MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 23

MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS.

284. Selected by A. T., Invercargill :— A oubioal foot of brass is to be drawn into wire a'o of an inch in diameter ; what willbe the length of the wire, allowing no waste in the metal P 285, By R. T., Nugget Point :— If a man walks 10 miles in the first day, nine miles in the second, and so on, decreasing his speed in the same ratio every day ; what distance will he walk P

A singular story.— A singular story is told concerning the objection^ Bernadotte always had to be bled. His medical adviser, who was a disciple of Dr Sangrado, insisted in vain that it was necessary for his health ; the king was obstinate. At last a crisis came, and when Bernadotte heard that the doctor declined to answer for his life if he would not consent to bleeding, he gave way. But before baring his arm he made the operator promise that he would never divulge what was to be seen on it, and the doctor made a solemn vow, which he broke. A Phrygian cap, with the motto "Death to Kings," was elaborately tattooed above the elbow. The dashing soldier, when he pricked this regicide maxim into his skin, never dreamed that one day he would come to be a king himself. When the Greeks were about to sail for Troy Menelaua brought a bundle of straw and put it carefully away in his oabin- " What is that for P" asked Agamemnon. "To tell us the direction of the breeze," answered Menelaus. " You're orassy !" said Nestor. " Why," remarked Menelaus, "don't straws show which way the wind blows P"~ Pack,