for essays on mathematical subjects.
The first to win a prize for an essay was George W. Hill, a graduate
of Rutgers just out of college, who presented a memoir in which the
hand of the future master was evident throughout.

In the general conduct of the journal Bartlett and myself, though not
ostensibly associate editors, were at least assistants. Simple though
the affair was, some of our experiences were of an interesting and,
perhaps, instructive nature.

Soon after the first number appeared, a contribution was offered by
a professor in a distant State. An important part of the article
was found to be copied bodily from Walton's "Problems in Mechanics,"
an English book which, it might be supposed, was not much known in
this country. Runkle did not want to run the risk of injuring his
subscription list by offending one occupying an influential position
if he could help it with honor to the journal. Of course it was not
a question of publishing the paper, but only of letting the author
know why he did not do so,--"letting him down easy."

Bartlett's advice was characteristic. "Just write to the fellow
that we don't publish stolen articles. That's all you need say."

I suggested that we might inflict on him all necessary humiliation
by letting him know in the gentlest manner possible that we saw
the fraud. Of course Runkle preferred this course, and wrote him,
calling his attention to a similarity between his treatment of
the subject and that of Walton, which materially detracted from the
novelty of the former. I think it was suggested that he get the book,
if possible, and assure himself on the subject.

A vigorous answer came by return of mail. He was a possessor of
Walton's book, knew all about the similar treatment of the subject by
Walton, and did not see that that should be any bar to the publication
of the article. I think it was he who wound up his letter with the
statement that, while he admitted the right of the editor to publish
what he pleased, he, the writer, was too busy to spend his time in
writing rejected articles.

An eminent would-be contributor was a prominent Pennsylvania
politician, who had read a long and elaborate article, before some
teachers' association, on an arithmetical problem about oxen eating
grass, the power to solve which was taken as the highest mark of
mathematical ability, among school teachers during the first half
of the century. The association referred the pape