The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-27

and in the Tower of London may be seen
a lance and some enormous armor of six
teenth century work which doubtless be-
longed to some giant knight or trooper of
the Kings body-guard. James |. had at
tached to his person porter named Walter
Parsons, commonly called the Statfordshre
giant-a handsome, brave, and strong young
man, who had begun life as farrier. His
height was seven feet seven inches, and his
portrait exists engraved by Glover. Par
sons lived on into the reign Of Charles l.,
and was succeeded in his office by another
giant, William Evans, who was two inches
taller than his predecessor.
Cromwell also had valet named Daniel,
who was seven feet six inches in height,
but of weak intellect. He unfortunately
ended his days in Bedlam, having become
possessed with the idea that he had been
sent on the earth to prophesy coming
events. Contemporary with Daniel lived
Anthony Payne, handsome and clever
young farmer in Cornwall, tenant of Sir
BeyiIle Granville at Stowe He was as re-
markable for his wit as for his strength
and stature. which exceeded seven feet.
This county has always been as famous for
its big men as is Yorkshire. and to this day
the proverb exists, "As long as Tony
Payne's foot" After career Of many
vicissitudes and long military service IN
the Stuart cause, Anthony Payne died at
a good old age, and was buried in vault
in Stratton church.
In 1856 and in the earlier part Of the
same century two gigantic negroes were
shown about London. They were said to
be the sons of kings of two African tribes
and we're captured by slavers, who brought
them to this country. The first was Giolo,
son of the King of the Moangi tribe. The
other was known as '.The Black Prince,
and became converted to Christianity and
was admitted as member Of the house
hold Of the family of Clifton, living at
Clifton, near Nottingham. He was chris
tened Joseph, and mark may sull, we
believe. be seen in Clifton churchyard which
gives his height as seven feet. Giants are
usually not gifted with any more beauty
than their opposites in creation, and are
generally more remarkable for their awk-
wardness and stupid stolid looks than for
natural grace or intellectual brilliancy
There was, however, an exception 70 this
general rule in the person Of Macmillan
Christopher Mailer, German giant, who
travelled about in France and England in
the reigns Of Louis XIV and George II.
He was a man Of splendid build and noble
proportions, with a handsome and striking
countenance, and measured exactly seven
feet eight inches in height His hand was
twelve inches long from the wis, to the
tip of the middle finger. He died IN Len
don in 1884, aged sixty, not long after
Hoearth had introduced his portrait into
his fameus picture Of Southwark Fair.
lisa curious fact that the population
of France has rarely produced giant;
Great Britain, Germany, Poland, and SSit-
nerland carry of the palm, aud this may
perhaps be attributable te the prevalence
in France Of vegetarian diet, which does
not tend to develop to 50 great an extent
the growth Of muscle as does tho stronger
diet Of meat
The eighteen century, TO judge BY con.
temporary letters aud newspapers, seems
to have been more than usually prolific in
giants aud giansesses. Horace WalPole
mentions giant and giautess who were ea
view respectively at Spring Gardens and al
Halfmoon Court, Ludgate Hin. They
were both, it seems, handsome and we'll
proportioned persons and without the usual
awkward ungainlinesS Of their kind AZ
this time also appeared young Italian
ciantess seven feet in height, awho was the
admiration, said the handbllls, "ot the
Emperor Of Germany, Of eight kings OF
Europe, and Of the Grand Car Of Moscow
himself Her appearance seems to have
been followed in 1T42 BY that Of Cajanus,
the famous Swedish giant, commonly called
the .'living Colossus, who came over to
England and established himself at house
opposite the Mansion House. He was the
son of pastor Of a little village in Fin
land, and stood eigh: feet four inches in
his socks. In 1885 London was visited by
another Italian giant named Bernardo
Gigil or Gill, who measured eight feet in
height, and seems to have created an i'm
mense sensation by the colossal proportions
Of his limbs.
But no giant ever created such ffror
as did Charles Byrne, the Irish giant, who
was eight feet eight inches in height, aud
possessed of enormous strength. He was
clever and shrewd, and full Of the natural
wit Of his mother country; but unfortu-
nately the large fortune he rapidly gained
bv the exhibition Of himself led him into
habits of gluttony and intemperanee, and
he died at the early age of twenty-five,
leaving instructions that his body was to
be buried at sea, but the College of Sur
geons in some way obtained his corpse for
the sum of $500, according to certain re-
ports; and the skeleton was set up in
their museum by William Hunter, the IA
nous anatomist.
Shortly after Byrne's death another Irish
giant exhibited himself in London, by
name Patrick Cotter alias O'Brien. He
was so attenuated that tall as he was he
appeared even taller. His height was 8
feet Z inches. Feeble and debiHtated in
health, he could only walk by supporting
himself on the shoulders of two tall mel
walking in front of him, resting hand on
a shoulder of each. Many amusing stories