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"Professor Owen concurs with the learned physicians of Charleston, Sour Carolina, whose testimonial was submitted to him by Mr. Morris, in the opinion that these children manifest no characteristics which ally them more closely than other human beings to the brute creation, they manifest, on the contrary, all the essential zoological distinctions of the human species; and their peculiarity depends, in Professor Owen's opinion, in an arrested development of the brain and brain-case, and in a minor degree of general stature

"The learned physicians state that they do not believe these people are dwarfs. "Museum, Royal College of Surgeons, London, June 30, 1853.

"J. M. MORRIS, ESQ."

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

We have pleasure in laying before our readers the impressions produced upon this noted author by a visit to the Aztec children, and which, at our request, he has kindly given us in writing:

"Having been induced, by the representations of a friend in whom I have confidence, to visit the Aztec children, at the Society Library, I cannot refrain from giving my impressions on seeing these extraordinary specimens of the genus

man.

"No words can describe my astonishment, at the very first glimpse I caught of these little beings of our race in "miniature," pigmies of the smallest size, yet every limb and part of the body, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, in the most perfect harmony and proportion. No deformity-no protuberances-no diminution of one part of the body at the expense of another, as is seen in dwarfs-no wrinkled, parchment skin-no sign of premature decay, but the whole body free from spot or blemish, and the whole figure in a most perfectly agreeable proportion."

NOTICES OF THE PRESS.

We have visited these little creatures, at different times, for six weeks, and can perceive that they make rapid improvement, both in understanding and in the power of speech. That they are not dwarfs is clear, from the perfect symmetry and conformation of parts, and the utter want of evidence that, in their physical development, the process of nature was arrested. We take no interest in monsters -we are not easily humbugged; here are wonders which we can visit frequently, and feel an additional interest in on each successive occasion.-Christian Adv. and Journal.

We have visited them again and again, with increased wonder, curiosity, and interest. They are to be studied, and no intelligent man can look on them without novel and profound emotions. There is nothing in the least disagreeable about their appearance-they are miniature children, strange specimens of humanity; and, while other children play with them, parents look on with amazement.-Christian Observer.

What they are, there is no doubt; whence they came may be a mystery, but their existence is a subject for intense study, and no intelligent, thoughtful person should fail to visit them. They are a living wonder; symmetrical, graceful, and amiable; there is nothing in their appearance or manners to offend, and they are caressed with fondness by the ladies, and children play with them familiarly. Yet they are mere pigmies; Liliputs, indeed.-Christian Evangelist.

These mysterious children are calling together hundreds who are curious to see them, and still more curious to learn something of their ancient history. As an instance of the varieties to which the human race is subject, under the working of the natural law, they are well worthy of examination and study.-Recorder. The head is scarcely larger than the clenched fist of a common man. The hair is black, glossy, and curly; the complexion a dark copper. One is in doubt at first whether they are human beings; but, in their sports, they manifest intelligence, and sometimes betray the passions of human nature, quarreling like every-day children.-Independent.

Their perfect proportions are different from dwarfs', who always exhibit some marked defect. Their tiny hands are perfectly well shaped-their heads are remarkably small-their features are peculiar, and unlike any we ever saw before, in character and expression. Strange to say, they appear to have no mode of communicating with each other by language, but have recently picked up a few expressions, such as "good-bye," and one or two others. They seem goodtempered and docile, readily obeying every direction of their exhibiters, and, also, to like the presence of spectators.-Churchman.

These children are simply abridgments or pocket editions of humanity-brighteyed, delicate-featured, olive-complexioned little elves, with dark, straight, glossy hair, well-proportioned heads, and animated and pleasing countenances. That their ages are honestly given, and that the boy weighs just about as many pounds as he is years old (twenty), while the girl is about half his age, and three pounds lighter, I see no reason at all for doubting. That they are human beings there can be no doubt; and they are not freaks of nature, but specimens of a dwindled, minikin race, who almost realize in bodily form our idea of the "brownies," "bogles," and other fanciful creations of a more superstitious age.-N. Y. Tribune.

Shown, unannounced, into a private room where these Aztec children were playing, we came upon them rather suddenly. The surprise was mostly on our part, however. Two strange-looking little creatures jumped up from the floor, and ran to shake hands with us, then darted quickly to a washstand and seized comb and hair-brush, to give to the attendant, that they might be made presentable to strangers-and, with the entire novelty of the impression, we were completely taken aback. If we had been suddenly dropped upon another planet, and had rung at the first door we came to, we should not have expected to see beings more peculiar. There was nothing monstrous in their appearance, though they were miraculously small. But they were of an entirely new type-a kind of human being which we had never before seen-with physiognomies formed by descent through ages of thought and association of which we had no knowledge→→→ moving, observing, and gesticulating differently from all other children-and, somehow, with an unexplainable look of authenticity and conscious priority, as if they were of the "old family" of human nature, and we were the mushrooms of to-day.-Home Journal.

Every renewed visit to the lecture room of the Society Library heightens the curiosity which persons in the least degree interested in ethnological science must feel while looking at these unique specimens of semi-humanity. They form an exceedingly novel and interesting object of study. We have introduced several friends to the exhibition, every one of whom has been both surprised and pleased, and not a little puzzled how to classify them. Some of their movements are childish-some almost baboonish; and yet they give undeniable evidences of intelligence and even quickness of perception; and we have thought that their introduction to so many visitors, since the exhibition was opened, has developed more fully the traits of intellectual character, and heightened the expression of their countenances. If this be so, the mystery of the whole subject is increased, We would sincerely advise readers to visit them; they form a pleasing tableau, a sight to be remembered for a lifetime; and when the discussions which will probably follow their exhibition arise, all intelligent persons will regret not having seen them.-N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

It will be exceedingly difficult for us to give our readers, by written words, an idea of the appearance of these strange beings; it would be impossible to express the emotions which their presence awakened. They are small-even below dwarfishness; but their size is their least impressive characteristic. Both are less than three feet in height, and they are pigmied by the approach of a wellgrown child of two years; but they present no appearance of imperfect development from either disease or infancy. None of these unmistakable evidences of dwarfishness awaken the pity or disgust of the beholder; and yet, in spite of their human form, the question immediately arises, What are they? ** The reflection of a few moments entirely sets aside the surmises that these creatures are the product of a freak of nature. They are evidently specimens of a race never yet seen by modern eyes, and of which we have no record save in the

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sacred writings, and in its own hieroglyphic records. In disposition they are lively and docilé-the girl, however, showing the peculiar willfulness and variability which are regarded as characteristic of her sex. Both are remarkably inquisitive and restless, and pass their time in running incessantly over the room, prying into everything they see.-New York Courier and Enquirer.

The Aztec children are still the most remarkable attractions in the city, and are daily visited by large audiences. They are certainly the greatest curiosities of the human race ever seen in this country. The boy, about twenty years old, weighs only twenty pounds; the girl is thirteen years old, and weighs seventeen pounds. They are of a race which has but few surviving members.-New York Journal of Commerce.

There is a remarkable degree of interest attached to these singular beings; they are unlike anything in the human form ever seen before; they are no less a curiosity, come from what source they may-and the greatest natural curiosity existing. Nothing can be imagined more singular than their appearance, and nothing more interesting than the mental developments they exhibit. Their origin and history, as related by Mr. Morris, is highly interesting and instructive. -Phil. Ledger.

Along with many thousands of our fellow-citizens, we have paid several most agreeable visits to those diminutive, but perfect, specimens of humanity, the Aztec children. They are at least very great curiosities, and most wonderful representatives of the diversified family of man, and have been viewed with astonishment by all beholders. Without being dwarfs, they are certainly the smallest specimens of humanity, fully, and even beautifully developed, that have ever been seen or described, except through the imagination of Swift, who, were he consulted by a spiritual medium, would probably recognize them as tho veritable offspring of some of his old friends in Liliput. They have the senses in the ordinary perfection; they are intelligent, playful, and happy; and seem fully to understand that they are the points of attraction which bring together so many curious and admiring people. But what more can we say in regard to these little curiosities, when we say that the learned Medical Convention of Pennsylvania, before whom they were exhibited, could do no more than unanimously resolve that they were highly interesting specimens of diminutive human beings, well worthy the attention of the naturalist, the physician, and the public generally. * * ** **-Godey's Lady's Book.

These children are worthy of every attention from the public. Perfect in symmetry, active, intelligent, and docile, they offer an example of decorum that might well become higher grades and conditions of civilized life. Relics of an ancestry whose existence is a marvel and a mystery, and who filled, in some respects, a noble part in the history of humanity; who can fail to look upon them with the greatest interest? They belong to a nation compared to which our European rise and origin is, as it were, of but yesterday. What vast empires have risen and fallen beneath their gaze? It is a little singular that none of our physiologists have been able to determine their age. Their lateral incisor, molar and cuspid teeth are well developed, and they are physically strong and well formed. It will be remembered that this is never the fact with dwarfs.-Philadelphia Saturday Post.

To the curious, and all who are fond of contemplating the wonders of nature and of art, these singular specimens of humanity present an object of the most interesting character. But they have a special claim on the attention of physiologists-the man of science, and the moralist. If any suppose that they are to be numbered among the thousand-and-one humbugs, and catchpenny shows, that are daily soliciting and obtaining the patronage of the public, we beg leave to assure them that they are under a great mistake. Notwithstanding the air of romance in the story that accompanies them, no one can examine them without being perfectly satisfied that they are veritable human beings-possessing not only all the corporal organs and functions belonging to the species, but the essential attributes of the human mind, exhibiting an astonishing degree of intelligence and sprightliness, without the least evidence of idiocy on the one hand, or the craft of the monkey on the other. ** ***

-N. Y Christian Observer.

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THE above three figures, sketched from engravings in STEPHENS' "Central America," will be found, on personal comparison, to bear a remarkable and convincing resemblance, both in the general features and the position of the head, to the two living Aztec Children now exhibiting in the United States, of the ancient caste of Karnas, or Pagan Mimes, from the city of Iximaya. (See the following Memoir, pages 30-31.)

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These two figures, sketched from the same work, are said, by Senor VELASQUEZ, in the unpublished portion of his narrative, to be "irresistible likenesses" of the equally exclusive but somewhat more numerous priestly caste of Mahaboons, still existing in that city, and to which belonged VAALPECR, the official guardian of those children, as mentioned in this memoir. VELASQUEZ states that the likeness of VAALPEOR to the right-hand figure in the frontispiece of STEPHENS' second volume-which is here also the one on the right hand-was as exact, in outline

as if the latter had been a daguerreotype miniature.

In the accompanying illustration, also sketched from an engraving in STEPHENS' "Central America," will be further traced the peculiar features of the little Aztecs.

The annexed concluding sketch gives the full costume of the Mahaboons, in their priestly character, and of the Aztecs in an ordinary garb. The full particulars of the discovery of these Aztec children will be found in the following pages, and will be read with much interest. Th reliability of this history cannot be absolutely guaranteed, but its

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apparent truthfulness, fairness, and candor, coupled with the

presence of these strange little beings themselves, otherwise wholly unaccounted for, will go far towards its support. While the reader will be enabled to judge better, concerning these accounts, by a perusal of the late works published concerning Central America, he will not fail, on examination of these children, to find many curious theories of the past sustained by the striking likenesses of the children to races which have unquestionably long preceded the present inhabitants of this continent.

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