The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-10

Asrtc DwAav CnsEpats .-fhe two Indian
Dwarfs from Centrai Amsrics that have attracted
70 much sttsntion in Boston ere 70 Be exhibited
for few days At Blocker hall. They are most
extraordinary remains Of that almost extinct race
that once Inhabited Central America, Of whom
SrEvEns and CArHER GOD have given such inter-
esting accounts
DR.. WARRxn furnished an account of these
children for the "Journal of the Medical Scien-
Cos, /" from which We gather some particulars.
The children are evidently brother and sister,
the former about eight and the latter abou, six
weighs 81 pounds. The girl is ~ inches in
height and weighs II pounds. They are darker
than mulatt0, with jet black, but soft wavy hair
They have lustrous eyes and prominent noses.
These children, though OF our own species,
stand low down in the scale Of humanity, physi-
cally and intellectually. They are without any
language. though they articulats some words and
comprehend many things said to them.
Professor kHEELAnD, in an article on ''ldiocy,"
speaks thus O the Aztecs:-
These children are now known TO be dwarf
specimens Of a Central American race of Indians,
such az may occur in any race; though no dwarfs
on record have equalled these in the smallness of
their crana. The brain seems merely too small,
without any great disproportion in any of its
parts though, as usual, there is relative inferi-
ority Of the anterior lobes, which may partly be
accounted for by external circumstances with
them favoring the developement and exercise Of
the animal functions more than the Intellectual
IL is almost harmonious want Of development
liz the expression be allowabe,) which gives
them more the appearance Of men in miniature
than of idiots, though from the dwarfed condition
Of their brains they necessarily partals idiots
The prominence Of their features, though consid-
erable, is exaggerated by their retreating fore
heads; their bodies and extremites are well form
ed; they have good command over their muscles,
and are quite agile, being continually in motion,
differing in this respect from the majority Of idi-
| OTIS. They certainly articulate words, and make
a variety Of animal-like noises expressive oftheir
wants. ofanger, ofjoy, Of surprise, and Of other
feelings, which imply considerable intelligence.
They understand speech in others to certain ex-
tent, as they obey like little child; so that, as re-
CARDS speech, as much seems to depend on an alb
normal condition Of the vocal organs, or the
nerves supplying them, as on any intellectual de-
| feet. The senses acute, especially sight and
hearing; they are very attentive and curious, ca
gerly examining every object: They in part feed
cent in their habits, affectonate towards each
other and to strangers; and they manifest desires
ard degree of knowledge which place them
high in the class of idio,s ifnot quite above them
The fact that the boy drives, so characteristic OF
idocy as to have become a byword, loses some of
its significance when il is known that he is under
going the process of his second denttion. Though
they are dwarfs and idiots, yet they cannot be
placed in the lowest classes; they exhibit such evil
dent signs Of intelligence and are wanting in SO
many Of the usual symptoms of idocy, that we
have little doubt that a judicious system of educa-
ton would enable them to take much higher
rank among human beings than they now occupy.
| The children are in good health, active and
playful. Their appearance and gait resembles
that of the monkey tribe But after all, ''the hui
man face divine" reveals their true origin.
| Mr.. KNOX, who has the care of these children,
treats them with great attention and kindness, and
is endeavoring, far az possible, to deveope and
improve their faculties. Visitors will find no.
thing repulsive unpleasant in the appearance or
manners of these children. On the contrary, after
a surprise, they become agreeable and interest
| ing.