Page:Carroll - Euclid and His Modern Rivals.djvu/201



§ 4.

Nie. I lay before you 'Euclid Simplified, compiled from the most important French works, approved by the University of Paris and the Minister of Public Instruction,' by Mr. J. R., formerly H. M. Inspector of Schools, published in 1875.

Min. What have you about Lines, to begin with?

Nie. Here is a Definition. 'The place where two surfaces meet is called a Line.'

Min. Really! Let us take two touching spheres, for instance?

Nie. Ahem! We abandon the Definition.

Min. Perhaps we shall be more fortunate with the Definition of a straight Line.

Nie. It is 'an indefinite Line, which is the shortest between any two of its points.'