The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-26
THE GIANTS" OF HISTORY.

It has ever been a popular belief, that, in the
earlier ages of the world, mankind possessed
superior physical properties, and were of greater
siEe than in our own day; and athis notion of
diminished strength and stature seems 10 have
been Just as prevalent in ancient as in modern
times but all the facts and circumstanceslwhich
can be adduced tend to the conviction that the
human form has not degenerated, and that mer
Of the present age are of the same stature as a
the beginning of the world II has eensupposeJ
that, prior to the Deluge, men might have beer
of larger form, as they said to have lived tC
much greater age, but this Is a mere assump
tion, unsupported by any evidence whatever
OF "Giants" we read both in sacred and pro
fame history, although il is a matter of certainty
that at the very time they were esteemed as won
ders, and far above the ordinary proportions. Il
the Old Testament, the appelation lin the Origina
Hebrew Is thought to refer TO violence and Crimt
rather than TO indicate strength or stature In thC
"Book of Genesis" we are told of "the union
between the wicked descendants Of Cain, who
inherited the evil quahaes OF their progentor,'
and the children of Seth, who "began early To
call upon the name Of the Lord These are
"paughters OF Men" by the strong figures usual
in Eastern composition.
From this fatal alliance sDrang "mighty mem
and "men OF renown )" there were also "Giants in
these days." and the "whOlc earth was quickly
filed with violence" As the result of this inaus-
picious union between the descendants of Seth
and OF Cain, fraud, rapine, and all possible evils
all antiquity agrees Nevertheless 1t seems eyi.
dent that the races of Rephaim, of Auakim of
Enm, and of Zuzim were remarkable for their
comparative size; in the same way probably
That particular races in our times distinguished
from others by their superior strength and pro-
pOrtions
OF the existence Of individual giants, the par
ticulars of Goliath and of Og leave no room for
doubt; but such instances may propercy be
regarded as deViations from the ordinary standard
of which there have occurred examples in all
ages. Goliath, famous giant of Gath, who,
morning and evening, for forty days." defed
the armies of Israel was in height six cubits and
span, and, excluding his helmet, which was proba-
bly, taken into account in the recorded measure
ment, he did not exceed eight feet six inches
and, therefore, was not taller than some modern
giants. In the first book of Samuel, we have the
graphic record ofthe death of the gigantic Philis-
tine, whom the dminutive David slew "yyith
sliOg and with stOne."
og, the Amoriish King of Bashan, whose
country was delivered into the hands Of Israel,
was one of the last representatives OF the giins
race of Repham. According 90 Oriental tradition, |
he escaped the Deluge by wading beside the AK
Although his height is not recorded, we find that
his iron bedstead was nine cubits long, by four /
vide; but, here it must be recolleCted, that the /
beds of the ancients were often made one-third /
larger than actually necessary, in order 70 leave
Impressions of wonder.
The Oldest coffin in the world is that found in
the great Pyramid and II is scarcely six and one
half feet Tong. From it, and from the height of .
unroled mummies, we must conclude that the |
Egyptians three thousand years ago, were not .
taller than the present inhabitants of the country
The same is evident from the buildings designed
for the accommodation OF man, as well as
from ancient armOr, Indeed, the swords were
frequently much larger than those of modern
times, and the enormous ones used by the Crusa-
ders, being intended but Tor one overwhelming
blow, were welded with both hands and could
not be recovered for defense.
A reference 10 the works of Cuvier will show
that the fossil bones of colossal quadrupeds-ele.
phants mastOdOns, and whales, have been ex-
hlbited, and accepted as evidence Of prehistoric
giants. Even the learned Button partook Of the
popular delusion; but the eKtrayagauce Of such
tallaCies has been completely exposed by the
accuracy OF modern investigation, as well as
BY the progress of comparative anatomy.
The classical evidence relative 10 giants is
abundant, but obviously untrustwOrthy. Thus
Plutarch relates that SarbOnius had the grave OF
Antans opened, and finding the body full sixty
cubits long, he ordered the tomb 20 be closed [;
and StrsbO makes mention of a skeleton OF the
same dimensions. Pny, In the first century,
repeats that an earthquake in Crete disclosed the
bones of a human being, measuring fOrty-six
cubits, and he adds "that our race was daily be-
coming smaller"-a most alarming prospect
II II had been true. Ancient writers who are free
from the Influence of fable are found 70 AFFORD
more reasonable testimony. Homer, wheI
speaking Of fine man, gives him four cUhts il
height lseYen feet and one in breadth Ars
tOtleB admeasurement Of beds was six feet
which Yituyius fixes the usual standard OF IN IA
In the reign Of Claudius, a giant, named GaU
baras, said 20 be ten feet high, was brough. @
Rome from Arabia and an instance is cited by
GOrOpius ofa woman Of equal stature. Secoudilll
and PusiO, keepers of the garden OF Sallust, were
each nine and one half feet g certain Greel
soplist, Proceresins, is said 10 have been Mint
feet; and julius Capitolinus aihrms that the EN-
peror MaXimian who wore his wte's bracele
for a hnger-ring) was eight feet and six inches
In the year 1915, MelagnanO town of LON
hardy, was the scene Of famOuG battle between
Francis the FRS, OF France, and the Swiss in th
service Of the Duke Of Milan, which, from 10
obsiinacy and the superior character OF the troop
on both SIDES, is known in history as the " Bart,
OF he Giants" Three centuries later Gn 1859
'gadred 10 our theme Is Eseessfre Corp'easy, vhlh
not serious eyl, decidedly is an ineongcnencg Tn
a0es for Instance, dieaded aH things volum
s 70 ably @ Chest se fd% es Of H @
angel Al Oriental prince p. a9d an oa,ceT to Tegaa ia
fhem to proper condition. In Northern Africa moderate
are regularly fatened for marrage-a daer6ut pracc,
from that ofthe Roman matrons, who almost starved he
sions. Obesity has frequently the butt Of oeular
tomb Of Mr.. Bright, very oopulent tailow
"Here lies in earth an honest fellow,
Who died Of fat, and lived BY talow.'
China oorPulenGy Is considered blessing man
PoIa 5Ek and i + wsl known that the prePosteroqs
Of their Yensses al exhibition in Lon-
don who an object Of mingled curiosity and wonder
pounds Of beef daily and died in l72l aged twenty eight
age, Colett-subsequently Master Of EHshan Academy
required TWO nurses to an h in and out bed at twelve
-four pounds In i74 died jacob q EsseS
so1l was yards IN CrcunfereDce ana weighed
hetea and sixty pour ds, requiring sixteen men cary
n 70 hs grave. In l775, Mr Spooner OF SkeIungtOn
sshea hye hundred and sixty-nine pounds and Inea-
nc IS iest three inches across the Shoulders. Grose
apressufaied anlquaIian--ghoGe name indicate hiE
ma so fat that his butcher requested him 10
paves az hai he bought his from him. and the
their Worh H1ridge used to beg OF him TO wax over
that the lsdiss = beedoes ncomtortaby stout
feather bedN ttlhton used 20 call him the Nwakins
died in 1909 va ase Laober, Of Leeesterslre who
Sssrsa u - w. sn hnndrsd and senSs IN hesn and
o.ed r.
BODY Win single pine conn t tsie sged nly two his
sss OF egsiyo hi s Sse IN EEsad IN 1850 AZ tSe
seventy ak pounds Several persons a hundred and
and Of both sexes, have been eIhbtsd s Rtepovtons
n New York, whose saAa WeRhh we're s fSF ~ TINE
a9AsDnsi foncsaied Nv " 'N'ens