The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-27
The Lost Boy.

Mr.. Christian X. Ross, father of little
Charley, the stolen child, delivered his
second lecture in fremont Temple last
evening before a good-sized audience.
Having given at his first lecture, deliv-
cred on Tuesday, d general account of
the abduction and search, Mr.. Ross
narrated last evening some of the in
cidents of his long quest. To illustrate
the widespread interest in the case he
related an anecdote of negro woman
who, wishing to call her children into the
house, cried out: - You, Julius Caesar.
come yer dis minute, or you'll git car
ried off like Charley Ross" Never
theless, he said he found some people
in the New Jersey woods, within two
hours ride of the city of Philadelphia,
who had never heard of the event One
OF the most singular facts of the search
was the number of prison convicts who
protested to know something about the
abduction, but who insisted upon being
set at liberty as a condition of giving
information or assisting in working up
the case. Another singular fact was
the number of lost children who were
called Charley Ross. Of these there were
no less than ten, though in all but two
cases the name was given the child by
persons who had found him. Several
instances in which supposed Charley
ROSES have been adopted by persons
finding them were briefly touched upon
by Mr.. Ross, who commented feelingly
on the fact that, through his terrible
loss, so many little ones, who might
otherwise have become felons, have
found good Christian homes. He said
he had been criticised by some persons
because he did not exhibit more emo
ton when investigating evidence prom
ising the restoration of his son. Peo-
pie would say to him: Why, you do
not seem to be as much interested in it
as we do" to which he would answer:
6 This is your first case of this kind,
but have them almost every day, and
If | gave way to my feelings every time
L should very soon be unable to do any,
thing more. | restrain my emotions,
because it is easier to bear the repeated
disappointments.n He said he had
been asked how he knew his boy was
alive at the time Mosher and his COM
fade were killed. His knowledge came
ilOli tho oIdlCHlcub VI Il prison. cOnNlcJ,
a brother-in-law of MOsher, that he
talked with the abductors Just before
the time of their death, and that their
conversation was of getting Charley
Ross to England and making fresh
effort to get money for him. Mr..
Ross related also how he had found in
Newark, n. j., horse which his little
son Walter identified as the one driven
by the abductors when they took Char
ley, the identification being made from
a peculiar habit of the horse, which
the little fellow called laughing. The
clew, however, amounted to nothing.
In closing, Mr.. Ross compared his quest
to search in deep, dark abyss by the
light of a taper. Now and then he
could hear little voice in the darkness
crying: This way, papa; here l am. I"
He would light his taper and 90 in the
direction of the sound to find that it
was only the voice of his hopes and the
whispering of his own heart. And so
he continued his search, not despair
ingly, for while there was uncertainty
hope would incite to further efforts, and
so he would continue while life and
health remained to him. Boston Id
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