The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-09
A Man with q Mermaid.


Yokohama. and in addition to the inter
est that attaches to him, owing to the
strange country he halls from, he enjoys
the further distinction of being known
Is "the man with mermaid" A GLOBE
Democrat reporter learned a short time
since that MI. Doyle not only enjoys the
distinction mentioned, but really is the
possessor of q genuine mermaid. The
Reporter hunted up Mr. Doyle and had
pleasant chat with him. He had been in
japan for several years, and was greatly
interested in the many undermining in
Auences at work in the Orient. Mr..
Doyle. who is an art critic and collector,
went into raptures over the richness Of
,Japan's art products, and that Is Just
what was expected of him, as he is here
with large quantity OF rare Japanese
articles, as curious as they are costly.
But these lost all interest to the re-
porter when a long deep glass case, in
the shape of an aquarium, WAS exhibited,
which held the most curious and the
rarest of oil the objects in the collection.
It was wonderful looking thing, almost
h1deous to look upon, but possessing
powerful attraction for the behoider,
owing to the quees amalgamation OF
species displayed in its formation. Those
who have seen the old time geography
illustration, which has recently been
used as trademark for certain patent
hair restorative and which represents the
mermaid rising from the sea and comp
ing her long locks with one hand While
IL the other she holds small looking
glass, can recall this picture and thereby
form an idea of what the present mon
strosity looks like, barring, however, the
beauty, which is distinguishing trait OF
the ideal mermaid. Mr.. Doyles strange
curiosity is half human, half fish. Inc
head, chest, abdomen and arms are I'M
mistakably human, but from the abdo-
men down the creature is fish, scaly =,
finny and formed like the extremitles OF
q dweller in the water. The arms
are covered with scales 10
the wrist, and the backs OF
the small hands have the same
scaly covering to the finger tips. Inc
head is small rs that of baby, but is
perfect in every detail the forehead does
not recede. but is high and straight, and
is of the class that indicates an unusual
degree of intelligence. The eyes are
soft, swimmy and lightless, as those OF a
Ash. Int the mouth, the ears, the nose.
and in fact all the other FEATURES are
human. regular, clear cut, and rs per-
feet as beautiful womans lace. Z,
Yicht covering of brown hair, several
inches in length, and eyebrows OF inc
same color. are the only hirsute APP
pendages. The spinal column IS clearly
seen RAINING up to the base OF the skni.
and falling down the back until IL Is los'
in the fshy extremity. Ten RIBS are
easily counted upon the breast, ana the
mammalian female development for feed
ing the young is easily discernlble' Inc
mermaid measures almost three feet
from the crown of its head to the extrem
;tv of the caudal fin, and is said to bt
larger than the only other specimen r, o
the kind ever seen in this country. INT
other mermaid is now on exhloition !"
the New York Aquarium, and attracts
vast amount OF attention from scientists
as we'll as from the general pubic.
Mr.. Doyle is very proud OF his mer
maid. and. although a great many at
Temps have been made to induce MIN u
snll the curious creature, he has thus IA
refused to part with her. He says tn
monstrosity has been subjected to tn
closest scrutiny by scientists OF Tn
Pacific Slope. all Of whom have pre-
nonnced her the most wonderful natura
phenomenon ever brought 10 the'
notice. and have concurred in deeiarln
mermaids no longer myths. IN
curiosity was captured two years ago D
three fisherman, near Urishaba, III tn
great inland sea. They had seen he
many times and had made man, attempt
TO capture her, and succeeded l
taking her ouly after the mos
!, ,,ars;sient efforts. When taken sh
WIS placed in the museum at TOXIC an
,remained there for year and mai
She had been heard by the fishermen
sing a peculiar song while ON the rock'
but never spoke, except to feebly try
articulate, after her capture. She WI
fed on peculiar seaweed, the secret
which is known only to the Japanes'
and thrived under the great care take
of her. Mr.. Doyle purchased her fro
the authorities of Toxic ut the extrav
CANT figure of 5000 salts, or dollars. III
nurcbase WIS made to satisfy sudde
desire to possess the strange creatur
and Mr. Doyle does not know VIII
special advantage he enjoys IN being OF
OF the very few men who own mermal
TGlobe-Democrat.
KEEPING ONIoNs.-A Minnesota writ
savs. in the New York Sun, that
makes as deep pit as he can with Il
nlow for onions and cabbages in DIR
sheltered place near the house, scrapii
ont all the loose dirt with hoe, al
uniting in some chaff or straw from &
stack, and tramping down well. TIT
Io bouls the onions from whore tn