The Portland daily press., 1890-02-17
AN ENGLISH MUMMY.
Bald, but other~ ise fully UP to the
Egyptian.
tLondon Herald.

1t seems more than curious that his
history has not been written. II Is SIM
ply extraordinary that even his place
of residence is known to so few among
the many thousands who pass and repass
it every day. 1t is true that for about
one hundred and fifty years he was Sc
cluded from the world, In fact, dead to
it; but for forty years he has been upon
exhibition. For forty years he has been
a subject of great interest to compare
lively small circle, and during that Pc
riod he has never shown signs OF temper
even under circumstances that might be
warranted to ruffie the composure of a
abearded lady" at circus. In various
parts of the United Kingdom the mere
fact of having been born a century ago
is considered sufficient to account for
any quantity of notoriety. Yet in this
article the intention is to tell something
about person who was born, probably,
two centuries ago, and who, it can be
easily proved, has not in forty years
moved muscle.
Some days ago discussion took place
in the public prints on the subject of
mummies. In discussion of the kind
it could hardly be expected that the
Egyptian brand would be overlooked,
but if reference had been male only to
the Egyptian article little would remain
to be said, for Rameses II, as mummy,
has really received quite as much promi-
nence as he deserves.
There is mummy that can hold its
own against all corners on exhibition in
a very modest way in the church of st.
James, Garlickhithe, or Garlickhyve, OF
Garlickhythe, for the name is spelt in
three ways. TWAS SO named, according
to an old chronicle: "For that Of old time,
on the River Thames, near to the church,
garlick was usually Sold" The thorough
fare that bounds the church building on
the west is still known as Garlick Hill.
Not long ago an old house that stood near
the church was demolished. In digging
cellar for q modern structure on the old
site several piles were found. These
piles were Of the peculiar greenish hue
that wood which has been long time in
salt or brackish water always obtains.
The ground in the vicinity of the church
is of chalk formation.
So many parishioners were buried in
the little church yard that it was decided,
about forty years ago, to cover the dim
inutive cemetery with heavy coating
of concrete Before this was done a
large number of bodies were disturbed.
Those engaged in the work were sur
prised to find that, while the collins had
been reduced almost to dust, the bodies
inclosed in lead lining were in state Of
almost perfect preservation. .
With one exception the bodies were
reinterred. The exception had suffered
somewhat from exposure to the atmos.
phere and perhaps from careless ham
ding, but it is today wonderfully well
preserved The identity of this English
mummy could not be discovered, for the
coffin in which it had been incased had
crumbled away, and had not been fur.
nished, apparently. with a plate. The
soil, it is supposed, had dried up the ami
NAL tissue by absorbing every particle Of
water, and thus prevented putrefaction.
At any rate, the mummy that can be
seen at st. James (Garlickhithe) church
shows no signs OF decay today, though
it has been out Of the ground forty years,
and had been in mayhap $50 years or
more. just within the entrance to the
church, on the south or Thames street
side, is plain wooden case. It is about
feet in height, feet in breadth and IS
inches in depth.
"You want to see the mummy, sup
poser" said the sexton, Robert Sharp
when presented myself at The church
yesterday. Without more ado he opened
the wooden case. Inside the wooden
door was glass front that no key would
open.
Inside the glass, gazing pensiveiy
through eyeless sockets at lagstone
that was little darker than its fellows,
was the English mummy.
The skin would have been white but
for a pale yellow tinge. The skin was
everywhere smooth and intact The
figure was that of a young man who
must have stood six feet in height and
been of fine proportions. The shoulders
were broad, the arms long and powerful
looking. Every finger and toe was per-
feet. Both hands and feet must have
been small. That the figure was that Of
young man seems certain from its gen.
eral appearance, but more particularly
from the small size and excellently pre-
served condition of the teeth. There had
been hair upon the head when the body
was exhumed, but atmospheric influences
had destroyed every vestige Of it. On
less the visitor looks closely at the head
an impression will be carried away that
there is still hair upon it. This impress
sion will be due to network of cobwebs
which is yearly growing thicker. When
the body was taken from the ground the
teeth were perfectly white They are
gradually turning black.
"The glass front was put in the case"
Sexton Sharp said, Ito prevent visitors
from jabbing the mummy with fingers,
canes or umbrellas"
"Why did they jab the mummy"
Sexton Sharp said he supposed "they
wanted to hear his insides rattle" He
then explained that while handling the
mummy he and others had discovered
that the intestines had become shriveled,
and would make noise like kettle
drum when the mummy was shaken.
Not great many people visit the
church to see the mummy, the sexton
said. For people who did not live in the
city the church was in an out Of the
way place, he supposed. He had heard
that the mummy was 200 years old, but
could not certify to that of his personal
knowledge, for he was only 43 years Of
age, and had "been around the church
only about forty Year, s>s-
: