isa-normaladvance-1915-00035

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE35place, that it was fairly good walking. Heeven saw a few Gems of Cassar shining throughthe mud. These he gathered as he passed.Before him rose the giant mountain of Geometry. He tried the ascent, looking as he didso for some of the Food of Thought which hehad found on the Hill of Algebra. He foundonly a few Problem Bushes, but in their steadhe found Theorem Trees on which grew Fruitsof Practical Value, large and luscious, which,when eaten with the fruit of the ProblemBush formed a food a hundred-fold morestrengthening than either fruit when eatenseparately. Aided by this, Average Boy soonreached the top. He now discovered that themountain on which he stood was merely a partof the great Highland of Mathematics. Belowhim on the one hand he beheld the Hill of Algebra, now sunk in insignificance, and the knollof Arithmetic, wThile on the other hand towered Higher Algebra, with Giant Trig loomingup in the distance.He now descended into the valley. There hefound a strange city. The first buildings hesaw were of rude structure, standing on polesin a lake. A group of strange looking peoplewere swimming about in the water. On further he saw an immense pile of stones on oneof which was carved in ancient writ, the singleword Menes. Next was a massive temple before which were two long rows of sphinxes,carved in distinctive Egyptian lines. Betweenthese rows walked a stately procession ofpriests followed by myriads of cats. Not halting to marvel at this, he hastened on, to viewan immense Assyrian Palace built entirely ofbrick. Next to this stood a building of graceful Greek design, before which was gathered acrowd of idlers in Athenian costomes. Beforethem stood an old man. He was not goodlyto look upon, but he spoke with such evidentwisdom that none of the throng, many thatseemed to disagree, dared to question him.This must be the City of Histpry, said Average Boy, for I think I have heard of this manbefore, as well as of the one down the street.The last remark concerned a man, standingin a Roman Forum, surrounded by Italians ofthe last century B. C. As Average Boy approached the speaker, a man taller than hisauditors, but of rather weak physical make-up,said:Veni, vidi vinci!Passing on, Average Boy approached a palace. It was beautiful to the extreme, still avery ugly scene seemed to be taking place there.Men armed as Roman Legionaries were hurrying back and forth. One group on meetinganother, would dash furiously into it, shoutingthe name of their leader. For a moment thevictor was robed in the imperial purple amidthe plaudits o fhis followers, only to be slainby another band. Then bands of tall, fair mendashed into the palace, and after a period ofturmoil there appeared one man above therest who assumed the purple amid shouts ofCharlemagne!This being the outer edge of the town, Average Boy found himself once more before English Precipice. The rock had changed. Onits ledges were piled emeralds which reflectedthe suns rays, making the rock shine in splendor.He took his time up the cliff, and by thetime he reached the top he had his pocketsfilled with stones. The river was somewhatmore dangerous than it had been at the othercrossing, on former days, and he had gravedoubts as to his ability to get across with sucha load. He stepped in only to find that, instead of a hindrance, the emeralds, seemed tobuoy him up. He once more found a bag tiedto a tree, and on reaching home poured fourmore golden apples before his father.Again mine eyes beheld Average Boy settingforth, this time with a light heart. On the wayhe joined a group of youths, all of whom wereabout to try the third path. They soon madetheir way to the Hill of Discipline, but foundit ridiculously low. The path was comfortable,and dangerous only in a few places.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34845
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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