In modern times this number has kept up its reputation. Shakespeare paid special regard to it; the “seven ages” and every multiple of it is supposed to be a critical or important period in one’s life.
A modern philosopher as follows apportions—
Man’s Full Extreme.
| 7 years in childhood, sport and play, | (7) |
| 7 years in school from day to day, | (14) |
| 7 years at trade or college life, | (21) |
| 7 years to find a place and wife, | (28) |
| 7 years to pleasure’s follies given, | (35) |
| 7 years to business hardly driven, | (42) |
| 7 years for some wild-goose chase, | (49) |
| 7 years for wealth, a bootless race, | (56) |
| 7 years of hoarding for your heir, | (63) |
| 7 years in weakness spent and care, | (70) |
| And then you die and go—you know not | where. |
Very many superstitious and curious ideas have been and still are connected with all our figures. For those interested in this subject see page 146—“How To Become Quick At Figures” (Student’s Edition).
“What’s the difference,” asked a teacher in arithmetic, “between one yard and two yards?” “A fence,” said Tommy Yates. Then Tommy sat on the ruler 14 times.
[179.] What relation is a woman to me who is my mother’s only child’s wife’s daughter?