Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-14
A WONDERFUL BOY.
Master Dudley Waller, the Boy Ora or
His HtstOry-HOnderfuI Memory
and EIOeutiOnary Power.

and EIOeutiOnary Power.
One of the most wonderful of all the
wonderful children of which history has
preserved a record, is now in this city
Master Dudley Waller, the famous boy
orator, whose astonishing memory and
wonderful rhetorical power have made him
widely known throughout the East. His
remarkable talents give him an extraordi-
nary claim to notice, and we deem it worth
while to lay before our readers the facts of
his origin and development.
Dudley Waller is now only eight years
old, and was born in New York city. His
father was native of New York City, of
G, rman descent, and his mother was Irish
but lived in this country ever since she was
child. Master Dudley was left an orphan
when he was three years of age. The
little fellow is indebted for support, protec-
tion and care to the lady whose name he
bears, and who has adopted him. He has
hod almost no schooling, his precocity be-
ing such that it was deemed dan gerous TO
a low him o study. But his love for books
was so great that he would abandon his
play at all times for book. He learned to
read with great rapidity, and soon devel-
oped the wonderful power of memory
which has made him famous. It is said
that he has never had any training in
elocution, and yet he speaks with proori-
| ETY., beauty, passion and force which would
Do credit to any rhetorician in the country.
He has been before the public about three
years, meeting everywhere with the
greatest and most deserved success, and
winning the most fattering expressions Of
delight from the most distinguished men
ofthe country. He comes to this city, from
buffalo, where he has been giving a series
ofvesy successful exhibitions, and where
he received the most complimentary no
tees from the press.
Since he has boen in this city he has
given two or three exhibitions private-one
at the house of Stillman Witt, Esq, on Fri
day evening, which was attended by seve-
raj of our leading citisens, and one satur-
| day afternoon, at his rooms at the Weddell,
attended by the members of the press
and several other gentlemen. At both
he succeeded in giving the greatest delight
to all who listened to him. He pos
sesses a robust form, the very embodiment
of grace and health, and the face of boy
-Adonis. His head is crowned with gold
en- curling hair, his blue eye ia fall of mer-
riment,and hissingularlyrefned and clear.
cut face bears the fresh flush of ruddy
health. When ne recites piece a curious
change comes over his features. Though
boyiah enough on other occasions, when ht
speaks his face assumes an abstracted all
and seems, in miniature, that of refined
and cultivated man of twenty five. Hii
memory is almost without parallel-em.
braclng in its scope oil that he roads an6
hears. He is already master oft6e gemi
in prose and poetry Of our language, nun.
bering 500 different pieces. His elocu.
tion and acting arc no less wonderful, and if
as 70 are told, he has never hsd a tutor, art
positively marvellous. We heard him give
" Bingen on the Rhine; "The Charge o
the Light Brigade -; " The Smack il
School -; "Will the New Year Come To
night, Mamma; the dialogue between
Sir Peter and Lady Teazle, in the schoo
for Scandal" and sn extract from Rober
Emmett's defence. In these four widely
different pieces he was fully as successfu
as the best of cur elocueionists. The lat
ter piece, ss specimen of impa5sioned ant
earnest defamation, could not be surpass
ed.
The little fellow is, in all respects bu
this one, child He is only ss far ad
vanced as other children. His bodily anC
mental health is perfect. Itis difficult t.
say what he may not become. Should h,
fulfil his early promfse, he will be the Al
mirable Criehton of the present generation
We have omitted to say, that in addition
to his other qualifications, Master Dudley
is natural mschinist, and has constructed
alone and without aid, complete steam
engine
By reference to correspondence which VI
give in anther column, It will be seen tina
at the request of tie gentlemen who hesr'
Master Dudley at Mr.. Wits, the Librar!
Association has made an engagement witt
him to give a reading tomorrow evening d
Brainard's Hall.