The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-01-21
XXXIV.--NO. 13.

successful as teacher, but he taught Ian
guages, not mathematics Ultimately the
itinerant prodigy became an itinerant min
ister devout and.. humble. He died in his
thirty fifth year.
1t is not so easy to identify this grown
up Zerah with the phenomenal child who
startled two continents We rub our eyes
in bewilderment, and think of the old tales
about changelings. But he bore his dis
appointment well, bitter as it must have
been. There is something that appeals to
us strongly in the meek after-life of this
dismantled genius
Somewhat similar, though less extraor-
dinary, is the story of Bidder. He, too,
was exhibited by his father in childhood;
and he seems to have had the same gift of
'visualizlng his mental processes. He
was more lucky, however, in soon escaping
from the menagere and getting a thorough
education. He was less abnormal; his
powers persisted. and he became an engi-
neer of distinction. This suggests that the
collapse of infant prodigies may be largely
due to injudicious handling. 1t is certainly
so in some cases.
THE YOUNG RoSCIUS.
In theatricals the typical instance is
Master Batty. ',The Young Roscius -
a stage7struck baby, who was exploited at
the age of eleven He starred all through
England and Scotland, playing before tu-
multuous and enthusiastic houses. At
Covent Garden the crush was so great that
many were injured, and troop of soldiers
was called out to preserve order. The
youngster was declared to have ''eclipsed
John Kemble;; and he certainly drew
bigger crowds and higher pay An Edin-
bursh man was actually driven out of town
for dissenting from the popular verdict
The boy biography was circulated ike
that of presidential candidate. Even in
the part of Hamlet--an audacious venture
he was loudly applauded
\ little later he left the stage to 90 to
school-which was wisdom. But soon
(three years of education being deemed
ample for II young Roscius( he again
tempted fate behind the footlights-which
was a mistake. But for that the world
would still be mourning its loss. As it is,
We laugh at the mention Of his name.
He was now twenty-one His youthful
charm, whatever it was had vanished.
He was tat. with fiat muffin face, and
ngraceful action One night broke the
illusion. The audience had great fun with
him. but did not care for repetition, and
be was permanently retired.
Thus, what is too often tragedy was
turned to burlesque There is no occasion
for tears. His bank account, at least, was
above criticism, and the rest of his life was
as happy as mortified ambition would per-
nit
BURN OUT QUICKLY
Tragedies there are, however. in album
dance Renionelessly over stimulated by
the folly Of those about them in many an
instance these little victims burn out their
lives like rockets. They grow old so fast
that months count as years, and while the
applause is still sourdiug at the heartless
show, they slip away from their tormentors
to rest their jaded souls in the grave.
And here belongs the pathetic story Of
Baby Heineken.
Il is told, with grim Inconsistencies.
by the man who crucified the child. the
tutor, who is not ashamed to record that
he began operations on an infant scarcely
IA year old, still in the arms of lis nurse.
But he was pedant and be had a theory
Of education
This intellectual yiviseetionist had found
a subject rarely endowed. At the age of
eighteen months. Master Ieineken knew
considerable part of the Old Testament
by heart. by the middle of third year he
was well yerSed in ancient history and geo
gnphy, and had committed TO memory
;, 0oO Latin words Then study was in-
terrupted by a tit of sickness
The cruel work, however, was soon re-
sumed. The little martyr was now laid
on the rack Of 'dogmatic theology and ec-
clesiastical history with more Latin. For
diversion, French was presently added.
All this seems as incredible as it is out
rageous; but memory, doubtless, was the
faculty mainly called upon
of course, the fame of the prodigy went
abroad, and many came to see and hear
The learned infant entertained them with
Latin quotations These must have been
learned by rote, but they were aptly APP
Piled He also composed little stories in
Eraneh .bo,rb b;s Gn,r,,., ,-a-, ,f;l -,
weak 10 be exercised in writing
A PGTIFUL STORY.
Then came another illness, and it was
decided that he needed change of air
What it should be he settled for himself
II will 90 to Copenhagen, and present my
colored maps to the King. he declared,
and then | shall be well again Child
ish losic-but his whim was granted. The
proud tutor was only too glad to comply
So they went, nurse and all. The sea
voyage was hard on the little fellow, but
he had quotation for every emergency.
He jested about the ships milk, calling it
lac gallinaceum, and during storm he
encouraged the sailors with passages from
Scripture.
At last, he was, indeed brought before
the King, whom he amused with strange
mixture of pedantic learning and infant
humors. For example, he suddenly in
terrupted Latin discourse to ask (still in
Latin) for Il broomstick 1t was given
him, and bestriding it, he trotted about
the hall Then he resumed his lecture
Half IN hour later, announcing this time
in French) that he was 'awfully tired, y
he proceeded to take nap in the royal
presence.
IT, after all the abuse of nature he had
endured he could still enjoy playing horse
with a broomstick. he might have been
saved. But his tutor did not spare him.
lie was exhibited from palace to palace
The end came quickly after their return
to his Lubbock home He saw its approach
with his childish eyes wide open, and met
it with the steadinesS of a veteran. Death
is common 20 every age, he said, with
his usual quaint pedantry and, Of course,
in Latin. He kept up his studies to the
last He w.S only fnur wars old when