of which is often lit onl.
p to inspire them with disgust! The enter
s. prise was bold, know, but it was less t
IN time, no one had dared attempt, than Y
N render this service TO society, that l hav
W treated this subject. Poetry is tho power
-. full lever of muemetecbny, and with its al
or the principles of arithmetic are epgraVc
n promptly, agreeably, and ipeffaceahly1 !
IN the minds Of those who will deign to aAot
le this work intended for youth. Critics ma
or censure my verses, but, before doing 30,
e. wish they would try to make fe ~ rhy me
~ upop numbers. am far from reaching tn
%. sublime eloQuence OF Cornellle, or th
i'd ravishipg sweetness of Racine; but NJ
to verses, considered with regard for my sut
IN iect, have sufficient harmony to attract th
es reader, to whom wish to be useful betoI
u, seeking to please. Young gitls can hence
az forth learn this science, which has sEna
Up attraction for them. Called upon to tai
nd part in the fabors of those with whom the
M unite their destinies, tbSs will without diff
n Guilty seize the principles of arithr1eti
SO which it ia important they ahsuid Eno
re. when they wish to take part in commerci
rs enterprises"
ny The authors hopes appear TO have bee
10 hardly realized during the time. Pc
a. chance, however, the new conceptions
A. woman's sphere may afford al opportuni
er In the present for the euccess OF tue 200
Of Only it should be translated into Eogiis
aud this task would be moro difficult tia
to write a new poetical arithmetic
|