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
After an absence of eight years Christine Millie returned to her
native land on October 1st, 1878. Her tour abroad was a continued
ovation of success. She visited the principal cities and towns in
England, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Holland
and Russia. At every point the young lady was commanded to appear
before the nobility and rulers of these great countries. Kingly
presents and valuable jewels were given as tokens of appreciation not
only of her as a remarkable curiosity, but of her graceful bearing,
her contented disposition and of her artistic musical abilities.
Before she had landed, upon her arrival, a representative of the _New
York Herald_ greeted her, and the next morning that journal gave
forth to the whole United States the return of one of its children,
who had fully established herself to be the greatest curiosity of the
greatest country in the world. Since her return she has exhibited to
thousands in the cities of Boston, Philadelphia and New York. While
in Philadelphia she again appeared before the professors and students
of the Jefferson Medical College. Professor Pancoast for the second
time examined her. A portion of his lecture is extracted from the
_Philadelphia Evening Telegraph_.
This afternoon, at 1 o’clock, Millie and Christine were given a
scientific examination by Professor W. H. Pancoast, at his clinic,
at the Jefferson Medical College Hospital. The well-like room was
crowded, and Professor Pancoast busy removing a cancer from a patient
when the reporter arrived. During the operation Baron Littlefinger
and Count Rosebud, two most intelligent dwarfs--perfect little men
in figure--were present, and appeared interested spectators of the
operation. In introducing Millie and Christine, the Professor said
that he considered them the most interesting personages that have
ever come under the notice of scientific men, far more interesting
than the Siamese Twins. In the midst of his discourse the young
ladies entered, clad in green silk on their two bodies, pretty little
bronze boots on the four feet, white kids on their four hands. They
moved forward like an expanded V, with a crab-like movement that was
not ungraceful. Born back-to-back, the Professor explained that the
natural desire of each to walk face forward had twisted them in their
present position. Separate entities, separate individualities, each
can pursue separate lines of thought and conversation independent
of the other. From habit their appetites call for food and drink at
the same time. All the ills of flesh are not, however, necessarily
theirs in common. One may have the toothache and the other be free
from any ache. But in the examination conducted to-day the Professor
discovered a remarkable development of sensibility since his previous
examination eight years ago. Touching them on any extreme of the
body, on any foot for example, both in common were conscious of the
touch.