The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-02-02
Dumb Like Animals /.

Sioux Fails. s. d. February students
Of anthropoIegy from Il number of scien-
tific institutions of the country are inter
esting themselves in the case OF two
children recently admitted to the child
ren's home in this city. Last August the
home authorities were called upon to In
terfere in behalf of these children. VINO
Up 70 that tine had been confined since
their birth in a small room, with no asso-
citation 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 CT
no exercise. and up 20 the present time
they have not learned TO talk-simply
! emitting gutteraI sounds They are I'M
moved by. pain or emotion. and in action
and habits resemble oysters more than
they do human beings
Professor Mason OF the Smithsonian
Institution, and Professor Giddings. OF
Columbia College. hearing OF these child
rem, Will soon make personal investiga-
ton into their cases II is believed that
their present condition may be attributed
to lack of association and education, and
Il this theory proves correct, they win
have 10 be treated as new born babes. It
IS q question for scientists 10 answer, and
calls up the query. To what extent are
association and education responsible for
the development Of the human being?'
1t may be hard to believe that the child
rem Of native born Pennsylvania could
be reduced To such condition. of seri-un-
consciousness. Emotion, JOY, sorrow and
pain are unknown to them. They cannot
walk. the nearest approach to motion be-
ing an effort TO raise and lower their feet.
without being able to make any advance
The simple habits of childhood are IN
known TO them, and yet they are not fee
bic minded Superintendent Sherrard de-
clares that no institution for the feeble
minded in the country can produce an
object 50 inert and so dormant as these
children. yet they have bright, pleasant
i-faces, always serious, and never showing
the slightest change of expression. They
will remain in one position for hours
without a movement, and when asleep
they are as white as marble statues.
It is believed that the children never re-
ceived q moments care from their moth
er, who has kept herself locked UP with
them for years. during which time she is
supposed never 10 have spoken TO them
or avished the least affection upon them
( When discovered. it was necessary for
the authorities to break down the door TO
obtain an entrance to the room The
mother and three children were entirely
destitute of clothing with only bundle
of rags in corner of the room for "A bed.
Even with the excitement attendant on
! this incident not the least sign of under
standing was apparent in any of the
| children. Since then the neghbors have
compelled the mother to dress herself
| and take exercise. and they have sue
Fceeded in arousing some Of her dormant
/ energy. One of the chldren-there We're
| three of them taken from their home
has been given home by family who
| are deeply interested in watching the de-
! velopment of the mind and physical en-
| ergy that is expected to come 10 the child
with association and education.
/ The father is laboring man who seems
1 to have unconsciously drifted along and
/ refrigerated at an even pace with his fam
/ lily. Students who have given this case
| some consideration do not hesitate to
! say that but few years could have elaps-
| ed before this entire family would have
! been reduced to state of barbaTism
! they would all have lost their voice, the
use of their senses. and their physiques
would have deteriorated to such an eX-
| tent that they would be perfectly help
| less. This was the condition of the three
/ children. and the parents We're fast drift
/ ing to the same level,
| Since their rescue there are signs of re-
/ turning activity with the children. and the
! eight-year-old boy is beginning to notice
objects.