A BOY'S FREAK.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2710, 23 November 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A BOY'S FREAK.

Quite a sensation was created by the arrival at one of the Paris Hospitals of a party of peasants, including a little boy, 12 years of age, enveloped in a thick blanket—pinioned, as to his arms, with chains fastened by a couple of enormous padlocks, and covered, as to his face, with ft sort ut a mask, also carefully secure'!. The unfortunate child, who comcs from a village in the Department of the Mariie, was bitten by a dog a fortnight ago, and on Tuesday, while playing with some of the local urchins, he told them to run away or lie would bite them. This was enough for the villagers, who, panicstricken at the bare though that the boy might be afllieted with rabies, approached stealthily, threw a blanket over him, iiivd then bound him securely in the manner described. The unlucky child not only presented a most grotesque appearance, but was quite famished into the bargain, and soon he was imbibing cups of good milk one after the other and devouring ■solid food in the most reassuring style, itte is retained at the hospital, but the idea prevails that the whole thing has been a f»lee alarm. It the little fellow intended to scare his companions for fun he has certainly paicj rather dearly for ihe joke.