The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-03-08


What has been done can be done again.
For the will finds out the way.
-Ebcn n. Rerford, IN Harpcr's Yomng People.
-~--~-----<s e-----------
GEOMETRY.
Now, boys. let us have q little talk
about geometry. You know IL has boon
famous study for boys for many ages.
Euclid was an old Egyptian, who lived
about three hundred years before Christ.
His treatise on geometry has been the
foundation for all modern works upon
the subject. Plato. who lived century
earlier, founded noted academy At
Athens. and 1t IS related that over its
entrance he placed this celebrated In
scriotion: Let no one ignorant OF &c
ometry enter here" This branch has
been considered an important part Of a
good education for two thousand years.
Yet l hear many boys In these days
saying; II don't like geometry.
wonder what good It will do me" !
once heard very interesting story
about Abraham Lincoln which may
help you to understand the "good. !"
Before Mr.. Lincoln was q candidate for
President he made tour through Now
England and lectured in many cities
and towns. Among other places he
spoke In Norwich, Conn. A gentleman
who heard him and was struck with his
remarkable logical power rode the next
day in the cars with Mr. Lincoln to
New Haven. During the ride the fol-
lowing conversation took place:
mr. Lincoln, l was delighted with
your lecture last evening"
"Oh, thank you, but thG1 was not
much Of a lecture; can do better than
that"
II have no doubt OF IL, Mr.. Lincoln;
for whoever can do SO well, must incv-
itably be able to do better"
We'll, you are good reasoner, aren't
youp That is cute"
..But that reminds me-" continued
the gentleman, ito ask how you ac-
quired your wonderful logical power. /
have heard that you arc entirely self
educated, and 1t is seldom that find a
self-educated man who has good sys-
tenn of logic in his reasoning. How did
you acquire such an acute power Of
analysisp"
well, Mr.. g., will tell you. II was
my terrible encouragement which did
that for nee.
"Your encouragement = what do
you meanpo
'You see,'' said Mr. Lincoln, "that
when Twas about eighteen years Of age
/ went into an Office to study law.
Well, after little while / saw that
lawyers business was largely to prove
things. And said to myself: Lin
coin, when is n thing provedY That
was poser. could not answer the
question. What constitutes proof
Not evidence, that was not the point.
There may be evidence enough. but
where consists the proof You remem-
Der the old story Of the German who
was tried for some crime, and they
brought half dozen respectable men
who swore that they saw the prisoner
commit the crime. Well he replies.
'vot OF datp Six men schwears dot dey
saw me do IL; / brings more nor two
tozcn goot men who schwears dey did
not see me do It. So, wherein Is the
proof groaned over the question,
and finally said to myself. .Ah, Lincoln,
you cant tell. Then thought: What
use is it for me to be in law-office II I
can't tell when thing is provedp' So
gave It up and left the Office, and
went back home, over In Kentucky"
$50 you gave up the lawp''
''Oh, Mr.. g., don't jump at your con-
illusions; that isn't logical. But, really.
did give up the law, and I thought I
should never 90 back to il. This was In
the fall Of the year. Soon after I re-
turned to the old log-cabin fell In with
copy Of Euclid. had not tho slight
est notion what Euclid was. and /
thought would find out found out,
but il was no easy Job. 1 looked into
the book and found It was all about
lines. angles. surfaces and solids: but I
could not understand IL an. / therefore
began, very deliberately, ut the Begin
ming. | learned the definitions and
axjoms. demonstrated the first prop
osition; said, that is simple enough. I
went on to the next, and the next; and
before spring had gone through that
old Euclid's geometry, and could DEM
onstrate every proposition like book.
j knew it all from beginning to end. You
could not stick me on the hardest Of
them. Then, in the spring, when had
got through with it, / said to myself
one day: All. do you know now when
. thing is provedp' And ! answered