Troubles of a Freak.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 72, 11 September 1906, Page 2

Troubles of a Freak.

THE WORRIES 'AND ANXIETIES OF A CARDIFF GIANT. —*— Strange as it may seem, the freak of a show is envied by many people. The reason is readily explained. The average person is forced to earn his livelihood by hard and unremitting toil. The freaks greatest exertion is to walk about and be gazed at. The ordinary bread-winner, whose work is necessary to society, receives only meager compensation. The freak, who merely caters to idle curiosity and a love 6f the abnormal, is highly paid. The bread-winner is taken as a matter of course ; the freak receives continual homage. Any one, however, who talks with one of the unusual beings connected with the circus or the museum henr-J more about the idiscomforts and inconvenience of being unlike the general run of people than he does of the advantages. Take, for instance the lilliputian who is travelling with <-i show. The absence of anything- l»k-i real privacy is very wearing on the . nerves and mind. To be continually * stared at while on exhibition, or while carrying on the ordinary exorcises of life—such as walking, drivingor shopping—is anything but pleasant.

A tiny lady, not connected with a show, once told her woes with tear.-: in her eyes, and her tale was a hi comment on lack of politeness. Wherever she went, she declared, people annoyed her by staring, laughing, pointing their fingers, making audible remarks, and crowding about her to hinder her movements. The lilliputian, to, is put to inconvenience at every turn because all the seats an; too large, all steps too high, ana there is danger of being tramped upon in crowds, and of being overlooked and forgotten in times of great danger' of excitement. George Auger, the giant of Cardiff, is a freak who will testify to the drawbacks of the life he leads. In his own words, "It's no joke to be a giant." Auger is only 23 years of ago, yet he has attained the height of 7ft. Bin., and a weight of 3201 b. His great size is a constant trouble to him. When he stops for a night at a hotel, it is necessary for the management to see that three beds are placed side by side in his room, so that when he retires he may rest by stretching his huge frame across them. All doors are too low for him, and unless he constantly has in mind the fact that he must bend before he enters a room, he receives a stinging blow as a reminder and his head-gear suffers considerable damage. It is said that he spoils three hats every month in this way. Then, too, his bulk is so unwieldy, that ho connot ride in a cab with ' any degree of comfort. He has also to be careful what chairs and sofas he sits upon, for fear they will give way beneath his weight. All Mr. Auger's clothes must be made to order. His gloves must be number 15, and made, large enough to cover hands measuring lOin. from wrists to .finger tips,-and sin. across. His shoes,: too, have to be made on a special last of large size, so that very few places can supply him with foot-gear. His coat and vest -must be of a size to cover a chest girth of 52-J-in., and must fit snugly a waist of 46in. Twelve yards of material are needed to make him a suit of clothes, the measurements of his trousers being 45in. on the inside seam, and 63in. on the outside one. Such a suit costs him about £lO, so that expense is added to the delay necessary to procure his clothing. Even such minor things as shirts, collars, and cuffs cannot be found ready made to fit him, and when his luggage goes', astray he is naturally greatly embarrassed. Besides all his other troubles this giant, who has an appetite that goes with his size, must suffer" inconvenience sometimes in satisfying it. Nor can he be served with his customary meal of 21b. of steak, a half-dozen chops, a profusian of vegetables, half a loaf of bread, and a quart of milk in any restaurant or hotel without exciting observation and comment. The trials of the fat woman of a circus are about equal to those of the giant. Marie Lille, the "English fat girl, leads a life 'not without its embarrassments. Marie tips the scale at 3891b5. Her difficulty in the matter of securing suitable raiment is as great as those of the giants. Four meals a day are necessary to satisfy her appetite. When Miss Lille enters a hotel on her travels and ,is assigned a room, her first task is to test the bed te find out whether it is strong enough to hold her. She acknowledges that she has memories oi furniture that has collapsed under her and for which she has receivod bills Two chairs are usually required to support her. On her voyage to America she found that she could not sit at the dining table, as she was unable to squeeze in hot ween the table and chairs, and as the seats were fastened, two had to be removed a "J a huge armchair provided befoio she could be served with the rest ot the company. Her great weight naturally makes locomotion dillicu 11 and tne some to her, and so she raielj got -about on foot. Once during a U p nj rail when the train halted fot a [he she ventured to walk in a Held lea?-by and began.to pickpowers. Becoming interested in hei task, sh. did not notice that the I ain ha started until a warning shout leaui ed her ears. Making- as much haste as she could to the track, she caught up with the slowly moving cars, but t was only with the help of eight men that she managed to scramble on board.