The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-08-09

= sen Thsnb - shs Last Century Ne
lsngins - shs Polish King.


10 have been the littlcst man who ever
lived. He was born nv : peasant wo.
man In Lorraine just $50 years ago and
was called Bebe because the nrst few
years Of bis life he could srticulats only
BIB" The day Of his birth Bcbs was
smaller than his mothers hand. Ten
days. afterwards he WAS taken to the
village church TO be baptized In his
mothers wooden shoe because he was
too tiny to be carried safely In her
arms. During the next six months
the same wooden shoe served as Bebe's
crib.
Bcbe's early childhood was uncvent.
ful. Ho did not grow and he did not
talk. He was famous throughout Lor-
raine. however. as the cunningest and
tiniest bit Of humanity ever scen. He
was perfectly proportioned. had won
durfully large and beautiful brown eyes,
and was remarkably active upon his
diminutive legs. When Bobc was
about z years old King Stanislsus
Lescxynski OF Poland. who was then
living In Lorraine. heard what won
derful little fellow he was aud ordered
the child's father TO bring him to court.
Bebe. ST., carried his son 10 the royal
palace In small basket. As tho
father came into the kings presence
the king asked him very grunly why
he had not brought his son with him.
Bebc. Sr., answered this question by
opening the basket on his arm and
dragging forth the child. Stanislaus
said at once that Bebe must become
his court dwarf. Bebe's father was in
L. a L.. IL x.ttet.
good bit of Polish gold and Bebe was
made regular follower Of the kings
court.
At the time of his introduction TO
court life Bcbc was just twenty inches
tall and weighed eight pounds. He
never grew larger. At first the king
tried 10 teach him jokes aud fairy
stories. and bits OF questionable poetry.
Bcbe's intelligence however, was not
equal 10 the demands thus made upon
II. His memory was SO weak that he
forgot one hour what he had learned
the hour before. Reading aud writing
were for him quite impossible. With
all these failings, however he was by
no means failure as y court dwarf.
He had sweet little OF 70. good ear
for music. aud nimble icgs. He could
dance. aud kick. and sing with the best
OF the kings courtiers lie was very
useful rs n table ornament at all the
kings great banquets. His most IA
nous appearance in this rather curious
role took place at dinner which STAN
islaus gave 60 the ambassador Of
great power in 1855. In the middle of
the table was an immense sugar castle.
Shortly before the guests rose to leave
the door OF the castle opened. aud
knight In full armor stepped out with
drawn sword in his right hand. All
some wonderful automation which the
king had obtained from the skilled
mechanics across the Rhine. lie wasn't
however. lie was none other than lit
tie Bcbe. He walked around the table.
shook his sword In the face of every
guest, saluted the king. and then turn
ed back 10 the castle entrance. where
he assumed the position OF sentry. At
. signal from the king everyone began
TO lombard him with small sugar
balls. Bebe hurried at once into the
tower. locked the door. mounted the
tower. and pretended to return the fire
by setting of lot of pcrfumcd explo-
sfyes.
Within ten or twelve years after Be-
/ bc's appearance Ia court he was one of
tho most celebrated persons Ia royal
society on the continent. With fame.
however, came 60 him numerous per-
lis. All the sovereigns of Europe were
coveting him. and many of them cried
hard Go steal them. In 1903 the En-
press Catharine OF Russia sent an en-
issary after him TO the court Of the Pol
ish king. Late one evening. when tho
royal palace was almost deserted, Cath
arine's emissary snapped Bobe up and
stuffed him into the pocket of his great
coat Bcbe screamed so Justify that he
revealed the plot TO the guard at thu
door. The emissary was arrested, aud
Bobc was rescued. Not long afterward
Bebc accompanied Stsnlslaus TO tho
court OF Louis XIV. in Versailles.
where he again narrowly escaped ALB
duction. A lady OF the French court
had been holding him in her lap be-
tween the courses OF a court dinner.
Suddenly she rose 10 leave the room.
Her first stop was accompanied by .
shrsll cry from the folds of her gown:
Your majesty. your majesty. this
lady has stuck me In her pocket and
Is running away with me-" The voice
WAS Bebe's. He was Immediately
dragged from the court lady's pocket
and placed under the guard OF two
pages. who we're instructed by King
Stanislaus to watch him day and night.
The perils through which he had
passed. and the strict surveillance 10
which no was now subjected. depressed
Bcbc's spirits and dcmoraliked his
nervous system. He became melan-