The Cecil Whig., 1871-08-05
The Story Of Wonderful Boy Mathemati.
clan,

The name of Henri Mondeux was well
known in the scientific circles of Paris, in
1S41. He was born at Neuve lie Roy, near
trious woodcutter; his mother, femme de
psine in farm. When he had attained
the mature age of seven his father informed
him that it was his duty to work for liv-
ing, and he was sent to keep sheep. In
his lonely hours in the meadows he amused
himself by necessarily counting over little
heaps of pebbles, and arranging them in
different ways. His talent for rapid calcu-
lation was considered by the ignorant vii
layers as proof positive of diabolical pos
session. In all monetary difficulties of the
little community, he was the authorized
referee, as no one in the village could cal
culate with such amazing rapidity and
infallible exactness. The admiration excit-
ed by his powers was not unmingled with
awe, as the little rascal pretended that he
could cast an evil eye on the cattle of those
who displeased him. His reputation spread
far and wide in the country, and it became
favorite amusement to have him divert
the company on fete days at the neighbor-
ing farms.
One day he met two ladies, who, struck
by his appearance, entered into converse
tion with him. In course of the CONVERSE
ton Henri offered to tell the youngest her
age in seconds if she would mention how
old she was
Nineteen" said the young lady.
Instantly he replied, d" You have lived
500, 1S4, 900 seconds.
This little adventure being related to
Mr.. Jacoby, young and enthusiastic
school master at Tours, he was struck with
astonishment, and, having verified the cal
culation, he determined to make the ac-
quaintance of the young shepherd. Henri
spoke first, asking the simple question,
"What o'clock is it?''
"It is the half of the quarter of three
quarters of twelve" replied Mr. Jacoby.
"'Then can tell you, sir, exactly what
time it is replied Henri; "it is half past
one."
The answer was given after the lapse of
minute. Other questions were given and
answered with the same facility, when Mr..
Jacoby discovered that Henri could neither
read, write, nor cipher, and had not the
slightest acquaintance with fractions, or
any of the ordinary rules of arithmetic.
-. 1t was soon known in Touraine
that Mr.. Jacoby had adopted the strangely
gifted child, and visitors came in crowds to
verify the accounts they had heard of him.
To satisfy human curiosity, Mr.. Jacoby,
fixed a day on which he would receive all
the notabilities of the Department. Henri
was in a state of calm delight.
One of the first questions put to him was,
"What is the sum of the squares of the
first thirty-two numbers ?''
After a few minutes pause he responded,
al, ,440."
"Not right, not right
go yes it is,' replied Henri. "Stop, l
will do it again. After minutes pause
he again asserted that he was right.
wrong, my boy; 1 have calculated it also;
one of us is in the wrong
Then it is you, SIR" cried Henri with
energy. 81 will maintain it to my dying
day."
The examiner, the well known engineer,
Monsieur Bandemoulin, considered for a
moment and then burst out laughing, say
ing, "The little rogue is right after ALL
He was asked many other questions, and
acquitted himself to the surprise of all
present.
To vary the monotony of his existence in
his new school-life, Mr.. Jacoby took Henri
walking tours, to exhibit his calculating
powers, at the neighboring colleges, and
schools Vendome, Blois, Orleans, Angers
and many other towns were scenes of tri-
umph for Henri whose acuteness and read
mess surprised the most practiced mathe-
maticians of the day. To their amaze
ment they discovered that this untaught
peasant boy was no mere calculating
machine, but a thorough mathematician in
its widest sense. From the depth of his
own consciousness he had evolved all the
known formulas, and many others entirely
original,
He was asked the following question
SIN pnblic square there is fountain,
containing an unknown quantity of water;
around it stand a group of people carrying
pitchers, capable of containing certain
unknown quantity Of water. They draw
at the following rate: The first takes
100 quarts, and 1-13th of the remainder;
the second, 200 quarts and 1 18th of the
remainder; the third, 300 quarts and 1-13th,
and so on, until the fountain was emptied.
How many quarts were there?
In few seconds he gave the answer and
this is the simple process by which he
obtained his result: Take the dcnomina-
tor Of the fraction, subtract one; that gives
the number of persons. Multiply that by
the number of quarts taken by the first
person-that is, by 100-and you get the
equal quantities taken by each; square
this number and multiply by the number
of quarts, and you get the quantity in the
| fountain. Thus:
13-1-12 number of persons.
12x1OO-1 200 number of quarts taken
| by each.
12!x100-14, 400 number quarts in the
fountain.
Again he was asked GA father leaves
among his children a sum to be divided as
follows: The eldest to take 1000 francs
and the ninth part, the second 1000 francs
and the ninth part,-what is the number
of children and frankse"
| 9-1-S number of children,
| SKI, ,00O-S, 600 portion of each.
SKI ,000-64, 900 sum to be divided.
Such were among the simplest questions
which he answered with rapidity an6
exacttude which sometimes disconnected
| his examiners.
Paris was the scene of his greatest
renown. Arago, Chateaubrand, Georges
Sand, Alfred de Vigny, and many Others
received him with enthusiasm. He was
.feted, caressed, wondered at