Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-10-24
WILD MAN.

WILD MAN.
Mirtm5urg, July 80, la2s.-The attention OF
our philosophical public has been directed Tor
some weeks past, TO the investigation OF very
extraordinary phenomenon, which, unless inc
whole be an impos,ure, may prove important
in the investigation Of mind. About mon'h a,
go there appeared in this city, young man Of
about twenty years Of age, well pio2ortoned'
and Of healthy compilations; he seemed, now
ever, to walk with difficulty, his knees appear
ing stiff, and quite unused to mourning steps,
He was poorly dressed, and carried ielter
with him, in which wish was expressed tha'
that ne nigh, be enlisted among the cavalry.
His knowledge OF the world seemed extremely
limited, and he spoke and understood out very
few words. From what has been collected from
him, it seems tina, he had been shut up IN one
room, about six feet high, from bis iNiancy'
during which time he never saw Du' one hu>
man being-a man who brought hlm MS pro,
visions, and whom he called father. he was kept
very clean, and had two little wooden horses 10
pIay with; but was beaten with stick "hen>
eve: he alte 'pted 10 stand uprignt. mere
was window TO The room, from which every
prospect was debarred by pile OF WOOD Piacea
before il; and the situation Of the room seems
to have been such as to exclude sounc as wen
as sight. From this confinement he was al
last>released by his keeper, who, ai'tr 1921
Journey of two days brought him TO the gaze
Of this CITY, where he gave him the letter, and
enioining him 10 enter, left him. lie has now
learnt many new words ard things: the former
of which are easily distinguished, from bis pro
nouncing Them differently from those OF his o.
riginal stock; and for every one Of the latter he
can account himself, by men .ioning his respec'
tive nformants. He is as credulous as child,
receiving every information with implicit be
lief; and il is very difficult to make him change
a notion or opinion after he has once received
it, as he seems as yet a stranger 10 doubt OF
| Investigation. The leas. sound which strikes
his ear unexpectedly, even the ticking OF a
clock, creates a slight CONFUSION in his face;
and when his factory nerves are effected by
the smell Of flowers, lemons. &c. he 2olnts TO
| the middle OF his forehead, as the place where
| he says he feels pair. In the same manner he
rejects every food but bread and water, as dis
agreeable to his unused palate. His sight alone
seems 10 receive pleasure from new objects,
all his other .rnscs appearing influenced by the
painful only. The feeling in his fingers seems
To be acute, and he uses them often to assist
his weak sight His hearing has improved,
and he is very fond OF the piazza fore, WIZ
they are teaching him, bu, he expresses his dis
like OF singing, which he calls screaming His
memory is very good; he repeats the names
and titles quo ,rihe with us.in Germany OF per-
sons, as well as expressions Of cisili'y, with
unerring correctness, alwa mentioning the
people from whom he has received every indi-
vidual word But his attention is not great,
except to what he is himself engaged in, where
it is quite exclusive. He uses as vet the verb
in The in6ni,ive mood only. He seems to have
no general, iS.,s~rr eueveo-
sion Of light and dark; nor does he seem aware
Of right or wrong. He complains OF The III
usage he received from his keeper, only as 10
the pain it caused him, in the same manner as
he does about the pain he receives from the
perception of an object new to his senses, or a
bout burn, which he received at once touch
ing FIRE. He is very compassionate, and ex-
presses his concern even on seeing Hover
pulled TO pieces; and he could not be reconciled
to tue correctness of pulling down an old house,
which he witnessed, Till he was told thai 1t
would be made fine, ashe was made, when they
gave him new clothes for his old ones. Find
ing i, difficult, to express himself fully with his
deficiency of language, he is very vehement in
his gestures.-L London Weekly ReU,eU.