Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-18
BIG MEN AND WOMEN.
some of the Giants aud Giantesses OF
Whom History Tolls.
IIrish Tiuesl


IIrish Times.I
Az all times and in all countries, kings
nnd mobiles had fancy Tor including
among their rctainers either giant OF Q
dwarf sometimes both. Frederick the
Great and his corps OF gigantic grenadiers
and i'm the Tower of London may be seen
q lance and some enormous armor OF SIX
teentb century work, which doubt
less belonged TO some giant knight OF
trooper Of the Kings bodyguard. James i:
had attached 10 his person porter named
Walter Parsons, commonly called the Stat.
fordshire giant. handsome, brave, and
strong Young man, who had begun Ire as
a farrier. His height was seven feet seven
inches. and his portrait exists, engraved
by Glover. Parsons lived on INTO the
REIGN of Charles /. and was succeeded by
another giant, William Evans, two inches
taller than his predecessor.
1t is curious fact that the population OF
France has rarely produced giant; Great
Britain. Germany, Poland. aud Switzerland
carry off the palm: and this may perhaps
be attributed to the prevalence IN rance
Of a vegetarian diet, which does not tend
todevelop TO 80 great an extent the growth
of muscle as does the stronger Diet oil
meat. The eighteenth century, TO judge
bv contemporary letters and newspapers
seems to nave Dteu more IMAM uSuaiiD PAN-
life in giants and giantosses.
Horace WalpOle mentions giant and
giaptess who were on view respectively at
Spring Gardens and Half-Moon Court,
Ludgato Hill. They were both, 1t seems
handsome and well prOportlOned persons,
and without the usual awkward unsainll-
ness peculiar to their kind. At tins time
also appeared a young Italian giantess
seven feet in height, who was the admi-
ration said the handbllls, of the Empe-
ror of Germany. of eight kings OF Europe;
and of the Grand Gar of Moscow himself. ,
UcraDpearance seems TO have beenioliowed
in 1874 by that of CaJauus. the famous Swe-
dish giant. commonly called the living
Colossus who came over TO England and
established himself AT a house opposite the
Mansion House. He was the son OF a pas,
tor of a little village in Finland, and stood
EIGHT feet four inches in ms socks.
IN 1865 London was visited by another
Italian giant named Bernardo Glgll. or
Gill. who measured egnt feet IN helght,
and seems 10 have created an immense
sensation by the colossal proportions on
ms limbs. But no giant ever created such
a Juror a. did Charles Bvrne, the. Hlsh
Giant. who was eight feet eight inches
IN height. and possessed of enormous
strength. He was clever and shrewd ana
full OF the natural wit of his mother coun-
trv. but unfortunately the large fortune
he randy gained by the exhibition on
himself led him into habits of gluttony
and intemperance, and he died a. the ear
" age of twO-aud-twenty, leaving IN,
structions TINT his body WAS TO be Ourled
at sea. but the College OF Surgeons IN some
way obtained his corpse tor the sum or
$780, according to certain reports anu lho
skeleton was set up" in Their museum by
Nt,lT..r, Il,,,4ar tho famous QuatOfulSi.
Shortly after Byrne's death another IRISH
Giant exhibited himself IN London, by
name Patrick Cotter Gi0s OBrlen. lie
was so attenuated that, tall as he was, ne
appeared even taller His height was eight
feet seven inches Feeble and deblitated
IN health. he could only walk by support
ing himself on the shoulders OF two tall
men walking III front OF him, resting a
hand on the shoulder of each. Many
amusing stories are related OF HIM. one
evening, at a Masonic dinner, he took out
of his pocket the celebrated dwarf,
Count Borulauski. and set HIM upon
the table, TO the establishment OF all.
Some time after. while STAYING at Bath,
be nearly terrified a night-wltchman out
of his wits by taking Oh the top OF street
lam. and lighting his pipe with the flame.
He was of an amiable and gentle DISPOSE
ton. but not remarkable for any intel
lectual capacity. Since his day TO the
present time London has only seen four
giants OF any abnormal height or size
namely, James Tolees. eight feet SIX inches
in height. in 1919; Scott, Chang, and Herr
Mickelmeir, the Bavaran giant.
OF giantesses, Miss Scott and Pauline
Marie Elizabeth Wcdde are the only cOlos-
sal ladies who have astoniShed the eyes OF
the sightseeing world. The latter. called
the Queen of the Amizons, was born at
Ben-Reedorf, in Thuringia. on the 3lst OF
January, 1866. and introduced to the Lon
don public at the Alhambra IN piece en-
titled "Babil and Blou." She was good
looking ana of a handsome, well-pro-
portioned figure, and measured about
eight feet four inches IN height Oh
her subsequent history and career
we have not been able TO trace any
account. since her provincial tour IN
France after she had exhibited herself III
this country 1t is a curious fact that giants
rarely exceed the age OF forty or forty-five
aud lew among them ever show signs OF
much intellectual capacity. They are, a.
rule, good tempered, lndolent, and
placid: their opposite extremes, the
dwarfs, beng irritable, active, clever, and
Ill tempered.