“That,” said his father, “must of course depend upon the extent of the arc described by the spoon, and which will of course vary in different traps.” “Before we conclude the subject, let me ask you whether there is not some one point in the bat, at which you can most effectually strike the ball?” “To be sure,” answered Tom, “in the same way tha there is a point in my hoop-stick at which I can give the strongest blow--and that point is termed the _Centre_ of Percussion.” “Enough,” said Mr. Seymour; “see, here comes the vicar.” True to the hour appointed, did Mr. Twaddleton make his appearance, just at the conclusion of the discussion above described; and, as he approached the party, Louisa observed that he was carrying a canvass bag in his hand. “What have you there?” asked Mr. Seymour. “A sack of sugar-plums?” “No, no; spheres of larger diameter. Here,” said the vicar, as he opened his bag, “is a foot-ball for you, Tom; and here is a hand-ball for you, Louisa.” He then presented each of the other children with a similar present, exclaiming-- ‘Nemo ex hoc numero mihi non donatus abibit.’[26] as Virgil has it.” “Perhaps,” said Mr. Seymour, “you will enhance the value of this favour, by giving us an antiquarian history of the ball, which will be very acceptable to us at this time, as we have just concluded a philosophical enquiry upon that subject.” To this request the vicar readily assented, and proceeded as follows:-- “The Greeks appear to have played with four kinds of ball: viz. the _little ball_, the _great ball_, the _empty ball_ ( σφαιρα κενη ), which was blown up with air, like our foot-ball, and the _leathern ball_ ( κωρυκον ), which was suspended from the ceiling, and stuffed with bran or sand, as those who tossed it were robust or delicate. The Romans,” continued the vicar, “had also four kinds of _pilæ_, or balls. The _follis_, a large ball made of leather and blown up with air, like our foot-ball; the larger kinds of which were struck with the arm, the smaller ones with the fist. Suetonius tells us that Augustus Cæsar greatly delighted in the amusement; and in truth it was a glorious sport, an exercise equally adapted for the young and old; or as Martial has it,-- ‘_Folle_ decet pueros ludere, _folle_ senes.’“[27] “And yet,” said Mr. Seymour, “neither Horace nor Virgil played at it; do not you remember the lines in the fifth satire?-- ‘Lusum it Mæcenas, dormitum ego Virgiliusque; Namque pilâ lippis inimicum et ludere crudis.’”[28]