A Fat Man's Accident.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 335, 9 May 1885, Page 20

A Fat Man's Accident.

Mr. Peelworth, a farmer of Kent, is so excessively fleshy that his pedestrianism is seriously impaired. He read the great. German physician Epistein's book on the reduction of corpulence, and in accord ancewithinstruction, came to the city to consult a doctor preparatory to tho beginning a courseof diet. He wanted the coolest room of the hotel, and one whose windows look out on a green and breezy view. He entered theroom puffing and blowing, and drawing achair to the window, the sash of which was raised, he thrust his feet out and leaned back in the enjoyment of that ease so much craved by a fat man. He had remained inthat position about ten minutes, when thewindow sash, with an awfnl bang, fell acrossbis shins. In his struggles lie fell from the chair, and. unable to . free himself, lie .hung,, with the back of his neck on the floor, loudly shouting for help. The hotel clerk heard Mr. Peelworth's cries, but thinking ' that hewas engaged in . the rendering of operatic airs, remarked- to some one who stood near — ' Our fat guest seems to be musical.' ' Yes,' replied the bystander, ' fat men areusually good-humoured, and in song give expression to their bubbling spirits.' ' Landlord ! ' yelled Mr. Peelworth, ' whyever don't you come up here ?' ' Sings tragedy, ' said the clerk. ' Good baritone, ' replied the bystander.. People who passed along the street were astonished at seeing an old pair of bootspofced^out of the window, and several mischievous boys, bringing bottles from an alley, began to throw them at the leatherOne active young fellow struck Mr. Peelworth's foot, and that gentleman, had he been possessed of the time, would have ■ sworn that his foot had been removed from-, his ankle. Landlord ! ' yelled Mr. Peelworth. ' bringup a pistol and I'll shoot off the top of your blundering head ! ' The boots who happened to 'be passing, along the hall, knocked at the door and. asked if anything was wanted. \ ' Come in here ! ' The boots tried the door, but it was locked.. ' Break down the door ! ' screamed Mr. Peelworth. The boots replied that such an action on his part would not be tolerated by the proprietor, and intimated that if the gentleman was too lazy to get up and open the door,, he might remain locked up so long as it suited his convenience, after which delivery of opinion the boots went down and reported that the fat gentleman was drunk. The boys in the street continued to throw .missiles at the old boots, aud, with such. an* increase of vigour that the clerk coming but drove them away. He could not understand why the fat gentleman should make a spectacle of his boots, and he went up to remonstrate witli him. Hir kicked the doorviolently when he found that.it' was locked,, and became so furiously mad that he did not understand the explanation which the fat man endeavoured to make. Mr. Peelworth suddenly remembered that he had a. small pistol in his pocket. Drawing it, he begait firing through the window. A few momentslater the police broke open the door, dragged, him from the window, hustled him downstairs, and put him in the station cell. The next day he was fined £5 in the police-court, and then taken over to the justice's court,, where he was fined £10. Ilehas- consulted; a lawyer, and will. bring a suit against the great Doctor Epstein.