e
Fritz in Berlin is a child in arms;--and the world is all awake as
usual, while Fassmann strolls through this noisy inanity of show-booths,
in the year 1713.

Strolling along, Fassmann came upon a certain booth with an enormous
Picture hung aloft in front of it: "Picture of a very tall man, in
HEYDUC livery, coat reaching to his ankles, in grand peruke, cap and
big heron-plume, with these words, 'LE GEANT ALLEMAND (German Giant),'
written underneath. Partly from curiosity, partly "for country's sake,"
Fassmann expended twopence; viewed the gigantic fellow-creature; admits
he had never seen one so tall; though "Bentenrieder, the Imperial
Diplomatist," thought by some to be the tallest of men, had come athwart
him once. This giant's name was Muller; birthplace the neighborhood of
Weissenfels;--"a Saxon like myself. He had a small German Wife, not
half his size. He made money readily, showing himself about, in France,
England, Holland;"--and Fassmann went his way, thinking no more of the
fellow.--But now, continues Fassmann:--

"Coming to Potsdam, thirteen years after, in the spring of 1726, by his
Majesty's order, to"--in fact, to read the Newspapers to his Majesty,
and be generally useful, chiefly in the Tobacco-College, as we shall
discover,--"what was my surprise to find this same 'GEANT ALLEMAND'
of St. Germain ranked among the King's Grenadiers! No doubt of the
identity: I renewed acquaintance with the man; his little German Wife
was dead; but he had got an English one instead, an uncommonly shifty
creature. They had a neat little dwelling-house [as most of the married
giants had], near the Palace: here the Wife sold beer [brandy not
permissible on any terms], and lodged travellers;--I myself have lodged
there on occasion. In the course of some years, the man took swelling in
the legs; good for nothing as a grenadier; and was like to fall heavy
on society. But no, his little Wife snatched him up, easily getting his
discharge; carried him over with her to England, where he again became a
show-giant, and they were doing very well, when last heard of,"--in the
Country-Wakes of George II.'s early time. And that is the real Biography
of one Potsdam Giant, by a literary gentleman who had lodged with him on
occasion. [Fassmann, pp. 723-730.]

The pay of these sublime Footguards is greatly higher than common; they
have distinguished privileges and treatment: on the other hand, their
discipline is nonpareil, and discharg