i 882 .j 
On the “Rigid Earth ” Paradox. 
64 g 
years. I have a precis of fourteen years of his examinations, 
and the total of his repetitions is under a dozen. I speak in 
this case of printed papers.” In other words, during fourteen 
years only twelve instances have occurred where a question 
once asked has been repeated. Hence the coach declares 
himself “ perfectly safe-” in excluding those subjects from 
the preparation of his pupils. 
It cannot for a moment be doubted that a student — if we 
may so call him — thus trained has an enormous advantage 
over one who has simply obtained the best possible know- 
ledge of the entire subjedt. The former has merely to 
grapple with certain seledt portions of the science in ques- 
tion, whilst the latter must go over the entire ground. 
Hence, we need not wonder that “ all but the very poorest 
students ” have recourse to these private teachers. We see 
here, also, the full meaning of those memorable words of 
Professor Huxley, — “ We pass and do not know.” Is it not 
time that the public, therefore, should begin to pay less 
honour to men who have passed, and to seek out, by their 
performances, men who know ? I may seem prejudiced, 
but had I any appointment to bestow, my first stipulation 
would be, “ no one who has prepared for any examination 
need' apply ! ” 
III. ON THE “ RIGID EARTH” PARADOX. 
By E. L. Garbett. 
§ NOTION seems to be abroad that the mathematical 
exercises of Professors Sir W. Thomson and G. 
Darwin, on a “ rigid ” or a “ viscous ” planet, apply 
somehow to the adtual Earth, and prove some rigidity in 
her; or even, according to Mr. Prodtor (“ Knowledge,” p. 
258), “ conclusively dispose of the theory that the Earth is 
a mere crust, 40 or 50 miles thick, and full of molten lava.” 
Now I submit that he might, without following a line of 
their calculations, have gathered from their mere statements 
of results, that these belong only to imaginary globes, and 
prove no more about the Earth of Nature than do Hampden’s 
ingenious maps on the flat theory “ dispose of the theory ” 
that she is a globe. 
VOL. iv. (third series). 2 u 
