Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-03
4 Prodigy and Monster.


Nature often gives such curious twists
TO her productions which afford hope OF
being rare and valuable pieces of hu-
man clay, that she only provokes by
tantilizing us with her hints of What, If
the had chosen, she might have done.
She turns out a child, who, ifshe will
finish as carefully as she begins him,
promises TO be Shakespeare, Macau-
lay, or a Webster; but suddenly, as If
impatient Of workmanship, or as If gov
erned by mere caprice, she warps and
perverts him, and throws him away
battered and useless.
Thirteen years ago boy was born-i
Paterson, New Jersey, whose head on
the day OF his birth attracted attention,
and which, when he had reached the
age of four, had grown so large as TO
make other people shake theirs and pre-
dicta fatal and speedy ending of his life.
But he lived on until he wore a hat of
seven and half size, while his body
ceased to grow after the age of five. His
intelligence was marvellous. He could
learn anything by heart; had wonder
fully, quick PERCEPTION, great logical
faculties, mathematical talents, and "A
love of music and poetry. He could re-
cite Milton and Shakespeare and render
some of the passages after the manner
oil the best actors he had seen. He be-
came the wonder OF the city, and even
attracted scientific and other prominent
men TO read this enigma OF juvenile
genius.
With all the amusement and pleasure
he found in life he had moments of pro-
found sadness, in which he would speak
of his early death in terms and tones
10 fr,G 80
tears. His father died before the boy
had attained celebrity, and his mother
earned living by working in the mi
leaving him during the day TO the care
of his chance friends and acquaintances.
His gifts proved his ruin. He fell in
with those who began TO pervert his
wonderful mind. They taught him
slang phases, profanity and obscenity.
A mere midget, he became as famous in
vicious ranks for his vileness and pre-
cocious vulgarity of speech as he had
been previously for his cultured and re-
fined intellect. lie became seli-willed
and incorrigible. The doors of rcspec-
table people were closed against him.
lie learned TO smoke, chew, curse and
swear, and spent his time in dancing
jigs and singing ribald songs. Before
he was eight years OF age he was in the
habit of coming home at night intoxi-
Gated, or not coming home at all. He
was Stunned by those who once courted
and fiattered him. Ladies who had pet
ted him passed by him in fear OF an in
suit. His temper became ungovernable,
his insolence intolcrable He would
stop strangers in the street, demanding
a chew of tobacco, and would return
either an acquiescence OF a denial with
blood curdling profanity. 1t was not
that he was so vile and loathsome, for
boys OF that age and character are not
uncommon, but the sight of the crea-
ture, with his big head and baby frame,
conducting himself like a candidate for
State prison, made him a monstrous
and repulsive curiosity.
His mother tried in vain TO reform
him, but her daily occupation prevented
her from watching over him or exercis-
ing much influence of any sort. She
finally asked that he he sent TO the re-
torn school, and thithcr he has been
faken. Perhaps he may be saved for
something great and useful yet. but, after
a career of dissipation at his age. the
probabilities are against his surviving
lcng, or, If he does. of undergoing a
thorough reform. Detroit Free Press.