Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-06-15
The Human ..CaIl.e show.'

This "enteEprise" OF Barnum came OH
duly, and the New York papers Of We'd
nesday come to US filed with the details
of the exhibition of human flesh and blood
for premiums, and "the improvement Of
the racel'' The "stock" exhibited amount
ed to I43 entries more or less-seven sets
/, Of triplets, eleven sets of twins, and one
hundred single babies The crowd in at
! ltendance-as was anticipated it would be
in consideration of the novelty" Of the
thing-was large, comprising the rough
and tumble Of all grades, and the wonder
loving portion Of The New York City com
munity, generally. It was shit" for the
great humbug for be cleared several ;hous-
and dollars by the show. e
OF some of the stock" exhibited we find
this mention made in the Tribune:
NJ. ]. R. Sprague and bis wife. Of Dan
bury Conn.,, exhibited five ehildren-two
girls and three boys-triplcts and twins
All OF them were born in Knox county Ohio.
The triplets are five years Of age, and are
named Harriet Eliza, Hannah Jane and
Harrison Taylor. The twins are named
Willard Franklin and Willis Francis. Their
age is three years. The father thinks it is
improving the time pretty well. All sorts
Of inquisitive questions were asked. Mr..
Sprague believed that he was the father of
the children. So .heir mother said. l-e
Mrs. Buckley exhibited three little faith
erless girls of delicate, still beauty. They
looked as though this was matter of duty
with them and if it were not they would
be glad to go away. Della, Amelia and
Cornelia, and the first time they were
weighed ali three amounted to only 13
pounds.
The baby who took the premium of$loo
as the handsomest in the collection some
how escaped the notice of the reporters
Its name is Charles Orlando Scott; it was
born February Is, 1851; the father is 80
years old and the mother %; the mother
has had two children before; she "lived
freely" for the year previous to its birth;
she INDUCED during tha; time in general
domestic exercise; its birth was regular,
and it has been bathed in cold water win
ter and summer. Mr.. Barnum speaks in
very high terms Of the beauty of the moth
er. The mother and child will be enthroned
to-day and the week for the public ratii-
cation of The award. After that il can be
found at No 369 Fourth av It's father isa
coachman. 1t is therefore definitely ascer-
tanned that a handsome baby must have
handsome mother, that she must have had
two children before, that she must live free
ly, take general domestic exercise on level
land, and that her husband must be a
eoachmau. s @ u
The queries propounded by the Com
mittee we're as follows: vsT 4
First: What is or would be, the pres
ent age of the father of the child?
Second: What is or would be the age
of the mother at the present time?
Third. What is the exact date Of the
child's birth? r
Fourth, What is the name the child ?
An accurate reply to this question is not
obligatory, but in bestowing upon the child
a piece of gold or siver plate, or even d.
plema, its name would seem necessary, and
in any event the name would be kept
profound secret by the Judges
Fifth: With bow many previous chill
dren has the mother been gifted?
Sirth: What was the diet Of the moth
er for tEelve-month previous to the birth
of the infan:? ....-.f
Seventh: What we're her habits Of ex-
ercise during the same period?
Eighth: Is the child one of premature
or regular birth? @
Ninth: Have the parents or child reA
sided on mountainous or elevated land, or
the reverse?
Tenth: Have the diet ard exercise Of
the child been subject to any special care
or particular regimen? If so please des-
cribe il. State how often the child has
been batbed or washed all over, and wEeth-
er in warm or cold water. Do
Eleventh: Please mention any uncom-
mon personal incidents Of which the moth
er was subject for year previous to the
birth of this infant
OF this whole exhibition there seems to
be but one voice among the press, and that
is of condemnation. The Tribune says the
idea of such a show originated in the West
Springfield, Ohio. has the honor of Civ
ing birth to the monstrous innovation-and
adds: "But steten by low cunning and
transplanted To- New York to harlequin
and monster Museum which stops at no
deception to dupe the simple out of their
money, the eccentric and comical thought
of the West becomes a revolving specula-
ton. There is something opposed to the
tenderest instincts of our nature, something
indescribably sacreligious and vulgar in
this parade Of unconcious innocence, coup
led with an ostentatious pretence OF re-
gard for the physical laws Of man and the
sublime entities OF being"