The Washington herald., 1909-10-24
INFANT PRODGES HAVE BEEN KNOWN IN ALL PERIODS OF history

ent in the accomplishments OF eXtraordi-
nary ofsprngs. these wise fathers and
mothers do all they can 10 prevent their
children from acquiring the idea that
they are anything out OF the ordinary
/ Prodigiously developed as they are. both
/ boys are said 10 be absolutely immune
/ from the falling known, in the vernacu-
/ lar they would scorn 10 use, as ''sweiled
head
Many PrOdigies in History.
Except in the completeness Of their
learning and the advancement made pos
/ sible through modern educational advan-
tages. neither Sidis nor Weiner are espe-
cially exceptional as infant mental prodi-
giles. Not a century. and scarcely de
cade, for hundreds Of years back but has
produced some notable example OF ex-
! cepuonally forward" children Many OF
I these OF whom there is well-authenti-
I Gated record have died in infancy before
/ the promise OF their gifted childhood
| found fru.tion in a brilliant maturity.
] Some OF the prodigles who have lived TO
mature years have not used their talents
/ wisely. With them the observation OF
! Ben JonsOn, that most Of mankind
through their own sluggishness become
natures prodigies, not her children" has
/ been verified.
Still others. and they are OF the immor-
/ tails, have progressed In rapid strides
along the road OF usefulness that leads 70
fame Among the latter, one of the fore
most examples is that Of Lord Macaulay.
! The eminent British historian, when he
was three years old. is said TO have read
! necessarily, lying on a rug before an
| open fire. with a piece Of bread and but
/ ter in his hand and a volume before him
: as big as himself He did not care for
! toys. He was fond Of walks and OF tell
i ing stories drawn from his Imagination,
| or coupled with his reading. His mind
| retained tho Dhraseology Of books he
! had read most recently to such an eX-
| tent that Mrs. Hannah Moore, one OF
the kindly mentors who took a great
interest IN his development, was wont 70
say OF him: He talks quite printed
words"
An evidence OF his precocity IS re-
lated by Mrs. Moore. Calling one day
when his parents were out she was met
by the future historian and peer OF Eng
land. The small Macaulay, acting yhe
role OF host. offered her wine glass
containing old spirits. The good woman,
/ who declared she had never been used
20 anything stronger than cowsllp wine
, objected to the handling by the infant
of the more ardent liquor Pressing the
boy as TO his knowledge OF spirituous
drink, he calmly informed her that he
had read that Robinson Crusoe often
had some Of It"
agony Has Abated.
On another occasion, when the future
Lord Macaulay had been taken 10 dine, q
cup of hot coffee was spilled over him.
After he had been wiped as dry OF the
scaldlng liquid as was possible. his host
ess inquired how he felt Thank you.
madam. the agony has abated." was his
reply.
When he was ready 70 go to school. al
the suggestion OF his tutor. who had OBJ
served his infant habits, his mother told
him that he would have to learn to study
without the use OF bread and butter.
Eyes. mamma" was his reply. In
dustry shall be my bread and application
my butter"
Macaulay was but seven years OF age
when he undertook the writing Of a COM
pendulum of universal history. His bIogra-
piers relate that the production displayed
an accurate and comprehensive knowl-
edge OF the history Of the world.
Inspired by SCOTS Lay and Mar.
mion." he undertook. about the same
time. to write poem. He called II 'oThe
Battle Of Cheviot" 1t consisted OF six
cantOs Of 12O lines each This was fol
lowed by other poems, many Of which
have been preserved and some OF which
compare not unfavorably with the work
of his mature years. He was eighteen
Iyears OF age when he entered Trinity