... we do not know with any certainty the date of the first appearance of our numerals on the Mediterranean littoral, but we are not without hope that all this information will sometime be forthcoming, at least to some degree. Our hope that such further knowledge is not beyond our reach is strengthened by a discovery recently made by M F Nau, no report of which seems as yet to have appeared in English. Because of the importance of this discovery, I have asked Mr Ginsburg to make it known to the readers of the 'Bulletin' and to supplement the simple statement of the discovery by searching out such information as is available concerning the interesting scholar and teacher, Severus Sebokht, in whose writings the first positive trace of the numerals, outside of India, is found. This he has done, and his article is to my mind particularly valuable because of these features: (1) It shows us that these numerals reached the Arab lands a century earlier than was formerly supposed; (2) it shows that the zero was probably not in the system as then mentioned, showing at least that its value was not generally comprehended in the seventh century and possibly confirming the impression that the symbol had not yet been invented; (3) it reveals something of the life of a man hitherto unmentioned in the histories of mathematics. It is to be hoped that this valuable information may prove of such interest to readers that Mr Ginsburg may be encouraged to tell American scholars, in the near future, something of Sebokht's notable contributions to the study of the astrolabe.

Of the many lines of research pursued by Rabbi ben Ezra, one of the most interesting to students of the history of mathematics is that relating to the introduction of Hindu astronomy and computation into the Arabian civilisation. Of that remarkable activity of the seventh century which resulted in the amalgamation of numerous semi-nomadic tribes into one mighty empire we have abundant knowledge; of the opening of the golden age of Mohammedan civilisation and of its development under the caliphs of Bagdad in the eighth and ninth centuries we have well-authenticated records; of the influx of the Greek civilisation through the translation of the classics of Alexandria and Athens we have the witness of a large number of manuscripts in the great collections of Europe and America; but of the details of the introduction of the Hindu mathematics into the region of Mesopotamia we are still in need of further information. To be sure, we have some recent light upon the subject through the writings of Severus Sebokht, a religious scholar of the seventh century, but the problem is still far from solution.

Some interesting material relating to the presentation of permutations and combinations in early times has recently been found by Messrs Ginsburg and Turetsky, and the editor of 'The Mathematics Teacher' has asked me to write a brief statement concerning it. In studying some unpublished manuscripts of Rabbi Ben Ezra (the learned Hebrew scholar of the 12th century, who is the subject of one of Browning's poems), Mr Ginsburg found a curious motive leading to the study of combinations, namely, the desire of the astrologers to find the number of ways in which the planets could come into conjunction, this having an important bearing upon astrological predictions. The treatment is entirely distinct from any now in use, and it has been set forth in print only in the Hebrew language, and very imperfectly. Mr Ginsburg has compared the text with an unpublished manuscript in the Hebrew Theological Seminary of New York, and has shown some very interesting results to which the work may easily lead. His translation and commentary are set forth in this article ...

Some time ago the writer made a list, as complete as possible, of Professor Smith's literary productions extending over a period of thirty years. No attempt was made to search out the books, essays, or reviews which he wrote during the first ten years of his teaching, but it is well known that he began his literary activity early. At the request of the editor a brief abstract has been prepared which will serve to give some idea of his productions from and after January 21, 1895, on which date he was thirty-five years of age. No attempt has been made, however, to list his encyclopaedia articles appearing in three standard publications and running up into the hundreds, nor teachers' manuals.

... supposedly with a view to performing a service similar to that rendered by Mr Eneström. As a result there have appeared from his pen several hundred items of criticism, - an ambitious effort for anyone meaning, as it does, an attempt to throw light upon hundreds of "dark corners" in research, and presupposing the qualifications of such scholars as Eneström, Tannery, Curtze, and a large number of others who assisted in preparing the critical notes for the 'Bibliotheca Mathematica', - various questions have naturally arisen as to whether these criticisms are valid, whether they are based upon original source material, whether they are fair in their interpretation of statements, and whether the articles of Professor Miller really contain new information justifying changes in the works criticised.

Professor Miller has simply made one of his unverified guesses without going to the source. ... Professor Miller is certainly not an authority even in these matters. A glance at his own book upon the history of mathematical literature would remove that impression.

A Quarterly Journal devoted to the Philosophy, History, and Expository Treatment of Mathematics.

Scripta Mathematica was viewed by its creators during this time period as a bulwark against prejudice and hatred, and sought, by dint of its very existence, to set an example of harmony for the world.

The significance of ... Scripta Mathematica, is deepened in these days by the dark cloud of medieval oppression and persecution in a home of Kultur, where books, even in the pure science of mathematics, are being destroyed, as though research, culture, the pursuit of disinterested learning, were the sole prerogative of a single people. It is truly symbolic of American liberalism and the spirit of true scholarship, that the best scientific minds of several lands have united to make possible the issuance and quality of "Scripta Mathematica" published by a college under Jewish auspices. The cooperation of these scholars and friends of learning shows the broadly human nature of true concern for cultural advancement.

It affords a great deal of satisfaction to review a book written so ably by mathematical scholars who have themselves the prerequisite historical background for colonial studies, such as the joint authors of "A History of Mathematics in America before 1900." At the outset we must congratulate the authors on having placed before mathematicians and other scholars a small volume giving the synopsis of the mathematical progress in the United States from early colonial period to almost contemporary generations.

The pupils who use this book will be fortunate. They will read what others have not read - because history of mathematics is so rarely included in a school curriculum - the story of one of the great factors in civilisation. At successive stages the authors show a new need arising and describe man's efforts to increase mathematics and mould it to the purpose, until they have given all the essential facts about numbers and computation and the development, form and use of the numerals of all times.

To me, as undoubtedly to many who attended Yeshiva College in the early 1950s, the subject of mathematics was identified with one remarkable individual, Professor Jekuthiel Ginsburg. ... In the classroom, he communicated to his students the innate beauty of abstract mathematical ideas. ... It is hard to imagine a professional career that owes more to one individual and to one institution than my own career owes to Jekuthiel Ginsburg and Yeshiva University. Over and beyond the mathematics I learned, I experienced the love of mathematics blended with human-kindness, an experience I can only wish I could replicate for others.

Jekuthiel Ginsburg saw through the press twenty-two volumes of 'Scripta Mathematica', working always against the odds of rising costs and inadequate assistance. His briefcase, full of manuscripts, galley proof, and page proof, was his constant companion between his busy office and his happy home. 'Scripta' was far from being a "pedagogical" journal, and yet its editor hoped through its pages, by sharing his enthusiasm for the subject, to improve the teaching of mathematics. To this end also he inaugurated several series of lectures, some sponsored by the Society of Friends of 'Scripta Mathematica' ...

The classes are for high-school teachers and the general public and are dedicated to spreading the idea that mathematics is an art as well as a science, and, furthermore, that learning and teaching it can be fun.

... edited two series of monographs, 'The Scripta Mathematica Library' and 'Scripta Mathematica Studies', the volumes in which are historical, philosophical, and expository. (Here again the editor in his modesty saw to it that his name nowhere appears on the title-pages of the books.) In his indefatigable zeal for his subject Dr Ginsburg published also, through 'Pictorial Mathematics', portfolios of portraits and other historical and illustrative material and teaching aids calculated to popularise mathematics.

At the time of his death, Dr Ginsburg was making arrangements for the celebration of the silver anniversary of the University's noted mathematical journal, "Scripta Mathematica," of which he was founder and editor.