Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/302

274 or fresh ; round or square; long or short : for a true abstract idea must be entirely free of all adjuncts. And this shews the difference between a salt idea, and an idea of salt. — Is an aptitude to hold salt an essential or an accidental property of a salt-box? . It is essential ; but if there should be a crack in the bottom of the box, the aptitude to spill salt would be termed an accidental property of that salt-box. . Very well ! very well indeed ! — What is the salt called with respect to the box? . It is called its contents. .And why so? . Because the cook is content quoad hoc to to find plenty of salt in the box. . You are very right — I see you have not mispent your time : but let us now proceed to

. How many parts are there in a salt-box? . Three. Bottom, top, and sides. . How many modes are there in salt-boxes? . Four. The formal, the substantial, the accidental and the topsey-turvey. . Define these several modes, . The formal respects the figure or shape of the box, such as round, square, oblong, and so forth ; the substantial respects the work of the joiner ; and the accidental depends upon the string by which the box is hung against the wall. . Very well — And what are the consequences of the accidental mode? . If the string should break the box would fall, the salt be spilt, the salt-box broken, and the cook in a bitter passion : and this is the accidental mode with its consequences. . How do you distinguish between the top and bottom of a salt-box? . The top of a box is that part which is uppermost, and the bottom that part which is lowest in all positions. . You should rather say the lowest part is the bottom, and the uppermost part is the top. — How is it then if the bottom should be the uppermost? . The top would then be the lowermost; and the bottom