Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-07
wonderful Peats OF Barnaby, the
English Life GuaFdaman.

English Lie Gunroamhn.
Fred Barnaby was educated at
Harrow, and thence proceeded to
Germany, where, under private tu-
ition, he acquired unusually perfect /
acquaintance with the French,
Italian and German languages, and 4
incidentally imbibed taste for
gymnastics. At sixteen he, the !
Youngest of 150 candidates, passed
his examination for admission to
the army, and at the mature age OF
seventeen found himself a cOrnet
in the Royal Horse Guards. At
this time his breast seems to have
been fired by the noble ambition to
become the strongest man in the
world. He threw himself into the
pursuit of muscle with all the ar
dor since shown in other directions,
and the cup Of his joy must have
been full when a precise examina-
ton led to the demonstration Of
the fact that his arm measured
round the biceps exactly seventeen
inches, His plaything at Aldershot
was a dumb-bell Weighing ITO
pounds, which he lifted straight
out with one hand, and, there was
a standing bet Of f1O that no other
man in the camp could perform the
same feat. At the rooms of the
London Fencing Club there is to
this day dumb-bell weighing lac
: pounds, and Captain Barnaby j
the only member who can lift il
! above his head. There is a story
told of early barrack days which
pleasantly brings up reminiscenc'
q of the Tichborne trial. A horse
3 dealer arrived at Windsor with
! pair of beautiful little ponie
d which he had been commanded t
= show the Queen. Before exhibit
T ing them to her Majesty he too
|. them to the cavalry barracks 70
r display to the officers Of the Guard
P Some of these, by way Of a pleas
:, ant surprise, led the ponies u
} stairs into Barnaby's room, wheI
It they were much admired. Br
ID when the time came to take leaV
he an alarming difficulty presented j
N , self. The ponies, though they ha
le walked up stairs, could by no meal
Up be induced to walk down agail
IS. The officers were in a fix; the hor
is dealer was in despair, when your
ne Barnaby settled the matter by ta
ed ing up the ponies, one under eat
1d arm, and walking down stairs, d
at posted them in the barrack yard.
an But Cornet Barnaby was as ski
ng full as he was strong. He W
ng one of the best amateur boxers
ee, the day, as Tom Paddock, n
OF Laugham and Bob Trayers cou
his testify of their well-earned expe
ire ence. Moreover, he fenced as W
he as he boxed, and the turn of
icy wrist, which never failed to disal
ve- a swordsman, was known in mC
ian than one Of the capitals Of Euro
em Ten years ago every one was ta
LED ing Of the wonderful feat of I
al, young guardsman, who underto
od- for a small wager to hop quar-
mes of a mile, run a quarter Of a mi
IAN ride a quarter of q mile, row
SIN quarter Of mile, and walk a qu
'inl ter of a mile in quarter Of
ellis hour, and who covered the mile
an quarter distance in ten minu
the and twenty seconds. Fred Barni
the had, while barely out Of his Tee
utS realized his boyish dream and
rth came the strongest man in
OF world. But he had also begun
tied pay the penalty of success IN
we coin Of wasted tissues and fail
he. health. When a man finds, al
eat anxious and various experime
est that water-ice is the only form
'tood nourishment that his stomach
iten retain, he is driven to the con
his ton that there is something wrc
y a and that he had better see the
easy tor, The result of the Yo
ugh athletes visit to the doctor was
,ual- he mournfully laid down the dul
Oor- bells and the foils, eschewed g
nastics. and took to travel.