The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-30
MEME, THE ESKIMO BOY.
REMA RKABLE PROGRESS OF THE WAIF
FROM THE ARCTIC

A Child of Savage Parents who Has Sud-
denly Acquired CiViliLation-Above the
Average Standing of Pupils in His Grade
at the Public School-His characteristics.
Remarkable progress has been made In the
education OF Meme. the Eskimo boy brought
here by Mr.. Peary. The boy lives at the home
OF William Wallace. superintendent OF the Mu-
scum Of Natural History or the other Es-
kimos in the party. four died and one Mia
kanasia. a young man about % years OF age
returned to his Arctic home with Mr. Peary
Little Meme, whose mother had died in Green
land and who was left an orphan by ths death
here OF his father, was left In charge OF Super
intendent Wallace as he had become we'll
and strong and gave every promise OF sur
vivinR in this new and trying climate And,
furthermore. he was such bright, lively
and interesting little fellow that Mr.. Wallace
and Others connected with the museum took
deep interest in his welfare. Scientific mon
have been watching his progress with great
deal Of interest. and what he has accom- plshed
Is remarkable. when one considers the difl-
culties under which he labors
The advancement and progress Of this lit
tie waif OF the north puzzles us ALL" said one
OF those who have been Watching him. Less
than two years ago he landed In New York
vertable little savage He comes from a tribe
OF people who lnhabt the most northern spot
on the face OF the sarth-the Smith Sound Es-
kmos. This region is 800 miles within the
Arctic Circle. or about halfway bet Heen the
Circle and the Pole. So far north are they
that they are com petey isolated all the year
round from the rest OF the world. This re-
gon has a summer day and winter night
each Of which Is about as long as 10 OF our
DAYS. while the remainder OF the year-that Is
a couple Of months In the spring and the same
NOR cd n fal-ia Lpn nm nj n n ph re nd
DAYS OF swiftly changing lengths. When Lieut.
Peary left this region In 1897 the community
numbered 234 souls These people exist
wholly upon the flesh Of the seal. walrus. bear
and few species Of birds found in this desc.
late region. Rarely has one Of them ever
tasted vegetable food. They know little or
nothing OF the outside world. have no religious
ceremonies. and practically no concern for the
future life their only ex planation Of death be-
ing that when an Eskimo dies he has gone
down in the water where there is better fish
ing and hunting. Their language is exceed
ngly limited, being confined almost wholly to
words EXPIRE ssve of the objects about them
and their various uses. They are exceedingly
hardy and healthy and live to a good old age
Their DESPERATE struggle for existence in this
desolate region has cultivated in them GER
tain kind OF keenness and intelligence which is
indeed remark able.
Little Meme Is a splendid example OF this
curious race Of people. He certainly possesses
a natural in .elligence fully equal to that Of the
average child born OF civilized parents. Very
few children OF his age make faster progress
at school than little Meme has made since last
November. when he first entered school. When
one stops to consider that less than two years
ago he had never seen a tree or shrub or a
blade Of grass. had rarely il ever seen the bare
oil fhoa t,bf fnrc
perienced the delight of bath with soap and
water. and for aught he knew this big earth
was one drearv waste Of perpetual ice and
snow. his transformation from little savage
to a bright. clearly little schoolboy in so short
q time is n marvel.
How this progress is possible puzzles US.
You know brains and intelligence are largely
matter of cultivation through successive
generations. You couldn't, make much pro-
sasss. WON Rs from some S Of the tribes
OF the islands Of :he sea. They do not possess
the natural intelilgence and are only capable
Meme had ms humble an origin as the savage
youngster.o' the tropics. and nature denied
HIM and his ancestors almost every oppor-
tunity for cultivation and progress. yet he
dropss into our civilized customs and picks up
child OF civilized narents.
This native 1seliisenre i TIE ma ARE n
ninp IN hi. Way remak
able memory. DISPLAYS good judgment and
taste in everything he does: has an eager de-
every new subject which comes before him. is
kind and sNymrathetic. 3hedtept and clsrnly TO
of course had the habits OF a savage. but to-
day he is as cIeany and correct In his deport-
ment as the average youngster and In TACT he
I'VE know. Of course. that brains and inteli-
gence are largely matter OF climate. While
flnement or culture among the natives Of the
tropics. neither do we look for such qualities
many many tribes innab.ing the extreme cold por
tons Of the earth the.natre intelligence OF
the inhabitants is on par with those OF the
take:Mene san exam ple there seems to be q
notable execution You kno ", the children
hold all culture in contempt.
1T NAV be that generations Of culture and re-
ays
desire, and longing for knowledge, Possibly
been lying dormant in the ,Eskimos for gen.
erations and only needed the orp,rtunty to
1t is certainly singular fact that a people who
| exist where nature has actually wiped ont all
and denied them he use Of every
from them t!wo-hird- OF the sunliGht which
warns and cheers our existence. should retain
low savage and ALMOST ANNA! mode Of life, |
predict that II little Mene's, life Is. spared he
viii grew IN, a. bright and intellisent man;
the first party to reach the North Pole;"
Mr.. LYONS. principal Of the public school at
| Mount Hope. which Meme attended last win
ter. said, II consider him the most remark
able child that ever came under my observa-
ton. When no FIRST came here last fall l APP
pretended serious difficulties In manv ways.
| ! thought that the entrance OF such strange
| little character among our pupils would result
| in continual confusion as he would naturally
be an object Of curiosity to all the school. and
would he teased and ANNOYED beyond epdur,
ance;; But we have never had the least bit OF
| trouble on that score. He INN ed lately be-
came popular with the entire school, md in a
few DAYS he mingled with the pupils and par.
| ticpated in their play Just like any other
child; He seemed determined hat there
| should be nothing odd about him. oven II he
was an Eskimo, OF course. his greatest dim;
,ulty vas the language, bur his application and
| excellent memory stood him in good stead.
and he can understand almost any ordinary
| sentence. One would naturally suppose that
he would want every ulaything which he saw
the others have for the most he ever had in his
native home was possibly a bone for a shinney
stick and another bone for ball. hut he does
| not seem to be overcOvetOus, although he en-.
JOYS playthings as much as other children.
| We put him in with n class OF hfty-hve
| children. and he keeps UP with them and gets
promoted with Me rest. He is above tina ay-
! In In 10 In urhip ha