The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-02
NEAT JAPANESE TRICK.
A Well Made-up and Mounted
Skeleton OF a MermaId-Sur-
geons and Scientists Duped.

sSons dno SClentfStS Duped,
A European officer employed in the
military service OF the Japanese gov.
eminent happened to visit little shop
kept by native OF Japanese In 8
small village In the northern part oil
the empire. In rummaging among the
curious articles filing the shelves Of
this out-ofthe-way museum, he OBJ.
served box seemingly an old resident
In the shop, as 1t was covered with cob
webs and dust and occupied dark
corner, placed away from the view OF
the ordinary customer,
Opening the box the foreigner be-
held something which brought wildly
before his mental vision the weird
stories told to him when child in his
native land. Here in this little box
was the evidence that the legends,
which In nights past and gone had dis
turbed his boyhood slumbers, were not
all the creatures OF Imagination, as the
dust-coyered receptacle found slowed
away in this little shop contained the
bony remains OF the oft-told '.Mer-
maid" well-known in fairy tale and
sailor story. The box held the skele-
ton OF a fish like looking something"
two feet seven inches long and about
ten inches high. The body from the
neck back was like that of German
carp with all its bones. fins and tail
complete, from the breast protruded
two web-like feet, raising the forward
portion OF the body about four inches
from the piece Of wood upon which it
stood. The head of this wonderful
something seemed to be q human skull
about five inches In diameter and con-
nected to the fish-like body by cervical
vertebra as in the human frame. To
the eye OF the astonished foreigner it
looked as the miniature copy OF mer-
maid ought to have loo ked, IL one ever
existed. Diligent investigation failed
to trace the arrival OF this bony mons
frosty into the shop, the proprietor
not being able to say where and whence
1t had come, as the box had been in
the shop when he took possession, over
thirty years previous. He had never
opened the box, supposing it to be
empty.
For few itzeboos (33 cents) the for
eigner became the possessor of box and
contents, and the what-you-may-call-
was nicely scraped and polished by the
dexterous finger Of Japanese artist,
placed upon walnut stand and being
enclosed by glass occupied prominent |
position upon the center table of the |
foreigners drawing room. During the
Cleaning process the Japanese expert |
had been interrogated and pointed out |
to the foreigner indications, only pre-
ceptible to eyes thoroughly conversant
with Japanese handiwork, that the
skull and feet of the tishy curiosity had
been once in the possession of a monkey
and were dovetaiIed into the bones of a
rather uncommon specimen OF fish
found in the inland lakes OF Northern
japan. The connection had been
made with such consu inmate skill that
only the closest investigation, aided by
microscope in the hands of an expert,
would disclose the delusive transaction.
For couple of years the curio main
tanned its place in the home of the for
eigner, and often drew to it the wonder
ing eye of native visitors. but as the
residence was In the interior of Japan,
where the presence of foreigners was,
IL not unallowed, yet undesired by the
government the knowledge of the mer-
maids existence did not become known
TO men OF another race.
At visit to Yokohama the foreigner
met the officers OF an American man-of
war, and among them surgeon who in !
the dark days Of the American war had
attended the foreigner when wounded !
oy the bullet of Southern soldier.
Mutual recognition took place, and an
invitation to visit the home of the ,
European in Japanese service was
given and accepted. A few weeks ,
afterwards the lonely abode OF the
soldier was honored by the presence of :
sextetle of American naval officers, :
who guided by an escort OF Japanese :
soldiers, had penetrated to neighbor-
mood seldom seen by foreign eyes.
Within few hours after their arrival )
they were gathered around the table :
upon which the skeleton "Mermaidn ;
rested in all its mystical glory, and it /
was soon observable that the old sur
geon did not discover the dove-tailing
done by the constructor OF this bony
curiosity but was deeply impressed :,
with the view of this phenomenon y
heard of but never actually =
seen in piscatorial science. A delicate :,
hint being conveyed TO the other navy !,
boys by the host, the curiosity and
thirst OF possession of the surgeon /,
were skillfully brought to such a =;
height that all the solid and liquid :,
extended, were insufficient +
10 draw his thoughts from the curios- =,
ty found in the establishment and the =
iiciple OF Galen went to his couch with IT
he determination to possess the won- .
ierful phenomenon If possible. :.
AT the departure of the visitors the :,
baggage of the medico was enlarged by "
jealously-guarded box received with :,
trong expressions OF thankfulness D
rom the hands Of the European officer, :,
md the promise that due acknowledge - -
nent OF the gift would be forwarded at q
ONE future time. IN
Over one year passed and the soldier :"
n Japan had somewhat forgotten the 10
Mermaid" and her possessor, when 50 >,
'e received in the mails from America IN
pamphlet containing the proceedings IN
4 a semi-annual meeting OF the men, 10
ers of celebrated American College ne
I Physicians and Surgeons. The little s''
ook contained paper, read before ma