Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-04-09


times, the last one in March of the present
year.
Some hunters smoking wolves out of a
cave, were startled when the wolves ap-
peared by the appearance among them Of
creature looking strangely human but
running rapidly on all fours like the
wolves, though not so rapidly as they.
He was caught with difficulty, and there
was no mistake there he was child Of
human parentage, but with the habits and
actions and appetites of wild beast. The
hunters brought him to the orphanage,
where he was received and cared for.
Though his physical form and features
were sufficient to show that he was Hin
doc child, there were no other indications
about him of anything human. In all
other respects, in the language Of Mr..
Erhardt, "a perfect animal" He had
no speech but whine. He would wear
no clothes, tearing from him everything of
the sort, whenever put on. He would eat
nothing but raw flesh, and when he drank
he Tapped the water with his tongue.
Left to himself he would hide in some
dark spot during the day, from which he
would come out at night, and prowl about
the enclosure, picking up bones if any
were to be found, and ravenously gnawng
them. 1t at first seemed impossible for
him to walk erect, but after much difficult
ty he was taught to do so, and also to use
fork and spoon, and to drink like hu-
man being. Though treated with the ut
most care, and the greatest patience by
the Christian hands and hearts which re-
ceived him, he plned away aud died after
he had been in the orphanage little over
four months In all this time he could
not be made to utter a word he was nev-
er seen to smile, Or show any signs of joy,
or shame, or grattaie. Bat Mr.. Erhardt,
who gave me this ace1uut. assured me that
his face l0osot m1rg intelligent than the
average OF II Ha h ircn. aud that his
color a8d ieaf4lr. .ailcated that his
parentage ma.t baFs been 10 a family OF
high caste. Toe ID Der boy / myself saw
few d4ys since AZ the orphanage, where
he was brought about SIX years ago, hav-
ing been then captured, much as was the
first mentioned boy, and having shown
precisely the same habits as belonged to
him. lie has not yet spoken word, but
had exchanged the whine, waich was his
only utterance, for sounds expressive OF
pleasure, and apparently also of gratitude
He no longer prefers raw flesh for food
but eats bread and fruits with ravenou:
avidity. He walks erect, but with q
strange, awkward gait, throwing out hi:
hands with every step. His hands arr
perfectly formed, but he uses them awk
wardly. A piece of bread tossed to hin
from little distance, which he was cage
to get, he could not catch, but let fal
clunsily to the floor. He wears clothes
to which he was, at first, as averse as tn,
other boy. His forehead is low, but hi
face would hardly be called dull, and Ger
tainly not idiotic. His eyes have a viii
and restless, but not an inquiring look
His jaws are not protruding, but his teet
are well formed and thoroughly human
Ga his left cheek are scars bearing plain
ly the marks of teeth where he must hav
: been tearfully bitten. He has been taugh
to do some kinds of work, but not faithful
= ly. He seems to have lost all desire I
escape he mlngles freely with the othe
children among whom he has his favorite:
When the bog first mentioned was brougt
to the orphanage, this one was made
; understand that he must teach the othe
r how to eat and drink aud walk, and muc
!. of the Improvement of the younger one
}, these respects seemed due to the efforts
the older one.
: The inference from these extraordinar
instances is strangely at variance wit
d many affirmations now current. 1t dot
o not point in the least to mans derivatic
: from the lower creation, but exactly to tt
reverse. If we only look accurately an
5 think closely we shall find much mo
evidence, both in nature and history, tn
:. the lower creation is mans descende
! rather than his ancestor"