ID# 903:
"The Story of My Life by Lionel, the Human Lion," about hypertrichosis
Date:
1928
Pages: (1|2|3|4)
Source:
American Philosophical Society, ERO, MSC77,Ser I,box 27?, folder A:1415

&quote;The Story of My Life by Lionel, the Human Lion,&quote; about hypertrichosis

Stephen Bibrowski "The Human Lion" was born in Bielsk, Warsaw, Poland. The father of Stephen owned a little traveling menagerie, and, though still a very young man, was an able lion trainer and possessed a strong love for his animals. One morning while working in his den of beasts, his most ferocious loin[sic] turned on the young trainer and mortally wounded him. His wife hearing his agonized cries hurried to his side and seeing the mangled body of her loved one, fell insensible at his feet. After the terrible shock had passed, the wife realized that she could not carry on the work alone. She sold all the animals, and with the money, decided to live with her two little boys, Adrian and Fedor, in an ideal spot in Bielsk, Poland. Some months later the young mother gave birth to a baby boy, whose body was so covered with hair that one wondered if it were not a little wild animal instead of a human being. This baby however developed rapidly, both mentally and physically. Shortly afterward, owing to the peculiar birth and looks of the boy, a mean rumor began to spread. The superstitious people in the village said the evil one had influenced the birth of the baby. One by one, her friends believing the rumor, began to shun her, and finally deserted her entirely. Conditions grew worse, and when she appeared on the streets they stoned her. At last an official of the village called and gave her eight days to dispose of her few belongings and leave the place forever.

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