Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-12
SHE LIVES ON WAFER ONLY.

A beautiful French Canadian Girl
Who Has Not Tasted Food for 2,55G
Days.
Lewiston, Me-, special to New York
Sun: Josephine Bedard Is pretty,
DARK eyed, yivecious French Canadian
girl who has been on Christmas visit
10 her uncle and cousins at 81 Birch
street, LIE wiston, for the past few days.
If her story is true, she has tasted more
than two thousand five hundred and
fifty days, LaYlnR neither eaten or de-
sired to eat. nor tasted food in any form
for that length OF time. Wien the re-
porter called upon her to-day and intro
duced himself through an interpreter,
she being unable to converge in Enpliss,
1t was at the dinner hour. and while her
past she was leisurely reclining in o
rocking chair, apparently deeply
interested in work on history.
Der story, as told by herself. was that
she was born on her fathers farm in
llngwick, small agricultural town in
Canada in 1872. Her mother was
stricken with disease which terminated
fatally when Josephine was but three
months old. As b child she grew robust
and strong. She attended q CONN.,
try school shors time, and nfterward
assisted In the household dutiesa at home.
Or Christmas day, 1881, she was violent
ly attached with diptheria, and for three
weeks she was between life and death
From this sickness begins the date OF
her prolonged and curious fast, and to.
day, as for years, her means OF Rustenance
Is derived from water only, which she
drinks as people drink ordinarily, Nc
form of eatabies can arouse her sleeping
appetite, and the most delicious fruits
are no temptation to her. In appearance
she is OF medium height, weighing 12t
pounds, with symmetrical figure, intel
| leotual head and what is called pretty
face, with sparkling brown eyes, and
short,coal black hair. She is fascinating
brunette Of demure countenance and
modest bearing.
She never eat anything" said one Of
the family, "sll zse time she be here"
This remark caused Josephine tc
smile, showing set Of evan, pearl white
teath, and at the same time revealing q
set of dinples which might
arouse the jealousy of an ordinary
society girl. Mr.. Bedsrd said that
when in Canada, in order to re.
move the doubts of few skeptical
persons, Josephine was locked in room
for fifteen days, as q test, with nc
nourishment but water, and that she
came out at the end OF that time without
experiencing the slightest illness The
fact that she is very fond OF books and
spends the most of her spare moments
IN reading and study would Seem to
indicate that her mind has literary
inclination. At present she enjoys
perfect health, and headaches and othe,
ailments that flesh is heir to are entirely
unknown to her. She believes in amuse.
ments. and when at home participates
with the other boys and girls OF tht
neighborhood in their country festivities
A leading Montresl physician pro-
nounced her physical wonder, AND
offered Josephine's father 500 for the
privilege Of taking her into his custody
with view to solving the cause of he,
| peculiar condition. This Mr.. Bedsrd re-
fused to do. Several other inducements
have been held out to her to travel as
curiosity; but she prefers to remain il
her country home whore che has the
care OF her fathers five children by
second wife, and wEgre the oneroue
duties of farm household devolvt
upon her.
Josephine Bedard is charming
industrious young girl, who would bt
an ornament to any household. Youl
correspondents broached the somewha,
delicate subj ct of heride as to futur,
marriage, which brought perceptibl,
blush to her cheeks as she answered
| with unaffected modesty:
II like the world, but never had an,
thought of marriage. / am young yet !
she said, laughinoly, land think ther,
is plenty OF time before me to conside
that"