The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-11-27

near SpoeCuco anu uSecu W huC hAuo.S'
t JOHN ]. DARGAN,
I Principal The @. s. M. A.
IOWA's BOY WONDER.
At Nine Years OF Age His Unusual
Mental Attachments Arc A,naziuy-
(From the Des Moincs Register and
Iseader.)
To be nine years old and in class
In the public school with boys twice
his age. and football giants and yet
lead that class In his studies. Is the
unique record OF little Malcolm Has
kins Dowell. SON Of Mr.. and Mrs.
George Dowell in Warrington. Iowa.
This 'brainy boy has practically step
ped form babyhood without any
educational training into next to the
highest grade in the Warrington pub
10 schools. Held back by serious III
mesa he has not bad an entire year
et school work.
Hs u the grandson Of Mr.. and Mrs..
J. q. Haskins. Of Des Moines who
have watched his wonderful mental
teveiopment with, pride. At years
% go he dslighted TO read r to his
grandmother while shs held the book.
He s,id giibly over the longest woris
IN the book. and no Biblical common
name was beyond his powers Of pro-
nunelatiqn. He. would listen 70 stories
rsad aloud 1t years Of age and then
repeat them almost verbatim.
Shut out from srcrts that would
delight other boys for tho last foar
years. undergoing severe surgical
operation last year and racked with
pain. most OF the time. the boy pur-
mod his school WORK at homo against
the Wishes OF his parents When the
tlme came this sall for him to enter
scheol for the 'first time In . year the
boy jumped from one grade to an
other by his qualifications. until 1t
w~s found that he was ready for the
seventh grade, q thing unheard of
among normal children. He can re-
cite for both classes. While no stu
dies his arithmetic for his next les.
son he can listen 10 the recitation Of
the next class and know tho context
Of the book as well a. the upper
pupil reciting. This remarkable feat
was discovered last week. when the
boy recited the story under considera-
tion by the other class in its entirety
and yet showed q full set OF figures.
completely und accurately solved.
Music Is as natural q gift as his
memory This has been demon
strated many times. Perfectly con-
versant with the strings Of the piano.
violin and mandolin. he can produce
the same music on each Instrument a
few minutes after It has been played
on another instrument. 2agtime ha,
no more the terrors for this remark
able child In digital dexteri,y on these
instruments than any two-four excr-
else. supposed to be the best score ier
children OF that age.
He can initiate any chords or
groups OF chords with equal ability On
the instruments without u liaw nr slur
IN note. His mental perception for
music tones Is absolutely accurate and
10 combination Of notes confusss
him.
While the child has mind OF won
derful brilliance, he Is in no way at
FORMAL. His body has kept pace with
the average age Of child Of niue
years. His future will o. watched
with much interest by students. At q
recent medical examination he was
found to be in normal condi-
ton, but with brain unusually acute.
brother was graduated from ne
West High School I'm Des M)incs h,st
year and Is now studcup os law in
the Northwestern University. IL the
boys health continues lie vii. be in
the high school at 10 years, grad.
uate at IL and lawyer with u snin-
gle from the Northwestern Cnlvci-
sity several times ahead OF any ~ lis
compatriots In the profession.
a pickery and waste factory will be
built I'm Charl eston by cotton mill men