74 



KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



"The four corners represent eras or points of greatest prominence in his 

 life. His first entry into life was in 1822, in the lower left-hand corner. The 

 next great prominent event of his life was his graduation from the military 

 academy and entry into the army in 1843, found in the lower right-hand cor- 

 ner. The third important era in his life, when he first came most promi- 

 nently before the American people, was in 1864, when he was made lieutenant- 

 general, and when he "proposed to fight it out on this line if it tooli all sum- 

 mer," which he did. This date is the most conspicuous, being in the upper 

 left-hand corner. The final prominent number is the present year, the date 

 of his triumphal departure, to be found in the upper right-hand comer. His 

 life, considered as a harmonic square, is complete. 



"Let it be observed that the difference between these most prominent dates 

 is exactly twenty-one years, thus marking his life into three periods of 

 equal duration, namely: The first, that of youth and study; the second, that 

 of diligent labor; and the third, that of triumphs and rewards. The sum of 

 these four numbers is 7,414. 



"The four central numbers of the above square represent also four notable 

 dates in his private or public life, less important than the other four, namely: 

 1839, his entry into West Point military academy; 1848, his marriage; 1859, 

 his industrious laboring as a tanner at Galena, 111., which fact figured so 

 prominently in his first presidential campaign; and 1868, his election to the 

 presidency of the United States. The sum of these four numbers is 7,414. 



"Aside from the foregoing statements, the peculiar properties of the above 

 square are such that each line, column, or diagonal, foots up 14,828. Any 

 semi-diagonal or diagonal of four places, added to the opposite semi-diagonal, 

 sums up 14,828. Any half line or half column, commencing at one end, 

 added to any other half line or half column, makes 14,828. Any four in a 

 square inclosed by heavy lines, added to any other similar square, is 14,828. 

 Any four numbers whatever, taken at random anywhere, added to four taken 

 similarly and diametrically opposite, will equal 14,828. The foregoing state- 



