The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-07-15
THE GIANTS HOME.


From ne ys,, York Ss~.
Captain and Mrs. Bates, the giant
couple, are, in a certain sense, the most
prominent people in Ohio. They are
pretty sure to be prominent wherever
they are. The captain once went in
bathing Off the Jersey coast, and he says
the fishermen put out in boats to harpoon
him, because they thought he was n
whale. But this may be fish story.
They certainly form the highest geo.
graphical points in the neighborhood Of
their home at Seville, Ohio. Mrs Bates
is tr1e the higher, but, as height is a
touchy point with giants, she, out Of
delicate feeling for the Captain, rarely
refers 10 this fact, or else attributes il to
her coiffure. Their home at Seville is
the place for which they long when they
are on their travels. IL is not surprising
that persons nearly eight feet tall, and
broad in proportion, do not find berth
in a sleeping car conveniently roomy or
feel quite safe at table d'hoie on cane
bottom chairs. Therefore Il isthat their
spirits rise when homeward bound. As
they pass through the door Of the rail-
road car at their home station they stoop
for the last time before they again 90
travelling. A coach drawn by eight
stout Norman horses is in waiting. Il
is about as broad rs the roadway, and
the wheels are about as large as those on
the ponderous wagons used to haul
granite or marble shafts. When they
are comfortably seated the coachman
cracks his whip, and the vehicle goes
numbering along toward the giants
house, little way out Of the town.
Other drivers on the road, seeing the
giants equipage coming, take down the
fence rails and drive into the adjoining
fields until the enormous vehicle has
passed.
An immense stone building looms up,
and soon the carriage is pulled up in
front Of the entrance. Ii an ordinary
-.zed person is with the giants they
kindly give him 4 boos; or two up the
steps. Then they pass stately and erect
through hall ten feet high. The head
OF a person Of medium height would
abou; reach TO the door knob. They
enter q spaoious hall, and 20 from there
70 q IIrlOr with doors also ten feet high,
and window, y proportion. The chairs
are so large tina; ordinary morials have
20 climb INTO them - babies have 10
climb into their high chairs In the
sitting room the piano j. the only piece
Of furniture Of ordinary size bu, it Is
mounted on blocks about three feet high.
So tia, the key board is up in the air.
Thu, the giant couple manage 10 escape
annoyance from visitors with musical
prOCliVliles. In this room are two huge
rocking chairs. In one Of them the
Captain deposits his as pounds. and
pldcidly oontemplaies his wife sewing
TIE seams Of many yards OF silk for new
dress with regulation train. On the
table is a large album containing photo
graphs Of hundreds o; fellow curiosiiies
bearded women, two-neaded and four
legged women, giants, dwaTfs. living
skeletons and the like, all OF whom the
couple know Intimately. Next 10 this
room, N which they take their meals.
!, their bedroom The bedroom, which
j, the smalles; Of the rooms, contains
bed ten feet long. and broad in proper
iion. There Is also Z bureau with =
glass a large As the wall Of an ordinary
room Allthe furniture is OF mahogany
and highly finished, the giants having
spared mo expense. Visitors quarters
are uI stair. where the rooms and furn-
.:urc are Of ordinary size, a j. also the
i0anc' service, Tor The giants are not
..-sc eaters.
The farm comprises 100 acres OF cul-
tNAied land. and the Captain takes
srca; pleasure in busying himself around
tie place. He is respected n the neigh
borhood. and noted Tor his courtesy and
hospitality.