Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-14
A NATURAL %cuRIosIrYi

Mr. Editcr,- In travelling a fow days since ia my
nauve county. Bedford. I saw a prodigy to which I
w.ss to invite public attention. This prodigy j.
sr yossphos Henry Chsfia. lie 10 near seven,s en-
years old u I've feet four inches high and weighs
,wen'y, three pounds. lie wrs n Lilipu,isn at III.
o"th FOR more than hve years he has not grown
peteephbly and il Is not likely that hi. stature
vi, DC inetea,ed, as his counteuance Indicates tina,
ne has passed the meridian &C life. OF his form.
owing 10 the looseness Of his dress, | could no, yo,v
accurately Judge. His head Is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
large, but by no means monsirous. He hasa .li,h,
protot GRANGE on his back. which is not visible
through his clothing and tic muscles which con.
'raei The hand are inactive. Ia all other re,pee,s Al
iar as l could observe or learn, his structure snJ
ms functions, arc perfect. Ha stands erect. walks.
runs and leaps like other bipcls; and, strange a, i,
may appear, bel ~ an adept in PLAYING marbles. OF
which game he Is fond. Hi, cuunten,nce /, crave
,n'elngent and pleasant. or the powers OF his mind
l had but little opportunity Of judging. He cannot
'cid; out MS aunt. who has charge of him, inform
co me 'hat when he was sent to school Zoe a short
period, he learned readily. Io is fond IL conyer
sat'on. deemed witty by his neighbors, and has a
good talent Tor mimicry. I saw him myself initial.
a vulture, summing itself, and spreading is winss.
with striking accuracy and effect. said to hun
"Msster Chaffin, IL Is a pity You cinnot go to
school you might become a scholar" YES" he
promptly replied, "and a teacher too" told him
| was spprehens,ve tho little boys and girls would
overrun him. "No," said he, "they would'nL"-
And he spoke With a hcmness which indicated that
W euAhotNg hNN WI u Wos w ttcat
doubt, os TO whether, in case Of an insurrec,ion
among the little urchins, Master Chaain, with a re.
glmon' OF his peers to aid him, would be able TO
maintain IL.
MIR Chafhn processes TO he a connoisseur. was
INTRODUCED To this wonderful man at a religious
meeting IN his neighborhOod. That | might enjoy
a good opportunity OF eul,lvating his acquaintance,
l look MN on my arm, and carried him into the
woods. A crowd soon collected around us among
the rest, three young ladies came. Hc was request.
eu OY one OF lis netshhlrs IN ee1aef Inc hant.An.a.s
AFTER surveying then very carefully for some time.
nc pointed at the lady TO whom he awarded the
honor. l differed with Master Josephus in jud.
menti but 1t was a mere matter Of task, and per.
heps he was right. and | was wrong.
lhive seen tho Living Skelcton,nI have seen nm
exact likeness OF the Siamese Twins in wax, but |
have never seen any being in human form, nor in.
deed any other object, 80 wonderful, and so interest.
ing, rs this dwarf, and doubt whether the world has
everseen a full groSn nan so small. | should have
deemed a sight OF him an ample compensation Tor
the expense and toll Of my trip TO the upper
country. "
MIR Z. and bis relations are poor but respectable.
l suggested TO his aunt the propriety OF exhibiting
him In tome OF our large cities. The thought was
not new to her; but she seemed s~cep,ical us 10 the
result OF the experiment, and shrank from il with a
commendable modesty. | believe the public would
be greatly gratihed by the exhibition. And III am
not deceived, when the knowledge Of this prodigy
shall have been diffused through the community, the
family will be compelled, in self defence, 10 comply
with the general wish for his exhibition.
Mr. Chafin resides near the mouth of Otter river.
twenty miles from Lynehburg, and ten from New
London. IL Is 10 be hoped that some Of the medical
faculty will visit him, and furnish the public with n
more particular and correct account Of this extraor.
binary being. II is proper that | should state, that
l learned, from various sources in the neighborhood,
that among the ancestors Of this man, there has
been several marriages within near degrees Of con-
sanguinity. ]. b. JETER.