The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-12
PRODIGY AT NINE.
Nephew of Mrs. ID. J. GreenwaId a
Marvel of Learning.


The following from the New York
Herald refers to the little nephew of
Mrs. D. J. Greenwald of Topeka:
Cambridge, Mass, Saturday Al
though he is only nine years old, Nor
bert Wiener, son of Professor Leo
Wiener, instructor of Slavic at Har-
ward college. IS master of higher math-
cmatics, of the sciences and of several
dead languages. With little prepara-
ton he could enter Harvard but his
father will not permit him to do so
until ne is fifteen years old. In the
meantime ne viii continue a course
/ of study Professor Wiener has mapped
/ out for him, and it is predicted by sew
eral of the Harvard faculty who have
watched his wonderful progress that
at fifteen he will be one of the educa-
\ tiOnal marvels of the century.
| Young Wiener does not look like the
student that he is. He likes play as
well as any boy of his age, and his
chums are robust looking little fellows.
1T is a pleasure to study" said Nor
| bert, and find much amusement in
making tests in chemistry in the little
/ laboratory which papa has fitted up
| for me. 1 spend an hour in the labor
atory every day and then I read some
/ Latin, German or French author
Bury's history of Greece I also ind
/ inteTest sting.
MY eyes trouble me at times, and
for that reason I have been obliged to
give up reading extensively for more
than three months. My mamma reads
Ito me about an hour each day except
4 Saturdays, that being vacation day to
me as well as to the other boys and
/ girls in Cambridge. 1 have been out
doors all day playing marbles, running
about with my playmates.
THE only thing that I read today
was the morning paper story about
4 / am for the Russians because my
papa was born and educated in Rus
STA and that is his country. He and
1 talk about the battles every day and
night, and I hope that Russia will
| win"
Professor Wiener does not consider
! his boy any brighter than the Ordi-
press this fact upon him. The little
fellow has had advantages to learn
which do not come to every boy, his
father has told him, and he is often
| warned not to make a display of his
! knowledge that would make his play
mates feel uncomfortable
Il detest allowing the boy to inn
agine that there is anything out of the
ordinary in his makeup" said Profess
sor Wiener, land throughout his life I
have taught him to consider himself
inferior rather than superior to any
of the children of his own age.
THE boy has been remarkable in
many things. When he was only
eighteen months old he knew his
alphabet. and when he was three
years old he could write and spell very
! well. 1t was during his third year
that I discovered that he really had a
/ desire to learn, and when he was five
wears old he was studying Latin.
| When he was eight he could reason
out problems in differental calculus,
| perform tests in chemistry and read
intelIigently Latin. French and Ger
man. besides having a fair idea Of
when he was five years old took
him to d public school, but found that
he was not fitted for any class there
He was either too advanced for son1
class or not enough advanced for an
other After considerable tutoring or
my part I have him educated now 81
he will be fitted for high school in an
other year, although he is studying
matter now that is considered advance
work for Harvard. He is too young
too much of a child--to go to college.
Within a few weeks I will send hin
out to a farm, where he will romp and
eyes are so weak that it is necessaIs
for him to wear glasses, and do no
intend to allow him to overwork cl
strain his eyes on any account H
has somewhat of a matured express
sion. but he is mature only in rea
soDing Personally I see nothing on
of the ordinary in him, any more thu
that he is studious, has a very reten
tive memory and has acquired a tast'
for picking up such work as I am lii
terested in
Norbert has a little brother and sis
ter but they take little interest IL
study. They love to romp and pla,
with him and they are proud of him
but mud pies and marbles appeal NOR
to them than chemistry tests an
mathematics.