Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-03-12
BOY MATHEMATICAL WIZARD.

If officials of The Allied trcasur-
les should experience any difficulty
in ompuiing the German war in
IDENTITIES now that The mark has
deprecated in value, they should
take their troubles to jeremiah
kuntz, cight-ycar-old mathematical
prodigy of Philadelphia, who can
solv: little problems of tina. kind
in the twinkling Of an eye.
When Jerry" was less than six
years old he could tell ofr-hand at
any time of the day how many hours
minutes and seconds had elapsed
since he left bed in the morning.
And with equally amazing ease The
lad would translate the hours and
minutes into the total of seconds.
The boys parents, the Rev. Frank
5. kuntz, pastor OF tho Evangelical
Luthcrn Church Of the Apostles.
Park and Susquchanna avenues,
Philadelphia, and Mrs. kuntz. learn
cd Of "Jcrry's" talent for figures
before he was three years old. AT
that time, when he could scarcely
speak, the baby was able TO say
piSSlolOH llO" HIGH.
women and children were in room
and how many tasscls there were
TO a table cover.
AS Jerry" grew older, his maine
NAUTICAL ability developed with as
founding rapidiity. When lie was
five the lad at the supper table
would cast glance at his plate and
would cXclaim the same instant:
'Jcrry's got III peas and dady's
got 129. Daldy's got twelve mort
peas than Jerry"
Clocks and watches began to
exert 4 great facination upon the
mind of the little boy, who would
unfortunately figure the time in
hours, minutes and seconds. Fear
ing that this mathematical talen;
might develop at the expense of the
rest Of his intelligence. Mr.. and Mrs.
kuniz gave the care If their son 10
DR.. Lightncr Wilmer, head If the
department! Of Psychology of the
of Pennsylvania, who
placed him in his psychological
school in Scacane, Pa.
There it was shown that 'Jcrry's'
mathematical faculties were far
greater than even his parents had
thought possible. The fivc-year
cid boy, who had not learned arith-
meti:, was more proficient III the
tables Of multiplication, in addi-
ton subtraction and division than
hoNs Two and three times his age.
Without hesitation he would give
the correct answers to questions
such us these:
How many seconds are there in
lao minutes?" How many holrs
in three days?" "How many hours
arc there IN a week?" There are
three feet in yard. How many
in tweniy-siX yards?'' "Whal is
cne-haif of DIP" "One-third of
101?' "Onc-half Of 8,211?" Seven
times SOP" etc.
Miss Sarah War1ield Parker. one
OF DR.. Winners assistants. who had
the child under special observation
ct the time. says that Jerry" would
SIT silent and motionless while the
questions were put to him and fair
~ vel out the answers. Only once
in a while he would seek the aid of
Ills fingers.
DR.. Wilmer prohibited all mathe-
NAUTICAL experiments. Even the
clocks in the school were covered
and the teachers had their wrist
watches removed. But that did not
stop jerry from calculating and
Keeping accounts in his head.
One day he acCosted one of the
teachers and said without any in
PRODUCTION:
u have only been bad twelve
times. So | have only been bad
once every eleven days and six
hours"
Jerry" is now in another special
school, and he has learned to read
and write. But he still retains a
passion for everything numerical
and mathenratical.-P hiiadelphia
Pubic Ledger.