The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-10-25
THE TTNIEST OF B1BES.
SISTERS OF EIGHT AND SIX YEARS WEIGH
ING ELEVEN AND TEN POUNBS RI.s-
PECTINELY-CURTOUS DwARFs
IN BERKs COUNTY

Peter 3. Shearer has two Of the most
Temai kable children IN the country. lie
dWeliS AT StoneTSville, a little, struggling
village ten miles nearer Philadelphia than
Heading, His house Is a plain. two story
name, and Mr.. Shearcr turns an honest
penny IN the blacksmith profession. The
agents of show people have become so an
noylng 10 the SheaIeIs that the father uf
the wonderful offspring keeps a gun on
hand. Loaded with salt, TO give "a warm re-
ceptlon 10 those who call to secure the
children for exhibition purposes
lhe blacksmith is a stalwart man of
about thirty eight, with black hair and
beard and dark eyes. His wife. and the
mother Is a well developed healthy yynp,sn.
Ihe Record reporter found two little
cradles 10 Shearer's neatly furnished house.
hey were half as long as ordinary cradles.
ana looked as II one of fun growth had
been cut IN half aud remouuted on senar-
ate rockers. They were little, cid fashion
eu aHais' brown M color, with the varnish
we'll worn of. Each contained a babe.
lie father raised one Of the children To his
lap aud the mother the other Suauge-
l"nk'ng little people, dwarfS. thin and
paie ana mere shadows Of children. The
Iather held the eldest, aud called her Oil
~ Tor short. She Is eight years old and
weighs about eleven pounds Blind aud
dumb, and Just able 10 stand alone. she l.
indeed an object of pity. The little dwarf
Is about thirty inches tall vet her lower
limbs are as thin as an ordinary cane aud
her head about the size Of a tea Gun.
an she hear, was asked Of The father.
"Oh. yes just listen" lie gave
'Diliy' 10 the mothers care. and s:epl,ed
INTO the adjoining room. AN organ stood
there The father played lively air. aud
the hrst lew bars set The little one 10 Jump
ing and smiling.
Whpn Dilfv ,,--r - IL. -.--s- -
pound When She was a year old they
could cover her head entirely with an ordi-
nary teacnp, She was blind all the time.
lhe little dwalf has luxuriant rruztA.. =
silken blonde hair that dtsceuds 10 Et =
shoulders. pretty set Of teeth u in Itr
mouth. This eight-year old child durs not
look 10 be over eight months
just here very healthy vounc bor en-
tered the room. He is about sixteen Vears
old, fnll breasted, square Shuuldered, ,eiect.
ini oi hte, with great dark eyes and iuddy
cheeks. This Is one Of our children =
said the father. land here Is auotber
younger than the dwarf" A little boy
came tripping into the room, FUN IF mis-
ch'ei' stout, hearty, robust, aud Of fun
growth for his years
You see, - said Mr. Shearer. I'VE bsve
Children Older and younger than ,hpse va.
Nbo are IN every WAY healthy aud of uatur-
al development. The Younger of the
dwatfs Is SIX years old and her weight "a
ab"ut pound lighter than her sisteI 3
" e tie them to small scales and weiph
them once year, on their birthday They
appear To grow IN length but not much ia
weight They did Dot increase three
pounds IN three years. Why Just look
al their arms and fingers Just louk like
shadows aud fingers less In thickness than
pipe stems. Occasionally they are quite
cross, bni their time is principally passed
IN sleeping. They are as healthy now a
most children, yet they cannot walk. nor
see, nor talk, aud iB nearly all respects are
helpless -
MIS-. SheareT was in perfect health prior
To The birth Of the first child, but there
had been scarlet fever in the family and
several Of their children died Prior Ia
The birth nf the second dwarf the mather
had her diminutive child with her an The
time. The next child born was as healthy
as any child possibly could be.
The children have the appearance of
idiots. There foreheads are very muoh de-
pressed, the tops of their heads being very
small. The eldest child has the hook Of a
person fifty years of age, while Virginia
the Youngest dwarf, has a pleasan, connie
nance, like that of an infant. She. too
has fun set OF teeth. Philadelphia Re
cord.