This boy, with a trick monkey, had been found earning his
livelihood by begging and by solving mentally in a few minutes
the most difficult problems in arithmetic. A gentleman residing
in Marseilles had seen him while soliciting alms perform most
astonishing feats of memory, and brought him to Paris. In the
presence of the Society Broca gave him verbally a task in
multiplication, composed of some trillions to be multiplied by
billions. In the presence of all the members he accomplished his
task in less than ten minutes, and without the aid of pencil and
paper, solving the whole problem mentally. Although not looking
intelligent, and not being able to read or write, he perhaps
could surpass any one in the world in his particular feat. It was
stated that he proceeded from left to right in his calculations,
instead of from right to left in the usual manner. In his
personal appearance the only thing indicative of his wonderful
abilities was his high forehead.
An infant prodigy named Oscar Moore was exhibited to the
physicians of Chicago at the Central Music Hall in 1888, and
excited considerable comment at the time. The child was born of
mulatto parents at Waco, Texas, on August 19, 1885, and when only
thirteen months old manifested remarkable mental ability and
precocity.
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