Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-13

With an art worthy better cause, for ex-
ample, they have insinuated the term
analysis into application to algebra. The
French are the originators Of this partic-
ular deception, but If a term Is of any i'm
portance-if words derive any value from
applicability-then analysis conveys 'alse-
Dra ABOUT as much as. In Latin ambitus'
implies ambition, 'religio religion or
'homines honesti,' a set of honorable men"
You have quarrel on hand, l see," said
!, with some of the algebraists Of Paris;
but proceed.
Il dispute the availability. and thus the
value OF that reason which Is cultivated in
any especial form other than the abstractly
logical. dispute In particular the reason
educed by mathematical study. The mathe-
mates are the science of form and quantity;
mathematical reasoning Is merely logic APP
pied to observation upon form and guam
tlty. Inc great error lies in supposing that
even the truths Of what is called pure alge-
bra are abstract or general truths. And
this error is so egregious that I am con-
founded at the universally with which it
has been received Mathematical axioms
are NOT aXloms OF general truth. What is
true Of relation-of form and quantity-is
often grossly false In regard to morals for
example. In this latter science 1t Is very
usually untrue that the aggregated parts
the axiom fails. In the considerati ton of
motive 1t fails; for two motives, each of a
given value have not, necessarily a value
when united equal to the sum Of their
mathematical truths which are only truths
within the limits Of relation But the
mathematician argues from his finite truths,
through habit, as If they were of an abso-
iutely general applicability, as the world,
indeed, imagines them to be- BRYANT in
his very learned Mythology mentions an
analogous source of error when he says
that, although the Pagan fables are not be-
leveo, yet we forget ourselves continually
and make differences from them as existing
realities With the aIgebraists. however,
who are Pagans themselves the Pagan
tables are believed, and the differences are
mace, not so much through lapse of MEM
DRY as through an unaccountable adding
OF the brains. In short, 1 never yet en-
countered the mere mathematician who
couid De trusted out of equal roots, or
one VINO dld not clandestinely hold 1t as a
point Of his faith that x2 plus DIX was abb
solutely and Internationally equal to o.
Say to one of these gentlemen by way Of
experiment, II you please. that you believe
occasions may occur where x2 plus PIX is
not altogether equal to q, and, having made
him understand what you mean, get out of
his reach as speedily as convenient, for, be-
yono uouot' ne Will endeavor to knock you
down."
Il mean to say continued Dupin while
l merely laughed at his last observations,
that If the minister had been no more
than mathematician, the prefedt would
have been under no necessity of giving me
this check. l knew him, however, as both
mathematician and poet, and my measures
were adapted to his capacity, with REFER
ence to the circumstances by which he was
surrounded. knew him as a courtfeF too,
and as bold intrsguant. Such a man. 1
considered. could not fail to be aware Of
the ordinary policial modes of acton. He
could not have failed to anticipate-and
events have proved that he did fail to an
ticipate-the waylayings to which he was
subjected. He must have foreseen reflect
ed, the secret Investigations Of his premise s..
His frequent absences from home at hight.
which were hailed by the project as c{rtain
aids 70 his succs S. regarded only as fuses,
to afford opportunity for thorough search to
the police. and thus the sooner 10 impress