Once when I was in about the third grade there was an exhibit that came to Paris, Texas, by train. The exhibit was a lady who was billed as the Mermaid Lady. Our school sponsored a field trip to the train depot so that any student who wanted to see her could go. Of course it cost a fee but I don't remember how much. I am sure it was not much or I couldn't have gone.
The Mermaid Lady was inside one of the cars of the train. She had a bed and was lying on the bed on her side. You could see her whole body--even though she was clothed. Her legs were exposed and while there were two of them and they were covered in kind of a fish scale type of skin, they were kind of useless and deformed. She talked to the lookers and answered their questions. She was an intelligent person. I was really impressed with her and had never seen anything like that in my life.
In later years I saw her picture in a book I found which featured freak people. They made their living by traveling in side shows letting people see them. Some of them, I am told, made a lot of money in their time. A sad way to make money but then they really didn't have much choice!
Grandma used to tell a mermaid story. I can't remember all the details, but one of her uncles, I think it was, claimed to have seen a mermaid sitting on a rock in the river.
ReplyDeleteSeems like I do recall Mama talking about a mermaid but I can't remember any else about it. I bet if Sara was still with us she would remember!
ReplyDeleteI think it was Uncle Oliver, Ma's brother who saw the Mermaid sitting on a rock. I don't know if he drank or not but that could have neen why he saw her.
ReplyDeleteI remember her telling that story too! I'm like ya'll though...I don't remember too many details. I wish I had written down some of those tales when I remembered them. nh
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