Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-03-25
HISTORIC DRARS.


While the bible makes mention of
several giants, and gives the most
minute particulars as to their huge
proportions and marvellous strength
of body, we only oncef find mention of
dwarf in the sacred pages, and then
the reference was only general; no
mention is made ofany particular
or men of such unnaturally small size
The passage referred to is in Liviticus,
where the service Of the altar is
defended from all blemished persons,
among whom dwarf" is included.
The custom of having dwarfs at court
is very ancient. The Egyptians had
these diminutive persons in their suits,
and the Romans were great admirers
of them, although they attributed to
themani intellectual capacity little high
rthan that Ofmonkeys. The Emperor
Augustus had dwarf named Lucius.
who weighed fourteen pounds, had a
tremendous voice and was only two
feet high. Julia, the niece-or as some
say, the daughter-of Augustus, had
male dwarf named COnopas, two feet
and a hands breadth high. One of
Jula'S free maids, AndrOmeda, was of
the same height. Richard Gibson is
one of the most celebrated dwarfs of
modern times. He was born In 1918,
and was not only remarkable for his
smallness of stature, but for an eX
ceedingly good artistic faculty. He
was a pupil Of DeCleyn, and initiated
Sir Peter Lely. He was appointed
drawing master to the princesses-
ward Queens-Mary and Anne. His
painting representing the parable ofthe
Lost Sheep was highly priced by
Charles l., who gave it to Vandervort
to take charge of; Vandervort put it
away so carefully that when the king
asked for it he could not find it, and
fearing his royal masters displeasure
he hanged himself Richard Gibson
married Anne Shepherd, court dwarf
to Queen Henrietta Maria. The king
gave away the bride and the queen
presented her with a diamond ring.
Weller, the court poet, wrote one Of
his pretty sets of verses on the occa-
sion. The marriage turned out very
happily, and the little couple had nine
children, five of whom were of full or
binary stature. jeffrey Hudson, per
haps the most renowned of all dwarfs,
was born III 1919, at Oakham, Rut-
landShire. His father and mother
were of full height, and jeffrey was the
only one of their family who was in
any way extraordinary. Jeffrey's
father kept the Duke of Buckingham's
batting bulls, and the little fellow was
presented to the Duchess of Bucking-
ham between the 7th and 9th year of
his age, and when he was scarcely
foot and q half in height 1t was
jeffrey Hudson who, soon after the
marriage of Charles l., when that king
and his bride were entertained at Bur
leigh, was. served up to the table in
cold pie. whence he jumped on the
tablecloth fully armed, and made
passes at the ladies with his little
sword. THERE'S q rare old picture of
this amusing incident In the dwarf's
career. The Duchess presented him on
that occasion to Henrietta Maria,
who was highly pleased with him and
kept him as her dwarf for many years
afterWard.
Poor jeffrey was constantly SQUAD
bling with the people about court,
more especially with the giant porter
of the palace. On one occasion he was
nearly drowned in the basin he was
washing his face and hands in. An
other time a large shrub was the only
obstacle between him and death by
drowning in the Thames. In 1880 he
was dispatched on a domestic mission
for Henrietta Maria, and returning
richly laden with presents from Mary
of Medicis to her daughter, he was
made prisoner by Dunkirk privateers.
Jeffrey fought duel with Mr.. Crofts,
who came to the rendezvous armed
with nothing more formidable than a
squirt. Jeffrey, who was not inclined
to submit tamely to such an insult,
insisted upon fighting real duel, and
shot his antagonist dead Immediately.
Jeffrey portrait was painted several
times by Mytens and Vandyke, and
his smart little waistcoat, breeches
and stockings are preserved in the Ash
mclean Museum, at Oxford. Matthew
Buchinger was another celebrated
dwarf, with neither hands, feet, legs,
nor thighs; he had, however, two ex-
crescences like fins growing from his
shoulders, with which he wrote and
performed many curious tricks, among
which may be mentioned drawing pic
lures with apen, playing at dice, play
ing on the hautboy. threading needles.
playing at cards, blowing a trumpet,
etc. Joseph Boruwlaski, commonly
called Count Boruwlaski, was remark
able for his wit and repartees. He
went to see the great Empress Maria
Theresa when about IA years
of age and % inches high The
empress took him on her lap and
asked what was the most wonderful
sight he had seen at Vienna. He an
ewered: fTo see snch little man on
SO great lady's lap" The empress
had a splendid diamond ring on the
hand in which she held one of Boruw
laski's. Seeing him apparently alb
sorbed in admiration of the jewel, she
asked him how he liked it, when he
courteously replied that it was not
the ring, but the beautiful hand he was
looking at, which he wanted to kiss.