Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., Jan. 6, 1886.
Dear Sir,--A copy of your "One Hundred Proofs that the Earth is not a
globe" was duly received, and was deposited in Library of Congress
October 8, 1884. [1885] A pressure of much more important work
has prevented any attempt at reviewing these hundred proofs:--which
however have doubtless been thoroughly investigated by the inquisitive
astronomers and geodesists of the last four centuries.
Yours very respectfully,
SPENCER F. BAIRD, Secretary S. I.
Mr. William Carpenter, 71, Chew Street, Baltimore, Md.
Copy of a letter from one of the several applicants for the "One
Hundred Proofs" for the purpose of reviewing them. The writer is
Professor of Mathematics at the High School, Auburn, N. Y., and,
in his application for the pamphlet, says: "Am a Yale graduate and a
Yale Law School man: took the John A. Porter Prize (literary) ($250)
at Yale College."
Auburn, Dec. 10th, 1885. My Dear Sir: Your treatise was received. I
have looked it over and noted it somewhat. A review of it to do it
justice would be a somewhat long and laborious task. Before I undertook
so much thought I would write and ask What and how much you expect:
how elaborately you wished it discussed: and what remuneration might
be expected. It sets forth many new and strange doctrines which would
have to be thoroughly discussed and mastered before reviewed. I am
hard at work at present but would like to tackle this if it would
be for my interest as well as yours. Hope you will let me know very
soon. Very respectfully,
To Mr. W. Carpenter, Baltimore, Md. FRANK STRONG.
NOTE.--Unless a man be willing to sell his soul for his supposed
worldly "interest," he will not dare to "tackle" the "One Hundred
Proofs that the Earth is Not a Globe." No man with well-balanced
faculties will thus condemn himself. We charge the mathematicians of
the world that, if they cannot say what they think of this pamphlet
in a dozen words, they are entitled to no other name than--cowards!
Baltimore, Maryland, May 22, 1886.