In September 1731, villagers in Songy in the French province of Champagne saw a strange girl stealing apples from an orchard
In September 1731, villagers in Songy in the French province of Champagne saw a strange girl stealing apples from an orchard. The girl was dark-skinned, barefoot, wearing animal skins, and carrying a club. When a dog from the village went after the girl, she killed it with a single blow, then climbed a tree and hid among the branches. In time they were able to coax the girl down and capture her. They estimated that the girl was between 10 and 18 years old. After a thorough washing it was determined that she was actually fair-skinned. The girl had long, claw-like nails and spoke only in shrieks and growls, and she astonished the villagers by eating raw meat. When she was forced to eat cooked meat, she couldn’t keep it down, and after being kept on a “civilized diet” her teeth began to fall out. The girl’s origin was a mystery and her case made her something of a celebrity. She eventually learned to speak French and was given the name Marie-Angรฉlique Memmie Le Blanc. How Marie...