Education: Retired Prodigy

Ten years ago Manhattan was a forcing bed for prodigious children, and one night Winifred Sackville Stoner Jr. gave a party for them. A onetime prodigy who had used a typewriter at 3, written a poem and made a public speech at 4, Miss Stoner invited such characters as William James Sidis, who at n set Harvard agog, and Nathalia Crane, who at 9 published poems. The party's chief exhibit was Ellen Elizabeth Benson, the plump young daughter of a Texas newspaper couple. When she was 8,...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!