The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-20
PRODIGY OF 12
IS ADMITTED
TO COLUMBIA
Edward Hardy Is Youngest
Freshman in History of
the University.
ENTERED SCHOOL AT 3
Speaks Twelve Languages,
With Chinese Next on
His Programme.
A REAL AMERICAN BOY
Interests Vary From Game of
Marbles to Thoughts on
Fourth Dimension.
A REAL AMERICAN BOY

Columbia University has the dis
tinction of having the youngest fresh
man who has matriculated at an
American college since William j. Sidis
entered Tufts College at the age Of
ten in 1909. and went to Harvard as a.
special student year later. The Co
lumbia prodigy is Edward Roche
Hardy, Jr., IL years old last June, and
the son of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Roche
Hardy OF 41S West 11sth street. The
father is a professor in New York
University and the mother has taken
three degrees. Both parents come Of
old New England stock, with a college
president, Governor and royalty
among their antecedents.
In spite of the fact that Edward
speaks almost all the languages there
are and can lecture learnedly on the
fourth dimension and similar abstruse
su bjects, he is not of the bulging brow
type. On the contrary, he is large,
wholesome American boy with fond
ness for batting averages and a liking
for the game Of marbles when played
for keeps. He entered school when he
was three years old. and at eight he
was a high school pupil showing the
way to boys Of much more time in the
world. He was graduated from high
school when he was eleven and was
prepared to go before the college en-
trance examination board. He passed
all of the Columbia examinations with
flying colors.
Columbia His Own Choice.
Columbia may we'll be proud of young
Edward. class of "a, for Harvard made
strong bid to get him. Edward has a
certificate showing that he could enter
as a freshman there. But while Mrs.
Hardy had a leaning toward New York
University and his father favored Har-
ward, the boy himself decided on Co
lumbia.
When as a baby his mother took him
to Morningside Park for the air--for
Edward was born within the shadows of
the university--he refrained from kick
ing up his heels as he lay In the peram-
bulator and instead turned his large,
soft brown eyes contemplativly toward
Columbia.
rs It true that You are the youngest
freshman ever to have entered Column
tIa?' a reporter for THE NEW YORK
HERALD asked Edward as they stood
in front Of Students Hall waiting for
Mrs. Hardy.
II think l am" he replied guardedly.
There Is a legend, out mind you II is
only legend. that a boy entered at the
age of ten. He became a lawyer and
lived to be eighty
Yesterday was proud and happy day
for Edward. For the first time he was
permitted to wear his freshman cap with
the white button and tag. which signifies
that he was able to recite the collection
VI university songs TO the satisfaction Of
the upper classmen. and thus escaped
iaving his face painted with Iodine. II
ne couldn't have recited them he would
lave taken his medicine, literally. like
man, for Edward Is a good sport
Tips Scales at I43.
lie likes 10 swim and exercise in the
gymnasium. The boy is overweight,
Weighing 143 pounds, but he hopes to re-
duce to normal size. He is Ave feet
three inches In height and. according to
his mother. perfectly normal In appetite,
habits, pleasures and recreations. He
sleeps the usual number OF hours and
never works at night
When Mrs. Hardy Joined US We walked
to the Theological Seminary, further
north in Broadway. II was here that
rsdward began lessons at the age OF fve.
One Of his teachers when he was four
years old. stopped TO congratulate the
young freshman.
We walked to the balcony inside the
quadrangle overlooking the grounds OF
the seminary. 1T was here that Ed
ward used 70 dig worms for experl-
mental purposes remarked his mother.
Edward lifted his eyes from She grass
plots TO the warm gray facade OF the
college buildings. early Tudor. he
commented. And think, mudder.
that. soiemnly speaking. this is f'ner
building. architecturally, than the Gen
eral' (referring TO the General Theo-
logical Seminary in Chelsea.) This
iron gate call the portcullis. n IL
we're swinging gate IL would be a
rcrtcullis.'
This freshman speaks twelve Ian
guages; he was president OF his class
and editor OF his school paper at the
age OF eleven; he entered the university
with a rating of second place in the
efficiency examination and with four
teen points advanced credit; no reads
Babylonian tablets; he made three
points In Assyrian; he matricuiated at
New York University In the summer
garden class at the age OF five. and is
going TO study Chinese next because he
wants TO be a missionary TO the Orient.
We parted at the cloister. where ed
ward had an appointment 10 dictate
two theses. lie had about decided 10
write OH The Enemies Of the Campus"
and The Tolling OF the Bell lie shook
hands. gracefully. bowed like a little
gentleman and disappeared through the