Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-19
From the chronological Magazine.
The Life Of a Giantess.

Miss Sylvia Hardy, the lady now being exhibited
at Barnum's American Museum as the Maine
Giantess," is q woman Of peculiar and remarkable
characteristics. In birth and descent, she is thor
oughly American. She was born In 1925, in the
village of Wilton, Franklin county, State of Maine
Her father, who died at thrty-six, and before she
was six years old, was born In the same village
Her mother, who still lives and Is now hfty-sev
was born in Falmouth, N aine. Her grandmother
was born in the same town. Her grandfather was
born in Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts,.
Miss Hardy was at birth one of the smallest OF
infants DR.. Barker, Of Wilton, who attended her
mother at the time, used to remark that he had
never seen anything, even of the twin kind, 30 d.
minutive. Her twin brother died at q very early
age Both together only weighed, We are assured,
three and half pounds.
Miss Hardy remained q child Of very ordinary
size until she was twelve years Of age, when she
suddenly took to growing with q rapidity that
alarmed her friends and startled all her acquain-
tances. As she had FIVE sisters, one OF whom was
older than herself, all Of whom were rather below
than above the common stature Of the sex, her
growth was the more surprising
At thirteen, Miss Hardy was tall. At fourteen,
she was novelty. At fifteen, she was a wonder
She increased in this extraordinary manner until
she attained her twenty-hrst year, when she re-
NAMED stationary for about four years. During
this period Of rapid growth, Il was impossible TO
make her clothing ct her with anything like CON-
mon accuracy. She seemed 10 alter each day.
She probably altered each week.
The dress that became her one month was there
fore useless the next and thus, for nine years IL
was necessary to make all her apparel with super
fuous tucks and folds, In order 10 accommodate
them to her condition.
One effect Of this clongsfing process was, Of
course, constant III health. She was excessively
thin, and could not, under the circumstances, be-
come any stouter. She was so weak as TO be al
most unable TO stand.
Her bones could not strengthen In substance
sufficiently fast for their continued expansion and
so grew painfully brittle. In attempting TO walk,
therefore, one day, she fell 70 the ground and frac
tured leg seriously Nature, however, In the &C.
lerity of her physical developments soon remedied
the evil, and thus the cause subsequently aided in
the cure
Miss Hardy Is now about 80 years Of age. She
has grown about seven inches since she was twen-
ty-one and Is nearly eight feet high at the present
moment. She weighs three hundred and forty-siI,
pounds, is massivey proportioned, robust, matron-
" in her appearance, symmetrical In figure, but
inclined.to stoop, las most tall people are,) habit
acquired in her native village, where her gigantic
height subjected her TO a scrutiny on the part Of
strangers, most annoying TO her bashful nature.
Her features are large. The expression Of her
face, If not handsome, u amiable her disposi-
uoh N nhu anu Benue W picnshlB ucBrte.
Her voice Is somewhat coarse, but not unmusical.
Her movements are easy and graceful, although,
having never before left her village home, she is
~ yet unsophisticated in fashionable ways, and
moves and acts with timidity that little more
acquaintance with public life viii readily remove
The Rev. VIM. Badger, Of Wilton, DIR. Barker,
DR.. Peaseee, Columbus Gray, ESQ.,, attorney at law,
Of the same place. indeed nearly all Of the respects
BILE portion Of the population Of Wilton and East
Wilton know Miss Hardy well, and speak Of her
moral character in terms Of the highest regard
She certainly is one Of the most wonderful natural
phenomena Of the age.