North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-11-16


sidered our fellow citizen of the Museum a man of
decided genius and now that he has placed I'M
der obligations shall never forget feel inclined
to jot down, and then, an instance of his claim
to that title.
1t is but few years since, that Joice Heh depart
ed this life, full of years and honors, and went to
joint the nnumerable throng of that waited
upon the iliustrious Father of our country. Poor
Joice, who said to be some one hundred and
thirty years old, was smoke dried wench of some
seventy years, found by travelling Yankee in a hut
in the interior of Virginia, guiltless of all knowl
edge of Washington, she of her own wonder
fu age and power of coming money. She would
have gradually dried up into a mummy, had not the
lynx-eyed Yankee her whilst selling his
tins. Alter much persuasion, few dollars and more
whiskey, she agreed to be lifted into sedan-bed, and
mounted on an easy Wagon, was carried off, to make
the grand tour. She looked for all the world like
large monkey. At seventy years rheumatism and to-
bacco had distracted all her juices and left her
appearance as near hundred and fifty as any other
age. No sooner had she arrived, than Barnum seiz-
ed upon her, and rugged her up for show.
The was inimitable. Lying on a bed-stead,
nicely trapped with dimty and fine blankets, and
placed in the middle of large saloon for convenience
Of access and air. she was piled with small and COM
fortlng drinks and pipe, whilst wel-smoked and
antiduvian bill of sale from of the Gusts fam
lily, duly certified by Dicky Riker, was hung upon
the wall.
She usually remarkably, trac,able. having re-
ceiVed her religions education from shrewd lawyer
out of briefs the time of her advent, and perfectly
cognizant of the power of whiskey and tobacco in
producing compliance with the wishes of legal adj
VIser She always uttered her pious ordinations in
an ejaculaiory manner repeating few shor: phrases,
always the same, in very edifying way, and reserv-
ing all answers to any general questions, unless the
words whiskey tobacco fell upon her ear when
she would generally give expressive grunt of as
sent.
One day, however, Yankee friend. who was cog
infant of the whole scheme, observing her with a
little less steam than was desirable keep her in
training, asked her in presence of her keeper if she
remembered Massa George, meaning her alleged il
lustrious owner. ray of anger shot from the old
woman's hitherto closed eyes. she replied. mol
debii take 'em all don't know notin bout him Dey
make me say dat all the time: gimme drink 20 The
ladies stared, and Joce speedily got her drink, with
soothing reproof for her impiety.
pit the Funniest part Of the business was when the
old wench died. Instead of finishing the process of
embalming happily begun by the whiskey and
tobacco and sleeping her In solution of corrosive
mHriate, and hanging her up alongside Of her mer-
maid, in a of the Museum TO dry, where she
would have been permanent investment till the day
of Judgment, she was given up to the philosophers
for post mortem.
The Magnus Apollo of surgery at that time, went
TO the museum, duly heralded in the papers, with all
his students, and what other verdant gentleman he
could collect, and held great pow WOW the old
wench. We did not enjoy the honor of being pres
ent, but informed that " the coronary and femo
raj arteries ossifed,' and fully established her
great age. Indeed, her anatomy would have given
her clean ticket for any period less than 200 years.
people, and there is but one Barnum. ScapeL