Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-01-31
HANDY WITH FRACTIONS.


AUQAAO0 Observation-Disclosures
II can do any example In fractions.
uncle" said Alan the other evening as
he experimental with the cat 10 see IL
he could bold that patient animal near
enough TO the CRATE fire so that its hair
would shrivel without any marked pro-
test from pussy.
Indeed" said uncle. indulgentiy.
lacing his fingers across his waistband
and extending his feet toward the fire:
81 used 70 DO quite handy with frsc-
tions myself In fact, excelied in
mathematica Your poor father. now.
had no faculty for them II is singular
how diversified talents arc In the Same
family, singular. indeed"
'Henry was considered the best
mathematician in his class. said Alan's
mother. with little flush
'In pure mathematics. Mary. In pure
ma&hematics, only" responded uncle;
"but In tho applied article he was
lamentably weak"
What Alan's mother might have re-
piled to this was lost in interest in
Alan's experiment in which the cat
suddenly ceased TO be . passive agent.
BY and by. when Alan had bathcd the
scratches on his hand and convinced
himself that the wound on his ear was
only . superficial one, he said: "Give
me an example, uncle"
Certainly" said uncle, affably; "add
two-thirds and four-fifths and subtract
one-seventh."
Alan worked away for q minute and
then asked: ''What is tho answer,
uncle?"
Ell think you had better let mo
eco how you have done II. my boy. That
win do you more good Um-ah-s5.
no. l0S-yes, TO be sure. Why, no; the
one-seveuth il to be subtrscted Fiji
teen. 10, Ia, 20. seven over; that makes
one and seven-dfteentha. Now let's
see-yes, los. How will that come out?
Yes, that's right--one and thirty-four-
misunderstanding Quite right.
Alan. you have the answer. only your
way Of doing IL is little peculiar"
ut took you a long time TO do IT,
uncle"
Eyes. the light was bad couldn't
see the fgnres very well You could
improve ON your figures, Alan"
Give me another, uncle, please.
Make up tough one, can't you?"
'All right John and James-you'd
better write this down-John and James
had 20 cents between them; John
bought three apples at ~ cents each;
James bought . jack-knife with four
blades; for the big BLADE he paid cents;
for the little blade, 1kcents; for the
file blade, cents; for tho blade with q
nick in it, SO cents, and for the handle
twice - much. How much money did
they have left?"
Twice ~ much Is what?"
''Twice Is much ss-why twice -
much az for the little blade, Of course
That IL what said. Now. how much
did they have left7"
Nobody ever bought a knife that
way"
Probably not. but that is applied
mathematics, applying principles 70
everyday transactions such ~ you viii
engage in when you get older. Still.
perhaps. that il little too far along
for your"
"Oh! can do II easy enough" said
Alan, and he went to work. In few
minutes he began 70 look puzzled; then
he ssked: ''what do you want TO
know"
"How much they had Ieft7"
The puzzled look grew as the figures
multiplied. why said the boy, 6nal-
~. they wouldn't have any thing left.
They would owe, or James would owe.
1 SO cents on the knife. or John would
have 70 give mp some Of the sppics."
'sEh7~ nsd uncle, with start; 'shcw's
fhst?''
Alan went carefully Over The problem
step BY step. md. - be proceeded
wcle's cDnAdeocs IN himsslf dissp-
psarsd end In IT. wake ran embarrsss-
msu4 and hxnibstson- But uncle has
not nved two score and more years IN
this world Of perplexities for nothing.
md whsn hs wss led 70 - that Alan
wss right uncle wss himself sssin-
'Ah. yea he sid. '.yousre quite hight,
my boy, entirely right I vas wonder
ing II yuu vuald and II out"
But don't unders4snd how fhers can
- any thing leh
''Thse isn't" aid uncle. conposeny.
Fl ddnY iutsod theRv sbould b. Ton
may rernembev thst told ycn fhis wss
applied ns2AemseiO applying princs-
pies - everyday t<sosse<soms were.
thisk- Ebe words ussd- IL 10 nctsine
uncoGmoa Su men - huy roovs than
thsy en- pey for. In &C. simple rrsb
In roo ksve gained - is~iehf intoe~e
Of The great principles a. fssfs>s Me.
n h vel for yss 70 fnincls sbeor7 ~ith
prscs3cs. - sssez5eD< No. fn3esS-
Ths paDv hsksss ~hieh the fs>e ~
Aias's vzo<he1 wns hidden wS shaking.
- tb~re 49, . Ssrsh On her fscs af
serrf.ezs seruexltng viii MD fn1>e-
ns4ksnl Unese set&zs6 tsek n his chair.
ssoss hi eneeys sss&a- so1 r-sais>1
sAaa he h~6 ers~ie5 &kru1eh . v@y
mai hcse 81 ss~ee ~ sbe ts<*oss q
h;s v~si<<cc4t
Lei ne gre y0a g sxszpls ms1a..