What Might Have Been. 



C. A. Waldo. 



In this review of a century of scientific achievements in Indiana isn't it 

 worth while to take a few minutes to rejoice that some things through the 

 help of the Indiana Academy of Science have been frosted in the bud? 

 We remember the conclusion to the parody on Maud Muller 



"If of all sad words of tongue or pen 

 The saddest is 'It might have been, 

 Sadder yet by far to see 



What is and hadn't ought to be.' " 



In the early spring of 1899 vague rumors reached Indiana University 

 and Purdue that some sort of mathematical legislation was pending at 

 Indianapolis. It was evident, however, that the state solons there assembled 

 thought themselves well equipped to attack the problems, Avhatever they might 

 be, with wisdom and justice for they made no appeal for help to their two state 

 supported fountains of erudition. 



As the session of the legislature was drawing toward its close it chanced 

 to be the duty of the writer to visit the State Capitol and make sure that the 

 Academy appropriation was cared for. When admitted to the floor of the 

 House, imagine his surprise when he discovered that he was in the midst of a 

 debate upon a piece of mathematical legislation. An ex-teacher from the east- 

 ern part of the state was saying; "The case is perfectly simple. If we pass 

 this bill which establishes a new and correct value forii, "the author offers 

 to our state without cost the use of his discovery and its free publication in 

 our school text books, Avhile everyone else must pay him a royalty." The roll 

 was then called and the bill passed its third and final reading in the lower 

 house. A member then shoAved the Avriter a copy of the bill just passed and 

 asked him if he would like an introduction to the learned doctor, its authoi. 

 He declined the courtesy Avith thanks remarking that he was acquainted Avith 

 as many crazy people as he cared to know. 



That evening the senators were properly coached and shortly thereafter 

 as it came to its final reading in the upper house they threw out with much 

 merriment the epoch making discovery of the Wise Man from the Pocket. 



This remarkable bill establishing a new value of n had thus passed five 

 readings and it then needed T)ut one more favorable reception in the Senate 

 to secure for itself the inscription "Enacted by the State of Indiana." 



And what was this new and correct value of n ? The jargon of the text 

 of the bill is diflScult to understand. But the nearest the Avriter could come 



(445) 



