ecreation 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