The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-12-09
For the Spirit.
LUSUS NATURAE

~ ". II 1GN0
az 'a ..f'9i7 For the Spirit
-M5 "a LUSUS NATURAE hH5r
Mr.. EDIroR:-I can hardly say, that I
approve of a taste, for hunting out, the
freaks and deformi,ies of dame Nature,
mnch less exposing them to the gaze of
the crowd, and catering to the lore fthe
marvelous, 'at,ralto all young persons;
and unfortunately, to many old babies,
also both grand-fathers and grand d-mothers
who have been cursed, with ignorance,
sup, rstition and very limited views of men
aud things. Hence depr, tie exceed
ingly and never fail to denounce, on all
proper occasions; the flooding any COM
munity. with the confessions, or rather
romantic trash, of pickpockets, highway
men, burglars, murderers, pirates, prosti-
tutes or even magdalens. But have
upen reflection and permission, of their
parents, concluded to report, by your per-
mission, the following tusus maturae. On
NJ onday evening the 30th Nov. On my
way home from a meeting held at Dover
Belmont Co. o. Icalled at the house of
Mr.. Conner, father of Hannah Conner,
vulgarly known as the fat girl But call
ed by gentlemen and ladies, such as /
found Mr.. and Mrs. Conner, and some of
their near neighbors, the prodigy Of Cats
Run. She was oa that day, precisely four
years and four months old. She weighed
in my presence one hundred and twenty
Eve pounds, and measured exactly four
feet in height. She would have been
thought by a stranger, taking superficial
view, rather good looking, fresh, rosy
aud very feshy, German girl, of fifteen
years Of age. Her body, limbs and fea-
lures are all well proportioned, feet, an
kles and hands though proportionately
large, are rather delicate The flesh on
the arms and hands feel as firm, and looks
as natural, as that of any other person.
She has good health, eats moderately
hearty, and her growth has been uniform
from her birth. Her mother says she
she talks English only, and quite fuently,
but although she has q tolerably intelligent
and rather mild coartsnance shs sannot be
induced or coaxed to speak to or in the pre-
sen. of a stranger lshould judge her father
near fifty and her mothernea. forty years
of age, hi.l about six feet high, fat breast
ed, rather stopped 10 the shoulders and
weighing about one hundred and sixty
pounds, and having quiet, mild, but firm
countenance; would Judge the mother
about five feet high, round bodied, and
scarcely outweighing her extraordinary in :
fantilc daughter. they have had nine
children, an infant, and the oldest SOB, at
the age of eighteen years, are dead, the
last few days ago. The o;herseven FIVE
boys and two girls are living and at home.
The sister ten years of age and healthy
girl, is in size and proportions. every way
less than the prodigy. The little brother
two years of age, and the only one young
er than the prodigy peart healthy looking
boy; but nothing varying from what is
common. Catching, almost at glance,
the extreme sensibility of the parents, pro-
duced in part,no doubt, by the thoughtless.
reckless course, of rude visitors; made
no further examination or enquiry, though
they were extremely polite, kind and COM
mun;cative to me, not suspecting that
intended to printit for had no such idea
myse at the time, but on nay way home,
determined to do so, wrote this hasty
scroll, aud asked and obtained permission
of the parents, to give it to the public,
on my way to the County seat. un-
derslood, tho doggery keeper, at Bealls-
vile, went down to see, and after gloat-
ing. over the prospect Of gain, began
chafering about buying; and finding that
would not take, commenced trafficking
fer ajoint interest, in the public exhibit
ton of the daughter, around the country
far and near for gain. was happy to
learn. he left suddenly, with sharp stick
disagreeably near his hinder parts. A
certain priest too, (who shall be nameless
fol- the presently in passing BY, as was
said of old, drew near. He at that time
was member Of the christian church.
Having made his observations and
satisfied his curiosity. he began very
coarsely and jocularly to tell, in the pres
ence Of tbs. parents, what fortune, he
would make out Of her, if she were his
daughter. Conner, no doubt. respecting
fthe priestly garb, and some excellent near
Ineighbors. who are christian brethren,
said dneyer q word, but looked daggers at
him. The frst opportunity after his de-
parture, be said to some of the christian
brethren, "a pretty set of christians you
arel to have such preacher as that; who
would make gain, by bunting the fine feel
ings, and by the coarse exposure, Of his
own flesh and bloodl If never get to
Heaven. bnt BY such preacher as that,
I'll go to the other plscel'' Ireplied to
tbosc who told me. Brethren, / know