Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-04-21
Pat AND MUSCLE.
Some Historic Giants In Both Line---A
seven Hundred Poundcr--A Fnt Mnn
Whe Travelled a- Freight.

whe Travelled nz Freight.
A few years ago Banting and his "pro-
cess" were familiar terms to the public.
Now they are so nearly forgotten that,
in conversation the other day between
half dozen well-informed mon, as in
formation i'll New York goes, not one
could give any clear idea of who the
great apostle of flesh reduction was, or
of what he had done. Mr.. Banting
was an English gentleman, five feet in
height and weighing over two hundred
pound. His appearance with these
proportions was naturally quite comical,
and while his adipose was great per
sonal Inconvenience, since it prevented
his tying his own shoes, forced him to
walk downstairs backward and do other
uncomfortable things, il also led to his
being ieered at and secuted by the street
boys, to his great mental pain. Con
sequently he tried every possible means
to reduce himself. He took ninety
Turkish baths in succession, drank min
eral waters, walked and otherwise cx-
orcised himself, and lived on sixpence IA
day, but all in win. Finally he hit
upon doctor who investigated his case,
and prescribed certain regimen by
which he was soon reduced to reason
able proportions. This regimen has
been published for the benefit OF the
public. 1t was simply eat nothing bnt
meat. Avoid the fat-producing vcgc-
tables, milk and the like, Of which
Bantling was so fond, and you will be
spared his unpleasant fate.
1t is Question, however, il Banting's
regimen would have any affect on Dan
iel Lambert. With him fat seems to
have been disease. Lambert was born
of ordinary parents, at Leicester. Eng
land, on March II, ITO. Up to the
age of nineteen he was simply muscu-
lar fellow, able to lift great weights and
carry five hundred pounds with ease
Then hc succeeded his father IA keeper
of the prison and the scdentary life
thus neccssitated began to tell upon his
bulk.
In 1898 lac walked to London from
Woolwich, to reduce himself. He weigh
cd at that time AS pounds. The at.
tempt proved unavailing He grew so
fat that he could no longer attend to the
duties of his office, so the magistrates
in consideration of his human treat
mcnt Of the prisoners and his general
efficiency, retired him on $3.50. Fat as
he was, or rather because he was so fat,
he was an excellent swimmer, and
taught that art to hundreds Of young pco-
pie at Leicester. In consequence of his
immense bulk he could swim with ease
with two men ON his back.
After his retirement he became such a
public show that he determined to go to
London and turn his misfortune to nc-
count. He went in 1906, unable to walk
it this time, in vehicle which had to
be built expressly for him. Ho lived at
various places in London and was assist
ed by every one from the king down.
Then he made tour Of the country.
He enjoyed good health. ate moderately
and drank nothing but water; was an in
telligent ana well-informed man. and,
wonder of wonder, was possessed of n
beautiful, clear and melodious tenor
voice
In June, 1909, Lambert was weighed.
He tipped the beam at 739 pounds. His
measure around the body was three yards
four inches, and he was one yard four
inches around the leg. Each suit OF
his clothes cost 500. Seven ordinary
sized men were repeatedly buttoned
under his waistcoat without strainIng a
button. He died on June 90. 1909. His
coffin was six feet four inches long, four
| feet four inches wide and two feet four
/ inches deep. II took one hundred and
twelve superficial feet of plank to make
it. It's form was that of packing case.
II was built on two aXletrees and -four
wheels. The wall OF the room in which
he died for he had long been incapable OF
walking upstairs) was taken away, and
he was thus hauled to his grave. Twenty
mon worked half an hour getting the
colossal corpse into it's last resting place
by sliding it down an inclined plane
Lambert's fatal disease was dropsy.
Another monster was Edward Bright,
miller of Shlden, who died on Novem
ber 10. I7ln. ai the nne of thirty. Hf