PRECOCIOUS YOUTH

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 9

PRECOCIOUS YOUTH

WONDER CHILDREN OF ALL AGES There exists a general impression that precocious children become commonplace in after years (states *' John o’ London’s Weekly’). If this is true there are many notable exceptions. Byron and Disraeli were both precocious; J. S. Mill also; he began Greek at the ago of throe. De Quincey records that at eleven he read the ‘ De Imitations ’ of Thomas a’ Kempis, and writes of “ the savage delight 1 found in laughing at Tom’s Latmity,” FAMOUS AT FOURTEEN'. But none of these celebrities produced any work of exceptional merit at an early ago. Yet instances are not infrequent of successes obtained in youth. The case of Chatterton is only too familiar. W. H. Ireland, the Shakespearean' forger, wrote ‘ Vortigern ’ at eighteen; Eoucicault and Sacha Guitry at the same age produced successful plays; that of the former, ‘ London Assurance,’ kept the boards for many years. More remarkable still, Douglas Jerrold at fourteen wrote ‘ More Frightened Than Hurt,’ which, was played at Sadler’s Wells* translated into French, played in Paris, retranslated into English, and played in London under another title. Jane Austen may fairly be reckoned amongst the precocious writers, for she was only fourteen when she wrote that delightful burlesque ‘ Love and Friendship,’ and at nineteen had begun ‘ Sense and Sensibility.’ Miss Daisy Ashford wrote ‘ The Young Visiters ’ at nine years old; but in her case, as in that of the still more remarkable Pet Marjorie (Sir Walter Scott’s little friend), wo enjoy their efforts for the refreshing mixture of childishness ami precocity. JOHN EVELYN’S SON.

These exceptional children are, however, put in the shade by two others, whose feats border on the miraculous, i'he first was the son of the celebrated [iarist, John Evelyn, and his father ins writes of him: “At two years and -half old ho could perfectly read any : the English, Latin, _ French, or ethic letters, pronouncing tho first iree languages exactly.” Later ho .winced a strong passion for Greek; he could recite a prodigious number of verses, studied Euclid and _ so forth; the’ catalogue of his accomplishments is a long one. In addition, his father adds: “He was all life, all prettiness, far from morose,” etc. Tho poor child died in 1657 at the age of five., Christian Heinecken, born in 1721, at Lubeck, was,a still greater marvel.. He spoke sensibly soon after his birth; before he was a year old he could talk on most subjects; at thirteen months he had mastered tho whole,Bible; in the next, couple ; of years he studied thoroughly ancient and modern history and geography; then learned Latin and French, whicli he spoke fluently, exhibiting his powers at the Court of Denmark in' his fourth year. But his constitution was feeble, and he died on being weaned in 1725. Tho story sounds almost incredible, but the evidence seems conclusive; his tutor wrote his life, and there are two other contemporary accounts, besides several articles and studies.