My Library

THE CHILD WITH ROENTGEN RAY EYES AN INEXPLICABLE MYSTERY The well-known oculist, Dr. Pedro Niel of Madrid, not long, ago astonished the public by a bit of information which both in and outside scientific circles has created a great sensation. At a meeting of specialists in Paris, Dr. Niel spoke of his knowledge of a marvellous child whom he has had under observation for eighteen months. This remarkable child, Benito Paz, is the son of a village school teacher who had noticed nothing uncommon about the boy before his fifth year. When little Benito had reached the age of four-and-a-half his father began to teach him reading and writing in his own home. Then, for the first time, the boy surprised his father by suddenly exhibiting the mysterious power of being able to read the letters in a closed alphabet-book. The boy put in front of himself the dosed book and proceeded to read aloud in his clumsy way through the thick cover as though the book were open. His teacher at once jumped to the conclusion that his son had learned all this by heart, and was astounded at his perseverance. But the affair became more mysterious when the father was searching everywhere for a lost vest-button. Little Benito called out and said that his father had the button in a tobacco-box in his vest-pocket. The teacher opened the tobacco-box, and there was the button. Only then did he call to mind that on the previous day he had put the button there for safety. But how on earth could Benito have known this? On being seriously questioned, the boy, quite frightened, stated that he had seen the button in the tobacco-box. He had also seen in it four cigarettes. His father now tried a test. Benito could count as far as five. His father put three cigarettes into the tobacco-box, closed it, and ordered Benito to inform him how many cigarettes it contained. The boy counted: one, two, three. Other tests also gave similar results. One month afterwards the father travelled with his son to Madrid, and there called on the oculist, Dr. Niel. This gentleman carefully examined the child, and found nothing abnormal about him. Since that time he has kept little Benito in his house, in order to be able to make observations at all times. Later on, when the timid child had begun to lose his earlier fears, die doctor continued his experiments. He found out that the boy could clearly see and describe objects that were enclosed in a metal case. He could easily read letters enclosed in three or four coverings. He could, without difficulty, declare what you had in your various pockets. He could even indicate