The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-26
WIZARD OF FIGURES.
Death Now Holds Secret Of sRube''
Fields Remarkable Powers.


"Rube" Fields. widely known. par
ticularly in western Missouri. as q
mathematical prodigy. died Wednes-
day morning on the county farm at
Little Blue. He suffered apopsexy
yesterday and did not regain con-
seriousness. He was about 20 years
old "Rube'' was committed to the
farm by the county court in 1907.
When i'll health started, his extra
ordinary power began to fall 'Rube's
birthplace was in Bath county. Ken
lucky, and his family lived for many
years near Fayetteville. Johnson coun-
ty. Mo. 81 20
If you gave Bube the distance BY
rail between two cities and the d.
mansions of q car wheel he would tell
you almost as soon as the statement
left your lips how many revolutions
Of the wheel would be necessary to
travel from one place to the other.
II you called any number OF columns
of figures down q page he would tell
you the sum as soon as you reached
the bottom. IT, you gave him the
number of yards or pounds of an arti-
Gle and the price, he would imme-
diately return the total cost. He could
keep up the performance all day, ap-
parently without fatigue.
A man relates an instance of Fields
knowledge of figures. After having
called several columns of figures for
addition he went back to the first col
umn, saying it was wrong and repeat
ing it, purposely miscalling the next to
the last figure. At once Field threw
up his hand. exclaiming: You didn't
call it that way BEFORE"
In addition to his mathematical
| gift, Field possessed the power of tell
ing time. 1t is positively asserted
that when he was awakened from q
deep sleep, he could instantly tell the
exact hour and minute of the night.
The thing was tested often with him
| in the daytime. Your watch might be
l. little different from the time he
gave you. In that case, your watch
was wrong. and that was q good time
to set it. II you told Field how far
of your watch was. and you asked
him again next day what time it was.
he would tell you first the correct
time and then the time by your watch.
How the time feat was performed
is as much q mystery AZ the process Of
Fields mathematical calculations. It
| is probable that he did not know him.
self how he did 1t. He either would
not or could not answer questions
about 1t. Rapid calculators. men Of
study who by close application and
short methods had become experts.
sought to probe the mysteries. but
without results.
| About the only use to which his
mathematical ability ever was put was
| by merchants in making invoices.
"Rube'' could neither read nor
write. All his calculations were made
I'm his head"
| Field led a hand-to-mouth exist
ence. If he had only used his gift a.
| most men would he might have been
| immensely wealthy Though not re-
ligious in the ordinary sense. he re-
| garded his great mathematical power
as direct gift from God, and. for
fear of losing it, he would not use it
for mere money making, except for
his own actual necessities. He liked
| to couple his own name with that OF
Samson. and seemed to think their
cases parallel, but with one important
exception. Samson weakly confided
the secret OF his great power to a wo-
man-and lost it. ssRube" never mar
ried. He said he never would unless
the Lord commanded him to. Even
then. It is doubtful II any sane woman
would have had him for q husband.
The bOyhood Of Field was that Of
an 0vergrown country lout with boor-
ish manners and silly mind. He did
not and would not go to school, and
he said In recent years that il he had
done 80 he would have become as big
q fool as other people,
Field was swarthy Of face, with
high cheek bones, thin, unkempt
beard. high. bullying forehead, small
eyes and large head.-Kansas City
Star.
To Nhom Il May Concern.