whatrousesmyenthusiasmistheprocessthatsetsthetruthbeforeus。Westartfromabrilliantlylightedspotandgraduallygetdeeperanddeeperinthedarkness，which，initsturn，becomesself—illuminatedbykindlingnewlightsforahigherascent。Thisprogressivemarchoftheknowntowardtheunknown，thisconscientiouslanternlightingwhatfollowsbytheraysofwhatcomesbefore:thatwasmyrealbusiness。
Geometrywastoteachmethelogicalprogressionofthought;itwastotellmehowthedifficultiesarebrokenupintosectionswhich，elucidatedconsecutively，togetherformalevercapableofmovingtheblockthatresistsanydirectefforts;lastly，itshowedmehoworderisengendered，order，thebaseofclarity。Ifithaseverfallentomylottowriteapageortwowhichthereaderhasrunoverwithoutexcessivefatigue，Ioweit，ingreatpart，togeometry，thatwonderfulteacheroftheartofdirectingone’sthought。True，itdoesnotbestowimagination，adelicateflowerblossomingnoneknowshowandunabletothriveoneverysoil;butitarrangeswhatisconfused，thinsoutthedense，calmsthetumultuous，filtersthemuddyandgiveslucidity，asuperiorproducttoallthetropesofrhetoric。
Yes，asatoilerwiththepen，Iowemuchtoit。Whereforemythoughtsreadilyturnbacktothosebrighthoursofmynovitiate，when，retiringtoacornerofthegardeninrecreationtime，withabitofpaperonmykneesandastumpofpencilinmyfingers，I
usedtopracticededucingthisorthatpropertycorrectlyfromanassemblageofstraightlines。Theothersamusedthemselvesallaroundme;Ifoundmydelightinthefrustumofapyramid。PerhapsIshouldhavedonebettertostrengthenthemusclesofmythighsbyjumpingandleaping，toincreasethesupplenessofmyloinswithgymnasticcontortions。Ihaveknownsomecontortionistswhohaveprosperedbeyondthethinker。
Seemethenenteringthelistsasaninstructorofyouth，fairlywellacquaintedwiththeelementsofgeometry。Incaseofneed，I