The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-19
A SEA LION FOR A BABY.
THE PECUEL4RLYAfA L-FOR1EED CHILD
OF 4 GREENVILLE 1fA1RON.

The Body Human, hut the Head that o
Monster OF the Ocean, "A Woman
Infatuation Impressed ON her Infant
I'm give you quiet tip, said Green
vile resident to one of the TATT1ERs yes
terday. ''about a freak Of nature up in my
neighborhood, if you won't give me away.
The reporter agreed.
'sThen, said the other, ego up to the
house of William Under on Jackson place
| (now Winfield place) Greenyille. .
| sWhat II | find there?"
Mrs. Linder's latest child. It is hui
man from its feet up to its shoulders.
There the human likeness stops. The head
is that of a sea lion."
"What!" exclaimed several GreenvilIe-
ties, when the reporter sought information
as 10 the easiest way to find the Linder
residence, and accidentally let out the pur-
pose of his visit to it. They've kept il
mighty quiet"
The TATTLER found the honse after lit
tie hunt for it. 1t is large and handsome.
All the evidences of thri # and taste sur
round it. There were lights in the win
dows when the reporter tapped the bell.
"Who's there p asked a girl from the
inside without opening the door.
ga newspaper man,
Every light in the house went out. The
girl scampered from the door, and it was
evident that it was not to be opened for his
admission
The reporter learned that Mrs. Selma
Gruner, female doctress, had assisted at
the BIRTH He wended his way to a neat
two-story house at los Greenvills avenue.
When he tapped at the door, an elderly
German lady thrust her head out OF a
second story window.
s'Now," she said, 81 don't feel at liberty
to say anything about the case for two rea-
sons. In the first place was employed in
the case the second place | am q per-
sonal fri the family
From anovS Dr. close friend of the family
the reporter learned, however, that on
Thursday last ago Mrs. Under gave birth to
a child. Mrs Gruner, the midwife. noticed
that its head was peculiar and unhuman.
AS it developed it quickly assumed the
shape of the head of sea lion. The head
is very small and round There is total
absence of the bony construction of the
nose, and the child is without any nasal
organ at all. Its under lip is like that of a
seal; it has no eyes, but there are cavities
IN the head where the eyes should be. It
takes its nourishment with the help of its
nose, which is practically its upper lip.
Another characteristic of the unfortunate
little creature is that it does not CRY like a
human child, but has the peculiar bel
low OF q Lsea lion. 1t also refuses
nourishment at the breast, and, while it
drinks milk administered to it, it seems to
take it without relish, and to be hungry for
other food after it has been fed. The re-
porter learned from the neighbors that
William Under, the husband, is a well to
German photographer, whose place of bust
ness is In New York. Like his wife, he is
short, thick set and of sturdy constitution
and ruddy complexion. He is somewhat
bow legged and is well known in Green
vile, and besides owning the house in
which he ives-which, by the way, is
commodious not unattractive frame strue-
ture, he is building several houses in the
neighborhood.
Mr.. and Mrs. Under have several child
rem, the Oldest boy of 10. The cause as
signed for the phenomenon is as singular
as the phenomenon itself Mr.. and Mrs.
Linder spent last summer on Staten Is
land. While there she one day visited an
Aquarium where among other things there
were several sea lions. She became deeply
interested in them and thereafter, while
she remained on the Island, paid frequent
visits to the aquarium and at each visit she
appeared to be the more enamored of the
beautiful animals.