The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-31
A PrecCciOaS Louisiana Boz.

Master Clement Thomas Maddux,
aative of Tensas parish. who has re-
gently come with his parents to reside
in this city, is a young gentleman still
in his first decade, who at the early age
Of five began to lisp IN numbers"
albeit not of the poetic variety. A
| youth of that age who looks upon eXer-
cises in mental arithmetic rs pastime
is perhaps as rare, however, as an in
FAINT Byron or Shakespeare. The young
! Clement smiles ut mathematical diff
culties that paralyzed the faculties of
MANY older heads, and finds deep and
satisfying Joy in fractions At seven
ae had absorbed the whole of Davies
series of arithmetics, including the
University, and stood ready to take
n algebra with equal avidity, but BE-
The advice of a prominent educator this
branch was postponed.
Precocious as he is, Master Maddux
has none of the painful peculiarities SO
often seen in phenomenal children. He
IS bright, healthy boy, with ruddy
cheeks, clear blue eyes, and a physique
that seems equal to the demands of the
large brain He has all the fondness
for boyish sports proper to his age, and
carries into everything the same
quickness of observation and under
standing that distinguishes him in
his studies. Although he has been
in the city only about six weeks
he already knows the names of all the
streets in his district, and can find MS
way about with no guide better than
many boys born and raised here. His
remarkable talent for arithmetic is not
a blind intuition nor a remarkable feat
of note learning. He knows perfectly
well what he is about and is able to ex
plain his methods fully and satisfactor
ilv. These methods are the result of
clear understanding of the properties
of numbers, and seem to have been de-
vised by himself rather than acquired
from others. They have all the sim
plicity and directneSs of those employed
by experienced accountants, and sup
plemented as they are by very unusual
ability for carrying on mentally com
pick processes of calculation, they en-
abb him to solve, without the aid OF
slate or pencil, problems that involve
considerable ciphering for ordinary
prising quicknesS and accuracy the az.
gregate value of a crop sold in separate
lots and at various prices, and is es.
pecially delighted if these prices are
expressed in fractional parts of dollars
and cents; or he will give with equa'
facility the superficial area of the walls
of your room, or the solid contents OF
your wood-pile.
In geography, which ranks next tc
arithmetic in his favor he shows the
same facility of combining and general.
ling MS Information. Names are
more to him than words. Each one
calls up a concrete image of the object
referred to, with all its surroundings.
Thus the mention of an isthmus sug-
gests not only the two continents united
by the narrow neck of land, but the
two seas separated by it, as well as the
possibility Of 4 canal which might sever
the continent and unite the seas, and
bridge which might place them again
as they were. Master Maddux is en-
tered as pupil in one of the public !.
schools, where he will pursue the regu |.
lar course, his father wisely preferrine
that he should become versed in all /.
branches CT knowledge rather than pose
as a youthful prodigy in mathe-
mathics. Though only nine years OF
age. it is impossible to look into the
bright, intelligent face, at once modest |
and self-reliant, and note the dome
like structure of the head, without in
dulging in brilliant forecasts for the
ripened future of so much childish
o. Times Democrat.