Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-21
STRANGE CONTRAST.
A Girl of Six Weighing 152 and One
of Five MeighinG 3G Pnunls.

There was born TO Mr.. and Mrs. w. C.
Babbitt, OF No. 80 South Prospect avenue,
Kansas City, Kan. May Is, 1891, five and a
half pound girl baby. 1t was named Zella.
Now, when only years old, the same child
weighs l52 pounds. and is as healthy and
bright as any youngster of her age despite
her abnormal growth.
There was born 10 Mr.. and Mrs. David
Richardson OF Everett avenue, Kansas City.
Kan, March 90 1892, a girl baby. whose
weight at the time of birth was eight
pounds and three ounces. This infant cele-
brated its 9th birthday last March, and its
present weight is only thirty-six pounds.
1t. like Baby Zella, enjoys the best OF health,
and has been sick but very little since it's
birth.
Greater contrast between children could
no! be found, says the Kansas City Journal
one Liliput, the other a Brobdgnagian.
They may be seen any day al the homes
OF their parents in that city, but their par
eHts have been pretty successful in es-
Gaping newspaper notoriety. While 10 the
development, neither could be called freak.
They are both intelligent babies, possessing
every faculty and no inirmity.
Baby Zella speaks very distinctly, and
does not hesitate to tell visitor all about
herself. In fact she seems to enjoy the
attention she attracts on account OF her
enormous weight. While a reporter for the
Journal was in conversation with Mrs. Bah
bitt. the child wonder entered the room She
had been out playing with some OF her com
paniOIs.
Have you been playing?" inquired the
reporter.
Yes, sir" replied the child, as she leaned
against the arm Of the chair occupied by
her mother.
Doesn't it make you tired to play very
much?" was the most natural question In
the world as one looked at the big little
girl.
1T don't make me tired" said Zela, but
get awfully hot. l get mad, sometimes
too. The others don't get hot when We
play, but / just sweat sweat! all the time
when l play. ! fall down lots. This makes
me mad, too, for l can't hardly get up. 1t
takes HE a long while to get up and some
times when I'm in hurry / get some Of my
playmates to help me-"
Il wish l wasn't any bigger than you"
continued Miss Zella, addressing her re-
mark to the reporter. How much do you
weight"
The child stands just fny-three inches
in her stocking feet. She has long black
hair, which hangs to her waist in nice curls
Her eyes are dark blue and very bright
When she was years old she weighed
eighty-fye pounds and has rapidly grown
heavier ever since. A year ago she weighed
1872 pounds. She gained twenty pounds
the past twelve months. Mr.. Babbitt is an
employe OF the Armour Packing company
and weighs eight pounds more than his baby.
Mrs Babbitt is the daughter OF ex-Mayor
r. w. Hilliker OF Kansas City. Kan, who
enjoys the distinction Of being the grand
father of the wonderful infant. Mrs Bah
bitt was born in Canada and Mr. Babbitt
is a native Of Illinois. They have three
other children, but they are all normal
In size and weight.
Mr.. and Ms. Richardson's child. which
has developed just the reverse from Mr.
and Mrs. Rabbits daughter, Is pretty
little blonde. She Is unusually bright, and
owing to her extremely small size has be-
come the pet of the neighborhood. The
mldgets name is Beulah and while she does
not talk quite as plain as Zella. she can
get over great deal more territory IN much
less time. -