The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-15
SOME CLEVER CHILD Rem.
What Dickens Could Do When He
Was Nine Years Old.

What Dickens Could Do When He.
Was Nine Years Old.
It has been contenucd that preco-
cious cleverueSs fcreshadows a career
the reverse OF brilliant. But this is
rot. always the case, for, Willie It is
undoubtedly true s,at most men and
women do their best work at about the,
+ period Of middle age, there are plenty
OF instances of persons who have risen
to positions Of emiiience who displayed
signs of genius at i very early age.
.Atethe age OF Q. Dickens used to de
light his companions by telling them
stories. Willie Scott composed q num-
Der Of interesting tales when he was
only 12. Charles Bronte, too, wrote
numerous stories, poems and plays
when he was Il, and at the age Of s
Macaulay compiled a universal history.
Writers in other lands have not infre-
quently given similar evidence Of pre-
eocious clererneSS. The great Scan
dinavian poet, Adam Wehlenschlager,
when quite a child, evinced unusual
skill in writing verses, and IN his ninth
year produced several short comedies
for private theatTicalS. John Payne,
IAN American actor and dramahst,
was another prodigy from childhood.
lie wrote for the Press-and was editor
Of the Thespian Mirror when only 13.
The musical world has brought forth
many infant prodigies. Before he Was
eight years of age Mendlessohn excited
the wonder Of his teachers by his m-
credible facility il playing music at
Sight. and when he was only II ne
wrote his first cantata. Mozart played
in public when he was 5, and Bee
thoven at Z attracted attention By his
phenomenal performances.
The distinguished German musical
composer. Robert Schumann, also
showed at very early age remarkable
talent for playing and COMPOSING. Al
though at the outset of his studies ne
lost the use of his right hand, he
worked steadily on. struggling against
ali obstacles. and achieving success by
his indomitable energy and genius. s
Among artists, Raphael worked IN
The. studio at y, at which age Titan
painted q Madonna. Landseer, the
great animal painter, exhibited his pic
lures at 1S,but he had previously given
early indications of his genius by
drawing animals well before he was .
years Of age.
Turning to individual instances OF
Youthful precocity it is recorded Of a
Hanoverian lady named Dorothy
SchloZer that she had the degree OF
doctor in philosophy conferred upon
her when she was only II years OF age.
Before she was three years old she
was taught German, and three years
later she had learned French. Other
languages followed in rapid succession
and before she was Il she had become
an excellent classical scholar In addi-
ton. she made herself acquainted with
every branch Of polite literature, as
well as many Of the sciences.
Another prodigy was Thomas Mall
kin. who learned to read and write
With rapidity that enabled him at
the age Of 8 to compose ietters:aA year
later he had acquired remarkable pro-
ficiency in Latin. and in his seventh
year he wrote fables, while some at
temptS he made at poetical compost
ton We're very creditable. But his
most celebrated achievement was the
conception Of an imaginary country
called Milestone" in which, IN q series
of letters. he gave Il vivid and intell-
gent description He drew map Of
this fanciful kingdom, giving imagin-
ary names to the principal mountains,
rivers, towns, and so on. This, how
ever. was one Of his last efforts, for he
died at years -oe age.
Of an Individual named John Bar
retier it is declared he was the master
Of five languages at the age Of g; while
in his 18th year he published learned
letter in Latin and translated the
Travels Of Rabbi Benjamin" from He
brew into French. -Four years Later
the fame Of his learning and writings
attracted the notice Of the professors
OF the university at Halle, who were
so delighted with his wit and knowl-
edge that they offered him the degree
Of doctor of philosophy.
ElaiSSe Pascal, one Of the nlcst pro-
found thinkers and accomplished writ
ers OF France, is said to have shown
orecocious proofs OF genius, particular
IL in mathematics, from his earliest
childhood. At the age OF 16 he COM
posed 4 tractate on comic sections
which excited great admiration, and
before he was 2G be had composed the
greater part Of his mathematical
works. and made the brilliant expert
ments in hydrostatics and pneumatic
for. which he is renowned.
At the present moment the 4-year-old
son Of butcher is attracting consider
able attention in Germany by his won
derful gifts. Only recently he was pre-
serted to the Antnropological Society
of Berlin. as remarkable example OF
early intelligence. His chief delight is
reading, in which ne showed himself
exceptionally proficient at the age Of
two years. He evidently possesses a
retentiye memory, for he can repeat a
large number Of historical, biographi-
cal and geographical dates, including
the dates Of the births and deaths Of
inrurnerable Generals, poets and phil
osophers. All this knowledge, it is
stafp.:. has been self-acCuired.