The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-10-25
THE FINEST OF BIBES.
SISTERS OF EIGHT AND SIX YEARS WEIGH
ING ELEVEN AND TEN POUNDS REs-
PECTlNELY-CURIOUs DwARFs
IN BERKS COUNTY

Peter B. Shearer has two Of the most
maikable children In the country lie
dweils at Stonersville a little, strapglinu
village ten miles nearer Philadelphia than
Iteadlng' His house Is plain, story
hame, and Mr.. Shearcr tlrns an honest
penny in the blacksmith profession. The
agents OF show people have become so an
noNlng 10 the SheaIers that the father II
the wonderful offspring keeps a pun on
hand loaded with salt. 90 give "A warm re-
ception to those who call to secure the
children for exhibition purposes.
Ihe blacksmith is a stalwart man of
about thirty eight, with black hair and
beard and dark eyes. His wife. aud The
mother is well developed. healthy woman.
The Record reporter found two little
cradles ln Shearer's neatly furnished house.
they were half as long as ordinary cradles
and looked as IL one Of full growth had
been cut IN half aud remouuted ON s,,par-
ate rockers. They were little, cid fashion
ed affairs, brown in color, with the varuish
well worn off Each contained a bale
The father raised one Of the children to his
lap and the mother the other. Stlaupe-
I"oking little people, dwarfS. thin and
pale aud mere shadows Of children. The
iather held the eldest, and called her OH
~ Tor short. She is eight years Old and
~eighs about eleven pounds. Blind aud
dumb, and just able to stand alone. sb,. A.
J
Is ABOUT thirty inches tall, yet her lover
limbs are as thin an ordinary cane aud
her head about the size Of tea Gun.
Ian she hear was asked Of the father.
oh. yes just listen He gave
'Dily' to the mothers care, and s.epped
INTO the adjoining room, An organ Stood
there. The father played lively air. and
the first few bars set The little one 10 iumD-
ing and smiling
When Oily was born she weighed about
a pound. When she was a year old they
could cover her head entirely with an orai.
nary teacup, She was bliud all the time d..
lhe little dwalf has luxuriaut crt4th.. q
sliken blonde hair that descends to d, B
shoulders. pretty set Of teeth l. in Ler
month. This eight-year old child does not
look To be over eight months.
just here very healthy young bov en-
tered the room. He is about sixteen wears
old, fnll breasted. square shouldered,eiect.
iuli oi life, with great dark eyes and luddv
cheekS. This Is one of our children -
SAID the father. land here Is another
younger than the dwarf" A little hoy
came tripping into the room. FUN Of mis-
ch'ei, stout, hearty, robust, and Of fun
growth for his years
y ou see said Mr.. Shearer. I'VE hsve
children older and younger than .ht.sa tvo.
"ho are ln every way hcali lay aud of ratilr-
al development. The Younger of the
N''''iio - NiA years olu ana her weight
about a pound lighter than her sistet-s
We tie them to small scales and weigh
them once a year. on their birthday. They
appear to grow IN length but not much in
weight. They did not increase tinee
pounds in three years. Why lust look
al their arms and fingers just lonk like
shadows and fingers less in thickness than
pipe stems. Occasionally they are unite
cross, bnt their time is principally passed
IN sleeping. They are as healthy now "a
most children, yet they cannot walk, nor
see, nor talk, and in nearly all respects are
helpless
Ms Shearer was in perfect health orior
To The birth of the first child, hut there
had been scarlet fever in the family and
several Of their children died Pi inr to
the birth of the second dwarf tile nipther
had her diminutive child with her al the
time. The next child born was ~ healthy
as any child possibly could be-
The children have the appearaDee of
idiots. There foreheads are veiv nncb de-
pressed, the tops of their heads bring very
small. The eldest child has the hook of a
person hfty years Of age, while Virginia.
the youngest dwarf. has plepsan, cuuure-
nance, like that of an infant She. too.
has full set Of teeth. -T'btladelpEfa Re
cord.