I have come across a bit of writing by Ferdinand Hassler that is
intriguing. Though this pertains to the survey of the east coast of the
U.S. being "suspended" in part due to Hassler's foreign origins, it
applies well I think to the issue of the metric system being a "foreign"
thing.
I may elaborate a bit on the matters behind this in another article for
Metric Today. But the quote is so riveting that I felt compelled to
share it now.
Jim
[quote]
The nation that shall exclude from itself the admission and use of
foreign talents and knowledge, must always remain behind in the paths of
civilization, and will appear comparatively barbarous, if not really
become so. Sciences, arts, and ideas for improvements, are the common
property of all nations--their mutual ties--and cannot be successfully
cultivated without free intercourse, exchange, and intermixture... Every
civilized nation of Europe has contributed its share to that happy
mixture of knowledge and ideas of improvements, that has caused the
character of this country to rise to so high a standing.
[end quote]
Ferdinand R. Hassler
in a letter of 1827 January 08
subsequently published in the New York American
--
James R. Frysinger
632 Stony Point Mountain Road
Doyle, TN 38559-3030
(H) 931.657.3107
(C) 931.212.0267
