Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-02-12
THE TALLEST BOY.


whole world Hives at Oxford, Warren
County, N. J. HIS name is Edward
Sch4rrer; he is 10 years old and his height
is already g feet 7H inches, without his
shoes II ne should keep on growing
at the ordinary rate from now until he
is 20 years old, lie would then be over
seven feet in height. He believes that
when he reaches that age he will stand
fully feet inches:
It is usually the case when Phenom-
email growth takes place in childhood
the subject is physically a weakling.
The tremendous strain upon the vitality
resulting from such unusual growth
generally enfeebles the system; it
amounts to disease, and is so regarded
by physicians.
Scharr, however, has never seen a
sick day in all his 10 Yeas. He is as
strong and healthy as a young animal
and has an appetite commensurate to
his size. Just at present he weighs 100
pounds, and is gaining at the rate of
about a pound week. He is not at all
ill-proportioned, and 1t is only in the
hoyishness of his face that his lack of
wears Is noticeable. He has the stride
and carriage usuallysin man at the age
at which such height and weight are
not extraordinary.
This phenomenon In the way of
growth Is the youngest of family OF
eight children. Every one of his BROTH
ers and sisters are of good height, per-
fectlyIformed, bright and healthy. None
of them have developed any signs of
anything abnormal, and they look upon
their big brother with as much astonish-
ment as is felt by strangers.
This extraordinary youth Is, to his
fathers qualification, we'll fitted to per-
form the work of stout farmland In
every particular. There is no one In
the neighbourhood who can beat him
pitching hay, and when It comes to
breaking a horse, his strength makes
him a master hand. In fact, most of
the tasks that are considered onerous
because of the strength required to per-
j.. form them are child's play to this over
e grown boy.
n Ordinarily boys who grow up in this
-, wav feel abashed at their own bigness
and rather i'll at ease, but Scharrer says
g that the only sensation which has i'm.
q pressed itself upon him in any way is
:. surprise.
Even as baby he was usually large
e by the time he had reached the age of |
+ years he was as tall and we'll formed al
! the ordinary boy of 8, and at 10 he had
\ attained the growth and general appear
e ance of boy of 10.
4 Mentally, he is all that could be ex
pected of boy of his age. Heis goo'
r. student, and has made the most of hi
rather limited opportunities for educa
s. ton.
d He says, indeed, that he proposes t.
II educate himself according to his size
re and. If he should do this there is M
to question of his becoming learned man
n The question of calling in life Is no
ct bothering Scharrer at all. He says h
10 was born farmer, and a farmer he will
re remain. Nothing else has any attraction
s. for him whatever; he seems to have a
IN Unborn love for the soil.
tn Various efforts have been made to in
re duce the boy to become museum al
traction, but quite apart from the fac
w that his parents object, he is himsel
,s- strongly opposed to anything OF the sor
ed 81 do not know" he said, "why shoul
10 exhibit myself to other people. Jus
I'd because have grown more than mos
Of people doesn't. make.me freak. VIII
us should people want to pay money to Sc
nt a tall boy7 If anybody wants to loo
IN at me, let him come down 10 Oxfor'
Of where 1 live, and will stand up and h
can look till he is tired. don't see an
IN reason why shouldn't be allowed
!, stay at home like other people"
:, Unless, however, nature present.
IIv calls a halt, New Jersey bids fair
of furnish the legitimate successorto Chan
,e. the Chinese giant, and the late lamente
,se Captain Bates.
L.