WORLD’S SMALLEST MAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 12

WORLD’S SMALLEST MAN

LESS THAN TWO FEET HIGH. CALLED UP FOR THE ARMY. Tho most amazing man in tho world —a man who might have stepped straight out of a page from “Gulliver’s Travels,” is described by a correspondent of the News of the World. He is Mr. Harold Pyott, of Stockport, and he is tho smallest man on earth to-day. It is.possible, oven, that ho is th© smallest human being ever known to live for he is only 23in. high and weighs 241 b. And he is 45 years of age. The most famous midget is, of course, General Tom Thumb, of Barnum fame, but Mr. Pyott can concede him 12in. in a hight contest. Ho is so small that, incredible as it seems, he only reaches to the arm of an average armchair. Ho is a perfectly-formed, little man, with a small, grey moustache and a treble voice, and is a trifle bigger than a large doll. When I shook hands with him 1 had to bend right down as if I were going to pick up something' from tho floor. As Mr. Pyott is rather deaf, his cousin, Mr. William Beeley, told me all about him. It was evident, from the

expression of tho littlo man, that he knew wo were talking about him. “He was borne in Stockport on September 25, 1887,” said -Mr. Beeley. “His parents were quite normal, his mother being sft. pin. and his father about sft. Bin. Ho had two sisters, and both of them were of ordinary size. His parents died when he was 12, and ho was placed under tho care of his uncle, who seeing that although in perfect health he did not grow, took him to tho local doctor. “The doctor brought the case before somo of the most eminent doctors in Europe, who said that ho had a strong and healthy constitution, but was certainly the smallest human being they had ever seen.” Mr. Pyott was called up for the army three times during the Great. Wai. because of his age, but the authorities had rather a shock when they saw him! A year or two ago tho Prince ol Wales saw Mr. Pyott, and was much amused at the story. When asked what regiment he would have liked to have joined Mr. Pyott smiled and said, “Tho Bantams.” Harold is a cheerful little chap,” said Mr.Bccloy, “and never worries about being so tiny. He has to have all his clothes made specially for him. of course, but his food is normal, and up Io a few years ago - he used to smoke.” Before tho visiter went Mr. Pyott climbed on t-: his cousin's hand and stood in the palm of it. and then got , down and in his top-hat.