Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-09-25
A MARVEL AT FIGURES


been said and written of him has gem
orally been guessed at. He is the math-
ematical wonder of the world, rs re-
CARDS calculations 'Rube" is as litter
ate as a savage, and can instantly solve
any mathematical problem. He could
not recognize his name If it were placed
before him in type three feet high, nor
can he tell figure seven from cipher,
yet he can tell how many grains of
wheat piled upon each other would
reach the sun if you give him the dis
tance from earth to the sun, writes a
Kansas City Times CORES pondcnt from
Ilavel Hill, Mo. Such problem
lie considers quite simple, and will an
nounce the answers by the time you
have concluded the question.
"Rube" is not easily engaged in con-
versation, and there is not a person in
the world to whom he would confide
his secrets. No more to his mother than
to you. He believes that all mankind
Is in league TO take from him his gift,
or, as he puts it, his mystery" He re-
CARDS every man in the same way, and
that ungovernable fear will, no doubt
keep him out of sight of the public, as
ii has for the last twenty years. Though
he is mercenary to degree in his deal
ings he does not seem to possess any
special desire for riches, but rather
evinces the desire to sec fools" as he
calls the human family, put to some ex-
pense OH his account. 1t makes him
feel big to have men hire him to be in
terviewed, and yet he is not vain
enough to make IL public exhibition of
himself, another evidence of his unusual
rCmrCs.ti0n.
He cannot tell how he manipulates
figures and computes numerals as with
thought, and this inability to explain
bothcrS. him least of all who arc aware
of the TACT. lie says he is aware if he
could write an arithmetic with his sys-
ten of calculation as n basis he could
nI:Le more money than ten railroads.
but he can't do it and doesn't care any,
thing about it. lie is satisfied with
his lot and has great plans for the
future. 1t is his belief that he came
into this world to herald to men tina,
beyond their vision of Che science OF
numbers lies the key to all the ,nvs-
tories Of life. The great work he. is to
slo upon earth has not been outliIed t.
him by the Omniscient, but viii be IL
ttlc time.
Taking him unawares asked:
SCAN you add 90, 1876, 1872 to |, OBS, 548 tc
81, 53S, G2+, 1873 to 1875. O28. O01 to 14,37.
Without stopping to fgurc?"
THAT makes II, 4T3, sol, t93," said he
,nn the Instant, and then he laughed
@tcCrtily at my surprise.
As 1 called tho numbers to him ht
sdlad them, having the aCc-rccate G.
tho first two before | had finished I'll,
third. and of the whole while caugE
ny breath after enumerIting them
iEcn read him Il column of figure
ranging from tens to hundreds of thou.
elndS, the lengt.l Of q sheet Of leg;:,
cop, and nc had furnished me an ac.
ci''ate aggregate the moment finished.
Such an evidence Of unexplaine,
power will aatouish the most crcdulous
hut what must one think when such .
character says that he is a'living, wall:
Ing clIrorotneter, and proves the sam,
before you can dispute it, He nil.
trusts all men, and a financial consid
Grafton. together with the inducement
ct acquGintances, is necessary to set hi
s3ngue going, which done, he keeps yor
Susy listening, for he talks like tor
rent rushes, swear& with the fury of &
cyclone, and calculates with the rapid
Sly of electric pulsations. ] employed
him to he interviewed for one hour, anG
desiring to test him as to his knowl-
edge Of time without giving him an op
portunity to consult n timepiece, /
asked:
What is tho time now, professor"
Tie delights to be called "prcfcssor."
"Twcnty-five and ono-quarter min
Ntcs after three" he replied. reaclle,
for my watch to SEQ if ne answered
tight, and before | could see he said
t'four watch is one and onc-euarte
fast.
How do you Bnow9' I asked.
Z cent toll y0u, but ! am right" he
sa'd, And SO he was, as the Western
Union regulator proved. then con
Guided to test him further, ard resolved
Tint would say nothing Of IL when hi,
hour vas endod and note il he knew
IL, Imagine my surprise when in tn,