Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-08-01
A REMARKABLE HISTORY.

Zerah Coiburn.-No phenomena in the
whole history Of intellectual man, have
been more remarkable than those attend.
ing the life of Zerah Colburn, whose death
has been recently announced.
He was born at Cabot, Vermont. on the
Ist OF September. 1904, and was,lie sixil,
child of poor, but respectable parents. His
father was farmer, andbe first discover
ed his sons peculiar faculty some time in
August, 1910, the boy being then about
six wears old. The child had been al {,
district school only about six weeks, which
comprised all opportunity for education
and the first indication he gave of his un-
common command Of numbers was by
running through the multiplication table,
while sitin. on the floor of carpenters
shop. aud watching chips as they were
thrown eff by the tool.
He was taken 10 several places in Yer,
NOM, and examined by distinguished me-,
who were aslonished at his power. which
was no less incomprehensihIe TO them
than to himself. By the advice of friends,
sfather was induced to take Zerah a
bout for exhibition, though several capital
offers were made Especially by Pr fessor
Adams. of Dartmouth College,) to take
him in charge and give him a complete
education. All the offers were refusedby
the merceuary spiriI of the father.
In Boston the father received munifi.
cient offer to educate the hoy, which his
mercenary temper induced him to refuse.
Jas. Perkins, Daniel Sergeant. Josiah
Quincy, Isaac P. Davis, Wm. Sullivan,
and W. 5. Shaw, agreed to contract with
the father, 10 raise S5OUO by subscription,
and without exhibition, one half of which
should he given 10 the father, and rhe o.her
applied 10 :!.e education nfihe child, under
the direction oftrustees, although the faith
cr shnuld be allowed 10 be with, and have
the personal charge of kis sou. This offer
was refused.
Zcrah was soon taken to England, where
he exci'ed as much wonder as he had done
here. The desultory character of his faith
CIR, however, ruined his prospects, and
made enemies. After travelling through
the United Kingdoms, receiving much
money, and borrowing more, this wicked
father took the boy to France. where, in
1914, without giving any inti,nation of his
name, person, or character, he was taken
10 DR.. Gall the father fphrenolosy, who
Immediately remarked upon The prolni.
nence of the organs ofnutnber. and desired
to make mask Of his face. Here. also.
great astonishment was excited, and vast
sums of money taken by the exhibition or
received in loans; hul it was all expended,
and they returned in poverty and distress
to England.
In July, 1916, the Earl of Bristol, with
princelv liheralily, tonk up the patronage
ofthe boy. with The hope that, in The course
of "a good education, he might be enabled
to reveal the secret of his mysterious pow
er of computation. He ofieredto paw the
expenses of his education a, Westminster;
and, in the meantime, to allow the father
twenty-five pounds per annrm, At this
institution thew had quarrel and left on
account of The practice of .fagging, aud
went 10 the Rev, M. Bulien. in Bucking-
hamshire, where the Earl of Bristol con-
.sen,ed still to defray the expenses OF
private tuition.
Zerah was taken from Mr.. BuIlen's in
1919, on account Of some freak Of his
father, and was taken to Edinburgh IN he
prepared for the stage After studying
some time with several actors. with whom