Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-17
CHILD PRODIGIES IN AFTER LIFE
BY Frederic J. Haskin

New York, Feb. f7.--Wbat becomes
Of child prodiyies after they grow up?I
DO they go right on being prodigies,
or do they lose their pristine pre-
cocity?
Tho answer TO this question. recent
| Iy given by several prominent New
York educators and psychologists. ~
that child geniuscs Invariably turn
out we'll They not only develop into
adults OF unusual intelligence and
energy. but they often 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 tmanit
festations OF genius. The juvenile
brain was regarded as somthing very
frall and unstable and very likely TO
collapse under unusual strain or pres
sure. The child who showed superior
talent in the classroom was looked
upon In the community as one un-
auestionably headed for an insane
asylum or life OF crime, and his
parents were more often the objects
Of neighboriy compassion than con-
graduation.
This attitude probably originated in
jealousy on the part Of parents whose
own offspring exhibited no undue in
dications OF brightness, and from what
we know OF the power Of suggestion
today. II may have had It's own harm
full effects. But It was. modern
scientists tell us, altogether without
. foundation. For research has re-
vealed the fact that there Is not
only much less insanity among geni-
? uses than among the common lot oi
people. but that they are usually ex-
: ceptionaliy healthy folk as well.
Innumerable examples could be
r quoted in proof Of this. but few
: conspicuous ones recently set fortf
, by Professor Rudolph NJ. Binder. o.
; New York University, will suffice.
Socrates Did Well.
Let's begin with Socrates," sait
[ Professor Binder The great philos
} opher served as hoplite. whici
means that he was member o
, what we I'm modern terms would desig
: nate az shock troops. He was n
{ years old when he was compelled e
drink the hemlock.
Coming down many centuries, 81
Isaac Newton lived TO be IS and wa
strong and hearty and a hard worke
till within short time of his death
Darwin was born with rugged con
stltutIon, which he ruined by his fail
ure TO take care of 1t. but il enable
MIN TO accomplish a renarkabl
o amount Of work before he died at tn
: age Of 70.
: IF proof were needed that Herber
8 Spencer was born with an iron con
!, stitution II would be provided by ths
incident in his boyhood wneD ~ tn
! age Of l3.he walked As miles one da,
e a. the second and 20 the third. an
d with very little food during the thrs
g days. Spencer is another man wh
e injured his health by lack OF care
e himself, but II he had not bee
Is naturally strong he would not ha,
d lived 10 be SO.
: Even Shakespeare, who died Z
e the age OF 81. might be said 70 hav
n lived a good life, considering n
n amount of work he did as playwright
'e actor and manager. Goethe, an e.
le ceedingly busy man, was in goc
health almost to tho time OF his dea.
II at the age of 80.
IL "Of the four probably most famol
Italians, Dante lived 10 be only
of But his life was one OF arduous labo
m Leonardo da Vinci, an athlete who ou
r stripped far younger men in feats
r. strength. was nearly 81; Micha
Is. Angelo worked (uriously most OF h
" 80 years; and Calico enjoyed go
= health until his death at 49,"