The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-22

iillau L1tniN oNHoooot 4
as be is Familiarity called, is a monde
script Of peculiar development. He
is nearer the ape family than perhaps
sny other living thing which has
come into existence, With almost all
the attributes common to the human
race. The theory of evolution has q
strong demonstration of its strong
probability in this living enigma
Mapy points specified by Darwin to
illustrate the truth CT his theory are
more prominently displayed in this
creature than in any living thing
rbich has come to light in the pres
ept era of scientific research. in a
low. two-storT frame house on Thomp,
son street, amidst the dense colored
population of that neighborhood,
and living 10 the faaaily Of a repre-
sentative Of that race, is this miss
inc link The family is well known
In this vicinity, and is highly respect
ed The head Of the household is
large stout and fne-looking colored
nan who is 8 plssterer by trade, and
anoliti ian and sort of oracle among
the superstitious of bis race for
pleasure.
The fact that this peculiar speei-
min of humanity lives in this house
is not generally known among the
n~eighbors, except perhaps, to those
who reside within q door or two;
and they doubtless, think It nothing
strange for when be is in the yard
(the only place he is allowed 20 go)
this man-monkey is clothed in the
ordinary civilized panialoons, etc,
and bis head, the most remarkable
feature would attract no attention
from those ignorant Of certain scien-
tifc knowledge. By a subterfuge,
not worth mentioning, your reporter
gained admission to the house, and
had a good look and partial examina-
ton Of he boy. When be was first
seen be was clothed in an ordinary
Jacket, pair Of psntaloons and boots.
Under this jacket be wore a thick
wooden shirt, open at the neck, and
very much pulled out, as though 1t
was padded on the breast.
In stature be is a little under i've
feet. and the muscular development
of the arms and chest is wonderful,
showing that bis physical strength
must be p~rodigious. The complex.
ion is a very dark olive-almost
brown-snd the lower portion of the
face is large, aud has a clammy, glnt
nous appearance. Rhe mouth j:
large, and the lips thin, and the teeth
white, sharp and have that peculiar
seeming that makes the chill CREEP
over one when looking at the glisten
ing mouth Of a Gagged byena. The
uose is pugishly inclined; very small
between the eyes, and expands aud
aaitens as it continues down. The
peculiarly Of the human ear, which
Darwin points out, is very percepti-
bic ia this individual; the points on
the top OF those organs, which be
mentions as just d%iseernible in the
civilized races, are very prominent
here, and they look almost as though
they bad been clipped on; with a
pair of scissors.
The forehead is very low ; the
craniem comes to a point just over
the ears, and is covered by q thick,
short ard fuzzy wool, which has
somewhat the appearance Of a cap,
and looks a though it had grown
there. The figure is bent, and it IL
with extreme difficulty that the body
can be Strengthened and the Shout
ders brought square. The articuls-
ton is very defective and difficult, as
though the tongue was impeded by
some imperfection of that organ.
But q close observer can see in a no.
ment hat it is not the tongue as an
organ, as a conveyance for ideas, but
the brain is defective: there is very
little Of it-only enough to allow the
imperfect formation of words which
ore uttered without any understand
ing Of their meaning. Information
was casually given that Dick was
very quick-tempered, and before long
it was amply verified.
The strains of a hand organ IN the
street had a wonderful effect upon
him, for be danced round the room
and ball in an ecstacy of the widest
delight This demonstration OF
pleasure did not bode well for the lit
tie articles Of furniture about the
room, and SO the old colored gentle.
man threatened the offender with
displacement" which he understood
would be a douse of cold water. Or
most occasions this would have the
desired effect, and the extravaran'
antics would cease, but this time il
did not work, and when force was re
sorted 10, it required the united eff
forts of this great burly old man anC
bis sen, who is almost as large, L
hold him, while be was in a spasm o
rage at their interference. In thit
struggle the immense strength Of The
creature was apparent, for be drag
ged these two men round the room a
though they were boys. Lest tb
appearance of a stranger should forth
er irritste aud make its psroxysm
worse, your representative withdrew
but afterwards learned that it wa
some little time before the father an
son succeeded in quieting and gair
ing control over this strange bein!
Many men eminent in the list Of sc
ence have examined this curiosit,
but could arrive at no unanimity a
to its classification, and so the prol
lem is to-day unsettled, and ii
question among them is, what
itr'--Ne,c York Evening Mail, Isl
arN