Bartram informed Barnum of a spectacular exhibit that he had recently sold to Mr. R. W. Lindsay.
She was extremely old and almost completely paralyzed.
She could move one arm at will, but her lower limbs could not be straightened, Barnum noted.
Despite her allegedly great age, Barnum found her to be quite lively.
She would talk for as long as people would listen and sing a variety of hymns.
She claimed to have been present at the time of Georges birth and even clothed the newborn infant.
They advertised Heth as absolutely the most astonishing and interesting curiosity in the world!
and the greatest natural & national curiosity in the world.
Her emaciated physical appearance also helped sell Barnum’s deceptions about her extreme old age.
She is nothing but skin and bones; lies constantly in bed, eating or smoking her pipe.
The latter shows her smell is as good as her taste.
Heth drew crowds wherever she went.
Many came to hear her little stories.
Others came to judge the authenticity of her claims.
The crowds came flocking back to see the allegation refuted.
In the following February Joice Heth died, and Barnum exploited her for one last time.
The public was duped.
But pride wouldnt allow Barnum to acknowledge that he had been befooled.
It was only later that the Prince of humbugs admitted that Joice Heth was a hoax.
References:# Joel Benton,A Unique Story of a Marvellous CareerLife of Hon.
Barnum Used an Elderly Slave To Launch His Career,Jstor
