The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-23
HUMAN OBESITY.
Some Stout People and How They
Become so.

AS a general thing women grow fat
quicker than men, possibly on account
of their sedentary lives, although men,
when inclined to fatLess, attain a
much larger growth. Up to the age
of forty or Whereabouts, unless fairness
is hereditary, and provided a proper
horseback riding. running or rowing
more especially the male sex, retain a
women reach the age of forty, how
have fulfilled their duty toward the
French embonpoint. which, literally
translated, means fine condition
FatnesS, come in what shape it will,
however, cannot fail but prove dis
comfort, accompanied, as it always Is,
with sloWneSS Of movement, short
ness of breath, sleepineSs, palpitation
of the heart, and a proneness to ap-
opleXy and sudden death. An eX-
animation of the police records of al
most every city in this country will
also show that where one fat person
falls into the hands of the police au-
thorities upward of one dozen lean
persons share the same fate. In an
cient times the Romans and Greeks
were very exacting with their wives
and daughters, and compelled them
to keep themselves properly cor
rected, in order that they might re
tain their proper shapes.
Our American girls of the present
day, Notwithstanding the fact that
they are addicted to a too liberal use of
the corsage, and, in fac, in many
cases to superlative degree, deem it
necessary to make use of acids in
order to prevent obesity. If they
would forego the use of acetic matter
and indulge in a rational amount of
exercise they would find it far more
beneficial to the development of their
forms and conducive to health. 1t is
a general error to suppose that men
or women of genius do not become
fat, and that all poets must be lean
and melancholy.
This is mistake, and hundreds of
cases can be cited against it. BalZac
was exceedingly stout, and was always
hoped with bandageS. Jules Janin
was perfect mountain of flesh, and
was compelled to have his armchairs
and bedsteads made expressly for his
use. Lablache was so immense that,
when travelling by line of railway, he
was always charged for three fares.
Rossini was another of the Jumbo
race of celebrities. The elder Dumas
was also a very fat man, though not to
be compared, in so far as regards cor
pulency, with Janin and Lablache.
Lord Byron and Eugene Sue both
dreaded their tendency to fairness, and
are known to indulge frequently in
vinegar and lemons and other acids.
The devotees of the footlight, both
male and female, have always feared
that their usefulness might be coun-
teracted by becoming too fat The
late Mrs. John Brougham was COM
PEELED to quit the stage on account of
the extra rotundity of her form, al
though in her younger days she was
always selected torepresent the sylph-
like chaSacters. Parepa Rosa, pre-
vious to her death, attracted so much
attention by her corpulency that, not
withstanding the melodious sweet
ness of her voice. her auditors
were compelled to admit that she
was ''leetle" too corpulent to sing
of birds ''twitting at o'clock in
the morning" There is no doubt
that fairness can be cured by strict
adherence to a system of moderation
in gastronomic matters, bibulous as
well, and INDUCING in good five
mile walk upon each pleasant day of
the year.