Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-02-08
HANDLES BUTHANDY
ARMLESS PEOPLE HAVE ACCOM-
PLlSHED DIFFICULT FEATS.
Individuals Minus Upper Limbs Have
Become Famous Artists, Dextrous
Penmen, Expert Musicians and AR.
tisans.

That success in art is not the monop-
oily of such as are lowered with the
normal number Of limbs is conclusive
ly proved by the skill of Mile. Rapin,
Swiss artist, who, though without
arms, has made a name for herself
with her portraits and bas-reliefs, and
of the Belgian painter, recently deceas-
ed, whom many Of US have doubtless
seen at work in the Antwerp picture
gallery copying the works of the old
masters there on view.
Other armless artists, too, have ac-
qulred fame, among whom may be
mentioned the celebrated Miss Biffen.
VINO earned a living as miniature
painter. Originally ON exhibition at
bartholomew fair, she was seen by the
Earl of Morton, who took her under his
patronage and paid for her artistic ed
ucation. She was favorite of George
Nv. and William w., the latter of
whom allowed her a small pension.
Turning to earlier armless celebrities,
mention must be made of John Vale
RUS, born in Germany in 1867, who
was capable of performing many sur
prising feats. He could shave himself,
play on the drum, fence with much
skill, and, in short, use his toes with
as much adroitness as most men can
their hands. He possessed, however,
a modern rival in the person of Herr
Unthan, whom many will remember as
exhibiting himself a few years ago in
London, where he surprised large audi
ences with his marvellous feats.
Matthew Buckinger, who was born
at Nuremberg seven years later than
Falerius, was but mere trunk. pos
sesslng neither arms nor legs. Despite
his natural disadvantages, however, he
Is said to have been an excellent per-
former on the flute, bagpipe and trum-
pet. while his sketches--landscape, fig
ures and coats of arms-which were
executed with pen, were equal to the
most finished engravings His cali
graphy, of which examples are still ex-
tant would have done credit to the
most expert writing master. and, in
deed, he was able to make no incon-
siderable income by the sale Of these
specimens of his skill.
He figured likewise in the not very
invidious role of wife beater, for on
one occasion when one of his wives
he was married four times-insulted
him, he sprang upon her, got her down,
and buffeted her so severely with his
stumps that she was glad to escape
further chastisement by promising
amendment in the future-a promise
that she faithfully kept.
Equally marvellous were the feats of
William Kingston, who at the COM
mencement of the present century re-
sided at Ditcheat, near Bristol, where
he cultivated a small farm. He could,
without other aid than that of his toes,
saddle and bride his horse, milk his
own cows, cut his own hay, bind it up
in bundles, and carry it about the field
for his cattle. He was an excellent
carpenter, too, and had acquired no
little renOwn as a hammer thrower,
being able with his feet to cast heavy
sledge hammer as far as most men
could with their hands.
Very expert. too. is Caleb Orton, an
American, though in his case his skill
has brought him within the clutches
of the law. for though without hands
he contrived to forge postal money
order. For that nefarious purpose he
employed his mouth, and although the
authorities were at first incredulous
and doubted the truth of his confes-
sion. he soon put the matter beyond
doubt by ocular demonstration.
Gripping the pen between his teeth,
he, by means of series of rapid move
ments of his head, executed one of
those elaborate designs of birds, beasts
and scroll work in which writing ex-
Derts delight. and proved to the salts
faction of everybody present his IN
doubted culpability.