WORLD'S MIDGET

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 528, 11 May 1933, Page 6

WORLD'S MIDGET

MAN UNDER TWO FEET HIGH CALLED UP FOR ARMY The most amazing man in the world — a man who might have stepped straight out of a page from "Gulliver's Travels," is described by a cor- , respondent of the "News of the World." He is Mr. Harold Pyott, of Stockport, and he is the smallest man on earth to-day. It is possible, even that he is the smallest human being to live for he is only 23in. high and weighs 241bs. 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 height contest. He is so small that, incredible as it may seem, he only reaches to the arai of an everage arm-chair. He 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 I had to bend right down as if I were going to piek up something from the floor. As Mr. Pyott is rather deaf, his cousin, Mr. Wiliam Beeley, told me all about him. It was evident from the expression of the little man, that he knew we were talking about him. "Ha was born in Stockport on September 25, 1887," said Mr. Beeley. His parents were quite normal, his father being 5ft 8in. and his mother about 5ft, 3in. He had two sisters and both of them were of ordinary size. His parents died when he was 12, and he was placed under the care of his uncle, who, seeing that although in perfect health, he did not grow, took him to .the local doctor. "The doctor brought the case before some of the most eminent doctors in Europe, whp said that he had a strong and healthy constitution, but was certainly the smallest human i being they had ever seen." Mr. Pyott was called up for the Army three times during the Great War, because of his age, but the authorities had rather a shock when they saw him ! A year or two ago the Prince of Wales saw Mr. Pyott, and was much t amused at this story. When asked . what regiment he would have- liked rto have joined Mr. Pyott smiled and said, "The Bantams." "Harold is a cheerful little chap," ; said Mr. Beeley, "and never worries about being so tiny. He has to have ' all his cloths made specially for him, of course, but his food is normal, and up to a few years ago he used to smoke." Before the visitor went Mr. Pyott climbed on to his cousin's hand and stood in the palm of it and then got •down and sat in his hat-top. '