DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0370
336
kikby’s wonderful museum.
leaving some token of their credulity or of their pity. In
order to give additional weight to her case, and the more
powerfully to interest the feelings of her visitors, she now
professed to be very religious. The Bible, which she called
her best companion, was laid on her bed; she asserted that
her case was a miracle, an immediate interference of Divine
Providence in her behalf; and her conversation was of such
a stamp as led the ignorant to imagine her to be a person of
extraordinary piety. This mask, however, was too unnatural
not to be laid aside when she was thrown off her guard; for
instance, when she was too hard pressed by pointed questions
from those who still doubted. On such occasions she would
vent such virulent language as fully evinced the absence of
every religious principle. On this subject Dr. Henderson
relates the following anecdote:—A gentleman from Derby,
knowing her previous history, contrived to engage her in very
free conversation, into which she entered very readily, and
which she seemed to relish very much : but upon another vi-
sitor being announced, she instantly resumed a serious air,
abandoning it only when the intruder on her gaiety had with-
drawn.
This scheme of deception proved tolerably successful.
From the different accounts of her case it appears, that be-
fore she began to attract the attention of the public she had
laboured under the greatest distress, and had not even suffi-
cient clothes to cover her bed; but, after the watching she
became very comfortable, and had all necessary attendance
provided for her. “ The number of people who go to see
her,” observes a writer already quoted, “ is astonishing, and
every one giving her a trifle for the benefit of her children,
she has by this time received something very handsome for
them.” According to the report of a medical gentleman of
the place, she has turned the exhibition of her person to such
account as to be able, in the course of the summer of 1812,
to place the sum of 400/. in the public funds.
kikby’s wonderful museum.
leaving some token of their credulity or of their pity. In
order to give additional weight to her case, and the more
powerfully to interest the feelings of her visitors, she now
professed to be very religious. The Bible, which she called
her best companion, was laid on her bed; she asserted that
her case was a miracle, an immediate interference of Divine
Providence in her behalf; and her conversation was of such
a stamp as led the ignorant to imagine her to be a person of
extraordinary piety. This mask, however, was too unnatural
not to be laid aside when she was thrown off her guard; for
instance, when she was too hard pressed by pointed questions
from those who still doubted. On such occasions she would
vent such virulent language as fully evinced the absence of
every religious principle. On this subject Dr. Henderson
relates the following anecdote:—A gentleman from Derby,
knowing her previous history, contrived to engage her in very
free conversation, into which she entered very readily, and
which she seemed to relish very much : but upon another vi-
sitor being announced, she instantly resumed a serious air,
abandoning it only when the intruder on her gaiety had with-
drawn.
This scheme of deception proved tolerably successful.
From the different accounts of her case it appears, that be-
fore she began to attract the attention of the public she had
laboured under the greatest distress, and had not even suffi-
cient clothes to cover her bed; but, after the watching she
became very comfortable, and had all necessary attendance
provided for her. “ The number of people who go to see
her,” observes a writer already quoted, “ is astonishing, and
every one giving her a trifle for the benefit of her children,
she has by this time received something very handsome for
them.” According to the report of a medical gentleman of
the place, she has turned the exhibition of her person to such
account as to be able, in the course of the summer of 1812,
to place the sum of 400/. in the public funds.