Biographical sketch of Millie Christine, the Carolina Twin : $b Surnamed the Two-headed Nightingale and the Eighth Wonder of the World — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Biographical sketch of Millie Christine, the Carolina Twin : $b Surnamed the Two-headed Nightingale and the Eighth Wonder of the World
John Stuart Mill · en
It may be mentioned here as an interesting fact, showing the strange
mutability of human fortunes, that Jacob, the father of this wonderful
being, once the slave of the planter McCoy, now owns, with his wife
Monemia, the very plantation on which he was once a bondman, and on
which Millie Christine first saw the light of day, the same having been
purchased by her with the proceeds of her exhibitions as a present to
her father and mother.
It will be necessary to append to this sketch a few of the medical
and surgical reports on Millie Christine’s physical organization; but
it may not be uninteresting to give a brief description of her as
she strikes the mind and eye of a familiar friend. Millie Christine,
physically, has but one existence; mentally, she has two, perfectly
developed. From the middle of the single spine grow two perfectly
developed busts, each of which has a pair of fine arms, and terminates
in an interesting head. Both heads are adorned with curling black
hair; each has a pair of sparkling black eyes, constantly lit up by
intelligence, which, at any outburst of fun and humor, seem literally
to dance with glee; while each mouth is adorned with a set of brilliant
teeth. The two faces are bright and interesting, but differ materially
in features, one resembling Jacob, the father, the other Monemia,
the mother. There is very little distinction to be made in the two
developments. The two sets of brains always agree in forming the same
conclusions; equally amiable, and equally agreeable in character, they
never form different ideas on the same subjects, and the thoughts of
each are characterized by that independence which is usually exhibited
by natives of America. The tastes and habits of the two are alike;
both are fond of music and dancing, both take interest in the same
amusements; indeed, this marvelous organization shows its wonder in
nothing more evidently than its perfect happiness. The two minds can
converge each through its own lips. The being is never at a loss for
society or for company, for each has, attached to itself, another
existence; and yet in no single instance has a particle of disagreement
ever occurred to conflict with the happiness or comfort of either. If
the one mind formed the fancy to be in London, and the other desired
its body to proceed to Paris, a conflict might ensue; providentially,
this seems impossible, and has never occurred. Christine has a
soprano voice, Millie a contralto; and they sing duets together with
exquisite taste and sweetness. Their natural taste for music has been
conscientiously and carefully cultivated by their kind protectress, and
the public will not be slow to discover that they have as much power
to please and amuse as a very large number of artistes of established
reputation. It should now be stated that Millie Christine has four
legs, on which she walks with grace and ease; but she can use the outer
ones only for purposes of locomotion. She is a very graceful dancer,