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467
●
MILLIE-CHRISTINE.
Carte-de-visite, with
SIGNATURE OF
“
CHRISSIE
—
MILLIE
”
on the reverse.
Philadelphia: Gorman’s Temple of Art, late 1860’s-1870’s
[600/800]
Conjoined twins, Millie and Christine were born into slavery in 1852. Considered to be of no worth,
they were sold off as children along with their family. But salesman Joseph Pearson Smith was the first
to see the show business potential, and purchased the twins and their family. His wife took on the job
of training and educating the twins, not only the “3 R’s” but singing and dancing as well. The twins
it turned out were talented and soon were proficient on piano and guitar. Billed as “The two-headed
Nightingale,” the twins were not only well cared for but were well-received, performing with P.T.
Barnum, and even entertaining Queen Victoria.
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