TRIALS OF A GIANT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 9 February 1931, Page 10

TRIALS OF A GIANT

TWO BEDS TO SLEEP IN. TARGET OF STALE JOKES. A taxi-cab drew up, at Olympia, Loudon, one day last month. Inside was a man folded up like a jack knife, his knees tucked under liis chin. The taxi cabby opened the door and stood with a look of dazed wonder on his face. A foot emerged clad in an enormous boot (size 22 as a matter of fact). It was followed a second later by its fellow. Then, joint by joint, Mr. Jack Earle, of Texas, reputed to bo the world’s tallest man, eased himself out of the tiny door and stood on the pavement. Mr. Earle is Bft Gin in his socks, weighs 3301 b, and is aged 24 As lie gazed up at the tall Texan the driver remarked innocently: “Blime, guv’nor, ain’t it cold up there?” The giant looked annoyed. “Do you know,” Mr. Earle said to a Press representative, “that man’s the fiftieth person who’s said to be since \ left America: ‘lsn’t it cold up there?’ Honestly, it’s more than flesh and blood can stand.” That’s only one of the drawbacks ol being the world’s tallest man; there is also the question of beds. “The ordinary hotel bed,” said Mr. Earle, “is just over 6ft. long. At home, of course, j have a special one. What Ido when I am travelling is to arrange for two beds. I put them together and sleep diagonally across them. “The only article of personal apparel that hasn’t to be specially made for me is a pocket handkerchief. My overcoat lias 18 yards of cloth in it. Hut, the one thing that annoys me is the man who makes wise cracks I've heard over and over again.”