The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-02-28
The Lost Charlie Ross

Mr.. Christian X. Ross, whose little
son disappeared so mysteriously in July,
| 1874, iourneyed 10 Baltimore the other
day to look at boy waif brought from
the West Indies. Nj. Ross, hoping
against hope, and resolved not 60 he dis.
appointed. saw the child, and said he
was not Charlie Ross This, he declared,
maize 573 boys whom he had been called
20 see. or whose descriptions had been
forwarded TO him for Identification. IL
follows, then. that there are at least h73
boy-waifs Of the age and general appear
ance of the stolen child. Inquiry has
been pursued only in one vein, So to
speak. II there are 573 unclaimed boys
OF a certain asya, complexion and stature,
drifting about the world, how many
must there be of like age, but So un-
like the kidnapped child that they are
not produced FOR Identification How
many must there be who are much
younger, or much older than the Ross
boyl And il 67S boys Of certain age,
complexion. and temperament are found
astray and unclaimed, how many chil-
dren of both sexes are wandering about
destitute of evidence of their origin, but
50 far removed from any possibility Of
being the missing one that they are
never even heard of The hare state
ment that this unhappy father has been
called ~ many times. fruitleSsly, o. see
and examine lost boys suggests fright
full chapter of human misery and human
depravity, So far "a We know. most Of
these WAITS have no parent relative or
friend 70 claim them, and no tie what
ever 20 connect them with the past But
for the quest for boy who cannot be
found. these poor WAITS would never
have been heard Of, their existence
would not have been suspected.
IL is peculiar bereavement which
these parents bear Thousands Of chill
dren die every day and are lAmented and
buried But this is mystery wa!eh has
not terminated with the grave, There is
an instinct in the human breast which
Shudders az the reflection that the form
OF the lost one is floating in the depths
Of the ocean, or is uncotiined in mountain
SohtudRS, or is entangled in the drift Of
some river in the wilderness. But, when
to these tragical suggestions is added the
uncertainty whether the missing be alive
or dead, in misery or III comfort, tho
burden lie greater than most parents can
bear with fortitude. And We are glad 10
know that though the unfortunate father
in this particular case, has sometimes
been charged with indifference where he
has been sure Of another defeat, and
with increduhty where strangers pro.
fessed to be able to substitute their
notions for his positive knowledge, he
has, on the whole, met with a sympathy
which is profound and wide. Ii seems
now, IS Mr.. Ross admits is possible,
that the mystery Of the lost boy will
never be solved. The lapse of wears is
making the case less and less hopeful;
and, though the search must continue,
il may seem wisest as well as most res-
sonable, TO give over the missing child
as no longer in the land OF the living,
But, whatever NAV be the issue Of this
strange business, the dark story OF the
boys abduction viii be told with bated
breath 30 multitndes of children for
generations 10 come. -Netc York Times