White Oaks eagle. (White Oaks, N.M.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-22

at tho age OF four years, lie devours his
tories and biographies and can toll the
dates and places OF birth OF scores OF
Germsny's WORTHLESS and great men.
Speaking Of Ottos method of reading
Prot Stumpf says:
The fine experiments OF Mr.. Gold
scher with reference to rapidity in
reading have brought into a strong
light the considerable part played by
| the mind in rushing ahead of the text
actually at the moment being read. and
this in the case OF ordinary reading by
people ordinarily equipped. This facul
ty IN Otto is 50 great that it develops an
unheard of rapidity in bis reading. The
child devours whole sentences, and II lie
is reading out loud often skips syllables
and even words to get on more rapidly.
II saw him read 10 barely ten min
utes nn entire picture book having a
printed explanation OF the subject un,
der each plate: and some OF these little
stories lie was afterwards able to repeat
word for word, The rapidity of his
reading often makes him pass over mis-
takes of photography the idea of the
word striking him instantly aud effac-
ing the words form from his mind
With words that he is seeing for the first
time his reading naturally becomes
slower but is Of marvellous exactitude."
One of the pcculiarities of the child is
his restlessuess He is never still for a
moment except when his attention is
fixed in reading, and then his counter
ance shows concentration and his eyes
penetrating keenness that give his
baby face an expression of intelligence
so abnormal that it produces something
ike a shock to look at it. Physically he
is not handsome child, having irregu
| lar features and rather tlaring ears, but
his head is remarkably developed. be-
| ing long and full both in front and be
hind He is perfectly healthy and with
the exception Of his mania for reading
is no different from other children of
his age in his tastes and amnsements.
trains and other toys dear to everyday
little boys.
But there i, one thing Otto cannot
endure, aud that is music He not only
hates music but cannot distinguish one
note from another. Speaking on this
subject Prof Stumpf says:
1T is certain that lie will learn
languages easily as he reads Latin texts
with great ardor and Is delighted to
have them translated for him. But be
appears to he very poorly endowed as to
music Every time tried to test his
faculty for differentiation or his mem
ory for sounds, he cried: oh, please
don't make musicn | succeeded, how
evor in making him listen TO four very
different Jtes-sounds varying in tho
number of their vibrations from 100 to
400 which we baptized respectively y
Otto Henri, Michel and Marie, 80 that
he could name them should he he able
TO distinguish them, But he could not
dol Immediately after they were struck.
In his mind sounds
awakened, moreover ideas OF weight, ss
Tor instance, when he said OF ono deep
note; That one weighs 203 pounds
And Of a sharp sound: That one only
weighs pound .
The child has not tue slightest notion
OF how to write, although he reads
writing, and even bad writing flusntly
Furthermore, he shows no desire to
learn to write. His full mental energies
; seem to he bent towards the one thing
reading. The general conclusion
reached 10y the scientists who have
studied him is that his marvellous mem
ory Tor words and bis gilt for reading ia
in no sense mechanical, but is based
upon and co operates with solid and
very great intelligence.
Ottos parents will not consent Ia
: make show OF him. although they
+ could command their own price, and
they arc not rich enough TO provide hin
with tutor For that reason some o
the scientists ot the Continent have
! set about raising fund to zee that ht
. is properly educa'ed.
The popul u belief is that such infan'
> proliges as this wonderful German
child generally blaze with their daz
. cling light Tor but short time aud ther
, go out in niior darkness. There hav,
= bocn brilliant exceptions TO this howev
} ~. a,, for instance, Pope Macauley anC
I Herbert Spencer each Of whom was a,
. infant phenomenon oi wider and NOR,
. varied reading when thoy we're fifteer
T. years Of age than most men aiterward
= noted Tor their scholarship when the!
p we're twenty five.
Bnt Of course ihe boy prodigy, VIII,
= overtepped oil others, was the unhapp.
. Chatterion. Chatte'ton was freal
J even among prodgies. When he wa
b five Vears az npe lac Waa cant IN n char