Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-05-25
From the Boston Daily Times.
A REMARKABLE HISTORY.

From the Boston Daily Times
REMARKABLE HISTORY.
| ZERAHCoLBURN-No phenomena in the whole
history of intellectual man, have been more
markabe than those attending the life OF Zerah
Colburn, whose death has been recently announc-
ed.
He was born at Cabot, Vermont, the LIST of
September, 1904, and was the sixth child of
poor, but respectable parents. His father
farmer, and he first discovered his sons peculi-
| faculty in August, 1910, the boy being then
about six years old. The child had been at a dis
trict school only about six weeks, which COM
prised all his opportunity for education, and the
first indication he gave of his uncommon com
mand Of numbers was by running through the
mutiplica. ton table, while sitting the floor of
a carpenters shop, and watching chips as they
were thrown off from the tool.
| He was taken to several places in Vermont,
and examined by distinguished men, who
were astonished at his power, which was no
less incomprehensbe to them than to himself
By the advice of friends, his father was induced
to take Zerah about for exhibition, though sever
al capital offers wore made Especially by Pro-
fessor Adams of Dartmouth coege,) to take him
ia charge and give him complete education All
the offers refused by the mercenary spirit of
the father.
In Boston, the father received a munificent
offer to educate the boy, which his>1slFcenary
| temper induced him to refuse. James Perkins,
Daniel Sergeant, Josiah Quincy, Isaac P. Davis,
VIM. Sullivan, and w. 5. Shaw, agreed to con-
tract with the father to raise 5000 dollars by
subscription, and without exhibition, one hall
, Of which should be given to the father, and the
other half applied to tho education of the child
under the direction of trustees, although the ia
Their should be allowed tebe with. and have the
personal charge of his This offer was re
fused.
Zerah was soon taken to England, where hi
] excited as much wonder as he had done here
9 The desutory character Of his father, however
ruined his prospects, and made enc MES. Ate
9 travelling through the United Kingdom, receiv e.
}. much money, and borrowing more, the wicke
d father took the boy to France, where, in 1914
l. without giving any intimation OF his name, pei
u son, or character, he was taken to DIR. Gall, tn
father Of phrenology, who Immediately remarke
10 upon the prominence OF the organ of number, an
&c desired to take mask of his face. Here, alst
~ great astonishment was excited, and vast sun
'e Of money taken by the exhibition received
T. loans; but all expended, and they returned
10 poverty and distress England.
r In July, 1916, the Earl of Bristol, with prime
!! ly hberaIty, took up the patronage of the boz
with the hope that, in the of a good e
ucation, he might be enabled to reveal the seer
K of his mysterious power of computation. He c
- fsred to pay the expense of his education
es Westminster; and. in the mean time, to allo
81 the father twenty-five pounds per annum.
SO this insiitutionthey had a quarrel and left
or account of the practice of Juggling, and went
n theRev. Mr.. Bullen, in Buckinghamshire. whe
81 the Earl of Bristol consented still deray Il
n expenses Of private tuition.
Zsrah taken from Mr. Bullen's in Isl
lie on account OF some freak of his father, and W
oil taken to Edinburg to be prepared for the stage
re After studying some time with several actor
IL with whom il impossible for the father to
IN gree, Zerah put under the care of Charl
m kemble, and received lessons from him.
he was taken round to Ireland and the province
I'D theatres without success, during 1890 and lS2
RS and in 1922, having been reduced to destituio
fy application made to the Earl of Bristol
ep farther assistance. The Earl very promptly ga
III he would do nothing for the father, but separa
n and Independent of him his control, he won
X assist the son. then Is wears old.
w Compelled to labor by necessity Zerah in th
year took a small school in the country, which
"a continued until near the deaf of his father " hi
ad happened 10 Feb. 1924; and in Nav, by the
We newed liberali,y of the Earl Of Bristol he sail
m for this country.
Dr. There Is nothing more TO relate OF Zerah e
on burn but that he has lived in Vermont ever sin,
,rs a Methodist Clergyman, with distinction
nv eminence of any kind. His talents were far
ed low mediocr,y as a scholar and thinker He h
is no, even the gift of clear conception strong
to preston Of thoughts, but dwindled down into o
We of the lower classes of those. who though pic
and useful to q certain extent 10 the ministry,
lid not enabled to shine.
he His power Of calculation was lost sometime /
Ids fore he left England. The secret of its origin a
end rests only with his Maker.
.Nemsry-Hope Two perspective painters lead u. p
OF a