Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-03-09
DANIEL LAMBERT

DANIEL LAMBERT.
Though our town could not vie will
the Islington Hercules, we have pro-
duced the largest and heaviest man in the
world. Daniel Lambert and myself were
boys together; and, as | lived next
door to him, | watched his growth for
several years. At the age of ten, he was
tall, strong lad, of very quiet DISPOSE
ton, not at all inclinng to be iolly, but
possessing fine open countenance. Soon
after the age of fourteen, he began I'd
thicken rapidly; like Mild with the calf
/ have often carried him on my back. but
not when he became ano He was verv
fond of bathing, and his corpulency EN-
abled him to perform extraordinary feats
in the water. He was the envy of bows
who were learning to swim; for. while
they were struggling to keep their heads
above water, he would lie, like whale
motionless upon the surface. During the
summer months he never was so happy
as when wallowing for hours in the riv-
er, rolling over and over like a hippopota-
mus; and as his weight increased this
desire increased also. The great use he
made of this luxury, probably relaxed
the skin, and tended to increase his bulk
Mr.. Lambert was highly sensitive upon
the subject of his huge appearance and
when he ventured out, was aware that id
drew upon him the general gaze. With
a cultivated mind, might say, above his
station in life, he could not bear this ex1
posure, and soon gave up his ordinary
walks, remaining constantly at home. Al
life so sedentary operated to make him
still more corpulent. In summer Ind
could only enjoy the fresh air by sitting
at his door and that always without his
coat. DR.. Hague, the university profess
sor of music at Cambridge, having called
upon Inc, | took him to see the Roman
curiosity, the Jewry wall, near to Mich
olas' church, and as we were going to view
the ruin where King Richard III. passed
the night before the fight in Boswortf
Field, we had occasion to pass Mr.. Lam
bert's house. He was sitting at the door
and the moment my friend caught sight
of him, in IA fit of astonshment he made
a full stop and exclaimed mercy on us
what a sight" | walked on, knowing
, how much Mr.. Lambert disliked,
the rude gaze of "A stranger and entered
, into conversation with him to take off thd|
, effect of Hague's establishment; but LAM
bert followed the little doctor with his|
keen eye and frowned upon him as he|
f passed us till he was out of sight. on
rejoining the professor | found him sd
, filled with amazement that the sights II
f had III store for him claimed none of his
f attention compared with what he hadl
unexpectedly seen. The quantity of
cloth required to make his clothes was|
immense. When he walked there was al
lightness in his step that was surprising s
he had voice clear and agreeable. and
sang with ease and taste. He was red
markedly temperate, and frequently tried
the experiment of abstinence without
, any apparent diminution of bulk. When
unrestrained he would eat an entire led
of mutton. Mr.. Lambert was eXceeding1
] '
curious in the breed of his dogs and
game fowls, which attracted to his housed
: many country gentlemen. This was al
delicate way of satisfying their curiosity Il
and, by the sale of these animals some-
thing was contributed to his support
This source of revenue. however, began|
to decline and his circumstances. at length
, compelled him to form an alliance with
Mr.. Pearson, much against his will andI
he first submitted to be shown fora sight
in Piccadilly, London. When l visited
, town, called upon him as friend, and
soon discovered that he was distressed att
my seeing him in a situation so degrading.
+ He got up from his enormous chair Gal
thing he rarely did and shook me by
the hand. That his sensibility was
I wounded was evident during my stay,
2 by the rebuff he gave a gentleman he
1 thought too particular in his inquiries.
He died, aged SO, at Stamford, on the
r 2lst of June, 1909, and when last weighed
\ he was 50 stones, IL pounds; but he had
, so much increased since that time that
. his attendant told me he probably could
not be less than 81 stones at the time of
; his decease.-[ Gardeners Music of
r Friends.
PETE GUFFIN.