NOTES 177 



ties, and spent much time in subtle arguments over matters which 

 could not be demonstrated by human experience. See text, p. 91. 



writ in water. Cf. the epitaph of the EngUsh poet, John Keats 

 (1795-1821): "Here Hes one whose name is writ in water." 



Lord Brouncker (William), 1620-1662. A high court official in 

 England and a distinguished naturalist; the first president of the 

 Royal Society. 



revenant. Ghost, spirit. 



23. Boyle, Robert, 1627-1691. A British chemist and an earnest 

 Christian; the discoverer of Boyle's law. 



Evelyn, John, 1620-1706. British author and royalist; a deeply 

 religious man. 



31. Count Rumford. Benjamin Thompson; born, Massachusetts, 

 1753; died, Paris, 1814. An American scientist who did almost all 

 of his work abroad. 



A LIBERAL EDUCATION 



37. Ichabod. A Hebrew name meaning "inglorious." Whittier, 

 in his poem of this name, applied this meaning to Daniel Webster 

 just after he had made a compromising speech on slavery in the 

 United States Senate, March 7, 1850. The following lines occur 

 in the poem: 



So fallen! so lost! the light withdrawn 



Which once he wore! 



The glory from his gray hairs gone 



Forever! 



regime. System of government or management. 



38. public schools. In England, certain boys' schools (Rugby, 

 Eton, Harrow, etc.), patronized chiefly by the wealthy and the 

 titled. These schools are not supported by general taxation; hence 

 they are not public schools as the term is understood in the United 

 States. 



senior wranglership. In Cambridge University, England, the 

 position formerly held by the winner of highest honors in the public 

 examination in pure and mixed mathematics. This distinction is no 

 longer conferred. 



double-first. In Oxford University, England, the degree given 

 to the one who gains the highest place in the examinations in both 

 classics and mathematics. 



40. gambit. In chess-playing, an opening in which a piece is 

 sacrificed, or at least offered, for the sake of, or with the object of 

 obtaining, an advantageous attack. 



