The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-31
PROBLEM FOR SCIENTISTS.
Rema rkabie Case Now Being Studied
at Sioux Fails.

Students of anthropology from
number of scientific institutions OF the
country are interesting themselves in
the case of two children recently ad-
mitted TO the children's home in Sioux
Falls, S. ID. Last August the home au-
thorities were called upon to interfere
in behalf of these children, who up to
that time had been confined since their
birth in a small room, with no asSocia-
ton but their mother, and who. al
though the elder child is eight years
old, had never worn any clothes.
From the day OF their birth they had
been without clothing of any kind. The
confines of the small room permitted
OF no exercise, and up TO the present
time they have not learned to talk
simply emitting gutterGl sounds. They
are unmoved by pain or emotion, ana
in action and habits resemble oysters
more than they do human beings.
Prof. Mason, of the Smithsonian In
stitution. and Prof. Giddings, of CO.
lumbia College, hearing of these chill
dren, will soon make personal inves-
LEGATION into their cases. 1t is believed
that their present condition may be
attributed to lack of association and
education, and if this theory proves
correct they will have to be treated as
newborn babes. 1t is a question for
scientists to answer, and calls up the
query, To what extent are association
and education responsible for the de-
velopment Of the human being?"
Ii may be hard TO believe that the
children OF native-born Pennsylvanians
could be reduced TO such a condition of
semi-conSciousnesS. Emotion, joy, sor-
rsnk a NJ rai i'm nv NIL 10 hAr
They cannot walk, the nearest ap.
proach TO motion being an effort to
raise and lower their feet, without be-
ing able TO make any advancement or
progress in the way of walking. The
simple habits of childhood are UNI
known 10 them, and yet they are not
feeble minded. Supt. Sherrard declares
that no institution for the feeble mind
ed in the country can produce an OBJ
ject SO inert and so dormant as these
children, yet they have bright, pleas
ant faces, always serious and never
showing the slightest change Of eX-
preston. They will remain in one po-
sition for hours without a movement,
and when asleep they are as white as
marble statues.
1t is believed that the children never
received moments care from their
mother, who has kept herself locked up
with them for years. during which time
she is supposed never to have spoken
TO them or lavished the least affection
upon them. When discovered il was
necessary for the authorities to break
down the door TO obtain an entrance to
the room. The mother and three chill,
dTen were entirely destitute of cloth
ing. with only a bundle of rags in a
corner OF the room for a bed. Even
Wi hA aa nj hi
incident not the least sign OF under
standing was apparent in any of the
children. Since then the neighbors
have compelled the mother TO dress
herself and take exercise, and they
have succeeded in arousing some of her
dormant energy. One of the children
there were three of them taken from
their home-has been given a home by
a family who are deeply interested in
watching the development of the mind
and physical energy that is expected to
come to the child with association and
education.
The father is a laboring man who
seems to Lave unconsciously drifted
along and refrigerated at an even pace
with his family. Students who have
given this case some consideration do
not hesitate to say that but few years
could have elapsed before this entire
family would have been reduced TO a
state of barbarism: they would all
have lost their voices. the use of the
senses. and their physiques would have
deterioTated to such an extent that
they would be perfectly helpless. This
was the condition of the three children.
and the parents were fast drifting to
the same level.
Since their rescue there are signs OF
.z.s., b. 81
and the eight year-old boy is beginning
ia Dotic. objects