Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-06-14
wOHDrkFUL 3


1--WE 4N-@-H
To De born Eithuuf arms and legs 3
4 tate that no. haany kfe called On 70
bsar, and to those who have been In
the enjoyment Of these useful mem
bers Of the human body Il weuld moi
readily be conceivable how they
could be dispensed Wits eitAes after
their use had become apparent or
from the beginning. Yet that they
are not essential 10 q perfect con-
tenimsnt and enjoyment Of Hfo o. 10
the accomplishment of nearly al the
things for which they are considered
useful has been wonderfully demon
ssratad BY John Rodney Elzsas = ~
ysar-old boy living at New London,
Mo. he wss born near Mexico MOI
September 8, 1854, the Alta child In .
family OF seven children, none Of
whom, either before o. after him,
were in any way deformed. When he
was two years Of age ais parents re-
moved 10 New London, where his
father engaged In business, and atths
time Of hzs death 3 few years ago, was
among the forsmost citizens Of the
place, . leading Odd Fellsw and one
Of the relIAbss business msa OF the
town
Rodney, as he u called. was born
without hands or feet. His srins are
mere ssumps, extending 10 ssngsh 70
about where the elbows In n natural
arm wonld be, terminating II . blunt
end which ID ~ sensitive 70 touch -
are the fingers Of other people. His
legs in rexlisy &re no legs 81 all They
are mere stumps which h&ve never
extended from the body, and have the
appearance of having been cut on BY
the surgeons knife. In this condi-
ton he has developed until he is now
nearly 1s years Of age, and bis &C.
complshments are the wonder Of all
who visit bis home town. He Il
heralded "a = prodigy, and l. the pet
Of ali the citlzsns Of the community.
In ali respects he b one Of the boys Of
the place, and while he asks no con-
alteration from his playmates In their
games Of bah, marbles and other
youthful advertisements, neither does
he concede to them any advantages,
and win at any time square himself
of for q fight with any boy who dares
to trespass upon his rights or to adj
vance an opinion ct variance with
what he ccnceives 70 be the exact
truth. His method Of locomotion "a
by hopping in much the same way
that q toad does, with the exception
that his body lie carried erect and Il
given q forward propulsion By means
OF a strong muscular movement In the
back and loins. For more extensive
travel be has 3 trained goat which be
harnesses up himself and attaches "a
: q small wagon. With This convey.
ance be goes ali over town, and In the
nutting season far out into the coun.
= try, where he hTIs q sack with walnuti
or hickory nuts and hauis them homs
with his faithful servant and com.
] panion.
Rodney is the most Independent
member Of the family, and ratheI
Q resents any effort to render hin
assistance, He has learned to use BIZ
own knife and fork In eating, cal
9 climb up In his W chair or upon TIL
. table II he wishes, dresses himself
reads, writes rapidly and well witt
pen or pencil, draws pictures, drive
q team attached TO the self binder !
. harvest time, bitches up and drives
horse TO q buggy, tosses and catches
> ball and strikes at the bat, play
. "keeps" with other boys, climbs o.
3 the ladder into the hay loft at thI
barn, amuses himself and others b.
playing on the harmonIca and, Il
short, does about all the things this
any boy can do, and does many o
them better than some OF bis com
panions can.
He has been educated at the publ
school In New London, and ha
shown decided aptitude in all hi
studies, never having been given
. grade of less than 90 per cent. In an.
of his studies. Bis teachers predic
7 that, Notwithstanding his physics
disadvantages, he viii soon graduate
Q from the high school and carry on thl
honors OF his class. He il bright AM
quick In conversation and shows 81
independence Of thought and OK
pressIon which indicate q perfect,
. normal mind.
Most of the acts performed by thl
boy are accomplished through Al
abnormal development of the mus
cular forces Of the body. When tn
2 ends of his arms are brought fOrwAr'
they meet In front of and close TO hi
, breast, and his muscular forces ar
, : such that he can project at some dis
2 lance and with 3 good deal Of force 81
e object, such sc Q ball or marble, which
be clasps by pressure between thI
two ends of arms. His body possssseI
wonderful propelIlng force. He hop
very easily and rapidly, advancing
from 9 to 8 inches ct each effort ant
!, In climbing 9 ladder he places BIZ
arms over the second round and lift
bic body by main strength 20 the mex
one below, and thus advancing up
: ward nearly Is fast Is could . boy Of
his age with normally developed hand
and feet.
:. Efforts have been made frequently
!, to get Rodney to travel and exhibit
himself, bat his father, before hiI
] death, slwsys protested against It, buI
Of late years he has earned small
amounts by selling his pictures In {
: limited way. The Odd Fellows have
st various times discussed measures
looking toward placing him In 9 posi-.
: ton to earn something for the sup.
I port Of the family, who are In some.
what reduced circumstances since tht
death OF his father, bat as yet nc
definite action has been taken.
: WILLIAMS WELCOMED HONE