AN AMERICAN FAT BOY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 3434, 2 January 1886, Page 4

AN AMERICAN FAT BOY.

True greatness seldom lacks appreciation, and this seems to be the case with Ssinq*' Reynold! Tompkins, known as " Connecticat's big baby," who is at present an object of universal admiration in that Slate. The young Samuel is a really remarkable child. He was thirteen months old en the third of March, and he weighs 85H» and a few ounces over. He lives with his parents at. Norwalk, his mother being! a native of Sllgo, Ireland. When bom he did not weigh 51b. At the age of three months his weight had doubled ; at at aix months it had qoadaupled; and when the infant was ten months old he weighed 721b, or almost as much as his mother whom he now exceeds in weight, i

Samuel is a healthy child, with an enormous appetite and digestion. He is not yet weaned, but manages nevertheless at noon time every day to a small steak and one potato. He also has as meat sapper before going <o sleep for the night. His chest is a yard round. The circumference of his leg is 16jin above the knee and 14 ; n below—bigger than his father'e. Samuel i held a reception the day, which was numerously attended. As li 9 sat on the I flior beside his crib he had three flit-irons and a heavy club to play with. The irons weighed between 51b and 7ib, and he tosssd them about as an ordinary baby would play with wooden bricks. He is as a rule go id tempered, but' occasionally shows symptoms of irritation. On one occasion of disagreement with bis mother he blackened her eyes by a severe blow. When he " go3B to hit "he clenches his teeth, compresses his lips, and his face assumes a hard and crnel expressiou. Mrs Tompkins is excessively proud of her child, and declares she will never exhibit him, " not even if Barnum himself were to bid for him." Som* persons think that young Tompkins is the '* coming man."