Part 6

EXTRAORDINARY PHYSICAL PHENOMENON.

Since the days when the Siamese twins arrived in this country and occasioned so much excitement in medical circles, no illustration of the freaks of nature has been found at all approaching in its remarkable character to that given in the person of Christine Millie, a native of North Carolina, who arrived at this port on Tuesday, per City of Brussels, from New York. The young person who is about to proceed to London for exhibition, is the child of parents formerly slaves in North Carolina, still living, and having several other children, and was herself born a slave. It is scarcely possible by a written description to convey anything like an adequate idea of the marvelous physical organization of this extraordinary being. In figure, Christine Millie, who is 19 years of age, is rather short, and possesses two heads upon one body, with two well-developed chests and four arms. This portion of the frame is as perfectly distinct in each figure as if the upper part were the heads of two persons; but at the lateral posterior portion of the pelvis there is but one body, with one spine, the lower parts of which gradually incline outwards from each side, and terminate with four legs. The faces are of the African type, with thick lips and large mouth, denoting the race from which the girl has descended; but in conversation the countenances brighten with intelligence, and those who have had the opportunity of seeing the girl could not fail to be pleased with the geniality of her manner and with the store of information which she has at her command. The question which naturally arises, and which it seems difficult to solve, is, whether this is one being, or whether, in some extraordinary manner, two persons have thus marvelously joined together. A very careful anatomical examination, made by the professors at Jefferson Medical College, America, has led to the discovery that the lungs, heart, and functions of digestion are those of two persons, apparently perfect and healthy in each, but that the whole of the lower organization of the body is that of one female, with the exception of the four legs. Each head is said to possess separate intellectual faculties, as entirely distinct as the brain power of two different individuals, and the volitions of the will are independent, but very much in harmony with each other. In proof of this the two mouths will at the same time converse with different persons upon topics of a widely different character, and will join in singing a duet, one taking the soprano and the other the contralto part. Experiments have been tried with a view to demonstrate the nervous system, which showed that whilst above the junction the sense of feeling was separate and distinct in each, below the point of union it was common. Thus, a hand placed upon the shoulder of either was noticed only by the one touched, but a pressure of the foot was instantly felt by each.

Yesterday a private party of ladies and gentlemen had an interview with this extraordinary person at the Washington Hotel, and were both astonished and pleased. She seems remarkably cheerful, suffers no inconvenience or pain from peculiar physical organization, dances with freedom, and, for one of her race, sings with considerable taste and expression. * * * * *

The editor of the Liverpool Daily Post says:

THE NEW PHENOMENA.

A numerous party assembled yesterday at the Washington Hotel to “interview” a most extraordinary natural Phenomena who is about to be exhibited in London as the “Two-Headed Nightingale.” * * * *

Christine Millie is a phenomenon of the Siamese twin order, but far more wonderful, for instead of two bodies connected with a ligature, there is only one torso, the body separating a little above the waist. There are two distinct busts and pairs of shoulders, two heads, four arms, and four legs. Anatomical examination has proved that the young lady--she is nineteen years of age--has two sets of lungs, and two digestions. It is certain there are mentally two perfect individualities, for conversations may be carried on with each of the two persons so mysteriously blended in one; and, each having a very pretty gift of singing, they perform duets in parts. Christine Millie also dances very gracefully, and appears to have no difficulty in moving about, and in no way differs in appearance from two animated and engaging young negresses, who for sport have agreed to pass an hour tied together nearly back to back. The exceedingly amiable and merry disposition of the mysterious pair deprives the exhibition altogether of that painful element which was present even in the case of those practical philosophers, the Siamese Twins. Christine Millie “first saw the light” as a slave in North Carolina, and the lady on whose estate she was born, and by whom she has been most affectionately and successfully educated, accompanied her to England. All who met Christine Millie yesterday must have felt interested in her fortunes, and well disposed to meet her again.

From the Liverpool Daily Courier:

ARRIVAL OF CURIOSITIES OF NATURE.

Amongst the visitors who arrived at Liverpool from New York on Tuesday in the Inman steamer City of Brussels, was a party of ladies and gentlemen, whom the indefatigable Mr. Barnum, of showman notoriety, has nothing to do with, though here for the edification of the curious.

The most singular and physiologically interesting member of the party is a young lady, between eighteen and nineteen years of age, or rather, two young ladies rolled into one, who is certainly a rival to the famous Siamese Twins, and very much more attractive in appearance than Messrs. Chang and Eng. Those who saw the Siamese Twins during their presence in England will have a vivid recollection of the painful look that their features bore, and the constrained movements of their bodies while walking in any direction. There is a total absence of this in the young lady who bears the name of Miss Christine Millie, whose four bright black eyes and dazzling rows of pearly-white teeth light up a fair Creole complexion with an animation that is really attractive. This singular lusus naturæ is the offspring of parents who were slaves in North Carolina previous to the American civil war, and has several brothers and sisters who are like ordinary humanity. During the struggle the family suffered considerable privation; but as a curious illustration of the changes which have taken place in Southern society, through the war and the declaration of freedom from slavery, it may be mentioned that the father of Christine Millie is now the owner of the plantation on which he was once a slave. As to the young lady herself--for we have surgical authority for describing her--she has bodily only one person, though possessed of two heads, two pairs of shoulders, four arms, and two pairs of legs, amalgamated curiously with one trunk. We can only say that an hour’s audience with her yesterday afternoon proved her to be a cultured, self-possessed and accomplished person, who had a most singular attribute of being able to hold two totally distinct conversations at the same time with different persons, or the same person, can sing a duet very tastefully and tunefully in two voices, soprano and contralto, and can dance a mazourka with singular grace and facility. There was no difficulty made in exhibiting the upper portion of the dorsal connection, and it was done without any infringement of modesty.

From the Liverpool Leader

“MOST EXTRAORDINARY.”

In the steamship City of Brussels, from New York, on the 2d of May, 1871, arrived a cargo which, in the words of Mr. Toole, may be termed “most extraordinary.” Of all the curiosities ever unearthed by the immortal Barnum, none can compare in the most minute degree with Millie Christine, a daughter or daughters--whichever the fastidious please--of the State of North Carolina. They first saw the light nineteen years ago, and the mother is presumably the founder of that gigantic Woman’s Rights Association in America, which has lately made formidable inroads upon English society. Here we have a young lady with one body, but two distinct minds, borne by two separate heads. All the intelligent men who saw her at the Washington Hotel the other day, can bear witness to the marvellous intelligence which predominates in both brains; the conversational powers of the two heads at once in communication with two different persons; upon different topics, would sufficiently testify it. But the marvel did not stop here; some of the sweetest duets in the language of music were sung by a high soprano and a pure contralto. The notes issued from two heads, and yet but one trunk supplied the verve. It may now be added that this extraordinary trunk has two pairs of perfect legs, terminating in symmetrical and very pretty feet, and that, moving upon their pedal extremities, the trunk exhibits the very poetry of motion. The polka, the mazourka, the schottische, are delineated by these two pairs of pretty feet, in perfect time and harmony, and the spectator is rewarded not by one smile, as in the case of ordinary young ladies, but by two distinct smiles, winked at you by two pairs of sparkling and roguish eyes, and thrown at you by two different sets of the purest ivory that ever adorned the mouth of an Indian Sultana. There are a lot of people here, or elsewhere, always ready to strain at the smallest gnat and swallow the biggest camel, who will doubtless put this young lady down as outside the pale of ordinary humanity. If this prejudice should carry one so far as to avoid her, they alone will be the losers. We can testify that no person of ordinary intelligence can be in her company for half an hour without yielding to the charm of her manner and the fascination of her double smiles. She has you on both sides. If you remove your head from one position you are immediately the victim of another pair of eyes, which fix you and, in fact, transfix you. We candidly admit that we were fascinated, and that we immediately lost sight of the phenomenon and became overpowered by the influence of this dual brain. The young lady will shortly hold levees in London, and the public of Liverpool may hope to see her by-and-by. The eminent medical men of the United States testify that this remarkable freak of nature is united at the lateral posterior portion of the pelvis, while above that portion they are separated, have separate chests, two pair of fully developed arms, but only one trunk. With the double head they possess separate intellectual faculties as entirely distinct as in the brain power of two different individuals, while their faces indicate to a remarkable degree intelligence of a high order and great amiability.

VISIT OF EMINENT MEN IN LIVERPOOL TO MILLIE CHRISTINE.

On the 4th of May a reception for medical men was held at the Washington Hotel, Liverpool, and was attended by the following eminent members of that faculty: Dr. Nevins, Dr. Bickersteth, Dr. McGregor, Dr. Greegan, Dr. Slack, Dr. Gorst, Dr. Steele, Mr. T. Bickerton, F.R.C.S., etc.; Mr. Edgar Browne, M.R.C.S.; Mr. Jas. Pen Harris, Mr. W. H. Manifold, etc. Having had an opportunity of explaining the bond of union, these eminent men were unanimously of the opinion that Millie Christine is the most extraordinary phenomenon the world has ever seen.

THE TWO-HEADED GIRL.

LAUGHABLE ACCOUNT OF THE TWO-HEADED GIRL BY A WESTERN EDITOR.

“Girls in this city are divided into two classes--single-headed girls and double-headed ditto. The single-headed ones are certainly the most numerous, but the double-headed ones appear to be the most attractive. This is evident from the fact, that while we can see a single-headed girl almost any time, we have to pay in order to be introduced to the maid with the duplex cranium. We say ‘maid’ because the last double-headed girl we saw was not married. There was one man who courted her successfully, as he thought, for a time, but before popping the question he kissed one face first, and could never get the consent of the other head. She is now waiting till a two-headed man comes along, and is gay with hope.

“This duplex girl, however, must be in every way a desirable match. Though the assurance given that she eats with both heads may tell against her with parsimonious wooers, yet the fact that she buys dresses for one only must be an immense advantage. The same with her talking. The two-headed girl must be extremely circumspect, not only in her walk, but in her conversation. As she can never have a secret, she can have no opportunity to go around telling it. Neither will any one ever tell a secret to one head for fear that the other would split upon it.

“The fact of having two tongues should not militate against her, as, if she had only one, she would probably keep it going all the time, while, if she uses two, the one deadens the sound of the other. Whichever way we look at the two-headed girl we see her to advantage, though we don’t mean to say the least that should be understood to disparage a girl because she happens to be born with only one head.”

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. Christine has been and is now the larger and stronger of the two. As children they used to have little struggles and quarrels for supremacy, but, as they could not get away from each other, they early concluded that the best way to get along in their novel path through life was to yield to each other. Their present happiness and affection for each other is an example for couples who are yoked together in marital bonds. Sometimes Christine rolls over Millie in bed without awakening her. Both can sleep separately. They can stand and walk on their outside legs, but they prefer to walk on all fours. Millie cannot lift up Christine’s legs, or Christine Millie’s legs. Since the Hungarian sisters, there has been no similar case reported reaching adult life for 170 years. The bond of union between these, which is just above the bones of the spine, is chiefly cartilaginous, but the spines are so closely approximated that there is an osseous union between them. To the question by Professor Pancoast, whether either was engaged to be married, each denied the soft impeachment with decision, though the Professor explained that physically there are no serious objections to the marriage of Her or Them; but morally there was a most decided one. During the Professor’s lecture the Misses Christine Millie and Millie Christine appeared very much interested in the diagnosis of their singular condition, and evidenced their superior intelligence by their apt and ready answers.

While abroad Millie Christine made herself mistress of the French, German, Italian, and Spanish languages. Always industrious, she makes her entire wardrobe, even to her dresses, for exhibition purposes. She dresses herself without trouble. Having lived thus long together, they express no desire to be parted and hope to leave this world as they came into it--together.

THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway Co. and Leased, Operated and Independent Lines. August Sundholm, P. & T. A. G. H. Richie, Guy E. Thompson, Ass’ts. S. W. Cor. Markham & Louisiana Sts. & Union Depot.

Little Rock, Ark., February 19, 1899.

Conductors S. L., I. M. & S. Ry. and Connecting Lines:--It is customary to carry Millie Christine on one ticket.

Respectfully, AUGUST SUNDHOLM, P. & T. A.