The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-22
A MERCHANT IN FREAKS.
Most or His Finds Are Made in Mountain
Gus Regions OF German y and Austria.

A technical point OF law discussed recen tly
in the Southwark County Court, says the Lon
don DdiV Gro phic. has revealed to the general
public the personality OF Henry Vallus. a
novelty exhibition owner. who probably
knows more about freaks from the howma
point Of view than any other man in the
world.
Yet Mr.. Vallus does not exhibit freaks; he
deals In them, He is an agent who travels
widely. and finding strange people unblessed
by Heaven az ordinary types OF men and
women, he buys up all public rights to them.
treats them we'll and kindly. and lends them
to managers Of music halls and showmen In
various parts Of the kingdom. his own man.
ayers always accompanying them to see that
they are well looked after. and he always re-
tains a reversionary interest In them.
Il travel to look for freaks, he said. MY
wandering s are usually in the summer months.
and are made in Germany and Austria. These
two countries especially in their mountain
Gus districts are. for some strange reason.
the best hunting ground. When | find
] want the remainder is a matter Of business /.
and they are generally well OF and much hap
pier in my charge than they would otherwise
have been.
of course, I have freaks who have b cen
born out OF those coun tries, but then | go all
over the world at one time or another. 1
have, for instance. the only two known speci-
mems OF the Aztecs. Nilgone, who belongs to
me, is the only American giantess In this coun-
try. She Ia 4 feet ? inches in height. and a
dear creature. Then | have four midgets-
Lily and Rose. Jack and All. They are all
living in single blessedness. and their ages
very from % to 80. l sent eight freaks to
Barnum 4 Bailey this year. They included
Lafa. the negro who has elephants feet; the
man with the elastic skin and two midgets,
who married while under my charge in
Hull"
Have you any particular stars out just
now2"
Why. yes. There is Mana. the lady with
two heads. She ia a young creature OF twenty
two summers. Then there is Nine. Howard.
who is "a. and has made her fortune by hav-
ing a head exactly like a lion. She was born
at Bradford, in Yorkshire. Lily, the Cheshire
R~lantess, who weighs AZ stone and is 81 years
OF age, is also a great favorite."
Mr.. VAlIus explained that the trade in freaks
is as good as it has ever been. perhaps better.
The freaks are treated nowadays with every
consideration. They travelled into the
provinces in special rail and road carriages
Up to 40 their health was as a rule good
but they generally died soon after reaching
that age-as a rule Of consumption.
do you let them live a normal life, so far
as Is possiblel-
-Oh, yes. or they insist upon IL on their own
account. Why. l remember a beautiful
armless lady OF mine who fell in love with
one OF my do~orkeepers, and ran away with
him before her time was up with me. They
are married, and she Is showing at Leeds now,
and doing well.
They are nearly all high tempered. these
freaks, but they never fight among them
selves. They always make their complaints
20 me, and | settle their disputes. They
are JustJIike children. and for really bad be-