Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-16
4 Projections l.oui lana Boy.

Master Clement Thomas Maddux, n
native Of Ten Is parish, who has re-
Gently come with his parents 10 reside
in this city, is a young gentleman still
in his first decade, who at the early ago
of five began to lisp in numbers"
albeit not OF the poetic variety A
youth of that ace who looks upon eNer-
ciscs in mental arithmetic as a paStime
is perhaps as rare, however. rs an in
FAINT Byron or Shakespeare. The young
Clement smiles ut mathematical diili-
culties that paraly2ed the faculties of
many older heads, and finds deep and
satisfying JOY in fractions. At seven
he had absorbed the whole Of Davies
series Of arilnmcties, including the
Il University, and stood ready 10 take
in algebra with equal avidity, but by
the advice of u prominent educator this
branch was postponed.
Prec lcious a hc is. Master MadduX
has none Of tire painful pcculiarities SO
often seen in phenomenal children. lie
is a bright, healthy boy, with ruddv
checks. clear blue eyes, and physique
that seems equal 10 the demands Of the
large brain. lie 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 hi district, and can find his
way about with 10 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 a5oGt and is able 10 ex-
plain his methods fUIly and satisfactor-
lily. These methods are the result Of
clear understanding Of the properties
Of numbers, and seem to have been de-
yiscd BY himself rather than acquired
from others. They have all the SIM
plicity and directness Of those employed
By experienced accountants, and sup
plcmented rs they are by very unusual
ability for carrying on mentally COM
pick processes Of calculation, they en-
aolc him 10 solve, without the aid Of
slate or pencil, problems that involve
considera le ciphcring for ordinary
people. lie wiz estimate with sur
prising quickHess and accuracy the az
gregate value of 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 win give with equal
facility the superficial area Of the walls 1
of your room. or the solid contents of T
your wood-pile.
In geography, which ranks next TO .
in his favor he shows the +
same facility Of combining and general T
izing his information. Names are
more 10 him than words. Each one
calls up aconcrete image Of the object
t., with all its surroundings. +
Thus the mention OF an isthmus sug-
gests not only the two continents united
0y the narrow neck of land, but the
.wo seas separated b. it. as well as the
possibility Of a canal which might sever
he continent and unite the seas, and
bridge which might place them again
Is they were. Master Maddux = en-
cred as a pupil in one of the public
schools. where he will pursue the ree.u-
ar course, his father wisely preferring
hat be should become versed in all
of knowledge rather than pose
IS a youthful prodigy in mathe-
nathies. Though only nine years Of
lge. it is impossible To look into the
right, intelligent face. at once modest
md self-reliant, and note the dome
Ike structure Of the head. without In
lulgiBg In brilliant forecasts for the
iDened future of so much childish
'romise IN. o. s-DemocTat.