The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-03-06

Uuels Jt9s yasnr
This Is tie season when The "ysra" u
most fully developed about the stove II
the country hank and store According 70
the almanac. "look cut for long sPsll Of
storms about this time II recalls 70 the
editsr old "Uucls Jim" q Ssoningtos,
CT. Who ousht V have Whole Drawer 70
Lims II. for nstLias short sf Il could o.
press the easy -goisa sslsrsmsnt 81 biz
MUD 10 narratives Uncle jim WAS . re-
tired sea captain. sssler aud vbslsr. uni.
vsrsally beloved and respected for his
lovely disposition and gssuins COED heart
sdnsss, not less than for the moderation 81
bis statsmsnts asd the truthful casdor Of
bis variations. Travellers 10 days gone by
whs used to wait at Stoningtou in The rail.
way Offices for the New York boat rsmem.
Der Kim we'll, and owe him gratitude for
making the waiting hours short With bic
childlike srpsrisncss. Hia manner wAs
always calm. he ssvsr much raised bis
voice, or used any smphasis or explosives
but won the hssrsr 10 believe by his simple
unsKaggeratsd manner Of speech II vas
delightful TO habituss 10 draw Uncle
Jim out for the benefit of new comsrs. A
hundrsd Of his stories are remsn bersd,
but the Drawer recalls one 1t this moment
which seems to commend itself BY its On.
tire moderation. 1t happened that one Of
the Yale professors, who devoted himself
to archaeological studies. was Interested in
the Patsgcnians. and very much desired
Information - to the alleged gigantic stat
urs OF the race. A scientific friend. who
knew the Stosington romancsr, told the
professor that 10 could no dsnbt get valu-
able information from Uncle Jim. cap
tain who was familiar with all the region
about Cape Horn. And the professor,
without any hint Of Uncle Jim's real abil.
ity, eagerly accompanied his friend to
make the visit Uncle Jim WAS fsund IN
one Of his usual haunts, and something
like the following chronological csnversa-
tion snsusd:
They tell me, Captain Pennington
that you have been good deal in Pata.
gsnia.
Made 80 or 40 voyages there sir.
And I suppose you know something
about the Patagonians and their habits'
Know all abont 'sm, sir. Know the
Patsgonians, sir, all Of EN-, as well as
know the Stonington folks.
wanted to ask you, captain, about the
size Of the Patagonisns--whether they arc
giants, as travellers have reported.
No, sir, shaking his head slowly, and
speaking with 8 modest tens Of indifier
ence-ns. sir, they are rot, II was quite
probable that the captain never had heard
tho suggestion before, The height O.
the Patagonians, sir, is just five feet pin'
inches and half.
How did you ascertain this fact, cap
tain?
| Measured EN- sir-.measured 'sm. Ont
dav when tho mate aud l were ash0r'
down there, called up o lot Of the Pata
ponians, and the mate and ] measured
about 500 OF them, and every one OF EN-
measured five feet nine inches and half
no more, 40 less. Every man, women
and child measured five feet nine inche
and half that's their exact height.
That's very interesting. But, captain
don't you suppose there were giants ther
long ago, in the former gsnsrationsP Al
the travellers say SO.
Not word Of truth in it, sir--not
word. I'd heard that story, and l though
!. I'd settle it. satisfied myself there va
nothing in 1t.
ri But how could you know that they use
, no. to be giants2 What evidence coul
you get? Mightn't The former race hav
bssp giants?
Impossible, sir--impossible.
!, How did you satisfy ysurself2
:, Dug 'em up. sir--dug sm mp, speakin
with more than usual moderation. /
heard that yarn, The next voysgs, too
the DO sen and went ashore, and We du
J up 275 old PAtagonians, and measured en-
: They all measured exactly five feet nir
. Inches and q half; no difference in 'em
= men, women. and all ages just the sam
: Five feet nine inches and half is Il
y ustural hight oil Patagonian. They
always been just that Not word OF tru'
in the stories shout giants, cir. .--Iimpe,
Urawer.