Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-04-04
: 5fliscellamp.
A Remarkable story.

ouENT EFFORTS TO RECLAIM THEM.
The Amherst Student contains letter
from Professor J. H. Seelye, dated Ala
hadad, India, November 20, 1872, de-
failing a strange fact which came under
his observation in his recent travels.
The professors story recalls the tradition
in regard to the infancy of Romulus and
Remus, and suggests that Darwin's the
ory of the descent OF man may be super
seeded by another, taking the ground
that the lower creation is mans descend
ant rather than his ancestor. The letter
is as follows:
"Not far from Agra, in northern India,
is mission station of the Church Mis-
sionary Society, connected with which is
an orphanage with several hundred chill
dren, now under the efficient care OF the
Rev. E. G. Erhardt. The region around
is infested with wolves, by which, every
wear. numbers of children are carried OIL
and deyoured. But in two instances at
least. instead of being killed and eaten
the children have been kept alive and
nourisbed with, if not by, these beasts.
Whether the story of Romulus and Re
mus be a myth or not, this is an actual
reality, for the children themselves have
been captured from among the wolves
and brought to the orphanage above
mentioned. They were both boys, and APP
parently of some seven or eight years OF
age when taken. They were found at
different times, the last one in March of
the present year.
Some hunters smoking wolves out of
cave, were startled when the wolves APP
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 that he was a 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 a Hindoo child, there were no other
indications about him of anything hu-
man. In all other respects, in the Ian
guage of Mr.. Erhardl, ga perfect ami
NAL" 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 gnawing them.
1t at first seemed impossible for him to.
walk erect, but after much difficulty he
was taught to do SO, and also to use
fork and spoon. and to drink like hui
man being. Though treated with the
utmost care, and the greatest patience
by the christian hands and hearts which
received him. he pinned away and died
after he had been in the orphanage lit
tie over four months. In all this time he
could not be made to utter word he
was never seen to smile, or show any signs
of joy, or shame, or gratitude. But Nj.
Erhardt, who gave me this account, as.
sured me that his face looked more intel
ligent than the average of Hindoo chill
dren, and that his color and features in
dicated that his parentage must have
been in family of high caste. The 9TH
er boy / myself saw few days since at
the orphanage, where he was brought
about six years ago, having been then
captured, much as was the first mentioned
boy, and having shown precisely the same
habits as belonged to him. He has not
yet spoken word, but has exchanged
the whine, which was his only utterance,
for sounds expressive of pleasure, and APP
parently also of gratitude. He no longer
prefers raw flesh for food, but eats bread
and fruits with ravenous avidity. He
walks erect, but with strange. awkard
gait, throwing out his hands with every
step. His hands are perfectly formed,
but he uses them awkwardly. A piece
of bread tossed to him from a little
distance, which he was eager to get,
he could not catch, but let fall clum-
silly to the floor. He wears clothes, to
which he was, at first, as averse as the
other boy. His forehead is low, but his
face would hardly be called dull, and
certainly not idiotic. His eyes have
wild and restless, but not an inquiring
look. His jaws are not protruding. but
his teeth are well formed and thorough
ly human. On his left cheek are scars
bearing plainly the marks of teeth where
he must have been fearfully bitten. He
has been taught to do some kinds Of work,
but not faithfully. He seems to have
lost all desire to escape; he mingles free
ly with the other children among whom