The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-03-26
A Precocious southern Boy.

Master Clement Thomas MadduX, a
native of Tensas parish, who has recently
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 exercises in mental
arithmetic as a pastime is perhapsas rare,
however, as an infant Byron or Shake
speare. The young Clement smiles at
mathematical difficulties that paralyze the
faculties of many older heads, and finds a
deep and satisfying joy in &c fractions. +"
At seven he had absorbed the whole of
Davies series of arithmetics, including
the university, and stood ready to take
in algebra with equal avidity, but by the
advice ola prominent educator this branch
was postponed. Precocious as he is, Mas
ter Maddux has none of the painful pecu-
liarities so often seen in phenomenal chill
dren. He is bright, healthy boy, with
ruddy cheeks, clear blue eyes, and
physique that seems quite 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 un-
derstanding that distinguishes him in
his studies. His remarkable talent for
arithmetic is not blind intuition nor a
remarkable feat of note learning. lie
knows perfectly what he is about, and is
able to explain his methods fully and
satisfactorily. These methods are the
result of a clear understanding of
the properties of numbers, and seem
to have been devised by himself
rather than acquired from others. They
have all the simplicity and directness of
those employed by experienced account
ants, and supplemented as they are by
very unusual ability for carrying on men,
tally complex processes of calculation,
they enable him to solve, without the
aid of slate or pencil, problems that in
volve considerable ciphering for ordinary
people. He will estimate with sur
prising quickness and accuracy the ag-
gregate value Of crop sold in separate
lots and at various prices, and is especial
ly delighted if these prices are expressed
or he will give with equal facility the
superficial area of the walls of your room,
or the solid contents of your wood-pile.
In geography, which ranks next to
arithmetic in his favor, he shows the
same facility of combining and general
izing his 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 Suggests 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 canal
which might sever the continents and
unite the seas, and a bridge which
might place them again as they were.
Master Maddux is entered as a pupil in
one of the public schools, where he will
pursue the regular course, his father
wisely preferring that he should become
versed in all branches of knowledge
rather than pose as youthful prodigy in
mathematics. 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 indulging
in brilliant forecasts for the ripened fu-
ture of SO much childish promise. se.--NeaO
Orleans Times Democrat.