The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-07-04
From The National Gdzeiie.
SONS OE HEKCII rs

of Runsscl, who made his appearance IN
London, Induced me In refer In some notes
taken few years since IN France, where !
Witnessed several exhibitions a. MS aston
ishing muscular powers, have hfhertr
considered my accounts rs shfotleg too
much of thr mar, rlious, Gr The crednlli,
oil most readers, aud would scarcely d,r,
10 offer ynu TIN article were not The prlntl
pal laels pmtaliy confirmed by your own
noiice.
Among n greld many public exhibitions
| | have Witnessed none with more interest
aud pleasure thau the surprising athletic
teals of Two brothers named Ronsbel.-~
They are natives of Lille, III the Depart
mont of Nord, and hencc derive their ap
pelLtion of LIS Hacnies dc .bord, They
have slster, who partaklug oilheir nature
Is a + digy, aud scarcely 10 be called Ie-
mlHur.
Nature has east these two brothers IN
her finest mould, Il so alike rs Ia render II
sometimes Difficult, 10 tell them apart,
They are not like the rough hewn objects
we sometimes see, aud nhose clumsy
strength we seldom notice. Every motion
seems To be regulated by grace AMI science,
which not only renders them more power.
tnl, but greatly Increases thn interest of
their exhibitions. The classic taste which
prevails throughout that country, and Is
seen most Cousl cuouRly ON the stage, has
Lecn infused inlo these brothers, who have
been instructed TO initiate gladiaiors ia
their pastures aud moli0ns, and really re
present their conflicts with great eleel.---
Their wrestling IS the struggling oil Two
champions, aud ddling lis continuance We
might fancy ourselves seated ~ g5mun-
stun, aud witnessing The sports ol anliqui
~ Their attitudes aud motions display
a combination Of strength aud activity such
as W. associate with the models of ancient
artists. Their forces, equally balanced,
seemed aonIeliea exhausted III frnliless At
trmpis Ia ovefinrn each other. Occasion
ally some advantage would enable one oi
ia, champions To throw his aniHgouist With
irresistible strength al considerable dla-
iMncc, who, aighting IN his feet, aud fecoh-
ny ia al instant, cGtNincd his limbs with
thooe Of his adversary aud the Struggle was
renewed with fresh ygor.
Duang the period Of admiration excited
~ these scenes, | could have pmdoned
Rome, had she stopped here but the are
ma stained with blood, aud the torn Pladia
tor lriamphng over nature, sitting his
pangs, and uncontrolled showing how grace
fully he could heave the last breath,
H. mentioning some particular Facts, !
am forced to speak IN the singular, because
Of the difficulty Of distinguishing one from
the other.
Hercules commenced with llling 40 IRON
weights of 80 pounds each, belonging 10
the Custom House making a burden,
lno Guiding the large board upon which
they were placed, exceeding 1000 pounds.
Placing his feet upon table Two feet
high, whore They were firmly secured, aud
bending backwards with curve which en.
ablcd him to rest his he'd on The lloor--in
this very announcement posture he received
Il 30 ID. weight in his hnnd aud lold.ug II
perpendcularly, by violent exeriion, rais-
I'd himself upright upon the table
Hercules took his brother upon one
shoulder, aud man of equal weight
upon The other leach weighing nearly 600
pounds, aud walked round the stage
for considerable Time upon his toes only
with apparent ease and great precision.
lIpculcs with Gne hand seized ns bro-
lher by the clothes about the hip, raised him
above his head, aud threw him mote than
/ feel from him. No injury resulted 10
Ibis last, whose activity enabled him 10 II.
light upon hi ie't
Many Other reats csnccd the superior
human strength Of thsac brothers. Then
actleity is quite proporiiopate To then
strength. THIS is demonstrated by very
many experiments, amOUs which are the
following.
Two men, six feet in height, staod side
by side about four feet ap.tt. They caci
held 4 hat in the hand nearest each other
and elevated them rs high rs they coult
reach. Standing between them, Heron
les made "A p.rpendicular leap wlihou
any other start Or assistance, and knocket
down both hats at the same instant viii
his feet.
Two hats were hung against the SIDE
scenes about ten feel IN height Aided b.
short start ACROSS the stage, Hercule
knocked them down with lis feet.
These exploits were SO uethodcally AZ
ragged, as 10 afford scientific display o
the musclts moving the various parts 81 Il
body. The first experiments showed thei
united strength wI.llal the minor feals scrs
I'd as II analysis
CotjOcd hfcheag.- One Mrs. Mar
Searsled Wa brought before the magis
iraie BY a constable, who deposed, that h
, found her bcstridug her prostraic husban
and trying 9Th all her might to choak hin
| Nv twisting lis neckclOth
Dir. ScarsfeId had something SO yer
J termagaotiah in her appearance, thatit W
evident to every oody, She would eonsid'
: the eboahng Of bali dozen husbands
7, mere tribe. Her age might be about 4
n her person was tail and very lean, her Ski
: like wet parchment. her mouth wide, Il,