New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-06

section Of an angle, and perpetual mo-
ton. Everybody has heard Of them
and knows vaguely that they are gen
orally regarded as impossibilitles. But
few have any definite notion or the
nature Of the insuperable obstacles TO
their solution. or OF the romance OF
endeavor comprised in their histories.
And these are only three amid an I'M
mense multitude Of bewildering variety
which make one wonder If there was
any theme on which De Morgan did not
touch and which he did not adorn.
Here, for example, are elaborate con-
siderations Of the Number of the Beast
in the Apocalypse, and OF the origin
of Steamboats,. II the reader cares not
for the Aurora Borealis, he may be
interested in Thomas Paine's Rights
of Man" He may choose between Deci-
nal Coinage and Literary bargains.
Some may turn instinctlvely 10 the es-
say on Byron and Hallam, while others
will with equal avidity follow his dis
cussion Of the Theory of the Whizglg.
Whateley's famous paradox on Bona
parte might well be of perpetual IN
terest-as 10 certainly would be OF
value to the world, but renewal Of &C
ouaintance with that masterpiece need
tion Of the Equation Of Lunar Caus-
tic!
De Morgan was a great admirer Of
Whateley, as every logician and equal
~ every wit should be, and entered
with much sympathy and gusto into his
whimsical but inexorably convincing
satircs. He also had warm heart
cookies for Isaac Miner, the rational
paradoxer" phrase Of De Morgan S
own coinage, descriptive Of "all who. In
private life, and in matters which con-
Germ themselves. take their own course
and suit their own notions, no matter
what other people may think OF them.
am one Of the class" ne con-
fesscs, land ! could write little book
of cases in which have incurred aoso-
Lutte reproach for not doing as other
people do" Among his performances
OF this kind were using a dome-snaped
butter dish. with a wet sponge inside,
for pen-wiper, and using q leaden
comb. intended for dyeing the hair, for
q paper ruler-for which purposes both
things were admirably suited. Having
himself done these things, we may un-
derstand with what sympathetic Joy he
tells Of Miners device for getting a
comfortable chair:
lie wanted a seat suited TO his
shape. and he defed opinion 20
fearful point lie spread a thick
block Of putty over wooden chair
and sat in IL until he had taken
ceroplast copy Of the proper seat.
This he gave to a carpenter to be
Initiated in wood and very
comfortable he found the copy.
But within the limits Of review 1t
is impossible 20 do more than 10 hint
az the opulcnce Of these volumes in
both wit and wisdom. The range 10
from the most abstruse metaphysics
and technical mathematics 10 the roll
licking glee Of the native humorist. The
volumes we are glad that they are or
convenient size and weiRnt-are worthy
20 De favorite companions. 20 be dipped
into at random and at random times, or
to be the objects OF sustained and serl-
Gus study. There IS not page without
food for thought, and there are few
that do not delight the fancy while
they enrich the mind. II was a good
thought of the editor and publishers TO
make this contribution at once 10 cur
rent and 10 standard literature, and II
is TO be hoped that their judgment Will
be indicated in the event-in clrcu-
lation of the Budget, let US say, COM
parable with that Of the best-selling OF
the fascinating novels Of De Morgan 5
gifted son.