The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-09-28
The hey NatheInatiCian.

The Rcy mathematician.
Mr.. Hope the author Of g \ Book About
Boys writes in an English magazine:
The name Of Henri Nondcux was well
known in the scientific circles Of Paris, in
1911 He was born at Neuye le Roy, near
Tours, in 1895. His father was an indus
trious woodcutter; his mother, femme dc
lcne in farm. When he had attained
the mature age Of bis father informed
him that it was his duty to work for a liv-
ing, and he was sent 10 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. lis talent for rapid calcu-
lation was considered b. the ignorant vii
layers as proof positive Of diabohcal posses
sion. 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 in
fallible cZactncss. The admiration excited
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 fayorite amusement to have him
divert the company on fete days at the
ncighboring farms.
One day he met two ladies, who, struck
by his appearance, entered into converse
ton 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, You have lived
500, $4,000 seconds
This little adventure being related to
Mr.. Jacoby, a young and enthusiastic
schoolmaster at Tours, he was struck with
astonishment,aEd having verified this calcu-
lation, he determined to make the acquain-
lance Of the young sheppard.
Henri spoke first, asking the simple
question, i" What 0 clock is it? +"
:" 1t is the half of the quarter of three
quarters Of T., replied Mr.. .jacoby.
.'Then | can tell YOU, sir, exactly what
time it is, replied Henri, it Is hall past |. =
The answer was given after a lapse Of
a minute. Other questions were given and
answered with equal facility, when Mr.,
Jacoby discovered 10 his surprise, 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 Tou-
raine 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 public curiosity Mr.. Jacoby
fixed a day ON which he would receive all
the notabilities Of the Department. Henri
was III 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 few minutes pause he responded,
al ,440."
''Not right, not right"
90 yes it is, replied Henri rs top,
will do it again" After a minutes "a use
he again asserted that he was right.
"No, no, said the examiner, .syou are
wrong, my boy; have calculated it also:
one of us is in tbewrong."
''Then it is you, sir, cried Henri with
energy. Il will maintain it % my dying
day
The examiner, the wcIl-known engineer,
Monsieur Bandcmouln, considered for
moment, and then burst out laughing, say
ira-, "The little rogue is right after all"
lie was asked many other questions, and
acquitted himself to the surprise Of all pres
cnt.
To vary the monotony Of his existence
in his new school life, Mr. Jacoby took
Henri walking tours, to exhibit his calcu
lating powers, ut the ncighb0ring colleges
and schools. Nendomc, Blois, Orleans,
Anglers and many other towns were scenes
of triumph for Henri, whose acutencss and
readiness surprised the most practised
mathematicians Of the day. 70 their
Amusement they discovered that this ua-
taught peasant boy was no mere calculating
machine, but 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.
lie was asked the following question:
''ln public square there is fountain,
containing an unknown quantity of water;
around 1t stand group Of people carrying
pitchers capable of containing certain I'M
known quantity Of water. They draw at
the following rate: The first takes 100
quarts, and l-l3th of the remainder; the
second 200 quarts and l-I3th Of the re-
maindcr; the third 500 quarts and l-l3th,
and SO on, until the fountain was cmptied
How many quarts were there ,"
In a few seconds he gave the answer, and
this Is the simple process N which he OBJ
tanned the result: Take the dcuominator
of the fraction, subtract one; that gives
the number Of persons. Multiply that by
the number of quarts taken by the first
pcrs0n-that is, by I00-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:
l3-l=l2 number Of persons
l2XlQ0-l2 zoe number of quarts taken
by each.
l22xlo0=I4000 number Of quarts in
the fountain.
Again, he was asked: a father leaves
among his children a sum to be divided as
follows: The eldest to take LOCO francs
and the ninth part-what is the number of
children and francs ?"
9-l-S number Of children.
Sxl,0oo=S,ooQ portion of each
o2Xl,O0o-64,o00 sum to be divided
Such were among the simplest questions
which he answered with rapidity and ex-
acutude which sometimes Disconnected his
examiners.