The Sunday Oregonian., November 21, 1909, SECTION SIX, Page 5, Image 65

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THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAyP, NOVE3IBEB . 21, 1909. -
TWO WMlJMMCjl: OTtlEDS
Harvard's New Boy Wonders Not
the .First at That Institution; World
Famous-Children Who Did Not
"Flatten Out."
BY JOHN" EI-TROTH WATKIXS.
HARVJkB-D 1 all aisog over its two
new Infant prodigies. William James
Sidis and Xorhert "W'irnpr. Sidis is
t!i 11-ycar-old -Bonder who has just en
tered the university with the higliest hon
ors and whOF unsurpassed record for
cholaatfc precocity includes snrh feats
aj reading and apelliiiK at 23 years old:
operating the typewriter expertly at 4:
tudytnft French and Iatin. writing a
hook and quallfylntr as an accountant all
before 5: entering Brooklin Illch School
at S. and inventlnc a new system of
logarithms at 10.
fiddly parallel with this interesting case
ts that of young Wiener. He is another
Boston lad. who also entered college at
the ago of 11, but his original alma mater
was Tufts College. When he matricu
lated there in the Tall of he was
found to be farther advanced in phi
losophy and chemistry than the ordinary
senior. He was graduated last June,
when, at the ace of 14. he received
the degree of Bachelor of Arts with honor,
and this Autumn he has entered the grad
uate department of Harvard; where he
will take an advanced course in biology
and chemistry.
The strange similarity of these rases is
rot one of age alone, but the fathers of
the precocious -youths were both born In
Itussia. are both men of science, and have
both been connected with Harvard, the
one as a student, the other as a professor.
Ir. "Boris Sidis. the father of the new
Harvard prodigy, is a. psycho-pathologist,
practicing at Booklfrje. while Leo Wiener,
father of the Tufts prodigy, is assistant
professor of Slavic languages at Harvard.
Other Harvard Prodigies.
Indeed. Harvard seems to have a mo
nopoly on our chief phenomena of this
category. It used to be, Edward Everett
who was Its prize prodigy, he having en
tered when but 13. and having been grad
uated with the highest honors at 17. He
was. Indeed, a marvel of precocity, gain
ing the reputation of an accomplished
uoholar and eloquent divine when but 19.
while at 21 he was appointed professor of
Greek at his alma mater.
And when our fathers were young Cam
bridge was excited over the arrival at
Harvard of the boy wonder, Truman
Henry Safford. This lad. born on a A'er
mont farm In IMS. Had commenced to
tiow mathematical genius as early as the
atV of three, when his parents com
menced to amuse themselves by testing
his strange ability. When he was 6. if
riven the number of rods around any
farm in the county, be could mentally
calculate the number of barleycorns con
tained, and one of his mental calculations
at this age was that there were 617.70
barleycorns in 1(40 yards. When 7 he was
studying books on algebra and geometry,
and soon afterward higher mathematics
and astronomy. Wanting some logar
ithms, he found them himself by the for
mulas, and in his 10th year he published
an almanac of his own computation. That
year a skilled mathematician who exam
ined him produced a sum of 18 figures
which be asked the boy to square, and
the correct answer was given within a
mlnnte. He could at the same time mul
tiply four figures by four figures as rap
Idly as could be done upon paper.
Astronomical Discoveries at Eleven.
When 11 he turned out five almanacs,
one of which, compiled for Cincinnati,
reached & sale of 24.000 copies. The
same year, by systems of his own inven
tion, he reduced by one-fourth the labor
of calculating the rising and setting of
the moon and lessened by one-third the
trouble of calculating eclipses. But he
PRETTY WASHINGTON, D. 0, GIRL TO MARRY ARMY OFFICER.
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MISS DIAXA IKELAXD KORTOS.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 20. (Special.) One of the prettiest of Wash
ington's society girls has Just announced .her engagement. She is Diana
Ireland Norton, daughter of Edward Stevens Norton, of Belmont street,
and cranUdaughter of Colonel E. il. Norton, of West Virginia, who was
a friend of Lincoln and served, by his appointment, 'as Marshal of West
Virgini:i. .Mifs Norton Is to marry Captain Clarence N. Jones, who is
attached to the Third Cavalry and for two .years has been stationed at
Fort Meyer.
had a runs of genius widr than mathe
matics and Including chemistry, botany,
philosophy, geography and history. He
took his degree at Harvard in 1854. when
only IS. and was engaged unlll 26 In a
series of computations of orbits of plan
ets and comets, commenced when he was
only 14. Afterward Ji became director of
the observatory at Harvard, professor of
astronomy at the Chicago I'nlver.-lty and
at Williams College, at which latter insti
tution he remained until his death, eight
years ago. His all-round precocity, so
rare in the usual stsge "calculator." was
similar to that of Andre Marie 'Ampere
and Carl Friedrich. Gauss, who had gone
before him. Ampere waa born at Lyons
in 1775 and learned to count when three
or four by means of pebbles. Soon he be
came noted for such mental calculations
as thOBe of Sefford. and Mke him fol
lowed a scientific career, in which he
became celebrated through his investiga
tions In electro-dynamics. And Gauss,
the son of a poor erman family, first
displaved his marvelous aptitude at 3.
when he followed mentally a calculation
of his father's relative to the wages of
some workingmen. and detected an error
in the amount. At 10 he was studying
higher analysis and at 11 Jie had begun
to master classical languages, while at
14 he had read the works of Euler, La
grange and Newton. He became one of
the fofemost mathematicians and his
Disquisitions on Arithmetic, puoiisnea
when he was but 24, Is the foundation
of the modern theory or numbers.
Another Vermont Pheriom. .
Our grand-grand'athers marveled at an
American prodigy who. like Safford. was
a Vermont farm" boy. This- was Zerah
Colburn, born lit 1S04. He was regarded
as a backward child until the end of
his sixth year. when, after he had been
at school but six weeks, his father asked
him the product of 13x97. and immedi
ately got the answer. '1261." the result
of mental calculation. The father at once
started with Zerah. upon an exhibition
tour about the country, and at the age
of 8, Just when our second war with
Great Britain was breaking out. he was
taken to London, where he astounded an
audience by mentally determining the
square root of 106.929 and the cube root
of 268.336.125 as quickly as these members
could be written down. It was not until
arriving In Iondon that he commenced to
learn reading and writing, and after
eight months at a Paris school, he. re
turned to London, where the Karl of Bris
tol took an Interest In him and sent him
to Westminster School, but In three years
his father took him out of school and
started him upon an unsuccessful career
as an actor. and playwright. This was
when he was 15. after which he taught
school, became a computer and returned
to America, where he was employed as
Methodist preacher and finally as lan
guage teacher in a sernlnary. He died
at the age of 36. While making his ear
liest childhood calculations, he underwent
contortions, like those of St. Vitus'
dance, and he also had six fingers on
each hand besides six toes on each foot.
. The last great mathematical prodigy
seen here was Jacques Inaudi, an Ital
ian, who exhibited himself in our the
aters in 1901 and 1902. He was born In
1S67, passed his early boyhood minding
sheep, and began his career as a calcu
lator by doing peasants' accounts for
them at lightning speed. At 7 he could
mentally multiply any five figures by five
figuces. When 13 he begged his way to
Paris, where he was taken In hand by a
caricaturist, who started him In the mu
sic halls. He did not learn toread and
writ until he was 20, and outside of
s - . s if k i
r ' Wjk W V ' ! I- III t ' lluiV" 1
mental calculation had a poor memory
and only fair mental ability.,
A Teu-l'ear-OId Paderewskh
But the most famous boy prodigy of
this generation was Josef Hofmann, the
10-year-old pianist. Trils lad was born
in Cracow. Poland, in 1S77, his mother
being an opera singer and his father a
music teacher. Josef had a piano of
his own before he was five, and in six
months had written an original ma
zourka. He made his first appearance
at a charity, concert when only six.
played at a public concert In Berlin
when eight, and when 10 came to New
York, where at once he drew enormous
crowds and became the subject of more
attention and publicity than any musical
child who had ever lived. But his career
was Interrupted In New York by an ap
peal to the Mayor by Elbridge T. Gerry,
the head of the Society for the preven
tion of Cruelty to Children, and the child
was examined by Dr. Allen McLane
Hamilton and others. He was found to
be sound, and the concerts were permit
ted to continue upon the agreement of
the father not to allow- the cnlld to. play
more than four times a week. About this
time an unnamed New Yorker, through
Mr. Gerry, offered a fund of fcyO.OOO for
Josef's education and support provided
lie were not to play In public, until he at
tained manhood, but his father was
quoted as stating that he would not con
sent to this for less than S100.000. Soon
afterward Josef was suddenly taken from
the stage and commenced a course of
study under the best masters, including
Rubestein himself, of whom he was the
only student outside the Imperial Con
servatory. St. Petersburg. After much
success in Europe, lie returned to the
Vnlted States for a concert tour in l$98i
when ho was 21. and two years ago he
contributed a series of articles on muFlcal
topics to a well-known woman's period
ical. Two years after, his first debut
America was enthusiastic over another
"infant pianist." Ottow Hegner, a Ger
man lad of only 12. whA also was marvel
ous in his execution.
Toured America at Four.
And those who saw the "Black Crook"
In New York in 1S73 remember most of
all a diminutive violinist, who. In a court
suit of blue satin, a powdered wig and
silken hose, played marvclously upon a
violin nearly as big as himself. This was
the "Infant violinist." James G. Spealght.
who had been born in London and who
was . now performing in the United States
at the age of 4. New York went wild
over him. and after his engagement with
the "Black Crook" he went "to Boston,
where he played in the "Naiad Queen"
and led the orchestra of the Boston Thea
ter until January 11. 1S74, when at a mat
inee performance' he retired from the
stage, complaining of a pain in his heart.
His engagement was ' cancelled for that
night and he retired early, but about
midnight his father heard him say, "God
can you make room for another little
child in heaven?" His father, on receiv
ing no answer after speaking to him
later, arose and found the boy dead. His
death brought from -Thomas Bailey Aid
rich a wxinen appeal which resulted in
the founding of the Boston Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Patti's Debut at Seven.,
Of all musical prodigies of our day, the
one who arose to the, greatest distinc
tion in mature years was Aellna Patti.
She was born in 1843. In Madrid, whence
her father, a musician, and her mother,
an opera singer, brought her to America,
when she was a baby, and soon afterward
she delighted to stand upon a tabic and
sing by heart the .words and music of
most of the airs she had heard her
mother sing. At. 7, when the accom
panying picture was taken, she made
her New York debut-at NIblo's Garden.
and two years later ehe was regularly
singing betweeu the acts at the old Ly
ceum. She was then known as "La Petite
Adeline." And sho was only 16 when
she made her New York debut as an
adult, at the Academy of Music. Such
precocity was no more fatal to her ca
reer than it was to those of the great
masters, Mozart, Meyerbeer and Liszt.
Mozart at 3 composed simple chorals
at the harpsichord and at 4 could play
a number of, minuets, while at 5 he had
composed and written several trif fling
compositions. When he was 6 he played
at court, and the well-known "painting by
Borckmann shows him. at this age, play
ing a duet with his little sister. Marl-
PRACTICAL POLITICIANS OPPOSE NEW CONTROLLER OF
' NEW YORK STATE.
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11 ; i-vL. '
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CLARK WILLIAMS.
NEW YORK, Uov. 20. (Special.) The practical politicians do not
look with favor on the appointment of Clark Williams to be Controller
of the State of New York. When Martin Glynn, a Democrat, held office
he made an unprecedented record for clean, non-partisan administra
tion. Since his day the office has been in the hands of politicians. Mr.
Williams was made Superintendent of Banks by Governor Hughes. He
was known then as opposed to the political administration of public
office; and it is thought he will institute reforms in the Con oiler's of
fice which will make him very unpopular in 'the circle of "practical
politicians. ;..-..'
anne. before the Empress Maria Theresa.
Before he was 8 he had published six
sonatas, and when 12 he wrote a mass,
which he conducted in tho presence of
the entire court. And Meyerbeer played
at a concert when 6 and was recognized
as the master pianist o Berlin when only
9, while Liszt made his concert debut at
9 and at 12 made the great triumph at
Vienna which ended in Beethoven's kiss
ing him when he finished playing.
Maude Adams Began at 9 Months.
Infant prodigies have grown to be suc
cessful artists in the drama, also, as In
the case of Maudo Adams, who had a
speaking part on the stage as early as 5.
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when, ill 177, she ftlayotl Little Sohiicidcr
in one of J. K. Knimet's Yilz' plays.
But this was not Miss Adams' stage de
but, by any means, for that important
event had occurred at the ago of U
months, when she played the title rol;
in "Tim Iist Child." Julia Marlowe
made her debut as Josephtun in "Pina
fore'" at 12. and Ada Kehan first boned
to the footlights when .-it 13 she played
Clara in "Across the Continent." Otis
Skinner played a ncRro pnrt at Wood's
Museum. Philadelphia, when 12, and
Henry E. Dlxey was only 10. when ae be
gan as Peanuts in "Under the Gaslight."
But of all American artists on thx stage
today. Elsie Leslie, ma do the .greatest
JEWS IN NEW
Ray Stannard Baker In American
Magazine.
HOW much the Jewish population
means in the life of New York
City few people realize. Within. the
last, few years, quietly, almost without
notice, the Jew has become the chief
single element in the population of our
principal American city and in - very
real sense one of the dominating fac
tors of our life. Out of the total popu
lation of Greater New York nearly one
million are Jews, or more than one In
every five.
Nowhere at any time in the world's
history were so many Jews gathered
together in one locality. Jerusalem the
Golden In all the 5000 years of Its history
never had a quarter as many Jews as now
live in New York City, and all Palestine
today, in spite of the efforts of enthusi
astic Zionists to fire their people with a
desire to return to their home land, has
not as many Jewish residents as may be
found In half a dozen blocks in the East
Side.
Not only are they the dominant factor
on the crowded East Side, but they occu
py whole neighborhoods in other parts of
the city In Harlem and the Bronx, in
WrilllamsDurg and Brownsville almost to
the exclusion of other population. And
they are not mere renters of homes and
tenements; for a considerable proportion
of the valuable land on Manhattan Island
Is now keld by Jewish owners.
The largest single Industry in the city
clothing manufacture Is almost wholly in
the hands of Jews. They control many of
our greatest banks and other financial in
stitutions, and their domain in finance Is
rapidly extending; they dominate and di
rect almost exclusively the amusements,
both theaters and opera of the greatest
American city.
About half of the principal newspapers
of the metropolis are owned by Jews and
some of the other papers have Jewish
editors in Important positions. They con
trol the greater part of the wholesale and
rets.il trade. Many of oucablest lawyers,
doctors and scientists are Jews. More
success as a child actress. When 5 she
plavcd with Jef t'erson as Little. Mcenl
In "Rip Van Winkle." and when only
she so pleased Mrs. Burnett by hr act
ing tli tit lo role in "Edltha's Burglar" .
tht Mlie was seleeteil to originate the
tltlx part in "Litile Lord Fauntleroy." in
which she became famous as the I-yeor-
olil star. After sUirrh'Z also in Jlsrk
Twain's "The Prince nn,l the Ponper.--sh
lefl the st.-ige at in to study until Pre
was IS.
Such careers as the nutst of these tep'i
to explode the old notion that iinusim 1 I
precocity augurs premature death or a
long life membership In I he Great
Mediocrity. 1
YORK CITY
and more tiu- Jew fs becoming 9 great
factor in politics; if Tammany Hail is
beaten at the polls this Fa'l, the Jew will
do it.
Many Jewish judces now administer our
laws, and r.ot a few Jews in our legisla
tures and in Congress are helping to mak
them. The education o.f the children of
New York City-is. to a surprising extent,
in the hands of the Jews and becoming
more and more so. I examined the 1'sts
recently published of newly appointed
teachers for the public schools. It read
for long spaces like a directory of the
East Side.
Not a few Christian churches, slowly
surrounded bj- Jews, have given up their
struggle and their buildings have finally
been purchased and converted into syna
gogues. It may come as a surprise to
many people,' but it is a fact, that there
are now far more synagogues (organiza
tions, not buildings) on Manhattan Island
than there are Christian churches. The
number of Jewish synagogues in Greater
New York is 803. of which 70s are in Men
hatten Island find the Bronx. Assuredly
New York City lias become tho New Jeru
salem of the Jew.
A Sailor- Song.
Stephen ('halmer.
l.oyal and pure:
Silent and sure;
l.ove o' mine, far away.
Earnest and stronp; I
T'atlout-ah ! long
Waiting for aye and a day.
When the wind falls;
When the mist pales.
Brighter your star-eyes shin.
When the moon calls.
When the tide falls, . ;
Drift I to you, love o' min.
Haven whose breast
Calls me to rest. ,
I.lKht o' the harbor bar,
Know that my prow
Turns to you now.
Out from the storms aTar.
Of the Philippine Islands, the one hleh
probably has ihe most iroductive foil 1-Mindanao.
A