The Washington times., 1913-09-26
PROD|C|ES FOUND
IN ORPHAN HOMES
Boys and Girls Expert in Many
lines-Gardening, Arithme-
tic, and Music.

Marjorie Lockett. six years old, ex-
pert in Arithmetic.
Aubrey Reed. ten years old. master
of mathematics.
Matthew Hanratty, thirteen years
old. floriculturist.
Leta Thran, fourteen years old, COM
poser and dramatist
Freddie Hill. seventeen years DID,
deaf and dumb enigma.
Children of unusual intelligence are
not hard to find in the orphan asylums
snd orphanages of the District, out
the foregoing, two girls and three boys
are selected for their wonderful ab!li-
ties in chosen lines.
Little Marjorie Lockett is a second
grade pupil in the Washington city
Hospital and she has already mastered
most OF the tables of her arithmeuC
Hes red-headed and as bright as his
hair announced Sister Sarah. IN
charge OF ST. Johns Orphanage, in eX-
planning that Aubrey Reed is consid-
cred the brightest younSster among the
large family of intelligent youths at the
Institution. Young Aubrey has already
passed through the percentage tables
of the arithmetic studied at the or
phanage, and he is not past his tenth
year.
Boy Expert Gardner.
There are numerous flower gardens
at the German Orphan Asylum out on
Good Hope road. Anacostia. but none
are more artstically arranged and con-
tain better samples of various flowers
than that made possible by Matthew
Hannratty.
And a large portion of the enjoyment
that abounds in the German orphanaSe
is due to the cleverness of Leta Thran'
the fourteen-year-old wonder VINO
ranks as the most remarkable prodigy
IN the homes and orphanages OF the
District.
The Episcopal Home for Children, al
so at Auacostia. boasts of deaf ana
dumb lad. Freddie Hill, who has prac,,
tically been restored to talking ana
hearing
Miss Thran is the daughter of Mrs
Johanne Thran. and her father Is dead.
She has been at the German orphan
Asylum for the past seven years: @ @Her
progressed past the elemental stage OF
her musical education. There Is no
celebration at the institution without the
extraordinary intelligence of Miss Thran
being in evidence. For them she either
composes marches for the children. IN
which she supplies the words as well as
the music. or playlets and driils are
evolved from her brilliant mind. Her
ing was a sketch in which five ilttle
children appeared, Miss Thran writing
the dialogue of each character and out
lining to the minutest detail the scene
formance. I'VE Are All Little Children"
a singing number to march time, written
to, accompany drill of the children, is
considered by Superintendent Preil to be
Miss Thran's best musical composltlon.-
The superintendent states that his
prodigy does not slight other branches
OF learning TO give time to her musical
talents, but that she is especially bright
IN all studies. - - 49,
Claim To Distinction.
The other claim to distinction for the
German institution is found in the per-
son of Matthew Hannratty, the thir-
teen-year-old lad whose garden in the
institution grounds stands out as the
most attractive of all-and each STU
dent has a garden. Young Hanratty is
foriculturist in every sense of the
word He selects his seed with the dis.
cretion of one much his senior. He per-
sonally plants every flower: gives the
cultivation of each his painstakinS at
tention. and the construction of fancy
beds and artistic designs in his flower
garden are really works of art. Espe-
cially attractive is the arrangement of
the nasturtiums, roses and violets.
Freddie Hill has been an inmate of
the Episcopal Home for Children on
Talbert street. Anacostia. for nearly
seventeen years and the superinten-
dent, Miss Davenport, is enthusiastic
about him Young Hill was accepted
at the institution when a baby, and at
that time he showed no indication of
having the power of speech or hearing.
Painstaking efforts to teach him even
baby words were unavailing. but of
late years a noticeable improvement
has responded to the diligent applica-
ton of the youth, combined with the
efforts of his teachers. Freddie Hill to-
day is one of the brightest pupils in
Kendall Green School. While he is far
from perfection in speech and hearing.
he is more easily understood and can
understand more freely. The lads be-
havior differs little from that Of other
A erican boys-he is not backward nor
sf9 and he is endeavoring every day
TO more perfectly fit himself for the