The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-01-29
A HUMAN PUZZLE.
A Mathematical Machine and Mar
vslous Man.

A correspondent ''P. Arker," thus
writes the Blade regarding a queer
and remarkable nan: Ia the little
town of Fayetteville, johnson CO.,
Mo, lives a most remarkable man.
Prof. Reuben Fields, as he calls
himself, is now about 30 years Of
age, of stout build, somewhat fiorid
complexion and cast or twist in
one of his eyes, that gives him a
rather singular expression. When
the writer of this met him about
five years ago he had never been TO
school, could neither read nor write,
and was as ignorant man a far az
book learning goes as can be found
in the state of Missouri. But Fields
has faculty or gift which is prob
ably not possessed to such an ex-
tent by any other person in this
country, and the possession of
which by some individual with a
business turn would be a source of
wealth. What the gift is cannot
tell, but l will give you some exam
pies of it and the reader may give
it name if he can find.. one to suit
him. Upon my introduction TO him
l was Informed that Fields could
give an answer TO any question in
figures that could be given him and
instantaneously, without calcula-
ton or thought. Thinking to test
this more than lightning calculator,
L asked: "Reuben, how many sec
onds old am I2' (giving the date
of my birth) and he barely waited
my last word until he gave the an
swer and figuring it, l found it to
be correct. ''The next question
was: "HoW many bricks are there
in a pils?" giving the dimensions in
feet, and instantly came the correct
answer. Another and more difficult
question came next: ''If a dollar
had been put at interest in the year
one, what would it ali amount to,
principal and interest, at six per
cent. to..date2' He caught my mean
ing and answered before the ques-
ton was fully given, and after te-
dious amount of figuring it was
proven to be correct. Another:
"a dollar Is put out at ten per cont.
interest, from the creation, com
pounded" There are not enough
figures known to give it" he inter
rupted. what" said l, "Not
enough figures?' "Well," he re-
piled, 81 can't get enough figures
together to prove it. 1t might be
put down in terms or writing,
but not otherwise" Whether he
was corset or not have never as
certained. To my query of on
what day of the week will the 4th
day of July occur in the year 1000,
his answer came promptly: TAX
ing down his answer and consult
ing a perpetual calender shortly af-
forwards it was proven correct.
This was getting interesting and
counting leap-year and all must
have involved an immense calcula-
ton outside of mere figures or sim
pie addition and multiplication.
When came back to figures again
1 Ssked him: at being $4,000
miles around the earth, how many
hax-seed, counting sixteen to the
inch, would it take to reach
arouRdr' and the answer came be-
fore l was fairly through with the
question.
A few more examples Of the
mans wonderful power: The di-
mansions of boiler being given he
instantly stated the number of Gu
bic inches in it. To this problem:
A stream of water runs into a els
tern through a half inch pipe; di-
mansions OF cistern being given, ct
the rate of so many gallons per
hour, how long would it take TO All
it,and how long TO empty it through
8 three-quarter inch pipe? He
gave the immediate and correct an
swer. Many other problems were
given him but he was never stalled.
When it is known, as it positively
is, that this man was never at
school and can neither read nor
write, one is lost in wonder. That
no mental calculation is made is
evident to any one who asks ques-
tions Of Fields and herein is q mys-
terry. An educated man, who prac-
tees in such exercises, il given
time might answer some of these
questions; but even in such a man
the fact would be indeed be won
derful. When Zeta Colburn was
before the French academy of sci
ence in questions propounded to
him of similar nature, the time
required was; noted, and showed
that mental process was in opera
ton. Colburn had been in the hab-
it of studying mathematical prsb-
lens from childhood up and was an
accomplished scholar and professor
in an eastern institution of learn
ing. Questioning Fields as to how
he answers the questions put to him,
he can give no reason or theory.
He answered my interrogatory to
this effect by asking me how l knew,
8 door was s door, or a window =
window. 81 know these things" he
contin ued, "they come to me like
the clicking of a telegraph"
Fields has another faculty also,
nearly as remarkable as the one ]
have specified to such length. He
can give the time of day or night in
New York or San Francisco and
correct to a second. 1t is trick of
his to bet man he can tell him
what time 1t is by his watch, al
lowing a minute or two for the va
riations in watches, and he was
never known to lose bet. 1t will
be asked what this man does for
living? and the. answer is, he sim
ply does nothing. Work, he will
not even cut stick of wood for his
widowed mother, who like himself
Is quite poor. Occasionally he will
help on the tax books or at invoic-
ing a stock of goods. He travels
through 8 few counties in western
Missouri, and has been, believe,
before some scientific men in st.
T,ouis for examination. and was az