The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-23
ABNORMAL APPETlTEs.
New York GrAnhlc.

There wandered into Ihe GrapAtc office one day last week lank and slattern youth, who, producing a soiled envelope on which was printed. "Wm. F. Mckenna. Eater of Live Frogs, Nails and Chopped Glass;" asked permission to demonstrate that he was n human ostrich, wandering up and down on the face of the earth seeking what he might devour-in the way ot carpet tacks and sharp. edged 6;ts of glass.
 1 MT. Mckenna was not calculated to impress the ordinary observer very favorably. His collar had been di- vorced from the band of his shirt and rode ungraeeiully up under his ears, and the bottom of his vest showed d disposition to keep the waistbAnd of his trousers at distance. The odor of many cigarettes, blended with the perfume of maccrated garlic, envel- oped him like nebulous halo, and his unkempt hair stood on end like the wool of an end-man's wig. Mir. Me. Kenna carried d small and greasy grip. Without wasting time In words he drew from his receptacle a small glass tumbler, which he pro- ceeded to smash info small pieces with hammer. The crushed glass probably the eighth of an ounce was placed upon his tongue and OK hibited to the onlookers to prove that there was no hocus pocus. A mouth tul of water was then taken and swallowed, and with it the powdered glass. Mir. Mekenna opened his ret- icule again and took out paper Of common carpet tacks. A dozen of these he put in the palm of his hand, then opening his mouth and throwing back his head he tossed the tacks far back into his throat. There was an extra cxertion of the gullet and the tacks had followed the glass.
 "Now," said Mir. McKenna, "for the dessert!"
 A live and kicking frog was 6shed up from the depths of the handbag and with one gulp McKenna swal- lowed him, long legs and all.
 Questioned as to how long he had been making such junk shop of his stomach, McKcnna replied five years, and as to the unnatural appetite his reply was contentious II not signifl- cant;
 "Cigarettes
 The young man Is one put of half a dozen anomalies m human nature who earn precarious living in dime mu- seums throughout the country by giving such exhibitions, which in the last year have fallen into popular dis favor.
 A negro, calling himself Bill Jones, Is another one of the copper lined stomach genus and has been before the public for about three yesrs. When he first appeared he was enough of an "attraction" to draw 6 large salary, but AS other and more novel freaks came to the fore he, as well as McKeDDa, was forced to the rear and gradually sank in the dime museum scale until now the price of s weeks board is considered sufficient compensation.
 As matter of fact there is no de- ception in the performance of the glass-eater. He actually swallows and receives into his stomach chopped and powdered glass. The writer has been present when tests were applied that could leave no possible doubt that the glass and tacks and other in- soluable matter were actually swal- lowed, and several eminent phy sicians placed themselves on record say ing that | the glaas-eat could not possibly survive more than 6 week. That was nearly two years ago. Bill Jones was the subject. He is still alive, and !s apparently happy and contented darkey.
 The faculty Of having such hard substances pass through the alimen- tary canal without injury Is not pos sessed by every one. Instances are common where the swallowing of single carpet tack has caused . perfo- ration of the intestiDes, peritonitis and death, It is . favorite and cruel method of killing worthless dogs in some sections of the country, to feed them on powdered glass worked into their meat. have seen Bill Jones eat handful of powdered glass and devour large beefsteak immediately afterwards.
 ! Many theories have been advanced to account for the abnormal condition of human digestive organs that can receive and operate upon such mate rial without fatal injury as conse- quence. The general opinion seems to be that it is an exaggerstion of the "slate pencil habit, i" which is familiar to teachers in large schools. Pupils with putty complexions and large blue veins showing clearly through transparent skin exhibit the idiosyD- crasy 10 the greatest extent. They develop stomachic craving for slate peneils, nfbbIing oH small pieces and