quintilliard

— A second computator, taking up the inquiry at the point at which it has been left by the first proposer of the query, has shown that the number of “ascendants” increasing in geometrical ratio with each generation back, the number of forbears computed to the 37th degree, exceeds the total population of the earth from that time downwards; while, counted up to half the time from Adam, we come to a number of quintilliards probably large enough to people all the planets of our system; proving, according to the judicious reflection of this novel inquirer, that the entire human race must have had the same grandfathers and grandmothers over and over again, and that, consequently, so far from priding themselves on imaginary superiority of pedigree, all men should regard one another as cousins.