The record-union., 1891-01-19
An Uncle and a Nephew Engaged
in a Fractional Match.
THE UNCLE PROVES TO BE VERY
RUSTY.
Some Problems from Arfthmetics that
the Cruel Nephew Flung at the
Head of the Unofrending Uncle-An
Amused Mother.

i can Go any example In fractions,
uncle,' said Alan the other evening as he
experimental with the cat to see if he
could hold that patient animal near
enough to the CRATE fire so that it's hair
would shrivel without any marked pro-
test from pussy.
Indeed" said uncle indulgently, lac
ing his fingers across his waistband and
extending his feet toward the fire: IT
used to be quite handy with fractions
myself. In fact, 1 IeXcelled in mathematics.
Your poor father, now, had no faculty for
them. It is singular how diversified
talents are in the same family, singular.
indedo
Henry was considered the best mathe-
matician in his Glass; said Alan's mother
with little flush.
In pure mathematics, Mary, in pure
mathematics only" responded uncle;
but in the applied article he was lament
ably weak.''
What Alan's mother might have replied
to this was lost in interest in Alan's ex-
pertinent, III which the cat suddenly
ceased to be passive agent. By and by,
when Alan had bathed the scratches on
his hand and convinced himself that the
wound on his ear was only superficial
piiS5 iS o<li0. 0lNc lllt aII
uncle"
"Certainiy,'' said uncle, affably; ''add
two-thirds and four-fifths and subtract
one-seventh."
Alan worked away for a minute and
then asked: what is the answer, uncle?''
"Er-l think you had better let me see
now you have done 1T, my boy. That will
do you more good. Um-ah-35, no, 105
yes, to be sure. Why, no; the one
seventh is to be subtracted. Fifteen, 10,
r. seven over; that makes one and
seven-fifteenths. Now, let's see-yes, los.
How will that come out? Yes, that's
right.one and thirty -four-one-hundr
and-htths, Quite right. Alan, you have
the answer, only your way of doing it is
a little peculiar"
1T took you a long time to do il, t,uncle.''
Yes, the light was bad. / couldn't see
the figures 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 L cents each; James bought
a jackbnife with four blades; for the big
blade he paid cents; for the little blade,
II cents; for the file blade, cents; for the
blade with a nick in it, 81 cents, and for
the handle, twice as much. How much
money did they have left?''
| WICC DIS IIuCu DIS WIldb.''
Twice as much as-why twice as much
as for the little blade, of course That is
what said. Now, how much did they
have left?"
Nobody ever bought knife that way.''
Probably not, but that is applied
mathematics, applying principles to
every day transactions such as you will
engage in when you get older. Still, per-
haps that is a little too far along for you?''
"Oh! can do it easy enough said
Alan, and he went to work. In a few
minutes he began to look puzzled; then
he asked, 'What do you want to know ?''
''How much they had left?''
The puzzled look grew as the figures
multiplied. Why" said the boy finally,
they. wouldn't have anything left They
would owe, or James would owe, 5-6
cents on the knife, or John would have
to give up some of the apples."
''Eh ?'' said uncle, with a start; shows
that ?'
Alan went carefully over the problem
step by step, and, as he proceeded, uncle,s
confidence in himself disappeared, and in
its wake ran embarrassment and humili-
ton. But uncle had not lived two score
and more years in this world of perpleXi-
ties for nothing, and when he was led to
see that Alan was right uncle was him
self again. "Ah, yes," he said, ''you are
quite right, my boy, entirely right. I
was wondering if you would find it out"
| Dut l. uUuGTStaDu NOW IQGrG can
be anything left"
There isn't,' said uncle, composedly.
Il didn't intend there should be. You
may remember that I told you this was
applied mathematics applying princi-
pies to every day transactions were, /
think, the words l used: 1t is nothing
uncommon for men to buy more than
they can pay for. In this simple problem
you have gained. an insight into one of
the great principles of business life. 1t is
well for you to mingle theory with prac-
tlce, an excellent idea, indeed"
The paper behind which the face of
Alan's mother was hidden was shaking,
and there was look on her face of merri-
ment struggling with mild indignation.
| Uncle settled back in his chair, laced his
hngers again, and realized that he had
crawled through very small hole and
saved all the buttons on his waistcoat.
Let me give you an example, UNCLE"
said Alan thoughtfully, ''not a made-up
one, but one from the book. PHI come to
them pretty quick and / would like to
! know how to do them"
"Er-perhaps you had lbetter wait till
| you get to them," said uncle. "It is just
as well not to cross BRIDGE Just then
| the eyes OF Alan's mother appeared over
the top of the paper and looked straight
! into uncle's. That gentleman cleared his
throat and said hastily: "All right, my
boy, all right; let's have it.''
and then read:
"a father left his eldest son three-seyenths
OF his estate, his youngest son four-sevenths
of the remainder, and his daughter the re-
| malnder, who received 81 1885 less than the
youngest son. what was the value of the
estate ?'
"Please read that over again." said
uncle, nervously. Alan did so.
We'll, the first thing to do," said
uncle. lis to find out what is the value of
| the estate"
That's the last thing in the book"
"Eh? l am afraid / did not under
stand the example. You should learn to
read more plainly, young SIR"
Alan read the example again, and
uncle said: "Oh, yes, see. Please get
me some paper and a pencil; you might
get several sheets of paper, so we will be
sure to have enough.h While Alan was
getting the paper, uncle said: ''You don't
mind my lighting pipe, do you, Mary?
l can always work better when Pm
smoking. It's a habit acquired in col
lege. 1t seems to brighten my reasoning
faculties,o
Not at all" sweetly said the lady adj
dressed, 81 believe the reasoning facul-
ties should be as bright as possible
Uncle did not say anything in reply; in
fact, it was some time before he uttered
word. Then he looked up from sheet
of paper crowded with figures and said
! 1mpauently: There never was an estate
in this world divided in such an idiotic
| fashion. A man who would make such
| Will would be declared insane in any
court on earth, and the will would be
| broken"
Perhaps that is pure mathematics,
| suggested a voice behind the paper
Uncle broke his pencil point in some
way just then, and when Alan sharpened
| il he UOt nm on his EneaS in tho chair with