Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-06-27


We publish, by request, the following
account of an astonishing boy. That
such a display of mental energy and
grasp as he possesses, can exist, battles
our credulty.--Southr0n.
From the Observer.
THE WONDERFUL VERMONT BOY,
Mr.. Editor,-Being few days since in
the vicinity of RoyaIon, VT, on business
connected with my Bible agency, | was
induced by the reports had seen in the
public prints of remarkable boy of that
town, to pay him a visit. The name OF
this precious youth is Truman Henry SAT-
ford, Jr. Hois the son of I. Ii. and Lou
lisa Stafford, of Royalton, VI. He was
born the 9th day of January, 1885. lie
was consequently ten years old last Tues
day, the 9th OF January, 1916. His con-
stluton is frail, his health, though more
robust than a year since, is yet delicate, his
limbs small, his hair dark, his eyes dark,
projecting and indiscribably brilliant and
his countenance pallid, yet open, smiling
and beamng with intelligence. lie is eX.
ceedingIy modest and unassumlng; he
never boasts; never shows the least pride
after performing his wonderful inteIlec-
tual exploits; but he IS retiring IN his
manners, though free TO converse when
spoken to, and in disposition as gentle as
the lamb. He probably does not July re-
alize his greatness. He reads evey thing
that comes in his way, consequently he
often sees the various puffs of him that
are frequently seen floating in the pa
pers.-He also is often compmented BY
distinguished visitors. But his parents
tell him not believe all these encomlums,
as there is often a great deal OF humbug
in the world. This has the effect to make
him quite unmindful of praise. His Won
perfuI powers of mind began to develops
when very young. At the age oftwenty
months he learned his letters. Before three
wears cd, he would reckon time upon a
clock almost intuitlVely. He also learned
TO enumerate according to the Roman
method from Webster's spelling book. lie
commenced going to school when three
wears old. but he did not like it. His
mode of study was perfectly unique. tie
did not pursue the common, clrcultous
route to the results Of study. Since then,
he has been q very little, and now goes
none at all. Probably no College in the
United States could instruct him much, il
any. When he first began to 60 to school,
his teachers could not comprehend his
WAYS nor instruct his infant mind. Eve
nv branch of study he could master alone
with rapidity and ease. lie commenced
Adams New Arithmetic on Tuesday
morning and finished it completely on
Friday night! And when he finishes
book i is done perfectly. lie would not
fully set down his sums but cover his slate
with a shower of figures, and at once
bring out the answer. The teacher would
look in astonishment, unable to keep up
with him, or TO comprehend his operations,
carried on in his mind with the rapidly OF
lightning, and then dashed on the slate.
no matter which end first. His thirst
for all kinds OF knowledge is very great
The whole circle of the science is as Ia
miliar TO him as household word. MS
father obtained for him Gregory's DIc'lon
airy OF Arts and Sciences, in three large
volumes. This work, you know, is vast
encyclopedia acknowledge, treating brlel
~ upon all branches Of human knowledge
This was just the work he wanted; loI
an outline Of anything is enough--he car
make the rest. 1t was this book that hrs
gave him taste for the higher mathema
tics. Here he found the definition oil
logarithm, and from this alone went OF
and made almost an entire table of then
before seeing one.
One day he went TO his father and tolC
him he wanted TO calculate the eclipse
and make an Almanac! He said his faith