Ian Stewart*

The catapult that Archimedes bmlt, the gambhng-houses that Des- cartes frequented in hzs &ssolute youth, the field where Galois fought his duel, the bmdge where Hamilton carved quaternions-- not all of these monuments to mathematical history survwe today, but the mathematzcian on vacatton can still find many reminders of our subject's glorious and inglorwus past: statues, plaques, graves, the caf~ where the famous conjecture was made, the desk where the

famous mitzals are scratched, birthplaces, houses, memorials. Does your hometown have a mathematical tourist attraction? Have you encountered a mathematzcal slght on your travels? If so, we invite you to submit to thzs column a picture, a descrzptzon of its mathe- matical significance, and either a map or dzrectzons so that others may follow in your tracks. Please send all subm~sszons to the Euro- pean Editor, Ian Stewart.

The Birth of Galois and the Death of Condorcet

Herv4 Lehning

What could be similar about Condorcet and Galois? From a mathematical point of view, very little I be- lieve; the first one was acknowledged during his life- time and the second one was not. Condorcet (1743- 1794) is known for having been one of the writers of the mathematical articles of the Encyclop~die and for his studies on probability. Galois (1811-1832) is known for his studies on equations and as a famous example of unrecognized genius. However, one of them was born and the other one died in the same street of the same little town. The name of the town was Bourg EgalitG the n a m e of the s treet Grand Rue, the numbers of the houses were 54 and 81.

If you come to Paris, it is easy to go to that place. Keep on the m~tro/R.E.R, line B, leading to Saint R~my les Chevreuses or Robinson. Get off at Bourg-la- Reine station (about 10 minutes later). As before the R6volution, since a decree of Napol6on (7 October 1812, Moscow), Bourg Egalit~ has been called Bourg- la-Reine. When you leave the station, you are at Place de la Gare. Walk straight on in the direction of the Town Hall (Mair ie in French) approximate ly 200 meters away. You will walk along a street called Ren6 Roeckel. At the right of the entrance of the Mairie, you will see a plaque with the following inscription:

* Column Editor's address: Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL England.

A LA MEMOIRE de M r. GALOIS

MAIRE DE BOURG-LA-REINE PENDANT 15 ANS MORT EN 1829

LES HABITANS RECONNAISSANTS.

This means: To the memory of Mr. Galois, Mayor of Bourg-la-Reine for 15 years, who died in 1829; from the grateful inhabitants.

Of course, the person implied is not the mathemati- cian Evariste but his father Nicolas Gabriel. Then go back on your tracks--the wide street you crossed is the former Grand Rue. Since the Liberation, it has been called Avenue du G~n4ral Leclerc. As a matter of fact, Leclerc's army used it to go to liberate Paris in 1944. Then turn right on that street. You are at Place Condorcet. Continue walking and on the right side of the street, at number 81, you will see an old house used by a hairdresser. There is a plaque on the side of his sign (a pair of scissors):

MARIE JEAN ANTOINE NICOLAS CARITAT MARQUIS DE CONDORCET

EST MORT DANS CETTE MAISON LE 9 GERMINAL AN 2

(30 MARS 1794)

This means: Marie Jean Antoine Nicolas Caritat, Marquis of Condorcet, died in this house on Germinal 9th of Year 2 (30 March 1794).

Below, a small plaque in green plastic recalls the life

6 6 THE MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCER VOL 13, NO 3 �9 1991 Spnnger-Verlag New York

of Condorcet without any mention of his mathematical works. Proscribed after the fall of the Girondins, Con- dorcet lived hidden in Paris for several months. In order not to compromise the people who were hiding him, he tried unsuccessfully to take refuge at another friend's, or so it seems. He was arrested without being recognized at Clamart on 27 March. Then he was jailed at Bourg-la-Reine. He was found dead in this small house on the 30th. It might have been a suicide, because Condorcet was known to always carry some poison with him.

Continue along the same street; after about one h u n d r e d meters, you will come to an impor tant crossing. On your left, at number 54, you will see a bank. Above the sign, on the right, a small plaque:

ICIEST NE EVARISTE GALOIS

ILLUSTRE MATHEMATICIEN FRANCAIS MORT A VINGT ANS

1811-1832

This means: Here Evariste Galois was born, a famous French mathematician who died at the age of twenty, 1811-1832.

Had you been here 15 years ago, you would have been able to see the house of Evariste's birth. The present building is recent. Bourg-la-Reine cemetery is not far away, but it is useless to go there if you want to see the graves of Condorcet and Evariste Galois. Con- dorcet is at the Panth6on, Galois is at Montparnasse Cemetery (without any stele, simply under the earth at a place that is not well-determined).

If you backtrack and continue past Place Condorcet for a hundred meters, you will find another large crossing. On your left, a street called Galois (after Evariste's father) begins; on your right, the All6e d 'Honneur leads to the castle and the park of Sceaux (about 500 meters). A walk in the park will nicely com- plete your visit.

13 rue Letelher 75015 Paris, France

THE MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCER VOL 13, NO 3, 1991 67