Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-04
FAMILY OF BIGT0LKS
SIX BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHOSE
AVERAGE WEIGHT IS $50 POUNDS
poulsnrcr.s Wait TO Richmoud-A Doctor
OF fruit.Trees-Boys In the High
school-Other Town Topics.

Mr.. Valentine Hechlcr. Jr., told me sorNe
weeks ago that he and his 1--WE brotheV
and sisters had a family reunion recently
and after dinner they went to the scales 10
compare weights. The aggregate OF .hc
six brothers and sisters was over l'oH
pounds. or something over an a'ernge VI
225 pounds for each member OF the FANNY;
MIR. Hechler at that time SAID ne "ou.n
challenge any other family OF the sa,ne
number TO produce like figures III aso''u ~
pois. and II seemed TO me that tnev un
doubtcdly had clean sweep over 'n9
heavyweight championship of virginia IL
not the South. ..o,
Bnt. after all, truth is stranger than
fiction. and Yesterday ! had occasion 70
drop around to see the best and most hln ir
hearted of fellows. George Mouhtcas,,u,
or Baby" Mountcastie. IA ne was hl,omn
when he went South with the iiommn,
Now everybody knows that Mr.: Mountcas;;
tie is bv no means living frality, anu
though he is most certainly ana unnii
takablv fat. few would guess either MS
RIGHT weigh, or height correctly. Az pre-
emf he stands six feet one and one nan
inches and tips the scales at an even ioo
Mounds. This is certainly a TREMENDOUS
weight. and when | converse WIN we
GENIAL Confederate veteran ana ace nov u.
ENJOYS life | sometimes half suspect thu'
200 pounds OF this figure IS pure, M w
adulteraied jollity. But 1t Is Wna' Nj;
Mountcastle told me OF the resi-
Of his family that surprised NE.
and will. I doubt not, astound Mr. v;
Hechler. Jr. He said that his father usei
10 WEIGH 2Gj pounds, while his mother ire
ouentiy went over 800. The following
figures. however. will place the M9untcas-
lies in the lead on weights, and al tnls
time verify believe that no one WI ~
able 10 surpass mem. Nj. george h.u NV
castle tips the scales. as nave salu, "' ~
Mr.. John X. Mountcastle at go or more,
Nv 4 l.. Mountcastie at 1927 Dir. Williain
A Mountcastle at 235. while Mrs. Anne T.
Broaddus and Mrs. VI. A. Motley, the Two
SISTERS of our worthy citizens, weigh 70
and ia rospectivcly. This makes the com
Mnod weight Of the family l,6Sl pounds
and the average weight OF each molloef
fraction over $50.
at is not SO much IN the weight
though" said MIR. MOuntcastle 10 me- as
1t is IN tho activity. Now al OF US can
move around without the slghtcst tIous
hl.. and NV mother could dance Tor hnit
an hnur. Folks ask me how | get about
and tell them that don't let anything
bother me. II owe man anything j iet
hun do the Worrying about IT,, anu
haven't got an enemy III The wOTid. en-
enough continued Mr.. MountcastIe'
and sleep well, but never drink any
whiskcy at all. Ill,
What the Jolly veteran said about drlnk-
ing ~ true. too; but When ! haPpene.t "
be uuartered in a room with MN AT Ne"
Orleans recently tiink heard pasSo-
urnfuudO snore emanatlng IRON ms dlrec-
won. and this know was certainly III pro-
uortion To his usual size. II II wasn't ne
who did the snoring, then the finger OF sus-
p.cion POINTS mcnaclngly towards captain
Johu Cussrns of Glen Allen, VINO was also
IN the same apartment.
While walking 10 Main street few days
AGO noticed rather retiring and lnsig-
nlfcant sign which read -. l.. DOwner,
Doctor Of Fruit 1rees-Cure and Prevent
All Diseases The advertisement struck
me rs being a new departure IN the inedl,
cal profession. ana while | remembered
that the hvpocritical Mark Tully Cicero
had devoted a good deal o. his time 70
telling how the old man plants trees Tor
another generation" could not recall an
other instance where any physician had
excrted his curative abilities on an orchard.
Yesterday came across Doctor DOwner
as he discoursed upon the mysteries
of his profession TO an attentive audi
ence of several head OF cabbage. two
August watcrmelOus, small boy. ana Il
green grocer Che was III the establishment
of the latter. Being anxious TO become
veIsed in all the ailments of vegetation
immediately sought an opportunity To en-
GAGE in conversation with the Doctor.
who is now rather advanced Ill years. but
nevertheless an enthusiast upon his duty
in life. He told me that he could tell by
the leaves OF tree whether 1t was Oll-
ions" or consumptive," and SAID that
ono Of his l,atIeuts-or rather the prorrie-
tor Of one Of his patients-had sought his
advice to ascertain whether certain or
chard monarch was afflicted with diphi he.
RIA. After the pulse of the sufferer had
been examined and the case thoroughly
diagnosed IT was found to be free from the
dread malady.
Iasked the physician how he cured u
bilious" tree, and he looked at me for IA
moment, and then utterlng Choctaw In
dian grunt said Humph, if told YOU
that YOU would know rs much about my
business as do" ! had a lurking sus-
piclon that dtd know rs much about 1t rs
he did anyhow. but fully approaching the
fact that every profession has lts DARK
mysteries. forever unknown TO those not
in the fraternity, refrained from further
luterrOgatlOns.
A friend of mine was travelling down the
mighty Nile some months ago and IN his
party there was one of those far, sylph-
like creatures who go through life with one
eternal "gush." Suddenly she turned tC
those on the boat and said with rapturOus
longing: Il have seen lots and lots OF
countries. but o! ! certainly would like t
90 to Africa. Those III the crowd who hap
pened to have some idea that the Nile how'
through the Continent which the lovely
siren sighed for only smiled. and my frienc
admits that he winked the other eye,
but nothing was said. trust that III age:
vet unborn, when she OF the pent-up Ell
thuslaslu looks back on the uniorgotteI
past, some kind and loving friend Will tel
her that she has been IN Africa.
Some cynic, who was doubtless crossed
in - early love-" once said: The more Sc
Of men the better like dogs" His senti
uents, which i'll my opinion give him {
touch of caninety, are certainly not th'
kindest; but after all, when one reflects
there j. no question about the fact tina
there are some mighty mean men and sOn'
llEnty mean NpES III tiilS Npiiu. III tHi
lat or class | recall IA brindle quadrupet
named Tramp" who is widely know
among the strect-car men. Long year,
ago when civilization was IN primItiy,
state and streot-cars were propelled by Iii,
prism shaped mule with the abbreviated
caudal appendage, Tramp" took i
into his head that his mission
in life was to follow the con
yenient conyeyances Il suppose may cal
them conveyances), and SINCE then lie ha'
surely earned the sobrlqud he nov
bears. Many is the mile that his iou
paws have trotted behind the ears. an'
now, even when electricity has routed th'
aslnine specimens. he still pursues h
sacred mission. But Tramp" though
doomed for certain time to carry on thu
purpose, has shown his failings, aud while
| TO err is human, II is also dogsIsn, and IL
| his walks of life this mysterious canin
| has ever exhibited fondness for barking
at horses and vehicles To say nothin.
| of ofttllnes causing various unsuspeCtlnI
urchins TO tremble for the safety o
| that portion of their trousers which frs
| come i'll contact with u chair when tDel
assume sitting posture. On several DC
casions Tramp" has been summoned &
answer various charges of dIsorderly con
| duet before Justice CrutcLfield ut tn
Police Court. and doubtless his counse