Savant syndrome.
(Savant syndrome.)
Seems like it. Good story.
Sounds like an austist. I have one. The math at 6:30 in the morning will drive you mad. Talented folks.
Yeah, if he couldn’t learn to read in 80 years of his life, he was unlikely a genius (IQ 160+) His main talent seemed to be calculating the number of seconds in a date range. Doesn’t say whether he used his talent in bookkeeping etc.
In the Blunt Speaking old days, that was called
“Idiot-Savant”.
Nowhere in the article did I read that “Negro Tom” was ever able to benefit in a material way from his fine talents.
I didn’t read that he had a nice home or decent clothing or anything. I mostly read that he was held up for exhibit and amusement like a Dog who can toot Jingle Bells from bike horns. Some things, some social attitudes take time to change, quite a lot of time.
Yup, sounds like he was an idiot-Savant.🤔