The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-15
DAILY SHORT
STORY
THE SECRET OF GROWTH.

L
ball game rose to. cheer the players
as they entered the grounds. The
grandstand was packed. a CROWD
pressed the ropes; motor cars were
lined up along the fences; and
small boys had climbed to points
of vantage on roofs and trees as
thick as sparrows.
That's my boy! That's my
boy" exclaimed demonstrative
spectator beside me- as flaxen.
haired giant marched past with a
blanket over his shoulders. The
mans enthusiasm interested me.
He was pulling at long-stemmed
porcelain pipe and nervously pac.
ing up and down the line. Again,
when another player came forward,
he went to pieces and yelled,
That's my boy!"
While the first youth weighed
close to $50 pounds, the second boy
was diminutive in stature, weighing
only about 40 pounds. The dispar-
fly was great. / soon learned that
the man near me was a German
professor at the university.
AS the game progressed I saw
that the fathers pride was justified.
The boys were named respectively
Herrlich Hamburger and Wenig
Hamburger. Many times during
the afternoon they carried the ball
to victory. They were constantly
in evidence. Herrlich ripped,
plunged and tore through the OPP.
posing line like a circus rider going
though paper hoop. Finally We
nig Hamburger snatched the ball,
and after maxim ga few movements
like crazy cat, raced across the
field, leaving the other fellows be.
hind. At this, the crowd became al.
most hysterical. The professor s
sons were certainly players of the
terrible type.
| AS l already observed their ire
mendous disparity in size set me to
thinking. l edged close to the pro-
lessor, and after making few OBJ
servations, asked him about his
boys. Tell me- inquired, "how
do you account for such difference
in size?"
"Ah, that is a great secret" re
piled the professor. as he slowly
looked me over, adding. you are
from the paper? 1t is we'll. The
world shall know the great secret
Frau Hamburger and myself, we
alone know the secret of big and
little children. My wife Theresa
she wanted big fellok. Herrlich
is so. 1 wanted little, active, fell
low. Wenig is so. You will open
your eyes once when you see the
important scientific arrangements
Never shall l forget the wonderful
revelation which followed my visit
to the home of Herr Hamburger
after the eventful game.
Mrs. Hamburger was one Of the
sweetest little housewives l ever
saw. She gave a musicl laugh
when the professor told her that h.
was going to give the world theil
secret. "Why, our Herrlich would
have weighed 100 pounds when he
was year old If we had let him.
she exclaimed. you can have your
children grow big 9 rlittle. 1t is a
great secret"
They led me through the kitchen
and there l behald a st. Bernard
dog no larger than a puppy; and
playing with this dwarfed specimen
was a cat twice as large as the or
binary feline. The Hamburgers
held their sides with laughter at my
surprise, and then the professor
led me upstairs.
: "You see, Herrlich and Wenif
q slept in these rooms while the,
were children" explained the pro
!. lessor. We had passed through
:, two small anterooms before enter
ing the sleeping apartments. Upor
). close inspection, l noticed that thu
q rooms were air tight. The profes
I sor continued, II have made a care
, full study of growth and develop
r ment. As you know the air pres
sure Is about Is pounds to the
/, square inch. When Herrlich wal
!. getting his growth we kept him In
this room at night under reduced
atmospheric pressure. An All
pump run by an electric motor KEEP
the pressure from his tender body
and allowed him to expand and de
velop rapidly. My, how he grew!
He didn't eat much either, and
had an automatic arrangement tt
keep the air renewed. When We
. mig was growing gave him the op
, posite treatment, and increased the
, atmospheric pressure while he
: slept. He is small. quick and &C
tive. 1t Is all matter of taste, ant
, time alone will tlel which is the
Z better treatment"
, f1Y.{V73 e