Dudley Waller- The Infant Orator The curly-haired Master Waller stands full length before decorative balustrades. Waller would have been six years old in 1863. Young Waller toured extensively in the U.S. giving recitations and orations at major venues. Front Marked "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by MITCHELL & SEIXAS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the U. S., for the Southern District of New York. "Back mark "PUBLISHED BY MITCHELL & SEIXAS, No. 9077 BROADWAY, NEW YORK."

DUDLEY WALLER. "A BOY WITH WONDERFUL POWERS. -- The people of Herkimer listened, last Monday evening, with the greatest delight and surprise, to the recitation of Master Dudley Waller, the 'Infant Orator,' and never have we seen so great enthusiasm created by the presence of any individual in our place as was manifested on this occasion. Master Dudly, though only eight years of age, professes the highest gifts and powers of the elocutionist, and that, too not as the result of training, but as the endowments of nature. Nature herself has made him a master of the art. His power over an audience is wonderfull, alternately compelling tears, and convulsing with laughter. We have seen him hold an audience in a breathless suspense, which became really painful. Besides, Master Dudley is a wonder in himself, possessing, as we believe, powers af mind unequaled in our nation. He has committed fifteen hundred themes, embracing among them orations, lectures, addresses, and prose and poetry from nearly all authors, and such is his power of memory that he never has recourse to the written pieces again, but recalls them at leisure, and gives them without any hesitation. We were present with him each day previous to his ricitations here, and at Ilion, and we found him gleefully engaged in play and sport up to the last, and then go before an audience, and thrill them for over an hour with the most difficult recitations. At four years of age he recited 'Robert Emmet's Defense to an overcrowded house at Cooper Institute, and at the age of five, he committed the whole of 'Pope's Essay on Man.' On the whole, we take him to be the most wonderful person to whom we have ever listened, and only regret that his stay among us was so short. -- [Utica, (N. Y.,) Morning Herald. Sept, 22." (source: Deseret News, January 18, 1865