entertainment value, Black was encouraged to tell stories explaining how his specimens haddescended from ancient mythological animals. An excerpt from a flier reads: “A child born withoutarms may be a confused body that lacked the information to produce wings, of a harpy perhaps.”The transition from esteemed medical prodigy to carnival sideshow host came abruptly for Dr.Black. He and his family were forced to adapt to a new lifestyle, one that was incredibly differentfrom what they had previously been accustomed to. Traveling with a carnival was a considerablehardship, but his wife and sons adapted fairly well. We know that Elise hailed from a prosperous andeducated family; she could have easily taken the children to live with her parents and siblings inChicago. Instead, she became an integral element in the culture of the American Carnival. She waswell known among other workers and was well liked, too. By assuming a matronly role as acaregiver to the other performers, she soon earned the nickname “Momma El.”Black’s own experience was more complicated. These two journal entries, written just four monthsapart, illustrate his evolving views concerning his research and the carnival lifestyle.September 1880I have devoted my efforts thus far to the fulfillment of my work, only to share itnow with liars, criminals, and killers: ignorant people whose only reluctance to eatone another is that they do not care for the taste. Yes, I am in good company,indeed. I entertain the whims of this carnival. I lecture to common citizens lessinterested in my science than in the so-called lizard-woman from the jungle––whois really only a woman from Detroit afflicted with ichthyosis. It would be moreauspicious to work alone in a laboratory, in a university; I could then speak to adedicated audience of students.I know I must continue my work, despite my disdain of my audience. Withoutanother source of subsistence I am left with only this one choice.* * *February 1881I can reach out through the boundaries of this country and seek out the ones whowill listen as I once did. I am not confined to one state or province; I can take mywork to them if they will not come to me. I will appear on their steps and knock ontheir doors.Despite an initial hesitation, Black became a phenomenally successful showman, and he soon grewto embrace the fair lifestyle. Among carnival personalities, his style of showmanship was greatlyadmired. Curious onlookers would flock to the traveling museum, eager to see the controversialexhibits that were contested so vehemently in local newspapers. Profits from the museum weresubstantial. Black had no trouble providing for his family; he even purchased a decent-sized horsedrawncaravan, the transportation mode of choice for early American carnival and circusprofessionals. The added mobility allowed him to travel more freely, especially in winter, when thecarnival closed.Gregarious and outspoken, Dr. Black often challenged doubters in the audience to join him in opendebate. On one such occasion, in Marris County, New York, in 1881, a minister by the name of
William Cathaway Jr. criticized the show’s moral decency and blasphemous content. Cathaway wasparticularly upset by Black’s claim that man once existed in a form substantially different from theOld Testament’s Adam and Eve.
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