PLATO'S THEORY OF THE TRIANGULAR FORMS OF MATTER. "Mr. Editor,-Will you do us the favor to answer the following question: What was the real theory of Plato concerning nature?" "

We give the following as the most concise and comprehensible answer to our querist we can obtain. Plato, like Pythagoras, maintained the idea that God and matter existed from all eternity; but that matter in itself had no form, property, or force. God gave it, from the beginning, a triangular form; afterward, taking a certain number of primitive triangles, he composed the four primary elements, which we, in this lower world, term fire, air, earth, and water. Fire, which is the most subtile, he said is made up of the smallest number of triangles, and that it has, by the combination of these triangles, the figure of a pyramid. The atoms of air represent a solid of twelve faces, a dodechadron. Water has the form of an icosahedron, or a solid of twenty faces. Finally, the earth, the heaviest of all the elements, constitutes a hexahedron; that is to say, a perfect cube composed of right-angled triangles.

This is, so far as we understand it, the ". "triangular theory" of "the sage of antiquity." The mode by which

Plato determines the primitive figure given by the Creator to matter is a curiosity in the line of physical investigation. He contends that this figure is a triangle, because of all the surfaces the triangular is the most simple, and there is no figure which may not be divided into triangles. Plato further assumed that, while matter remains in its elementary state, it does not affect our senses in any way. For it to become perceptible, it is necessary that several elements unite, and form an aggregate. Thus the elemental triangles representing water were imperceptible till, by a combination with other elemental triangles, an aggregate was formed.

A splendid theory; but on what foundation did it rest? PLATO ON THE FORMATION OF MAN.-While we are upon this subject of Plato's philosophy, we shall, perhaps, interest the curious by giving his theory of the formation of man. His doctrine was that the Supreme Intelligence charged the secondary gods with the formation of mortal animals. These gods, having received from the hands of the Celestial Father the immaterial principle of the human soul, fashioned a body or casement for it out of the most regular and polished of the primitive triangles. This luminous and incorruptible body, which envelops the immaterial soul, was placed in the brain of man. This was the higher soul of man. He affirmed, also, that the visible and grosser body of the animal was endowed with another soul, which was mortal, and which was also the seat of the baser passions. This occupied the length of the spinal marrow, leaving between it and the divine soul the interval of the neckfor fear that the two substances, of a nature so different, being too closely connected, the baser might tarnish or embarrass the other by contact with it. "Therefore," he reasons, "the gods placed the mortal soul in the chest and the trunk; and as this soul contains a good and a bad principle, they divided the cavity of the trunk into two departments, by means of the diaphragm placed in the middle as a partition. Nearer the head, between the diaphragm and the neck, they placed the manly and

courageous, or bellicose principle of the mortal soul." The bad principle of the mortal soul is confined, like a ferocious beast, in its cavern below the diaphragm, where it could obtain food and drink.

This is philosophy! the philosophy of "the sage of antiquity!" No wonder that we venerate the profound wisdom of ancient sages and philosophers! Men possessed of imaginations that could originate such a theory, and plausibility of speech and argument to make men receive it after it was invented, are certainly entitled to a great degree of veneration!

"UNLUCKY FRIDAY."-In reply to a minor query in your October number, as to why Friday is and has been lowing, which I came across in my reading a few days deemed an unlucky day, permit me to send you the folsince, premising that it is a reason prevalent among the people of the Channel ports of England, though but little known in America:

"In olden times, when the trade of England was confined to small coasting sloops and fishing vessels, and when a passage from one port to another seldom occu

pied over two days, it was found very difficult to get a crew for any craft leaving port on the Sabbath, the sailors much with the profits of those engaged in the coasting claiming that day as a day of rest. This interfered very trade, as it was their custom to start on a voyage on Sunday, return to port on Thursday, load, and be again ready for sea on the Sabbath, thus keeping their vessels and crews constantly employed. In order to obviate the difficulty, they caused the report to be circulated that Sunday was a very lucky day-in fact, the lucky day of the week and any craft leaving port on that day was almost certain to make a good voyage. And having a lucky day, it was also necessary to have an unlucky day. They chose the day when in all probability their vessels would be in port loading, and in this way Friday got the name of being an unlucky day."

NEW THEORY OF ANIMAL LONGEVITY.-A book recently published in Paris by M. Flowers places the complete natural life of man about one hundred years. The rule laid down is, that the natural extent of animal life is five times the number of years required to complete their growth. The table of M. Flowers is as follows:

Man grows for 20 years, and lives 90 or 100
The camel

8 66

44 40

We are inclined to accept this as the true theory. It is certainly a question of very great importance to the human family.

BESIDE, BESIDES.-The literary world needs to be set right as to the use and meaning of these words; for ignorance has originated, and affectation or carelessness have rendered common, a general misuse of the former word.

Beside means, primarily and precisely, by the side of; and is always a preposition. Besides means in addition to, in which sense it, also, is a preposition; and it means more or moreover, in which sense it is an adverb. There are some cumulative definitions, but these are the basis of all the others.

The common error consists in using beside as an adverb: a custom that has the appearance of an affected prettiness in composition; and has much the same effect on the nerves as the extreme use of the subjunctive in conversation: for instance, "If my friend Peter say that I did so and so, he is in error." The adverbial misuse of beside is on this wise: "I wish you to understand my orders, and, beside, I wish you to obey them." "Beside, I would have you remember so and so."

In these and similar cases the writer or speaker means moreover, and ought, therefore, to use the adverb besides. The distinction is made obvious by illustrations. Be side means "by the side of," and is a preposition:

"The lovely Thais sits beside thee."

Besides, when meaning "in addition to," is also a preposition: "And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed."

Besides, when meaning "moreover," is an adverb: "Set you down this,

And say, besides, that in Aleppo once." These illustrations are single specimens, but an intelligent writer will readily see the force of their application, and it is to be hoped that the use of beside as an adverb may be "reformed altogether." Q.

"THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET."-We find in a New York paper the following account of this most popular song; but whether true or not we must leave to the investiga

tions of others:

"It was written by Samuel P. Woodworth, while yet he was a journeyman printer, working in an office at the corner of Chambers and Chatham streets. Near by, in Frankfort-street, was a drinking-shop, kept by a man named Mallory, where Woodworth and several particular friends used to resort. One afternoon the liquor was super-excellent. Woodworth seemed inspired by it; for, after taking a draught, he set his glass upon the table, and, smacking his lips, declared that Mallory's eau de vie was superior to any thing he had ever tasted. 'No,' said Mallory, 'you are mistaken; there was one which, in both our estimations, far surpassed this in the way of drinking.' 'What was that?' asked Woodworth, dubiously. The draughts of pure, fresh spring water that we used to drink from the old oaken bucket that hung in the well, after our return from the labors of the field on a sultry day in summer.' The tear-drop glistened for a moment in Woodworth's eye. True, true,' he replied, and shortly after quitted the place. He immediately returned to the office, grasped a pen, and in half an hour the 'Old Oaken Bucket,' one of the most delightful compositions in our language, was ready in manuscript to be forever embalmed in the memories of succeeding generations."

SMOKING AND THE PIPE.-That the clay pipe was the original form of producing the smoke nuisance is evident from the following lines in Skelton's "Eleanor Rummin." After lamenting the knavery of that age as compared with King Harry's time, he continues:

"Nor did that time know,

To puff and to blow,

In a piece of white clay,

As you do at this day,

With fier and coale

And a leafe in a hoale,” etc.

"NINE TAILORS MAKE A MAN.”—This phrase originated in the following incident: In 1742 an orphan boy applied at a fashionable tailor's shop in London, in which nine

journeymen were employed. His interesting appearance opened the hearts of the benevolent tailors, who immediately contributed nine shillings for the relief of the little stranger. With this capital he purchased fruit, which he retailed at profit. Time passed on, and wealth and honor smiled upon the young tradesman, so that when he set up his carriage, instead of troubling the College of Heraldry for a crest, he painted the following motto on the panel of his carriage-door: "Nine tailors made me a man."

fishes ever sleep?" I regret that I am not able to give THE SLEEP OF FISHES.-In reply to the query, "Do you a very satisfactory reply. Naturalists, I think, are not agreed on the point-some contending that all kinds of fishes have their naps, while others affirm that only a few sleep. That some inhabitants of the water do sleep is, I think, very clear. Captain Scoresby, of the British Navy, makes mention of the sleep of porpoises and sharks; and a friend of mine, who has spent three years before the mast, says he has seen a whale asleep. Hoping that some one better informed than myself may furnish you a more satisfactory answer to the query, I remain, yours, truly,

E. H.

TWO INQUIRIES.-Yourself and your readers have probably seen something like the following. A very old book in my possession has a black-letter label pasted on its inside reading thus. Can you give me its origin?

"Steal not this booke, my honest friende,

For fear ye gallows be ye ende;
For if you doe, the Lord will say,
'Where is that booke you stole away!'"
And the following-can you tell who wrote it?
"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
Were ev'ry stalk on earth a quill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
And ev'ry man a scribe by trade,
To tell the love of God alone
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretch'd from sky to sky."

Yours, P. Q. R. RESURRECTED.-Mr. Editor,-In your department of the Repository, not the least interesting and instructive is that portion appropriated to "Notes and Queries." Will you, therefore, or some of your correspondents, give -a word your readers the etymology of "resurrected”— which appears to be growing into use, but which, to me, presents no claims to legitimacy, as there is no word in our language from which it can be derived: it has the form of a perfect participle, and participles are formed only from verbs. The word in question, therefore, is without parentage.

Respectfully,

TREMONT.

MINOR QUERIES.-1. To whom must be attributed this couplet?

"A slanderer felt a serpent bite his side

What followed from the bite? the serpent died."

2. Please give me, Mr. Editor, the origin of the words "pasteboard" and "bound in boards," and oblige a LOVER OF CURIOSITIES.

3. "Thence" and "From Thence"-"Hence" and "From Hence."-Is there any propriety, Mr. Editor, in saying "from thence" and "from hence"-rather, is it not a palpable violation of the rules of rhetoric? Who can help me to some light on the subject? CORA.

4. What is the origin of the term "old fogy?”

THE PRESENT NUMBER.-The opening article by Bishop Morris on "Fast People" is suggestive, and full of the sententious and vivacious spirit of the author; the description of the Ohio Wesleyan University by its President is valuable for the historical information it imparts, and shows in how short time a first-class university may be established when people having the means have also the will to contribute of these means; Mr. Casseday's brief sketch of Mrs. Welby, the well-known Louisville poetess, is replete with interest, and one finishes it regretting that it was not longer; "Giants of the Human Race" goes against the doctrine that a race of giants has peopled the earth, and treats the subject of giants' bones with levity; "Scenes in the French Revolution" is a paper that reveals some of the darkest shades in which we are accustomed to look upon man-your blood will almost curdle as you read some of the paragraphs; "Lost and Found" touches the heart in a place of tenderness, and will stir your warmest sympathies; "Ecclesiastical History" is on a topic of not very common discussion in a lady's magazine, but is, nevertheless, worthy of attention by all ladies who would be considered well-read; "The Bird of Heaven," "The Dying Daughter," and "Jesse," are poetical papers of considerable merit; Professor Nadal's "Power of Right" exhibits terseness, elegance, and earnestness in its discussion, and imparts many valuable hints; "A Midshipman's Adventure with a Baby" is laughable; "Our Mother was a Remarkable Woman," by Rev. L. D. Barrows, teaches a lesson alike valuable to parents and children; "The Sea is Full of Life" furnishes facts not very familiar to the general reader, and is well-spiced in style; "How to Make Home Intolerable" is a rehearsal of some most valuable domestic truths; "A Chapter on Floral Superstitions" is a superior paper, and contains many interesting anecdotes; "The Intensity of Modern Life," by Miss Fry, reveals some facts which all of us are too unwilling in our practice to admit; "Miscellaneous Reading" is the first

half of Dr. Thomson's late baccalaureate before the students of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and is able to speak for itself; "A Dinner Under Trying Circumstances" shows how a man fell into the hands of a lunatic and how he escaped. The other articles of the number, poetical as well as prose, the reader will find of at least sufficient merit, we trust, to secure them a perusal.

OUR ENGRAVINGS.-We have rarely ever sent out two more lively and attractive pictures than those which accompany this number. The engraving in each instance, too, is of a superior order. Of their subjects enough has been said elsewhere.

ARTICLES DECLINED.-The following articles in prose we are compelled to decline: "Broken Hearts;" "Slavery;" "The World of Mankind the Field for our Researches;""The Setting Sun;" "Music;" and the following in poetry: "Thoughts Suggested on the Death of a Friend;""Lines to an Invalid Sister;" "The Stream of Death;" "To Amanda;" "The Cross;" "Reflections Suggested by an Evening Walk." We will not discuss the truth or untruth of the old Latin adage, “Poets are born, and not made;" yet we will remark, that talent in poetry which many have deemed only mediocre has been cultivated into superior excellence, while decided poetic

power has often been sunk into the merest commonplace by indolence and carelessness. Between rhyme and poetry there is a mighty gulf which only patient study can bridge over. We hope, therefore, that our poetic correspondents will send us nothing except that which has cost them real pains.

MISCELLANY.-Criticising a Fine Sermon-Through the post-office last month we received this note: "A few evenings since, Mr. Editor, I was spending an hour with a reverend friend-a Doctor of Divinity, by the way, and a most exemplary and pious man. We were discussing, among other religious topics, that of ministerial earnestness and piety, when the Doctor made a sudden divergence, and told the following incident: 'Years ago, when living at Princeton, N. J., there was a man remarkable for his fine preaching talents; that is to say, he could frame elegant sentences, and speak them from the pulpit with great grace and dignity. I recollect his preaching on a certain special occasion. There was a great crowd out; and when the sermon was over, I walked home with a group of half a dozen theological students, among whom was a thoughtful but somewhat quizzical Yankee, named P. The sermon was praised as being exceedingly fine by all except P. At last he was pressed for an opinion, and, coming to a dead halt, he abruptly exclaimed, "The sermon, gentlemen, was fine-very fine-as fine, indeed, as fine chaff-but, gentlemen, it would take a cart-load of such sermons to convert even the soul of a musketo!" After that there was no more talk about fiue sermons.' There is a moral to the incident, but I leave that for you and your readers to draw."

The Preacher and Jack Sheppard.-At Newgate, England, after the escape of the notorious Jack Sheppard, a Dissenting minister preached a sermon on "Sinners and Sinning," in the course of which he remarked as follows.

"How dexterously did Jack pick the padlock of his chain with a crooked nail-burst his fetters asunder

climb up the chimney-wrench out an iron bar-break his way through a stone wall-make the strong door of a dark entry fly before him--fix a blanket to the wall with a spike stolen from the chapel-descend to the top of the turner's house-cautiously pass down stairs, and make his escape at the street-door!

"I shall spiritualize these things. Let me exhort you, then, to open the locks of your hearts with the nail of repentance; burst asunder the fetters of your beloved lusts; mount the chimney of hope; take thence the bar of good resolution; break through the stone wall of despair and all the strongholds in the dark entry of the valley of the shadow of death; fix the blanket of faith with the spike of joining the Church; let yourself down to the turner's house of resignation; descend the stairs of humility. So shall you come to the door of deliverance from the prison of iniquity, and escape from the clutches of that old executioner the devil, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour."

SOMETHING ABOUT CHILDREN.-A City to Take.-The following, from the Ladies' Own Journal, England. is good, notwithstanding the great Crimean city has been taken:

"Last Sabbath evening, an esteemed clergyman in the eastern district of Edinburgh was examining the congregational school. The subject was the fall of Jericho.

Have we not a city to take?' inquired the reverend gentleman. 'Yes, sir,' promptly answered a little boy. What city? continued the clergyman. Why,' answered the little fellow with energy, 'we have Sevastopol to take!'"

Keeping a Carriage va. Driving an Omnibus.—Mr. Editor,-Passing along the street the other day, I heard a conversation between two children which reveals a phase in human nature. Number one says, "My father keeps a carriage." Number two, not to be outdone, responds, "My father drives an omnibus."

Mother and God.-A few days since a little boy, only six years old, was precipitated to the bottom of a deep vault in Cincinnati by the caving in of the floor. He struggled against death in his horrible situation for over an hour and a half. When rescued, he exclaimed, "O mother, when I fell, I called loudly upon you, but you did not answer; then I shut my eyes, and called upon God." We hardly know when we have met with an incident more beautiful.

Praying Eight Times-Little Charlie has been taught by a pious mother the necessity of nightly prayer, but his little heart has taught him an improvement on the original plan. Charlie was tumbling into bed one night as soon as his tunic and pantalets were exchanged for his small white night-dress. "My little boy must kneel by me, and thank his heavenly Father for his care of him," said his mother, as she took his hand. "O no," says Charlie, looking joyously into her face, "I sa'ant have to say any prayers for eight days: I said 'em over eight times before I went to bed last night."

A Little Girl's Talk.-Walking out with our household pet, says an eastern editor, a little girl of four years, one day, gathering flowers, I noticed a bay-tree with its large white blossoms on the bank of the stream. I pointed them out to her, and endeavored to make her see them. After an ineffectual attempt, she took my hand, and, proceeding in the direction indicated, said: "Let's go closer, pa; I can't see them. Your face is bigger than mine."

She had been a good deal wayward through the day; in truth, behaving, as we say, "very bad." In the evening, however, the storm cleared off, and the sky became bright and serene. Coming to me in quite an amiable mood, I accosted her with, "Well, daughter, is your 'badness' all over for the day?"

"Pa, I an't 'badness' all over—just a little bit."

I had wound up my watch and laid it on the table, remarking, "This watch goes too fast," not supposing that she had noticed what I had said or did. After a considerable interval, and when she had been out and in several times, she picked it up and brought it to me, holding it in one hand to her ear, and the key in the other. "Please, pa, lock it up again; it's running away mighty fast."

Preaching Small.-"Mother," said a little girl, after coming home from church one Sunday, "mother, won't you ask the minister to preach small, so that I can understand him? I don't know what he means." What a rebuke to those ostentatious divines who "shoot the arrows of the word over the heads of their audiences in flourishes of affected rhetoric!" "There is," says a religious cotemporary, "an idea extant that to speak plain Saxon is not to speak learnedly. Hence, it must be Latinized to get its proper rotundity. We have heard of one who, in quoting the beautiful Saxon, 'O, the length and breadth, the hight and the depth,' etc., put it into good

English eloquence thus: 'O, the latitude and the longitude, the altitude and the profundity!' That must have been as plain to the audience as the following figure: "The Bible gives light; it is like an orifice in any edifice, covered with pellucid plates for the transmission of pelion rays!" That is, it is like a window!

Little Children, by Mary Howitt.-The following lines possess no great poetic merit; but they are so simple, natural, and sympathetic, that we can not help admiring

them:

"Sporting through the forest wide;
Playing by the water-side;
Wandering o'er the heathy fells;
Down within the woodland dells;
All among the mountains wild,
Dwelleth many a little child!
In the baron's hall of pride;
By the poor man's dull fireside;
'Mid the mighty, 'mid the mean,
Little children may be seen,
Like the flowers that spring up fair,
Bright and countless every-where!
In the fair isles of the main;
In the desert's lone domain;
In the savage mountain glen,
'Mong the tribes of swarthy men;
Whereso'er a foot hath gone;
Whereso'er the sun hath shone
On a league of peopled ground,
Little children may be found!
Blessings on them! they in me
Move a kindly sympathy,

With their wishes, hopes, and fears;
With their laughter, and their tears;
With their wonder so intense,
And their small experience!
Little children, not alone

On the wide earth are ye known,
'Mid its labors and its cares,
'Mid its sufferings and its snares.
Free from sorrow, free from strife,
In the world of love and life,
Where no sinful thing hath trod
In the presence of your God,
Spotless, blameless, glorified,
Little children, ye abide!"

STRAY GEMS.-Sanctified Affliction.-Sanctified affliction, like rain after dry weather, lays the dust of passions, softens the soul into resignation, and causes gratitude to spring forth.

The Education we should Give our Children-Give children a sound moral and literary education-useful learning for sails, integrity for ballast-set them afloat on the sea of life, and their voyage will be prosperous in the best sense of the word.

Harsh Words.-Harsh words are like hailstones in summer, which, if melted, would fertilize the tender plants they batter down.

NEXT TO THE LAST NUMBER.-With the next number we shall close the fifteenth volume of the Ladies' Repos itory. Our friends may expect a circular from the Publishers to accompany that number. They will state the plans and purposes for the forthcoming volume. A feeling of sadness comes over us as we find ourself so near the close of the labors of another year. Truly time is on the wing. Its years, how they seem to dwindle down to months, its months to weeks, and its weeks to days! But we have only to toil and wait; to sow now that we may reap by and by. We look forward with confidence and hope.