New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
MODERN DAY GIANTS.
Huge Figures To Be Seen IN London
and Continental Cities.

Europe still has its giants. In London and
many Continental cities there still exist Great
ures of huge siZe which occasionally stalk
through the streets. reaching out to
shake hands with the occupants of second story
windows rolling eyes as big as cannon balls OF
protruding tongues on which children might
seesaw.
In many ways. however. these monstrosities
differ from the giants of eld. They are at peace
instead Of war with man. They have lost their
ancient strength and. indeed, are unable to
move without help. They have no longer that
ferocious appetite which once drove them to
attack every living creature which they met.
In fact, they are only vast wooden wicker
images of traditional beings reputed to have
once walked the earth.
1 OF all these titans, those which dwell in Lon
don, and which are known as Cog and Magog.
are the most subdued. Even the light of day
is denied them. Imprisoned in the GuildhaI.
they awake pathetic memories in the spectator
who remembers to have read of their once
proudly promenading through the city amid the
cheers and hurrahs of the multitude On London
Bridge Cog and Magog welcomed Henry " in
1915 and when Queen Elizabeth passed through
the city gates, In 1858. they greeted her at
Temple Bar. Different stories told of their
origin but the one most popular is that they
represent the only survivors OF the of giants
slain by Brute, the Trojan conqueror of Eng
land Cog and MagOg were made prisoners and
chained to posts where the GuildhaH now
stands They were shown in Lord Mayors
procession in 1887.
| On the Continent of Europe most of these mod
ern giants inhabit the Flemish provinces Of
France and Belgium. Almost every city in this
region has it patron image fashioned in huge
proportions and representing some dem-god of
| achievements uSualY told
| with such detail that they almost compel belief.
There are some however, whose origin is
shrouded in such haze of antiquity that the
| good people of to-day know not whence has
| come the mammoth doll that they now and then
bring forth from it's secIusion grace their fete
| days
In DouaL France, for example. there are
| giant and giantess whose early history is so
obscure that they have actually lost their
names. and are only known to the inhabitants
as M. and Nine Gayan a corruption of geant.
the French for giant Yet NJ and Nine Gayan,
despite their lack of ancestry appear to enjoy
themselves far more than of the other
Flemish titans with elaborate pedgrees They
are blessed with a family of three children,
son JacquCt eleven feet tall; daughter, Fillon.
ten feet in height. and Baby Binbin, who can
boast of height of only eight feet. In appear
ance the father is especially awe inspiring. be-
cause of his martial habments, his coat OF
mail and mammoth shield and spear. The
IlUmes of his helmet tower twenty feet above
the ground and the spear reaches eight feet
higher. The shield is twice as large as the
largest cartwheel. Nine. Gayan is two feet
shorter than her spouse, and as peaceful IN her
attire as he is Warlike.
Lille, once the capital OF French Flanders is
a yeritable stronghold OF giants. Not only does
the CITY possess two of its own, but ii attracts