The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-23
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Child Prodigies TN After Life.

New York City. Feb. 22.-What
becomes of child prodigies after
they grow up? Do they so right
on being prodigies. or do they lose
their pristine precoeity?
The answer to this question, re-
Gently given by several prominent
New York educators and psychoio-
gists. 10 that child geniuses invar-
iably turn out well. They not only
develop into adults of unusual in
telligencs and energy, but they
zen exhibit rare creative ability
as well.
In the old days when children
were supposed to be seen and not
heard. there existed general
prejudice against encouraging
youthful manifestations of genius.
The juvenile brain was regarded
as something very fraii and unsta-
bic and very likely to collapse I'M
der unusual strain or pressure.
The child who showed superior tai
ent in the class room was looked
upon in the community as one I'M
questionahly headed for an insane
asylum or a life of crime. and his
parents were more often the OBJ
ieets of neighborly compassion
than eongratulation.
This attitude probably origina-
ted in jealousy on the part of par
ents whose own offspring exhib-
tied no undue indications of bright
ness, and from what we know of
the power of suggestion today, it
may have had its own harmful eff
fects. But it was, modern scien-
lists tell us. altogether without
For research has re
vealed the fact that there is not
only much less insanity among
geniuses than among the common
lot of people. but that they are
exceptionally healthy folk
as we'll.
Innumerabie examples could be
quoted in proof OF this, hut a few
conspicuous ones set forth by Pro-
fessor Rudolph NJ. Binder of New
York university will suffice
Socrates Did Well.
Let's begin with Socrates" said
Professor Binder. THE great phi
1osopher served as hoplite. which
means that he was a member of
what we in modern terms would
designate as shock troops. He was
20 years old when he was compell-
ed to drink the hemlock.
Coming down many centuries.
Sir Isaac Newton lived to be So
and was strong and healthy and a
hard worker till within a short
time of his death. Darwin was born
with q rugged constitution. which
he ruined by his failure to take
care of it, but it enabled him to
accomplish remarkable amount of
work before he died at the age of
rs.
IF proof were needed that Her
bert Spencer was born with an
iron constitution it would be pro-
yided by that incident in his boy
hood when at the age of IS he
walked As miles one day, At the
second and 20 the third, and with
very little food during the three
lays. Spencer is another man who
injured his health by lack of care
Of himself. but il he had not been
naturally strong he would not have
lived to be So.
Even Shakespeare. who died at
the age of So. might be said to have
lived a good life considering the
amount of work he did as play
actor and manager. Goethe,
IN exceedingly busy man. was in
good health almost to the time of
ais death at the age of 83.
'Of the four probably most ia
nous Italians. Dante lived to be
,nly as. but his life was one of
lrduous labor; Leonardo da Vinci.
In athlete who outstriDped far
men in feats of strength,
vas nearly 81; Michael Angelo
worked furiously most of his 90
ears, and Calico enjoyed good
health until his death at 78."