Sketches New and Old


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be respected, and, therefore, that the elevation chosen shall be high  
enough to enable her to accomplish this to her satisfaction). But I find  
I have wandered from my subject; so, without further argument, I will  
reiterate my conviction that not all babies are things of beauty and joys  
forever.  
"ARITHMETICUS." Virginia, Nevada.--"I am an enthusiastic student of  
mathematics, and it is so vexatious to me to find my progress  
constantly impeded by these mysterious arithmetical technicalities.  
Now do tell me what the difference is between geometry and  
conchology?"  
Here you come again with your arithmetical conundrums, when I am  
suffering death with a cold in the head. If you could have seen the  
expression of scorn that darkened my countenance a moment ago, and was  
instantly split from the center in every direction like a fractured  
looking-glass by my last sneeze, you never would have written that  
disgraceful question. Conchology is a science which has nothing to do  
with mathematics; it relates only to shells. At the same time, however,  
a man who opens oysters for a hotel, or shells a fortified town, or sucks  
eggs, is not, strictly speaking, a conchologist--a fine stroke of sarcasm  
that, but it will be lost on such an unintellectual clam as you. Now  
compare conchology and geometry together, and you will see what the  
difference is, and your question will be answered. But don't torture me  
with any more arithmetical horrors until you know I am rid of my cold. I  
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87 88 89 90 91

Quick Jump
1 101 201 302 402