Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1893 — Common Sense and Arithmetic. [ARTICLE]

Common Sense and Arithmetic.

The difference between common senso and mathematics was Illustrated in a ro • mark which Tommy Jones—who is no:, exceptionally bright, but just a common, natural boy—made in his class at school the other day. It was the class in mental arithmetic. The teacher asked Willie Smith: "Which would you rather have, Willy, half an apple, or eight-sixteenths of tin apple?’’ “Wouldn’t make any difference,” said Willy. “V hy not?" “Eight-sixteenths and one-half are all ihe same.” At this reply Tommy Jones, who was several steps farther down the class, sniffed scornfully. The teacher heard him. Well, Tommy," said she, “don’t you :,gr e with WiUy?” No’m,” said Tommy, “I’d a good deal raiher have one-half an apple. "And why, please?" “More juioe. Cut up half an apple in--1 o eight-sixteenths, and you’d lose half he juice doing It.”