COMIC ARITHMETIC
Arithmetic is the art or science of computing bj numbers. It is national, political, military, and commercial. It is of the highest importance to the community ; because it pre-eminently teaches us to take care of Number I. Our ministers succeed according to their knowledge of the science of numbers. Witness the skilful management of majorities of the lower house. He who understands the true art of Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication^ and Division, as here laid down, will not be considered a mere cipher in tlie world; but will, in all probability, make a considerable /^wre ; and in the figurative words of Horace, be "Dives agris dives positis in foenore nummis." Let us, therefore, under the guidance and protection of that god of honest men, the light-heeled and light-fingered Mercury, be diligent so to add to our store by subtracting from the stores of others, that we may add to our importance. Let us so multiply our resources, by encouraging dimsion among our contemporaries, that we may see their reduction in the perfection of our own practice.
Arithmetic is the art or science of computing
bj numbers. It is national, political, military,
and commercial. It is of the highest importance
to the community ; because it pre-eminently
teaches us to take care of Number I. Our ministers
succeed according to their knowledge of the
science of numbers. Witness the skilful management
of majorities of the lower house.
He who understands the true art of Addition,
Subtraction, Multiplication^ and Division, as here
laid down, will not be considered a mere cipher in
tlie world; but will, in all probability, make a
considerable /^wre ; and in the figurative words of
Horace, be "Dives agris dives positis in foenore
nummis."
Let us, therefore, under the guidance and protection
of that god of honest men, the light-heeled
and light-fingered Mercury, be diligent so to add
to our store by subtracting from the stores of
others, that we may add to our importance. Let
us so multiply our resources, by encouraging dimsion
among our contemporaries, that we may see
their reduction in the perfection of our own practice.
- TAGS
- arithmetic
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
BARTER. 105<br />
RULE XIII.<br />
BARTER— BUYING AND SELLING—PROFIT AND<br />
LOSS.<br />
Man is a " forgiviDg animal," and this is a better<br />
definition of him than Plato's "biped without<br />
feathers," which the plucked cock demonstrated.<br />
Man is the only animal which strikes a bargain.<br />
A dog does not exchange a bone with another dog<br />
and however skilful he may be at a steak, he is not<br />
at all clever at this sort of " cAc/?."<br />
" Our chops are our masters," says Hobbes ; and<br />
it is all " a matter of wittles," says Sam Weller.<br />
Hence arise the art and mystery of swapping,<br />
buying, and selling, and the notion of trade and<br />
commerce,<br />
England is per se a nation of shopkeepers—we<br />
do every thing upon the principle of small profits<br />
and quick returns.<br />
To barter the national honour<br />
F 3
Change language