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"Priscilla", one of the strangest human enigmas ever placed on exhibition, is a mere slip of a girl, 16 years of age, her entire body covered with long silky hair, similar to that of a monkey. Her face is covered with a long black beard, and her features are those of a simian in every detail. She takes her daily dozen by climbing the nearest tall tree in sight, and leaps from branch to branch with monkey-like agility. When at play, her movements are those of the monkey race and she resembles that animal in every thing she does. Priscilla's story is a vivid tale of life in the tropics. She was captured in the depths of a swampy jungle, in the interior of Porto Rico some six years ago by a party of railroad surveyors. Startled out of a rank underbrush, she was pursued by the party, and when overtaken, nimbly climbed the tallest tree and took refuge in the heavy branches. She was captured and overpowered, brought to Havana, where she was adopted by Mr. Lauther, who brought her to this country. Under his tender tutelage she soon acquired an extensive vocabulary, is gentle in demeanor, reads and writes fluently, and speaks excellent English. She is the real missing link between mankind and the monkey race and is one of the strangest freaks that has ever been seen here. |
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