The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-11
THE MOST REMARKABLE
CHILD IN THE STATE.
A Three Year-Old Youngster of Marvel
lous Memory and Reasoning Powers.

lous Memory and Reasoning Powers.
Doubtless the most remarkable child
in the State is John Wesley Hundiey,
the nephew and adopted son of Mr.. w.
S. Hundley, of Oxford.
John is scarcely more than an infant,
being but three years old last March, He
might pose for an infant Hercules, being
the embodiment of strength and vigor.
His violet gray eyes have depth and
glow that is striking. His mother. who
had foretold that her child would not
be as other children were. died at his
birth, living only long enough to speak
two words. The names that she wished
her child to bear.
That John was possessed of wisdom
beyond his age, was first noticed about
the time that he turned his second year.
1t was then found that he knew the
names of every part Of the engine in his
fathers foundry. A little later it was
seen that he could at glance distinguish
the different makes of plow fittings,
something which not many of the grown
| hands could do.
He has not yet been taught to read
and his enunciation is the merest babble
of babylon, but it has been discovered
| that both his memory and reasoning
powers are not only many years ahead of
| his age, but that he is possessed of an
intelligence akin. to genius.
AS COMFORTS well with the name he
bears, Johns forte is the Bible. A
| twelve year old boy might be proud to
| know as much about the sacred volume.
All the incidents of the Old and New
Testament which appeal to the young,
he is thoroughly familiar with. In fact
his answers to such questions are not
only ready and accurate, but often sur
prisingly luminous. Not infrequently
| they show a sympathy with his subject
and a power of reasoning, nothing less
than marvellous, when we remember
that they are expressed in the lingo Of
the cradle.
Thus when asked what he thought
Jonah did first after getting out of the
whoIe's belly, his instant answer was:
| Peach (preached)
| When asked what he thought made
| Lots wife look back, he lisped:
"Yeacon she hear her tillun tyin'."
| Reckon she hear her children crying); a
reason so natural and so commendable.
| That they were suggestive of it has, in
my estimation, completely rehabilitated
| and raised into heroine this long CEN
sured woman, who lies under the heavy
| ban Of forty centuries.
Taking the difference of age into con-
| sideration, the above reply of his, which
| was purely spontaneous, was quite as
remarkable as the anecdote of Macaulay
and the landmark When four years old
| the great essayist and historian becoming
angered at the servant girl for an injury
done to the boundaries of his play-yard
| rushed into the house exclaiming:
Cursed be Mary! Cursed by Nary
explaining that the Bible said, curse be
he who moveth his neighbours landmarks.
And many of Johns answers are of
| piece with the above. All of them are
| apt, showing wisdom and command
of faculties amazing in baby. Best of
all there is nothing of the sickly pre-
ciousness about him but a saneness and
sturdiness of mind and body that pres
ages great things when he comes to
mans estate.