the hour of
meeting had been omitted. He then said this would be 10 10-17 hours
after the time of the departure. The child had perceived that this part
of the answer was implicitly contained in the former; which he also
imagined the examiners perceived as well as himself, and therefore he
omitted it.
Question 2.--In three successive attacks upon a town, a quarter of the
assailants perished in the first attack, a fifth in the second, and a
sixth in the last, when their number was reduced to 138 men. Required
the original number? Answer, 360.
Q.--How did you find that number?
A.--If the number had been 60, there would eventually have remained 23;
now 23 being the sixth of 138, the assailants were 6 times 60 or 360 at
first.
Q.--Why did you suppose the number 60, rather than 50 or 70?
A.--Because neither 50 nor 70 are divisible by 4 or 6.
From these questions and replies, it will be readily understood that the
child does not employ the ordinary artifices of mathematicians. Marquess
Scriso, who was the first person to discover this singular talent, is
about, with several other persons of distinction in the city, to solicit
the aid of Government in the education of the child, every one being
fully aware of the impropriety of subjecting him to the ordinary mode of
education.
* * * * *
"OUT OF SEASON," OR THE BEAU'S LAMENT.
(_For the Mirror._)
"There is no labour so great as idleness."
Heigho! what a blank is our being! ahi!
For there's nobody left in the town,
That's nobody fit to associate with _me;_
Dinner's up, but my spirits are down,
I can't eat or drink (how should I?) for sorrow,
And the lack of some usual treat,
And I surely should hang me, or marry tomorrow,
Were there not a few _bawls_ in the street.
Hang! marry! said I, why I'm now _drown'd_ in tears,
Who am wont in _sham pain_ to lose real;
And could pull my own house down, about my own ears
For lack of amusements ideal;
But plays, concerts, shopping, Di'ramas so bright,
That enlarge the pent mind at a view,
Are fled with my friends; I'm the wretchedest _wight_
That from devil _ennui_, e'er look'd _blue!_
O horrible! horrible _world!_ there's not e'en
An old maid in't, to ask me to tea;
Not fit, or in country or town, to _be_ seen,
They have hurried off, blindly _to see!_
Parks, houses, clubs, shops, churches, squares, _deserts_ s
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