PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 10

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

EUCLID THE GEOMETRICIAN. All school boys do a littl e of what used to be called ” Euclid ” when “ Pater ” lived under the rule of the cane, or rather the supplejack, straps being either scarce or too namby-pamby for the sturdy youngsters of those days. Euclid is now called geometry, but, alas! little of it is taught in primary schools, and that little in Standard IV as a preparation for the woodwork class, where if * 3 applied to plan and elevation drawings of the woodwork the instructors give the boys to do. Geometry is one of the most useful things that can be given to boys to learn, because it is so useful or so necessary for all mechanical or constructional work, and it is more than a pity that more of the simple elements of geometry are not taught from Standard I upwards. In “ Pater’s ” mind the study comes next in importance to arithmetic and grammar. The study of geometry is a very ancient one, and its ancient development as a study arose from the necessity of measuring land for tillers of the ground and herders of cattle. Afterwards, as civilisation progressed and men began to build stone houses, or brick houses such as those built by. the ancient Akkadians and Sumerians, of Mesopotamia, the study advanced and became wider and deeper or more complicated and ingenious, for it was necessarv for all builders to use their knowledge of its rules or principles. From those facts it can be seen that to say “ Euclid was the father of geometry ” is not correct from an historical point of view. It would be nearer Lhe true idea to say that Euclid wqs the father of the best methods of teaching geometry, for that is true of him for over 2000 years down to about 30 or 40 years ago, when mathematicians and teachers thought it was time to make changes in Euclid’s w<vrderful old book, which had held its own so long in the schools of all European nations. There are some of us who look with regret upon the changes that have been made, though the methods of treating his geometrical problems have been shortened and simplified, and even his order of the mathematical problems changed. In spite of what modern teachers of mathematics have done in the way of alterations, those of Euclid’s written works which have come down to us—many were lost—will stand as a wonder of the ages. As we see and note these things about Euclid, the question arises, “ Who was this wonderful man? ” and, strange as it may seem, not much is known about him,, and the burning of the great Alexandrian library by either the early Christians or the Mohammedan conquerors of Egypt, is most probably the cause of the lack of knowledge about him. • Much of what he taught and wrote was also destroyed in that most regrettable and barbarous act of destructiveness. There were two Euclid’s—one a Greek philosopher, who flourished about 400 years before the Christian era, and the other our Euclid of th e schools, the celebrated mathematician who flourished at Alexandria, in Egvpt, 100 years later and made himself famous as long as the -world will last by his books on geometry, in which he systematised all the problems or propositions of the geometricians who lived before his day, especially

Thales and Pythagoras (another wonderful man), and other great Greek teachers. The Greeks were the greatest architects of the day, and the beauty of their buildings -has never been excelled; so they were of necessity great students of geometry. Euclid and his school at Alexandria became so widely known throughout the then civilised world that students flock to it from all parts and from all classes of people. Even Ptolemy, one of the greatest and wisest kings of Egypt, studied mathematics under Euclid. It is related of Ptolemy that one day he put this question to Euclid: “Is there not-a.-i easier way to learn geometry? ” To the king Euclid replied, “ There is no royal road to the knowledge of geometry,” a saying which is more familiar to us in the dictum “ There is no royal road to learning.” Euclid embodied his “ Elements ” in 12 books or rather 12 sections, and most of these have been preserved and have been translated into all the languages of Europe, and also those of Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, India, Persia, and China. What an immortal name this great geometrician has earned whose works have held their own in his own style for over 2000 years. From what little has been left to us about this wonderful man and teacher, other than the legacy of some of his writings, we learn that he was a pleasant-looking man, veiy kindly and generous, and was grcatyl loved by both his younger and his older pupils, and also that he greatly helped to make Alexandria the most popular school in the then civilised world. It is not known when he was born, where he was born, or when he died. We know he had a Greek name, but we can only guess from that that he was either a Greek or of Grecian descent. It does not matter. The world to-day owes him much.

AKAROA. In looking over that excellent work, “ The New Zealand Index,” of which a Dunedin firm has the honour of being the producer, “ Pater ” found many interesting accounts of certain parts of our Dominion, and a fairly short one lie takes the liberty of quoting. Akaroa, Canterbury, a borough (population 750), situated on the well screened and capacious harbour of the same name; a picturesque spot much patronised as a summer resort, and for boating and fishing. It is 55 miles from Christchurch, and can be reached by boat from Lyttelton, or by rail to Little River, and thence 19 miles by car. There is also a daily motor service to and Jrom Christchurch.

Akaroa is the centre of a dairying and fruit-growing district, and grass-seeding in cocksfoot is extensively carried on. It has a post, telegraph, and money order office, and is lit with electricity, and the Magistrate’s Court sits there every month. The surroundings are hilly and the climate delightful. Forty years ago the names Akaroa cheese, butter, honey, and walnuts were household words throughout New Zealand. In 1840 an attempt was made to found a French colony at Akaroa, but the attempt was forestalled by a few hours only by Captain Stanley, of H.M.B. Britomart, who hoisted the British flag and took possession of the whole of the South Island on behalf of the Crown

and in the presence of Mr C. B. Robinson, the first magistrate. French emigrants landed there in 1850, and with them were six Germans, who, being unable to secure sections about the harbour site, formed a settlement by themselves at what was known till 1915 as German Bay. There is a lighthouse on the east head of the harbour; it is, moreover, a beacon to ocean traffic sailing up and down the coast. There is a resident doctor in the town. The word Akaroa means “ long bay ” —“ aka,” a bay; and “ roa ” meaning long. GOOD ADVICE OF zESOP. In an interesting will not long ago a father urged his sons to make “ work and knowledge their principal hobbies,” and to take pride in possessions which came to them as the fruit of their own steady labours. The anxiety of men of substance that their bequests may not encourage sloth in those whom they benefit is present in every generation. We trace it back to days when riches consisted not of gold and silver and great houses, but of flocks ands herds that needed constant labour and attention, and of land whose richness depended on the amount and nature of the cultivation it received.'

Old /Esop gives us many examples of the anxiety of fathers that their sons should not only labour, but labour in unity together. Two of his fables are among the most-quoted stories in literatures First there is the dying man with land to bestow.

“My sons,” he said, calling them to his bedside, “ there is a great treasui e hid in one of my vineyards.” Ths sons, after his death, took spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every inch of the ground. They found no treasure of gold or silver, but the labour they had thus put into the ground resulted in so extraordinary and abundant a crop of grapes that they were richly rewarded. That was the leal treasure, and their own efforts called it into existence. Then there is Allsop’s story of the man who had to bequeath an estate to a family of sons constantly quarrelling among themselves in spite of all his expostulations. He therefore decided on a practical lesson, and bade them bring him a bundle of sticks. The wise old man placed the faggot in the hands of each in turn, bidding them break it in pieces. Of course, none was able to do so. Next the sage unfastened the faggot, took the sticks separately, and put them one by one into the hands of his sons, who broke them with ease. “ Now, my sons,” said their father, “if you are of one mind and unite to assist each other you will be as thia faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided you will be broken as easily as these separate sticks.” The father whose will was read the other day urging his sons to love work quoted Bacon and his love of knowledge as an inspiration to his heirs. If the sons study the great scholar they will have the pleasant surprise of finding zEsop there, for Bacon was glad to quote the fable, of the vineyard. We might all profitably study ’the lesson

of the two fables, for their message, the need for Work and for unity, was never more needed than now.