Divers freaks of humanity were shown, but it requires some credulity to take in the following: 'At the Herculus Pillars at Charing Cross, is to be seen a Girl that was found on a Mountain, in the west of England; When an Eminent Gentlewoman observing her to be without Fingers or Toes; and without Speech in regard to her Distress, ordered her to be brought to her Habitation; this Gentlewoman for many Years, was troubled with Convulsions of a severe kind, was perfectly Cured in a very short time, by the Girls Stroaking. This Girl hath like Success in Pains that arise from the Spleen, Sores, and Swellings, and many other Distempers, and what is very Remarkable also in her; She never spoke one Word in Four Years, and then by a Prophetick Spirit, said, the Gentlewoman that preserved her, would Die by Two a Clock which happened accordingly. The Girl is Ingenious, and can Work at her Needle; and perform several other things worth Observation; Price for seeing her Six Pence a Piece. She Toucheth Gratis.'
HUNGARIAN YOUTH.
'This young Man was Born in Hungary, and is about 18 years of Age, a Foot and a Half High: In the places where the Thighs, or Legs should be; hath Two Breasts in all points like a Woman's on which He Walks. The Natural parts are of the Male kind; Climes, or gets from the Ground upon a Table, and sits on a Corner of it, but 3 Quarters of an Inch broad, and shews more Artful Tricks, to the General Diversion, Satisfaction, and Admiration of all Spectators, and speaks several Languages. Vivat Regina.'
The following, although a curious, could hardly have been a pleasing exhibition. 'The Bold Grimace Spaniard. At the Ram's Head Inn in Fanchurch Street, is to be seen a Bold Grimace Spaniard, lately brought over, by David Cornwell, in the Bilboa Merchant: He liv'd 15 Years among wild Creatures in the Mountains, and is reasonably suppos'd to have been taken out of his Cradle, an Infant, by some Savage Beast, and wonderfuly preserv'd, till some Comedians accidentally pass'd thro' those Parts, and perceiving him to be of human Race, pursu'd him to his Cave, where they caught him in a Net. They found something wonderful in his Nature, and took him with 'em in their Travels thro' Spain and Italy. He performs the following surprising Grimaces, viz. He lolls out his Tongue a Foot long, turns his Eyes in and out at the same time; contracts his Face as small as an Apple; Extends his Mouth Six Inches, and turns it into the Shape of a Bird's Beak, and his Eyes like to an Owl's; turns his Mouth into the Form of a Hat cock'd up three ways; and also frames it in the manner of a four square Buckle; licks his Nose with his Tongue, like a Cow; rolls one Eye Brow two Inches up, the other two down; changes his face to such an astonishing Degree, as to appear like a Corpse long buried; Altho bred wild so long, yet by travelling with the aforesaid Comedians 18 years, he can sing wonderfully fine, and accompanies his Voice with a thorow Bass on the Lute. His former natural Estrangement from human Conversation obliged Mr. Cornwell to bring a Jackanapes over with him for his Companion, in whom he takes great Delight and Satisfaction.'
Queen Anne's time could also match our age with 'Two-Headed Nightingales,' 'Siamese Twins,' or 'Pygopagi.' 'At Mr. John Pratt's at the Angel in Cornhil ... are to be seen two Girls, who are one of the greatest Wonders in Nature that ever was seen, being Born with their Backs fasten'd to each other, and the Passages of their Bodies are both one way. These Children are very Handsome and Lusty, and Talk three different Languages; they are going into the 7th year of their Age. Those who see them, may very well say, they have seen a Miracle, which may pass for the 8th Wonder of the World.' These were Helen and Judith, who were born at Tzoni, in Hungary, October 26, 1701; lived to the age of twenty-one, and died in a convent at Petersburg February 23, 1723. They were well-shaped, very good-looking, and very fond of each other. They spoke Hungarian, high and low Dutch, French, and English.
There was also exhibited 'A young fresh country Lad just arriv'd from Suffolk; who is covered all over his Body, except the Face, Palms of the Hands, and Soles of his Feet, with Bristles like a Hedgehog, as hard as Horn, which shoots off yearly.'
'There is lately arrived a Person that was born without either Arms or Hands, and he does such miraculous things with his Feet, that the like never was known in the World.... He writes very fine with his Mouth, right and left Foot without discerning, which is the best, and in Five sorts of Languages, and makes his own Pens with a Pen Knive; he walks upon his two great Toes, and stands upon one Toe; he lays his Foot in his Neck, and hops upon the other, he stands upon the top of a little Stool, and reaches a Glass with his Mouth from under it; he threads a very fine and small Needle, and sows very prettily; and all Actions whatsoever is done by Hands, he does with his Feet: he Combs or dresses a Perriwig very well, shaves himself, dresses and undresses himself &c., and all with his feet, &c.'
There were conjurors, especially 'the incomparable German.... He makes pass through his Cups 60 Balls, without touching them, and they are turn'd into little live Birds, which whistle upon the Table. He takes a parcel of Cards, and throws them about the Room, and they are turn'd into little live Birds.' He was only equalled by 'An admirable Piece of Ingenuity in Hanging Sword Court, the Middle of Fleet Street,' where twice a day 'several Persons may be Entertained at Table, with various Dishes, and different kinds of Liquors, arising from Fountains on the Table to the drinking Glasses of the Entertained; of the which, when they are satisfied, a Serpent arising from a Box on the Middle of the Table, flyeth away with the Table and what's thereon remaining; and that very moment another Table of the same Dimensions, and furnished with another service, is in place where the former Table stood, without any visible Cause.'
