New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-08

| Va tuo OAA'CAoAIy ~. bcv0IHl years. sup
plying his few wants by writing for scien
tifc journals, OF by giving assistance te
students who, like myself. were character.
lied by plethora of purse and paucity
OF ideas; cooking, studying and sleeping
in his attic lodging; and prosecuting queel
! experiments all by himself
We are not long discovering that ever
this eccentric genius could not transplant
brains into my deficient skull. I gave
over the struggle in despair.
I An unhappy year dragged its slow length
around. A gloomy year it was, bright
! ened only by occasional interviews with
Abscissa, the Abbie of my thoughts and
I dreams.
Commencement day was coming on
apace. was soon to 60 forth, with the
rest of my class, to astonish and delight a
waiting world. The professor seemed
to avoid me more than ever. Nothing
but the conventionalities, think, kept
] him from shaping his treatment of me on
I the basis of unconcealed disgust.
! At last, in the very recklessness of de-
spair, resolved to see him, plead with
him, threaten him if need be, and risk all
my fortunes on one desperate chance.
wrote him somewhat defiant letter, stat
ing my aspirations, and as flattered my
self, shrewdly giving him week to get
over the first shock of Mortified surprise.
Then l was to call and learn my fate.
During the week of suspense l nearly
| worried myself into fever. 1t was first
crazy hope, and then saner despair. On
Friday evening, when l presented myself
at the professors door l was such hag-
gard, sleepy, dragged out spectre that
even Miss Jacosta, the harsh favored
maiden sister of the Surds, admitted me
with commiserate regard and suggested
pennyroyal tea.
Professor Surd was at o faculty meet
ing. Wouldn't wait?
Yes, till all was blue, if need be.
Abscissa had gone to marlborough to
visit school friend. The aged maiden
hoped would make myself comfortable,
and departed to the unknown haunts
which knew Jocastas daily walk.
Comfortable! But settled myself in
great uneasy chair, and waited with the
contradictory spirit common to such juno
lures, dreading every step lest it should
herald the MAJ whom. Of all men. I
wished 70 see.
L had been there at least an hour, and
was growing right drowsy.
At length Professor Surd came in. He
sat down in the dusk opposite me, and
thought his eyes glinted With malignant
pleasure as he said, abruptly:
$50, young man, you think you ars .
fit husband for my girl?"
I stammered some inanity about ma.
king up in affection what l lacked in
al, o+at1n T,,ro.1x,
and the like. He quickly interrupted me.
"You missapprehend me, sir. Your
nature is destitute of those mathematical
perceptions and requirements which are
the only sure foundations of character.
You have no mathematics in you. You
are fit for treason, stratagems and spoils.
(Shakespeare). Your narrow intellect
can not understand and appreciate gene
rous mind. There is all the difference be-
tween you and a Surd, if l may say it,
which intervenes between al infnitesi-
NAL and an infinite. Why will venture
to say that you do not comprehend the
Problem of the Couriers 7"
1 admitted THAI the problem Of the |
COuriers should be classed rathey without
my list of accomplishments than within
it. regretted this fault very deeply, and !
amendment. l family hoped
that my fortune would be such. |
Money!" he impatiently exclaimed.
''Do you seek to bride Roman Senator
with a penny whistle? Why. boy, do you
parade your paltry wealth, which, ex-
pressed in mills, will not cover ten deci- I
NAL places before the eyes of man who !
measures the planets in their orbits, and |
close crowds infipitv itsp1f2S
hastily disclaimed any intention Of Oh. I
truding my foolish dollars, and he vent
)ns
'.Your letter surprised mo NOT q little.
thought you would be tho last person in
he world to presume to an alliance here.
But having regard for you personally"
md again / saw malice twinkle in his
mall eyes,. ''and still more regard for
Abscissa's happiness, have decided that
'ou shall have her-npop conditions.
Upon conditions" he repeated. with
lalf smothered sheer.
''What are they?" cried I. eagerly
nough. ''Only name them
"Well, Sir, he continued, and the de.
Iteration Of his speech seemed the very
efnement of cruelty, 'you have only to
rove yourself worthy an alliance with
mathematical family. You have
My TO accomplish a tasf which l
hall presently give you. Your eyes ask
,e what it is. will tell you. Distinguish
ourself in that noble branch Of abstract
cience in which, you can not but &C.
you are at present sadly def
lent l will place Abscissa's hand in
ours whenever you shall come before me
nd square the circle to my satisfaction.
10! That is too easy condition.
hould cheat myself. Say perpetual mo. +,
on. How do you like that? Do you
link it lies within the range of your men
Il capabilities? You don't smile. Perhaps
our talents don't run in the way of per- {
etual motion. Several people have found
nat theirs didn't. I'll give you another 8
nance. We were speaking of the prob
m Of the couriers, and think you ex- j
ressed desire to know more of that in
enious question. You shall have the OBJ {
ortunity. Sit down some day, when you
ave nothing else to do, and discover the 6
rinciple of infinite speed; l mean the law q
motion which shall accomplish an in a
nitely great distance in an infinitely short
me. You may mix in q little practical +
echanics if you choose. Invent some c
ethol of taking the tardy courier over f
IS road at the rate of sixty niles min. C
-e. Demonstrate me this discovery (when t
III have made itD mathematically, and G
'proximate it practically, and Abscissa a
yours. Until you can, will thank you l
trouble neither myself nor her, t
L could stand his mocking no longer. I L
umbled mechanically out of the room, i
i'd out of the house. even forgot my a
1t and gloves. For an hour l walked in t
10 moonlight GiadualIy l succeeded to Il
more hopeful frame of mind. This was t
lie to my ignorance Of mathematics. Had +
lnlprctO01 tho rn,l ,r,nn nine Ia | e,