Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-08

From Harper's Magazine.
This Is the season when the "yarn" is most
fully developed about the stove in the country
bank and store. According to the almanac
"look out for long spell of storms about this
time" 1t recalls to the editor old ':Uncle Jim, "
OF Stonington, Ct, who ought to have whole
Drawer to himself, for nothing short OF it could
express the easy-going enlargement OF his mind
in narratives Uncle Jim was retired sea cap-
tain, sealer and whaler, universally beloved and
respected for his lovely disposition and genuine
good-heartedness, not less than for the modera-
ton OF his statements and the truthful candor
of his variations. Travellers in DAYS gone by
who used to wait at Stonington in the railway
omces lor the New York boat remember him
Wen, ana owe him gratitude for making the
waiting hours short with his childlike expert
ences. His manner was always calm, ne
never much raised his voice, or used any
emphasis or explosives, but won the nearer to
oeiief by his simple, unexaggerated manner of
speech. 1t was delightful to the habitues to
draw Uncle Jim out for the benefit of new
corners. A hundred Of his stories are remem-
Dered. out the Drawer recalls one at this moment
which seems to commend itself by its entire
moderation. 1t happened that one of the Yale
professors, who devoted himself to ethnOlorical
studies. was interested in the Patagonians. and
very much desired information as to the alleged
gigantic stature of the race. scientific friend
who knew the StoningtOn romancer told the
professor that he could no doubt get valuable
information from Uncle Jim, a captain who was
familiar with all the region about Cape Horn
And the professor. without any hint Of Uncle
jim real ability. eagerly accompanied his friend
to make the visit. Uncle Jim was found in one
OF his usual haunts. and something like the fol-
lowing chronological conversation ensued:
Professor.-"They tell me- Capt Pennington
that you have been good deal in Patagonia. -
Uncle Jim.-"Made 80 or 40 voyages there.
sir"
Professor.-"And suppose you know some
thing about the Patagonans and their habits:''
Uncle Jim.-"KnOw all about 'em, sir Know
the 'Patagonians, sir all, all of EN-, as well as
know the StOningtOn folks
Professor.1s.,I wanted to ask you. captain,
about the size of the Patagonans, whether
they are giants, as travellers have reported"
Uncle Jim.-''NO, SIR" shaking his head
slowly. and speaking with the modest tone OF
indifference.-''no,s sir they are not" at was
quite probable that the captain never had heard
the suggestion before.) 1.-The height of the
Patagonians, sir, is just five feet nine inches
and a half"
Professor.-'How did you ascertain this fact.
captain"
Uncle Jim.-"Measured 'em, sir-measured
'em. One day, when the mate and 1 were
ashore down there, called up lot of the Pata-
g eoH and the mate and | measured about
500 of them, and every one of them measured
five feet nine inches and half; no more, no
less. Every man, woman and child measured
five feet nine inches and a half-that's their
exact height"
ProfessOr.-"Thats very interesting. But.
captain, don't you suppose there were giants
there long ago, in the former generations? All
the travellers say so.'
Uncle Jim.-'Not word of truth in 1t. sir
not word. I'd heard that story. and thought
I'd settle it. satisfied myself there was moth
ing in it,"
Professor -ssRut hou, con,d rou lno,, tb,%
they used not to be giants? What evidence
could you get? Mightn't the former race have
been giants?'
Uncle Jim.-"Impossible, sir-impossible."
Professor.-"But how did you satisfy your
self?"
Uncle Jim.-"Dug em up, sir-dug EN- up."
speaking with more than usual moderation
I'D heard that yarn. The next voyage took
the bosen and went ashore. we dug up 275 old
PatagOnians and measured 'em. They all meas
ured exactly five feet nine inches and half: no
difference in 'em-men. women and all ages just
the same. Five feet nine inches and half is
the natural height Of a Patagonian. They've
always been just that. Not word of truth in
the stories about giants Sir"