The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-10-09
CURIOUS FACT.

Wv p"o'''eo u paragraph iron
an Alabama paper, stating that slave o
AIR. John ii. 1Iundlcy had three children Il
birth, two Of whom were black and ON,
white. The fact coming to the knowledge
OF our scientific townsman, Peter A. Browne
l;sq-' who has been making many interest
ing researches and Investigations into tho
different characteristics Of hair and wool
induced him TO address the owner of tn,
slave, with view of obtaining specimen
OF the pilous covering Of the heads of the
children. Mr.. III. politely complied with
his wish, and sent him specimens of the f;.-
Tiers and mothers hair, of the two black
children, and also a specimen of that Of
the white child. The result of Mr. Brownies
investigation established the curious fact
that tho white cl,id is black Albinos. its
pile being just rs much wool-tlc cl,arac-
terls,'c OF the negro-as that of the Two
black children, who are pure negroes from
pure negro father and mother. We have
here the solution Of Il phenomenon whicl,
has sometimes confouudcd the physician,
and which he has been disposed to explain
hy the presumption of intercourse with both
white and black, on the part of the mother.
In some instances, this presumption may
be correct, but the practical utility Of Mr..
Brownies Investigations is, that doult in
such cases may hr settled letcrminatcly by
an examination of the pile. Wool and
hair are ccrtainly distinct characteristics Of
different species Of the human race, and
interchange between such species genera
lively is as permanently and distinctly
marked i" the pile amy other character
istic feature in the crossing of breeds.
This fact is important, not only in deter.
mining physiological questions Which fire.
4uc"tly arise, medically aml LEGALLY, but it
is Of the deepest interest to the agriculture
list. II brings the subject Of wool-yrowinr
within the domains Of science, and enables
the farmer 10 produce Il growth of wool
with rs much certainty of its quality us Of
any ";!;er crop, whic!. he cuI!i:a!..s. The
intelligent labors Of science in the inv.sti-
CATION of physical laws always result in ben
etl to mankind, and those who devote their
time and talents TO such discoveries are the
real ri'Ianthr"!'sts ol the race. !gnurauce
sometimes raises Il laugh at the cxl.r,sc of
the nalura! philosopher. Lcca,,se Of the
Seeming insignliieancc Of the Objects which
rn;:ross his attention" Ian. every f,.t li-o"r
crcl in science is an addition To the sum of
real knowledge available !" man, and pro-
motive often OF the very highest interests oi
the huinail race
The wonan Who is the mother of ilcs..
children has given birth to i"urtccn children,
five of which are white, all we suppose AL
l,inos, anil nine Llack. Sl,. hal twins once,
both of whom were ll.,rk. The woman and
her hushanl are both of the sanlc color,
Which is quite dak. They are both pure
Africans. Some of the children arc L!acker
than the parents, but the white ones are lis
perfectly white as any Of The Caucasian race.
The phenomenon Of an .tlLinos, We believe,
is referred by physioIogists, to diseased
condition of the individual, hv which the
person is deprived Of the coloring matter
OF the skin and llar.-EhiEulclphiu Le,lyer.