A WONDERFUL CALCULATOR.
John Alexander, post-runner between Nairn aud Cawdor, Scotland, hasproved himself one of the most astonishing mental calculators, perhaps, in the kingdom. As a specimen of his powers he gave the correct answers to the five following questions in less than a minute, in presence of Mr William Raitt, Free Church Institution, Nairn, the other day :—" Two chests tea, each SOlbs, at 3s 6£d ; 12 bars brown soap, each at each 41bs, at 5Jd ; 3 bags sago, each 271bs, at 191bs, at lid." He answered the following question correctly without noting down a single figure, and that, too, in a few seconds :—" Find the amount of £SOO, from March 1 to Jan. 9, both days inclusive, at 4f per cent.? Answer, £519 19s l^d—66-73d." He was asked by Mr Raitt how many letters there would be in a year's file of a daily newspaper of eight pages, each seven columns, each 190 lines, each 42 letters ? The answer, 139,573,440, was given in a few seconds."
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Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 645, 14 April 1870, Page 2
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167A WONDERFUL CALCULATOR. Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 645, 14 April 1870, Page 2
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