Miracle of the XX century. Gennady Trofimov. 1997

Famous illusionist A. A. Vadimov (Alli-Vad) looks first tours Volodya Zubritsky. "Nikishin's Circus on Nizhnegorodsky market widelly advertized "miracle of the XX century" - seven years boy Volodya, - recalls Vadimov. - On the playpen come a boy, clad in cloth with the sailor collar, with the man of average years and, having present Volodya to spectators, offerred to give problems".

Public call numbers. Volodya, only by little thinking multiplied for-digits number on four-digits, exponentiated, extracted square and cube roots from big numbers. On the black board expressed a square, divide into 25 checks. In each check wrote a number (from zero to nine), Volodya short time looked to the table, told: "I am ready!" - and, without looking on the board, call written numbers in any order, in any line or diagonals. Then, on requests of spectators, he call the dates of different history events, demonstrating his really phenomenal memory.

In the september 1912 Volodya Zubritsky have brought on tours in Moscow, and at the end of october - in St. Petersburg. He emerged here on the arena of famous Chinizelly's circus. "All strikes, - write a Petersburg's journal, - as this seven-year boy calculate in the mind such difficult number problems, what on the paper - possible calculate after five-six-minute work only".

At one of the days Volodya was invited to editorial office of famous that time in St. Petersburg "Blue journal". He come together with his tutor. In whitness of employees of editorial office a boy give his usual show. "When all applaud, - write a corresponder of journal, - on Volodya's face was the most indifferent expression. "What wonder? - seemed, spoke him. - Such easy thing".

Someone ask him: "What weekday was August 29, 1873?" Volodya answered, Wednesday, attentively looks at the man what ask question and add mistrustful: "But, do you know yourselves, what was that day?"

In conclusion he was asked to leave an autograph: "Well, write, what do you like most of all". Boy-prodigy, having frown forehead and a little having think, has write shaky, uneven handwriting: "I likes to learn and run. Volodya Zubritsky". And on this short phrase is express the whole tragedy of little actor, without childhood and compel daily to tense his young brain, by manipulating big numbers. Severe and strict Volodya's father, mannered on cruel customs of circus, did not know pity and hurried to make money on miraculous abilities of son as much as possible. He forced him emerge several times at day, and not only in circus, but in schools, in institutes, on different party. Volodya could not learn at school, was not time. But in the Kiev a father already built an ample stone house...

Through much years, already adult person, Vladimir Zubritsky recalled that in the childhood on nights him tormented nightmares. He hated a circus. Several times together with the brother (who was one year older) was torture to run away from the home. But every time their take back.

Famous Moscow nevropatolog G. I. Rossolimo carefully researched Volodya Zubritsky and, noting amazing visual and auditory memory of boy, imperative advised stop his appearance. Someone spoke that earl S. Y. Witte offerred to put Volodya in Real ckhool on full state provision. But father did not want hear about this.

"Blue journal" wrote on one of number: "Volodya Zubritsky are really geniously boy. If he will lives and develop normally, world society will be introduce with such miraculously, on which somehow even horribly speak". Prediction this, however, can not realized. The First World War began. Zubritsky-father mobilized to the war, and appearances of young circus mathematics have stop. In thirteen years he goes by the volunteer in Red Army battalion. Then served a scout on armoured train. He was wound in the head and shell-shocked. Cured, once again waged war. Before 1921 served on navy. From the Civil War he bring back into the Kiev. Flashed thought once again to become a circus actor, but he reject it, as far as already did not feel that abilities, which shone earlier. So has choose for himselves work the most prosaic - has enter a sailor-rescue on the water station.

In Great Second War Vladimir Zubritsky once again waged war - on minesweepers and armoured ship. At 1943 years was wound. Serviced till the rank of captain 3. Sometimes told storyes about his unusual childhood, on appearances on the arena and big success. That disbelieve. And himselves the most his past seemed some strange, amazing dream...