A Poser
One of . cir John Herschel's numerical problems was this: —lf, at the time of Cheops, or 3000 ye"arsago, one pair of human beings had lived, and war, pestilence and famine had not existed, and only natural death came to man, and this pair had doubled once in 30 years, and their children doubled, and so on, how large the population of the world would be at this time—could they stand upon the surface as a plane ? We were sitting at the breakfast table when he asked the question. We thought they could not. * But if they fetood closely and others stood on their shoulders, man woman and child, how many layers would there be V I said, 'Perhaps three.' «How many feet of men?' he.asked. t possibly 30,' I said. 'Oh more !' « Well, we'll say 100.' '«Oh, more!' Miss Herschel said, 'Enough to reach the moon.' 'To the sun:' • More, more !'■ cried Sir John, exulting in our astonishment; * bid higher.' 'To Neptune,' said one. ' Now you burn,' he replied. 'Take a hundred times the distance of Neptuue, and it is very near. That is my way,'said he ♦of whitewashing war, pestilence and ... ;.-..■ ".- : •- *'
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/FS18900123.2.22
Bibliographic details
Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 90, 23 January 1890, Page 3
Word Count
194A Poser Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 90, 23 January 1890, Page 3
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