Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-31
PATgRsONS INFANT PRODIGY.
A Remarkable Ssvsn-yesr-Old Boy..-
Total Depraviy ExempIlhed--.
The CIsray Puzzled.
Now York Horald.l

New York Hcrald.l
The clergy OF Paterson, n. j., hav
ing tired Of wrestling with each otheI
over the various modes of baptism. b,
dipping, sprinkling, immersion, and o
discussing total deprayity in the ab
stract, are combining to devise meas
ures for the reformation of a big
headed infant, about seven years O.
age, who is regarded by the unco guild
and even by the ~tolerably wicked, a,
the very incarnation of total depravity
in the concrete. George Lee, the in.
FAINT prodigy, is regarded at once a,
the wickedest and wisest boy baby in
the State, if not in the Union. A;
to the wickedness, the catalogue i,
TOO long for rehearsal, but among
his accomplishments is profanity,
in which he is fully the
equal of Our Army in Elan
ders " and tipping, in which line he
can hold his own with the average
adult, and with as little incon-
v%enience. But the greatest wonder
of all is the boys head, which is SC
large and heavy that his little frame
seems scarcely able to support the
weight. His head has always been OF
immense size, nearly as large as it is
now, and it is conceded that George
has known more, when sober, at any
time since he was three years of age
than nine out of ten adults selected
from the uneoucated class. Where
his wit and wisdom came from is a
marvel, for neither his father, James
Lee, who abandoned his family years
ago and went West, nor yet his moth
er, a neat and industrious woman, who
labOrs daily to support herself and
boy, were even noted for their su-
perior intelligence. From the very
cradle he has seemed to take in, as if
by absorption, all knowledge, of what
ever sort, hat has come within his
reach.
He comes out especially strong in
language, and already a year or two
since would listen to a temperance
lecture or a political harangue or any
like effort, and so vigorous was his
memory that a few hours afterWard he
would be found perched on a dry
goods box or some other improvised
rostrum rehearsing the whole speech
to an admiring audience, both matter
aud manner being marvelously perfect.
The finale would most probably DO a
succession of treats by his listeners,
until the bright intelligence was
drowned cut in beer or stronger
liquor, and this baby bacchanal was
assisted home and to bed like the most
inveterate of old tOpers. If not
quite so far gone he might
be met with on the street singing
ribbald songs in his queer, piping
tones, or dancing to the music Of a
h%and-Organ, or glibly cursing some
one who had 'insulted" him. The
Lees occupy a humble dwelling in
Marshall street, and George has been
picked up and carried home intoxi-
Gated so many times that nothing is
thought of it, and it causes no more
remark than the most ordinary occur
renee. Despite all his mothers
efforts to restrain him, at times by
locking him up a prisoner in the house
while she is out at her work, George
continues his drinking habits and tip
pies whenever he can obtain money,
until now, at less than seven years OF
age, may be, and is regarded as a con
hrmed drunkard.
Recently, when he had been i'm
prisoned by his mother to prevent his
getting in trouble, he forced the win
dow in her absence and jumped from
the second-stOry window to the ground,
and soon after this enfant terrible was
sauntering down the main street,
touching his hat to his friends and
tossing kisses to the ladies on the Gp-
posite sidewalk or in upper windows.
A few days since Ex-Governor Bedle
was engaged in a litigation in the
Circuit Court at Paterson when he
encountered George, who has the
entree Of all public and most private
places about the town. The ex. gov
ernor was so amazed at the boys pre-.
cocity, as exhibited in his language,
logic, elocutiOn, ETC., that he gave
him a half dollar at parting, George
was advised BY a lawyer friend 10 take
it direct to his mother, to which the
besOtted infant made answer, "No-o-o +;
| regard this as a prOvidential
indication that ! am to bear
up" In the evening of that
day George was carried home
in a helpless condition, and having
overindulged, even for him, came
near TO death. This later escapade OF
the boy was the immediate cause OF
the present clerical effort for the
reformation Of Paterson's baby drunk
ard. But Georges head is much toe
large to admit of his reformation, and
unless his extraordinary cerebral de.
velopment can be reduced there i.
little chance Of any change. In this
respect he is a real monstrosity thelk
being few men, comparatively speak.
ing, who require so large q hat he
wears a No. II. A queer little
pinched face, with an ancient, faded
look, an understood figure, clad il
short trowsers, little white jacket
cardinal hose and neat boots, and
bristling all over with aggressiveness
an enormous head surmOunted with
mans hat cooked knowingly-this il
Georgia Lee, Paterson's wickedesI
small boy.
The OkOlOnR States.
Boston Herald Jackson. Miss, Lotterl