The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-05-13 00:00:00

MR. BARNUM'S LATEST "SENSATION.'

Mr. Barnum gives us a forcible reminder of his con.
tinned existence and activity (says the Liverpool
Albion). Lapse of time and change of circumstances
have failed to divert him from old habitues or rob him
of his occupation. The prince of showmen is still him-
self—still equal to the task of simultaneously astonish-
ing the peonle of the two worlds, and of convincing the
most sceptical that new marvels suited to his purpose
are yet to be had for diligent searching after. Wnilst
personally engaged with congenial pursuits in America,
he has thoughtfully provided a new sensation hr his
friends on this side the Atlantic. Some of his rarest
acquisitions reached Liverpool, en route for London,
last week, and the privilege of visiting them has been
courteously afforded to a number of our townsmen and
townswomen, one and all of whom will admit that a
more remarkable trio of humanity than those intro-
duced to their notice could not have been brought
together. We say 'trio," but might with about equal
propriety describe them as a quartet. A little per-
plexity on this point is quite excusabls, for though the
strangest of these phenomena is undoubtedly in certain
respects one and inseparable, and most conveniently
spoken of in the eingular number, she produces an
irresistible impression of duality. Christina Millie—
such is the name given to this wonderful organism—
has two heads with distinct intellectual faculties; two
chests, four arms, and four legs. She is able to con-
verse intelligently on different subjects with two
persons at the same time; can sing a duet charmingly
in two voices ; can dance gracefully without the neces-
sity of any other partner than herself ; and, as seen
under ordinary circumstances, presents the appearance
of a pair of pleasant-faced, quick-witted, cultivated
regresses, lit ked together by some partial attachment.
In reality, the members which seem to belong to twin
bodies, spring from, or possess only one trunk ; and
though endowed with a dual brain, this extraordinary
being exhibits much greater unanimity of volition and
sentiment than is ever found in the case of separate
persona. Her organization stands apart altogether
unique, and suggests a variety of considerations,
physiological and psychological, which are sure to
engage the deeply interested attention of our anato-
mists and other men of science. Christina Millie is
between eighteen and nineteen years of age, having
been born in North Carolina of parents who, as we
have been Informed, are now the proprietors of the
plantation on which, prior to the great civil war, they
worked as slaves. She has a peculiarly bright, amiable
expression of countenance, and appears to enjoy life
quite as keealy as the majority of those whom no ex-
travagance of nature hair removed from the ordinary
conformation of their kind. Accompanying her are a
lady and gentleman of truly Brobdingna.gian size
Ml-9 Swan, a Nova Scotian, and doubtless the largest
subject of her Majesty; and Captain Bates, a native
of old Kentucky. Each is nearly eight feet in height
and of symmetrical proportions, and in manner and
conversation both are very agreeable.