Nikola Tesla - Pictures and Experiences from Childhood and Education Page 26

and easily completed them. He read him poems, first shorter, then longer ones, and little Nikola, having heard them just once, immediately memorized them and recited them without errors; and so on.

Thus, Nikola Tesla, thanks to his intelligence and exercises, which he later continued on his own as he grew up, was able to solve even the most difficult tasks and recite entire books by heart, and this in various languages. He learned many foreign languages.

Parents, awaken and nurture the innate abilities of your children!

Đuka, Mother of Nikola Tesla

Tesla’s mother, Đuka, was also from Lika; originally from Gračac, from the priestly Mandić family.

The Mandić family is very well-known and respected in Lika. They have given several excellent priests. Đuka’s brother, Petar Mandić, was the eparch of Zvornik-Tuzla Eparchy; her father, Nikola, was a priest, and her grandfather, Toma, was an archpriest in Lika.

Đuka was illiterate, but very intelligent, especially having a strong memory. She knew many of our national heroic