The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-06-05
nwARFs IN THe PYREMEEs.
AssEy - rhsar oriEia Derived Erqm
Their Legendary HAsrorJ.

LnoorT - LhaR OriEin D~rFeA -
rA~ir LsEund@ry Hisrory-
There has long d~elt IN the heart
of the Pyrenees. on the old Cataloni-
an border of Spain, a race OF dwarfs
supposed by some TO be Of Tartar
origin
They inhabit the valley of the
Ribas, in the northwestern part Of
the Spanish province now called
Corona They never exceed slH
inches in height and have short, III
formed legs. great bellies. small
eyes, fat noses and pale. unwholo-
some oomplexionA They are usual
ly stupid. often to the verge Of idio-
oy, and much subject 20 goiter and
scrofulous affections The chief
town of the Ribas valley Is Ribas, a
place Of l, 500 inhabitants, about 500
feet above sea level The mountains
rise above the town 70 a height Of
1000 TO 8, 900 feet and command an
amazingly beautiful panorama OF
mountain, plain and river. with
Spanish cities visible upon the one
side and French upon the other.
The region Is rich. both agricultural
ly and minerally, and 10 famous for
Its medicinal springs. In this para
disc dwell the dwarfs. perhaps as de-
graded q race Of men and women as
may be found in any civilized com-
munity. They are almost without
education, and inhabit wretcbed huts
when they have any shelter. The
most intelligent are employed as
shepherds. and In summer they live
for months at an elevation Of more
than {, 900 feet without shelter. Here
they see no human creature save
some of their own kind, often idiots,
who are sent up every Is OF 20 days
with a supply Of food
Il l. said that formal marriage ~
almost unknown among them. The
women In some instances are en-
ployed In the village Of Ribas as
nurses for children, aud as such are
found tender and faithful Before
communication throughout the re-
gion was a. easy as II II now IL was
thought lucky 10 have one Of these
dwarfs IN a family. and the dwarfs
were hired out and even sold TO b
used in beggary in neighbOring cit
les. There are somewhat similar
dwarfs in other valleys Of the Pyr.
!, enees, but tho number II decreasing,
J and those Of the Ribas valley are re
I, duced 10 a few individuals
The writer rejects the theory of 1
Chinese origin for the dwarfs ans
believes that they are merely th'
degenerate descendants Of tho ordi
nary natives, Ill nourished for gen
3 erations upon a diet of potatoes ans
9 black bread Tho fact that with i'm
; proved means of communication tn
3 dwarfs are decreasing helps 10 con
hrm the writer's theory. and he be
J. lieves that with proper nourishmen
and decent shelter their descendant
would gradually return 20 the nor
> NAL type Meanwhile the neigh
Q bors of the dwarfs look upon then
with a curious mixture OF feelings
The fact that the dwarfs drink mucl
= at a particular mineral spring ha
given rise TO a superstition that who
ever drinks of it will become do
formed, and the normal natives ar
horrifed TO see visitors experiment
II ing with the dreaded waters Their
IL reason TO believe that the water
of the spring are beDercial IN N
= stomachs Of we'll nourished persons
but injurious 10 those who are %
y oustomed TO an unwholesome die
: and II is entirely possible that th
u III fed dwarfs have besn injured b
- drinking of the spring. Cosmos