PRECOCIOUS GENIUS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 28 August 1926, Page 11

PRECOCIOUS GENIUS

BABIES WHO STARTLED THE WORLD

There exists a general impression that precocious children become commonplace in after years (states John o’ Loudon’s Weekly). If this is true there are many notable exceptions. Byron and Disraeli were both precocious; J. S. Mill, also, beginning Greek at the age of three De Quincey records that at the age of eleven he read “De Imitatione” cf Thomas a’ Kempis, and writes of “the savage delight 1 found in laughing at Tom’s Latinity.” But none of these celebrities produced any work of exceptional merit at an early age. Yet instances are not infrequent of successes obtained in youth. The case of Chatterton is only too familiar. W. H. Ireland, the Shakespearian forger, wrote “Vortigern” at 18; Boucicault and Sacha Guirtv at the same age produced successful plays. That of the former. “London Assurance,” kept the boards for many years. More reijiarkable still, Douglas Jerrold at fourteen wrote ‘‘More Frightened than Hurt.” which was played at Sadler’s Wells, translated 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 began to write “Sense and Sensibility.” Miss Daisy Ashford wrote “The Young Visitors” at nine years old; but in her case, as in that of the still more remarkable Pet Marjorie (Sir Walter Scott’s little friend), we enjoy their efforts for the refreshing mixture of childishness and precocity. These exceptional children are, how- * ever, put into the shade by another, whose feats border on the miraculous. This phenomenal youngster was the son of the celebrated diarist, John Evelyn, and his father thus writes of him : “At two years and a half old he could perfectly read any of the English, Latin, French, or Gothic letters, pronouncing the first three languages exactly.” Later he evinced a' strong passion for Greek. He could recite a prodigious number of verses, studied

Euclid and so forth The catalogue oi his accomplishments is a long one. In addition, his father adds : "He was ail life, all prettiness, far from morose.” etc. The poor child died in 1637 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 the whole Bible; in the next couple of years he studied thoroughly ancient and modern history and geography ; then learned Latin and French, ■ which 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. The story sounds almost incredible, hut the evidence seems conclusive ; his tutor wrote his life, and there are two other contemporary accounts, besides several articles and studies.