Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

spoke dozen languages.
a prodigy other interests might have attracted
him in the suburbs.
HE might have become interested in nature,
In agriculture, and possibly mechanics. But his
environment, living within a stones throw OF
Columbia University, adjusted his life for him.
lay before him.
I'VE believe that any child be taught to
become interested in worthwhile matters. 1t
is Just as easy to train your child to study mod
ern languages If you care to devote consider
able time and energy to it. as it is to get him
interested in building blocks, fairy tales and
the comic pages.
Each human being has just so much mental
activity stored away. 1t depends upon each
one of us as to how we wish to disseminate it.
If we apply 1t in one direction we must sacrifice
some other direction.
Edward was taught to apply himself to study,
and he did 1t so willingly, owing to the ideal
environment In which he lved-an environ
ment that dovetailed with his career-that the
rest came easy. If he had found himself in
surrounding totally IN contrast to those in
which Fate has placed him, we believe he would
have accomplished more than the average boy
or girl in spite of it.
He Is not thinking machine, cold blooded
and aloof, as some might suspect prodigy OF
being. Far from that. He enjoys q joke and
can tell one. He likes to appear in theatricals
and finds considerable pleasure in costume
plays and likes to dress for them He also likes
fancy dress bal" Z"
EDWARD ROCHE HARDY's life has not
been confined to books and college walls
however. He has had ample opportunity to go
out and obtain first-hand knowledge of things
that have interested him.
Some years ago there was an eclipse of the
sun. He felt that the ideal place from which
this phenomenon could be witnessed was Dem
YER Colo. So his mother took him to Denver.
It was his first trip outside Of New York City
and he enjoyed 1t immensely. Mother and SON
went through different sections of the country.
Through the great industrial centers and
through the farming sections
The child progid3 evinced great deal of in
terest. He asked questions. He met strangers
on the observation car-strangers who were
mouth to speak
He has been abroad five times with his moth
err While shipboard he takes part in all
the ships social activities
GG'THERE is nothing in our family tree" says
Mr.. Hardy, Ito justify the belief that
the boy might have acquired his gift for learn
ing from our forbears. Mrs Hardy can trace
her family back 400 or 800 years It Is an old
Rhode Island stock We know of none who
were unusual in mental activity. They were
just ordinary folks who worked hard for a liv-
ing. They were not professional
1.-THE same Is true of my side. don't
known of any unusually talented forbears.
There were no celebrities There were no pro-
fessional people. No doctors, no lawyers no
statesmen, no scientists
I'm view of this we are inclined to believe
that heredity has very little to do with the
boys achievements and logic compels us to
cept the fact that environment, plus good
health willing parents. early training and
financial advantages-which have been BURDEN
some, to say the least-have contributed more
than anything else to make Edward what he
Is today.
"Above ALL However, he had latent ability,
which the brain gave TO him. But where did
the brain come from? We don't know"