The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-01
A PRODIGY IN FIGURES.
A Boy of Seventeen Who Can Beat All the
Lightning Caiculators.


Lightning Caiculators.
New York Times.
Of lightning alcuators" there IS always q
fair supply. These may be produced artifcially.
There are certain shortcut methods OF calcu-
Iation which anyone with q good memory and
quick perception may acquire, and with little
facility in the of these abbreviated methods
common order OF intellect may perform fsats
which easily dazzle those who have paid no
particular attention to subjects OF that sort
But in Evening School No. 3d. in Fifty-second
street, near Eighth avenue is q mathematical
genius who is not product of art.
William Ulysses Scott lives with his father at
TAB Sixth avenue. He was born in Hoboken,
n j., seventeen years ago. 1t was at Public
peculiar gift was first noticed. In 1883 the fam
lily came to New York. In September he pre-
sented himself at Grammar School No. SO. in
Fiftyfourth street, which Is presided over by
Matthew g. Egas. He WAS admitted into the
class next the highest Nothing unusual was
noticed about the boy for some time. He is
herald his talent. The class-teacher noticed
that when the boys were ''doing" arithmetic
Scott always had his answers first but never
could show any work or tell how he got the re-
suit. He was suspected of copying from his
neighbors; but, watch as he might. the teacher
could not detect the cheat, it 1t was a cheat.
CURED Scott could count on having
'failure" against him on the record. The stereo-
typed colloquy was something after this fashion:
Teacher-Scott how did you get that2
Scott dunno.
At last, being completely baf1ed. the teacher
conferred with the principal, Here was case
he could not make out-a boy who always had
the answer first, who never had any work to
show. and who never could tell how he ibid it. "
Mr.. Elgas determined to know the truth. to
solve the mystery, and to punish the knavery, il
any should appear. How he proceeded is best
told in his own words:
10 1t was an examination. l put Scott on the
front seat, far removed from any other boy who
might be inclined to lend a hand gave ont a
problem-a pretty difficult one, I thought-and
then, while talking to the teacher, kept Scott
constantly in the corner of my eye In very
short time Scott had laid mis- pencil down and
stopped work. 1 thought TO myself I've got
you now, my boy; no chance to cheat this time
With air of triumph said Scott He read
the answer, and it was right.
. Let me see that slate, said.
HE passed it. There were few scattered
figures with apparent relation. and that was
all, Said /:
Scott how did you get thatP
"I dunno
.'Then knew that was dealing with an ex-
traordinary youth, and that he had suffered
Scott is in the highest arithmetic class in the
evening school. tits a Senior school" no one
men of his class master the entire subject of
arithmetic found in ordinary text books
Scott knows it all as we'll as he knows his let
ters, but he persists in remaining in the class
because he loves the work. He calls it brush
ing up."
A week or SO ago the writer visited his class.
Ilere were nail q dozen pIOOleuS Oh tue Dlack-
board-problems in interest, discount, cube
root, etc. All were busy but Scott. I exam
ined his slate. All the answers were there, but
nothing to show where he got his answers from.
said:
.'.Scott, how did you do thisr
Scott replied: 81 dunno"
At the request of Mr.. Elgae, the principal,
Scott consented to give little exhibition of his
powers after school, before all the teachers in
the building. When the last class dismissed
the party assembled, and Mr.. Elgas gave out
this problem:
L. Find the interest of $40 for Is days at per
cent.
Without the slightest hesitation. Scott wrote
this: 81 575," which is the correct answer to
mills. Great was the astonishment of the peda-
gogues.
2. Extract the square root of 1,S44.164.
Scott wrote follows.
1 ,S44, 164Q .35S.
1t did not take him longer than it takes to
read the figures.
3. Extract the square of fifteen thousand, six
hundred and twenty five milliorths.
Scott instantly wrote:
v.o15625
.125
f. Cube 123.
Scott used the following figures:
1,s45 900
1867
1850 S67 answer.
He began at the left and wrote toward the
right in each case
5. Extract the cube root of Al ,O63, 625.
Scott wrote:
3V4lO63625