Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-11-29

A
pebbles was illustrated as follows
There are two flocks of sheep to be
counted and compared. AS the first
flock passes, one by one, pebble is
dropped in a basket for each sheep
until all have passed then the other
flock is enumerated ia the same man.
ner. Then pebble is taken from
each basket alternately until one bas-
ket is exhausted, and thus the COM
parative numbers of the focks are as
certained. The pebble thus played
an important part in. the calculations
of primitive nations.
Some nations, however, had better
natural facilities in the chalk and
slate found in their countries, and one
can hardly imagine race so low in
intelligence as not to be able to make
some use of such materials. Straight
lines were marked with the chalk on
the slate until the limit of comprehen-
sion was reached, to-wit, five, which
was shown by mark drawn at an
angle across four other marks, and
this system was continued with similar
sets until their minds became clouded
and their capacity could reach no fur
ther. This is step in advance of
the pebble system and has been hand
ed down to us, and we use it in sets of
five.
In consulting the dictionary it is
found that the word number is derived
from the Latin numerous, which is
probably taken from numes, a small
silver coin, which was probably used
for the same purpose as the pebbles
and finally became medium for the
interchange of products.
These chalk marks are now called
"tallies," and in Webster it is found
that before the days of writing, in
buying and selling each person had
stick on which was marked or notched
the quantity of goods bought and
sold. These two sticks were each a
check upon the other, and were re-
ceived as evidence in courts of Justice.
Connect the giving with one scoring
check and the receiving with the other,
and remembering that the number of
notches agree, and no matter how
many of these sticks there may be the
sum of the giving scores will agree
with the sum of the receiving scores.
A complete system of double entry
bookkeeping, showing that, as that
system had no beginning, it will have
no end.
The next step in the onward prog
ress is the system Of counting by dig
its or fingers, which is still employed
by children and even by persons of
maturer minds. Here is the explana-
ton of the fact that some of the prim-
tive nations could only count up to
five, while others could only count to
ten; the one race only comprehending
the use of one hand in counting, the
other understanding the use of both.
After getting beyond five there is no
reason for stopping at any Of the in
termediate numbers. The digit sys-
TEN is a long step in advance of the
other system. To complete the digit
system and remedy its defects philo-
sophical language is required. The
requirements are a means of commu-
mechanical aid to thought
and an instrument of record and ref
erence. The combination of the digit
and tally systems will give the re-
luirements.
Instead of erecting finger make a
'loping mark L; then to show that
one hand has been used make another
stroke at different angle, meeting
the first at its base, thus forming v.
When both hands have been used add
10 this V another one inverted thus
A, forming an x, and giving the
means of symbolizing from I to x.
Thus l, ii, iii, (omitting four for the
presently V. vi, VII, VIII, (omitting
nine) x. BY another step w and
TX are made, the left hand position
Of | signifying subtraction.
This is the Roman system, and is
now only used for special purposes,
being too cumberous and wearisome
for ordinary use. The only way to
improve this method was to improve
t out of existence, at least for the
purpose of calculation, by inventing
4 new system. The Arabic notation
has done that. There are in this sys-
.em ten symbols or figures-O, 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, g, 0.
The conditions of philosophical
language as applied to calculation are
thus complied with, but these figures
must have Independent names, which
should be governed by the same prin-
ciple as the system of symbols. Such
has been done, and, as philosophical
system, is so complete that apy one on