The quote from Sayers' "Problem Picture" essay reminded me of a favorite poem by E.V. Rieu,
about algebra textbook-authors Hall & Knight:
"When he was young his cousins used to say of Mr Knight:
'This boy will write an algebra - or looks as if he might.'
And sure enough, when Mr Knight had grown to be a man,
He purchased pen and paper and an inkpot, and began.
But he very soon discovered that he couldn't write at all,
And his heart was filled with yearnings for a certain Mr Hall;
Till, after many years of doubt, he sent his friend a card:
'Have tried to write an Algebra, but find it very hard.' . . ."
http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/poems/601.htmlAlso, this chess poem about the Tumbleweed opening:
"In Seattle, last summer, with nothing to do,
I went to the Chess Club, and there met a Jew
From New Orleans, a rabbi—no matter what name—
Perhaps you have met him, or heard of the same;
He's a player of note, and his problems in chess
Get some mighty good players in an awful bad mess. . .
. . .I played P to K's fourth, which he seemed to approve,
And replied with the same; 'twas a very good move. . .
http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/Trawl/Poems.html
posted by Anonymous at 3:23 PM
