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etween the forearms and hands； while snarling and snapping at everybody who approaches too near。 The wolf…child has little except his outward form to show that it is a human being with a soul。 It is a fearful and terrible thing； and hard to understand； that the mere fact of a child's complete isolation from its own kind should bring it to such a state of absolute degradation。 Of course； they speak no language； though some； in time； have learned to make known their wants by signs。 When first taken they fear the approach of adults； and； if possible； will slink out of sight； but should a child of their own size； or smaller； come near； they will growl； and even snap and bite at it。 On the other hand； the close proximity of 〃pariah〃 dogs or jackals is unresented； in some cases welcomed； for I have heard of them sharing their food with these animals； and even petting and fondling them。 They have in time been brought to a cooked…meat diet； but would always prefer raw flesh。 Some have been kept alive after being reclaimed for as long as two years； but for some reason or other they all sicken and die； generally long before that time。 One would think； however； that； having undoubtedly robust constitutions； they might be saved if treated in a scientific manner and properly managed。〃
Rudyard Kipling； possibly inspired by accounts of these wolf…children in India； has ingeniously constructed an interesting series of fabulous stories of a child who was brought up by the beasts of the jungles and taught their habits and their mode of communication。 The ingenious way in which the author has woven the facts together and interspersed them with his intimate knowledge of animal…life commends his 〃Jungle…Book〃 as a legitimate source of recreation to the scientific observer。
Among observers mentioned in the 〃Index Catalogue〃 who have studied this subject are Giglioli； Mitra； and Ornstein。
The artificial manufacture of 〃wild men〃 or 〃wild boys〃 in the Chinese Empire is shown by recent reports。 Macgowan says the traders kidnap a boy and skin him alive bit by bit； transplanting on the denuded surfaces the hide of a bear or dog。 This process is most tedious and is by no means complete when the hide is completely transplanted； as the subject must be rendered mute by destruction of the vocal cords； made to use all fours in walking； and submitted to such degradation as to completely blight all reason。 It is said that the process is so severe that only one in five survive。 A 〃wild boy〃 exhibited in Kiangse had the entire skin of a dog substituted and walked on all fours。 It was found that he had been kidnapped。 His proprietor was decapitated on the spot。 Macgowan says that parasitic monsters are manufactured in China by a similar process of transplantation。 He adds that the deprivation of light for several years renders the child a great curiosity； if in conjunction its growth is dwarfed by means of food and drugs； and its vocal apparatus destroyed。 A certain priest subjected a kidnapped boy to this treatment and exhibited him as a sacred deity。 Macgowan mentions that the child looked like wax； as though continually fed on lardaceous substances。 He squatted with his palms together and was a driveling idiot。 The monk was discovered and escaped； but his temple was razed。
Equilibrists。Many individuals have cultivated their senses so acutely that by the eye and particularly by touch they are able to perform almost incredible feats of maintaining equilibrium under the most difficult circumstances Professional rope…walkers have been known in all times。 The Greeks had a particular passion for equilibrists； and called them 〃neurobates；〃 〃oribates；〃 and 〃staenobates。〃 Blondin would have been one of the latter。 Antique medals showing equilibrists making the ascent of an inclined cord have been found。 The Romans had walkers both of the slack…rope and tight…rope Many of the Fathers of the Church have pronounced against the dangers of these exercises。 Among others； St。 John Chrysostom speaks of men who execute movements on inclined ropes at unheard…of heights。 In the ruins of Herculaneum there is still visible a picture representing an equilibrist executing several different exercises； especially one in which he dances on a rope to the tune of a double flute； played by himself。 The Romans particularly liked to witness ascensions on inclined ropes； and sometimes these were attached to the summits of high hills； and while mounting them the acrobats performed different pantomimes。 It is said that under Charles VI a Genoese acrobat； on the occasion of the arrival of the Queen of France； carried in each hand an illuminated torch while descending a rope stretched from the summit of the towers of Notre Dame to a house on the Pont au Change。 According to Guyot…Daubes； a similar performance was seen in London in 1547。 In this instance the rope was attached to the highest pinnacle of St。 Paul's Cathedral。 Under Louis XII an acrobat named Georges Menustre； during a passage of the King through Macon； executed several performances on a rope stretched from the grand tower of the Chateau and the clock of the Jacobins； at a height of 156 feet。 A similar performance was given at Milan before the French Ambassadors； and at Venice under the Doges and the Senate on each St。 Mark's Day； rope…walkers performed at high altitudes。 In 1649 a man attempted to traverse the Seine on a rope placed between the Tour de Nesles and the Tour du Grand…Prevost。 The performance； however； was interrupted by the fall of the mountebank into the Seine。 At subsequent fairs in France other acrobats have appeared。 At the commencement of this century there was a person named Madame Saqui who astonished the public with her nimbleness and extraordinary skill in rope walking。 Her specialty was military maneuvers。 On a cord 20 meters from the ground she executed all sorts of military pantomimes without assistance； shooting off pistols； rockets； and various colored fires。 Napoleon awarded her the title of the first acrobat of France。 She gave a performance as late as 1861 at the Hippodrome of Paris。
In 1814 there was a woman called 〃La Malaga；〃 who； in the presence of the allied sovereigns at Versailles； made an ascension on a rope 200 feet above the Swiss Lake。
In the present generation probably the most famous of all the equilibrists was Blondin。 This person； whose real name was Emile Gravelet； acquired a universal reputation； about 1860 he traversed the Niagara Falls on a cable at an elevation of nearly 200 feet。 Blondin introduced many novelties in his performances。 Sometimes he would carry a man over on his shoulders； again he would eat a meal while on his wire； cook and eat an omelet； using a table and ordinary cooking utensils； all of which he kept balanced。 In France Blondin was almost the patron saint of the rope…walkers； and at the present day the performers imitate his feats； but never with the same grace and perfection。
In 1882 an acrobat bearing the natural name of Arsens Blondin traversed one river after another in France on a wire stretched at high altitudes。 With the aid of a balancing…rod he walked the rope blindfolded； with baskets on his feet； sometimes he wheeled persons over in a