Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-20
HUMAN PRODIGIEs.

Compared with some extraordinary
beings that have been exhibited from
time TO time, the attractions of giant,
however large, or a dwarf, however small.
sink into ntter insignifcance. There
was a child, Tor example, in The reign Of
Charles |, who cried out when it was one
yssr old that he wanted to see the king,
aud who used to read the scriptures for
The instruction of his parents, in the
Hebrew, Greek and Latin languages.
He was brought up to London and ex.
bibited in Smitb6eld, and interested
every one by the freedom with which he
cooversed with his visitors. How the
deception was practiced, they we're not
acute enough in those days to iatbom.
Another child, eight years old, was ex-
hibited in Holland, aud numbers Of peo-
pie hocked to see its wonderful eyes
Round the iris OF one eye it had the
words Dens Mues inscribed, and
round the other was the word "Eloihim," "
in Hebrew characters
In 1884 boy was made show of in
London who rad the nape Napoleon "
written on his eye. No one appears to
have been able to explain the trick
In 1888 a report was spread through
Slesis that child seven years old had
been gifted with a double tooth of gold,
growing quite naturally from its head.
Que learned professor, who went to eK'
anime the marvel, declared that the pro-
duction Of the tooth was partly natu
raj ard partly miraculous event, and
was intended by heaven TO console the
Christians for the perils to which they
gare exposed from the Turks This was
an odd idea OF reward; but if the Chris
liaus themselves had found golden teeth
in their heads, they might possibly have
been better pleased What Iillle conso-
lation they might have derived iron the
tooth all vanished when they discovered
that it bad only been gilt.
There are many instances recorded Of
persons who lived for months, and IL
| some cases for years together, withop
taking TODD Of drink-but Of course 6
search, inquiry and strict watch gener
ally resulted il the imposture being dis
covered.
Perhaps, however, the lost cnf'ohI
aud best attested narrative of SSHmaf
prodigy is that OF Colonel Townsend, d
gentleman who possessed the power ot
making himself appear dead whenever
he pleased. On one occasion he sent foI
two weli-known physicians Of the day
DR.. Cheyne and Dr. Baynard, and re
Quested them to explain, If they could
the cause OF the sensation he expert
enced We all three, writes one Of
the phys clans, " felt his pulse first; il
WAS distiuct, though small and thready
and his heart had Its usual beating He
composed himself on his back and lay
in still position come time; while | helC
his right hand, DR.. Baynsrd laid his
hand on his heart, and Mr.. Skrine, 9
surgeon, held clean looking-glass Il
has mouth. found his pulse sink grad
ually, TIL at last | could not feel any by
the most exact and nice touch. DR.. Bay
nard could not fnd the least motion il
his heart, nor Mr.. Skrine the least sol
of breath on the bright mirror which hi
held to his mouth; then each of us b.
turns examined his arm, heart anC
breast, but could not, by the incest scru
tiny, discover the least symptom of lif'
IN him In tact, they all believed hin
dead, but as they, were going away Col
ToSnsend began TO recover, and in {
short time was able to converse with th'
doctors upon his remarkable case. The!
protested themselves unable TO throw tn,
leas light upon it, The same evening
the Colonel really did expire.
An equally extraordinary story wa
narrated by Lieutenant A. II. Boileau
IN officer of engineers in the Indal
army. He had seen man dug ous o
the ground alter having been voluntaril,
buried more than 2 month. He il
said" the lieutenant states, TO bay
acquired the art OF holding his breath b.
shutting his mouth and stopping the in
terror opening OF the nostrils with hi
tongue; be also abst9ins from solid foot
for some days previous 10 bis intermeni
so that he may not be inconyenience'
by the contents OF MS stomach while pu
up in his narrow grave. His cell wa
nned with masonry, aud hoored wit
cloth, 60 that insects should not moles
him. The place n which be wa
buried, we again quote the lieutenant
words, at Jaisulmer, is small builc
iug about twelve feet by eight, built Q
stone, and in the floor was bole abou
three feet long, two and half feet wld'
and the same in depth, or perhaps var
deep, in which he was placed in sittin
posture, sewed up in bis shroud with hi
feet turned inward tosard his stomach
and hls bands also pointed inward 4
ward the chest" The room or cell wa
! then completely BULL end plastored il
and the man lett in bis living tomb Tor
month, Lieutenant Boilesu thus d
. secibss the disinteImeni The ma
! wiz, taken out in a perfectly senselel
: state, his eyes closed his hands crampe
4 a Il.