Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-10-18
A LIVING WONDER.

A very peculiar chronological wonder exists
at present, near Huntsville. Alabama, 10 be
found 10 the person Of negro boy, WHO COM
bines in himself the most extraordinary mani-
festation of mind in mental calculation, with a
weakness almost idiotical in other respects.
An account of this extraordinary person is Civ
en- in the Southwestern Christian Advocate
He is seventeen years of age, and already
weighs two hundred pounds, and his DISPOSE
ton and temperament appear to be as peculiar
as his mind and body.
He was never known TO commence a con-
versation with any one; nor continue on furth-
er than answering questions in the fewest
words. He speaks very low and tardily. He
has never been known to utter falseh0od. or
10 steal, and is but little subject 10 anger-vill
no, strike dog or anything else; but when
vexed BY his sister he will take hold Of her
arm. as If he would break it with his hands.
He cannot be persuaded to taste intoxicating
liquors. He has never manifested any pTedi-
lection for the sex. There is nothing remark
able in the confguiaiion of his head or his
countenance, save that his eyeis uncommonly
convex and continually rolling about with a
Wild and glaring expression. His laugh and
movements are perfectly idiotical. He does
no, know letter or figure. He has no idea
of God. When asked. who made you = he
ans cred. nobody, He has not mind enough
to do the ordinary work OF slave; ne VIII
not ask for anything. nor touch food, however
hungry, unless il be offered him.
Almost his only manifestation OF mind Is IN
relation 10 numbers, in which his power IS ex-
traordinary. He will tell the product OF the
n multiplication of any two sets OF hgures onoer
hundred Instantly. He multiplies thousands
adds, substracts, and with the same certainty,
though with more mental labor. Severai IN
stances of this faculty Of combination aie CIV
en-.
With pencil and paper we made the follow.
I ing calculations, the questions Delng ASKED
thus. How much are SO times ~! HE
| readily answered, 1901; Well how much
is "a times Sc 1922 He answered, .4Ol.-
+. How many mines in 2,00Or He answered.
| two hundred and twent-two mines, and TWO
over.'-s low many ffteens 10 $500 lie
answered, 500 fifteens and eleven over.
liza stick, standing straight nP,,3 feet long,
made shadow Of feet how would pole be,
| that has shadow thirty feet long? At
| he drew himself up and gave silly laugh
His master said he did not understand such as
that. We then asked him how much is 1888
times 5,555! In this instance, as in some 9TH
ers. he looked serious, began to twist about
| in his chair, to pick the clothes, finger nails,
10 look at his hands, put the points OF his
| thum to his teeth, Hove his lips, and then
seemed to think little, and then his counte-
nance would give indications of mental agony;
| and so on. His master told him to walk about
and rest himself. He went into the yard and
appeared to be alternately elated with rapture
and depressed with gloom. He would run,
lump 10, throw his arms into the air above
his head. then stand still. and then drag his
| foot over the weeds, look up and down; in
word he took on all sorts Of crazy notions
| We sat down to dine, and when we arose we
found him on the piazza sitting down perfect
| " composed. On being told he had done It.
| / said how much is it! He answered, eigh-
teen millions, Eve hundred and four thousand,
eicht hundred and fifteen sWhat!' said l.
He replied, sI8,5l4,8l5.
| For the purpose Of obtaining clue to the
mental process by which he ascersained such
results. he was asked how he did il, his unva-
rying answer was, / studies il up He does
not count on his fingers OF anything external.
| nor indeed does he seem to count at all, and
vet he combines thousands and millions, and
plays with their combinations, just as others
would units. All the instruction he ever re-
/ ceiveJ was from his master, who taught him
| to count one hundred, and would ask how ma
nv twenties in hundred. aud how many 6ves,
| &c. This is certainly an extraordinary case,
and one that is deserving the attention of the
mental philosopher. Some Of our phrenolo.
oists will no doubt give it their consideration,
| AZ il sustaips in remarkable manner that SCI
once. and can be accounted for only BY ito
principles.
.,..,~ rbv.;cian asking permission