The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-04-25

FAIRLY FLIES OVER THE PAVEMENT.
italian frontier, says Gil Bias, frivolous
and vividly descriptive Partisan newspa-
per.
Here dwell, in small, hovelliko houses.
never more than one story high about 200
deformed men, women and children who
in Paris go by the name of "culs-dc iattc. "
They are deprived of the use of their legs
and thighs, these being withcrcd and stunt
ed, and push themselves along In primitive
wooden carts with wooden wheels, which
they propel by means Of fatiron shaped
block Of wood in either hand
Grotesque indeed and pitiable to the
Partisan who does not understand him is
the cul-de-jatte, whether of the masculine
or feminine sort. Trundling about pain
fully, so 1t seems, In his little cart or sit
ting bolt upright on his rollers at the side
of a crowded Partisan thoroughfare asking
aims, he is the prince of French beggars
and impostors. While impioring the pub
lies sympathy and getting it in n shower
of silver and copper coins the Guide jatte
looks utterly decrepit, and even his upper
limbs seem of little use.
His face Is pinched and wan. But let
the gendarmes start q raid on the seekers
after aims and clear the street, 10 and be-
hold, the cul-de-jatte fairly flies over the
ground in his clumsy trundle cart, and
his arms, developed at the expense of the
rest Of his body, ply the propelling fat
irons" rapidly.
In many of the European cities begging
is profession, but in respect to the num-
ber, variety and the cleverness Of its men
dicants Paris overtops all the rest. Aims
getting is profitable and distinct trade
in the French capital. Its followers form
almost guild in the way they prosecute
their calling, in the ingenious methods of
wheedling they devise Children are bred
and trained in the wrinkles" and devices
their fathers succeeded at, and thus whole
families have been for generations beggars
of certain scope and method. No CONNER
cial concern ever guarded its patents more
faithfully than do these mendicants the
jealously kept secrets Of their trade
The culs-de- jatte have always been con-
sidered, however, as people naturally de-
formed. The profits Of their woe were
known to be immense, but it never was
supposed before that they were a class, q
colony in themselves, who had deformed
their bodies scientifically over many gener-
ations.
The curious story is out now, though,
and the Guide jatte is seen to be Of race
ners and romances make up a novel chap
ter in the story Of peoples. Long ago,
so the tale goes, there lived near Culoz
several families Of unnatural parents, who
with an eye for finance in the begging
line, prevented their children's legs from
| growing while their bodies developed.
Thus perfect and authentic culs-de- jatte
were obtained, whom the parents carefully
trained in the art of aims soliciting and
sent to seek their fortunes in Paris when
| grown.
BY diligently pursuing their unique and
extremely lowly vocation these young peo-
pie, as years went on, not only supported
their parents, but amassed good sized com
petencies. Then they married women sim
ilarly deformed and came back to the vii
lage of Jatte to end their days in peace.
Naturally the children resulting from
these unions were perfectly formed, but
their parents, wishing to have their own
mantles descend upon their offspring,
prevented the growth of their lower limbs
In the same old way. Trained in the art
of money getting and with only one other