Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-02-24
the DESCENT OF MAN.
A STRANGE STORY.

SfhANoE STORY.
The Amherst Student contains a letter from /
Professor J. H Seelye, datod Allahabad, Indis, |
November 25 1877, detailing strange fact which |
came under his observation in his recent travels. |
The professors story recalls the tradition IN re-
gard to the infancy Of Romulus and Remus, and |
suggests that Darwin's theory of the descent OF
man may be superseded by another, taking the
ground that the lower creation is mans descen-
dant rather than his ancestor. The letter is AS
fol ows:
Not far from Agra, in northsr India, is a mis-
sion station Of the Church Missionary Society,
| connected with which IS All orphanage with sev-
erul hundred children, now under the efficient care
| OF the Rev. II. g. Erhardt. The region around is
infested with wolves, by which, every year. num-
bers of children are carried of and devoured.--
But in two instances at least, instead of being
killed and eaten. the children have been kept
alive and nourished with If not by, these beasts.
| Whether the story Of Romulus and Remus be
myth or not, this is actual reality, for the chill
dren themselves have been captured from among
| the wolves and brought to the orphanage above
mentioned. They both we're boys, and apparent
ly Of some seven eight years of age when taken
| They were found at different times, the last one
| in March OF the present year. Some hunters,
| smoking WolVs1 out of cave, were startled when
thewolves appeared by the appearance among them
Of creature looking strangely human, but run
ming rapidly on all fours like the wolves, though
not so rapidly as they. He was caught with dif-
hculty, and there was no mistaking that he was a
aud actions and appeties of wild beast. The
hunters brought hIm to the orphanage, where hs
was received, and cared for Though his physi-
cal form and features were sufficient TO show that
he was u HIndoo child, there were no other indi-
cations about him OF anything human. In all 9TH
er respects, IN the language of Mr. Erhardt, "a
perfect animal" He had no speech but u whine
He would wear no clothes, tearing from him eve
ry thing of the SORT whenever put on. He would
eat nothing but raw flesh, and when he drank hC
w Taft - him
self he would hide in come dark spot during tht
day, from which he would come out at night
ana prowl about the enclosure, picking up bone
! II any were to be found, and FaVenOusly gnawin|
them. 1t at first Leemed impossible for him I,
; walk erect, but after much difficulty he wa
: taught to do So and also to use a fork and spoon
, and to drink like a human being. Though trea
: : ted with the utmost care and with great patienc
and kindness by the Christian hands and heart
b, | which received him. be pined away and died, al
), ter he had been in the Orphanage a little owe
: : four months. In all this time he could not b
7 made to utter word he was never seen {
smile, n show any 0igns of Joy or shame, graf
4 itude. But MIR. Erhardt, who gave me this &C
= telligent than the average Of Hindoo children
a and that his color aud feHtuFes indicated that hi
- parentage must have been in family Of high cast
20 The other boy myself saw a tsw days anC
- ut the Orphanage, where he was brought about si
years ago, having BEEN then captured, mnoh
was the first mentioned boy, and having show
precisely the same habits as belonged to him.
It He has not yet spoken word, but has exchange
X the whine, which was at first his only utteranc
n for sounds expressive Of pleasure, and apparant
Al also OF gratitude He no longer prefers raw hes
" for food, but eats bread and fruit with TaVenoI
n aVidity. He walks erect, but with strange
~ awkward gait, throwing out his hands with ever
4 step. His hands are perfectly formed but he us
~ them aWkWaFdly. A piece Of bread tos5ed to hi
~ from little distance, which he was eager to &c
he could not catch, but let it fall cumsily to II
20 ground. lie wears clothes, 10 which he was
6o hEsL as aVeFSe eS the other boy. His forehead
y. low but his face would hardly be called dull al
." certainly not idiOtie- HIS eyes have q wild a
restless, but not an inquiring look. His jaws a
not protruding, and his teeth are we'll formed al
- thoroughly human. On his left cheek are Lra
VI ol- bearing plainly the marks Of teeth where
III must have been isarfully bitten He has be
nc taught to do some kinds OF work. but not fait
M fully. He seem to have lost all desire to escap
,,'l ~, ne mnges freely with tne other children, amo
ny whom he has his faVorities. When the boy iii
nu mentioned was brought to the orphanage, this o
n was made to understand that he must teach
lei other how to eat and dripk and walk, and mu
ay Of the impFo cement of the younger one in tn,
et respects seemed due TO the efforts of the older Oh
ln- The inference from these extraordinary instan,
ne is strangely at variance with many afirmatiC
ter now current. 1t does not point in the least
ere mans derivation from the lower creation, but
aetly to the reverse. II We only lock accurat
he and think closely We shall lind much more Q
ss dece both in nature and in history, that the 10
OSe er creation is mans descendant rather than
he, ancestor. fsla aag sna-.9i-