Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-29
CHILD PRODIGY
is OFTENTIMES
ARTFUL DODGER
Each Year Produces MarvelS
OF Infant Genius Along
Varied Lines.
SOME ARE BORN FRAUDS
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN.
NEW YORK CTTY-The child prodigy
is now a familiar figure among US.
Nearly every week the pictorial supple
Inents OF the newspapers contain the pho
tograph of at least one child genius who
- early blossoming into fame. Last
year, one Of the greatest sensations OF
the season was q child pianist OF II,
and this year It is a 9-year-old chess
champion. Columbia University has just
matEiculated a 14-year-old boy, who is
said to acquire his high marks without
studious effort, and Harvard, Of course,
has had child mathematical genius for
two or three years.
But the development OF child proGigies
has not been confined to the arts and
sciences They are also springing up in
amazing numbers n criminal circles
New York IS witnessing rush season OF
~smsll artful dodgers who are surpris-
ingly skilled in relieving people of their
watches and pocketbOoks under the very
noses Of rOt-nd cops Still others are
eTfdeRcing amazing ability in the usually
mature business of fraud.
There IS Sniffski, for instance. aged O.
a product of Greenwich Village. who is a
master mind In his own line. Sniffski
was not born with silver spoon in his
mouth. but with 4 great talent for ac-
curing something Of the kind for him
self. He is one Of a large family of ILL
clad children who look very much alike,
with the exception that Sniffski has an
unusual pair Of large, expressive, SON.
per eyes, which he has learned to use TO
good advantage.
Just when Sniffski began to recognize
their value is not known. bat beginning
with this fall the people living IN Sniff
skis neighborhood were touched by their
appeal 4 young woman artist was one
OF the first victims OF their magic power.
She NaS entering the corner drug store
10 buy sIndae when she behe.d a small
boy with a tOwslcd head and ragged
clothes staring IN the window. The
whole little figure seemed to express u
tremendous longing, and she thought
vaguely that the child would make a
good sketch. but forgot about him in
ordering her sundae. As she took the
first bite, however, she happened to turn
60 the window AMI encountered the eyes
large brown eyes, swimming, the artist
! told a friend later. "in a perfect sea OF
wistfulness." Well. the immediate result
was that Sniffski was brought into the
drug store and treated TO a sundae.
SYSTEM USED I'll
/ ONE BRILLIANT ARTIST.
x few nights later. the same young
aftist entering the corner drug store,
found Sniffski seated on a stool beside
In old lady, drinking an ice cream soda,
&and the night after that be was doing
#the same thing in company with genial
bold man. But on the next night the
4ciimax came. As the young woman ap-
preached the drug store. she saw Sniff
SKI In the clutches of the neighborhood
cop.
"Now just you run home as fast as
you can, if You can run at all, after
drinking I'll that muck" the cop was
admonishing the boy in a stern voice
which became Jess stern as he encount-
. cred the dark. somber eyes. THE little
zt>fscars had five sodas tonight" he ex-
ined to the interested onlOokers, land
afraid to let him have another
Yes limit 10 his stomick. but there
any limit to the number OF people
t<< - are willing TO buy drinks Tor him-
This put an end to SniIski's Ice cream
ida game for while. but he soon
scovered another equally as good. IL
id not work so quickly, but it pro-
&vided n fair amount Of small change
Evhereas the other had secured merely
3food. He began to study the people OF
*his uefghborhood and to pick out those
y with kindly. cood-natured faces. Work
ng one street at a time he would wait
#for these individuals IN the morning
hnd turn upon them the full power OF
*3lis dark, wistful eyes, and tiny smile.
Tho kindly souls, entirely unsuspieious
q III plot. were greatly fattered by this
ttention from a child. They were just
~ n the right frame of mind for SninSkf
<sinaI stroke OF genius, which usually came
about the third morning. This time the
#heighbor was rapidly approached by
4 Sniffski. his large eyes shining. and
arreeted with. Say, mister, tOday's my
Birthday
Invariably the neighbor inquired con-
4cerning Sniffski's age, and invariably
tSnifgski promptly answered ten And
Railways the same result was one more
3dime in SnifskTs small pocket.
a In another section OF New York an
3eouauy clever child prodigy has been
3Nvorklng an even more complicated
Ascbeme. for separating trustful persons
from small portions Of their cash. This
*enterprising lad, who has a cherunic
Erountenance. rings the bell OF a house
where there is no telephone. Many such
Nhouses stiIl exist in New York, espe-
3cislIv since the telephone company has
become so indifferent to increasing Its
business.
FAKE PHONE CALL
QUITE POPULAR.
By careful inquiries the boy has as
Scertained that furnished rooms are rented
lin this particular house. and has secured
] the names OF the dodgers.
So on a Sunday morning. Mr.. Hibbs,
who lives in the third fioor front. is in
formed by his IandIsdy that he is wanted