The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09
THE GLASS-EATERS.
Why They Can't Eat 1t, and Surmise as to
How the Trick Is Performed.

How the Trick Is Performed.
Boston Transcript.
No matter how absurd anything is, the great
majority of people always willing, if they
can not understand 1t. to accept any explanation
offered, and be satisfied with it. This has been
especially true Of the alleged glass eating which
has now become a regular profession with a
large number of men-a woman has never yet
tried it. The feat originated in Philadelphia,
where, it seems negro appeared to develop
peculiar fancy for lamp chimneys and other
kinds of glass as an article of diet The
doctors advertised the thing extensively
at that time by declaring that the
man would surely die. He did not however, to
their amazement, and still continues to dupa
credulous people into the belief that he consumes
fused sand" His pose as the Original and
only" glass eater was soon spoiled by the appear
ance of numerous other applicants for glass-eat-
ing glory, and now a dime museum is poor in
deed that cannot support one of these human
ostriches." They are the legitimate successors of
the sword swallowers and eaters of fire, who
were at one time the standard wonder" at cir
cuses and museums. The sword swallower is
obliged to educate his throat so as to allow
foreign substance to remain in it for an indef-
mite period. That this is difficult task, let
any one who believes to the contrary run
even his finger down his throat and mark the re-
suit. The fre-eater toughens his mouth with
astringent washes, and then for fire volatile
substances. which produce great deal of flame
eater dispose of his 1inty lunch, which, if taken
into his stomach, would produce the same effect
as score of lancets dose of cyanide of
potassium--a most agonzing death2 Powdered
glass has long been used as sovereign but cruel
remedy for superfuous dogs cats. etc. Now, if
the stomach of a dog or cat, which 30 easily
digests bones and other hard substances, cannot
dispose of little powdered glass; how, then,
do the interior organs of the coored
professor" at a neighboring dime museum
stand the strain of dozen, more less,
meals of this kind days. The most obvious an
swer to this is that the eater of glass eats
glass in fact, although those who witness the ed
flying spectacle and are offered the opportunity
of exploring the dark recesses of the Ethiopian's
gullet may be able to understand what he does
with the pieces in his mouth The explanation
by the Roxbury medical man, whose certificate
is printed on the bills, of the manner in which
the performer disposes of his dyspeptic load is
ludicrcus in the extreme when one begins to
think of the absurdity of it. He says: "From
personal examination of the mans stomach
have found that the gastric juices
and alkalies contained therein are just
such as will dissolve glass iron
or stone Any who has dabbled in chem
istry knows that the statement Is q bare faced
romance. In fact, about the only acid that
will dissolve hydrohuoric--is so powerful
that should it get into this pretentious darky's
interior 1t would eat It's way out and put an
end to his professional career in less time than
il takes to record the fact But the man reall y
does take glass-not bites out of tumblers, but
thin glass, such as chimneys are made of-intc
his mouth and, with pinch of salt probably 10
taxa OF the excessive freshness OF his meal, and