G.F. Whitman Present's His Collection of Curiosities at the 1847 Fair in Waterville

This is a clipping about the 1847 Cattle Show and Fair of the North Kennebec Agricultural Society that discusses an exhibition of "curiosities" that was presented by G.F. Whitman.


Source: Maxham, Ephraim, "The Eastern Mail (Vol. 01, No. 16): November 11, 1847" (1847). The Eastern Mail (Waterville, Maine). 

We alluded to a collection of curiosities, exhibited at the Fair by Mr. G.F. Whitman. Some of our young readers would like to know more about them. There were, among them, the head and foot of an albatross. The albatross is a very large sea bird, found only in the South Seas. Its color is generally white or light grey, and its weight from fifty to seventy-five pounds. Mr. Whitman tells us that they are generally seen in pairs, though some sailors tell us of seeing them in enormous flocks, covering acres of the surface of the water. Sometimes when the ocean is lashed to desperation by the fury of the winds, they are seen sleeping as quietly and gracefully on the top of the foaming waves, as an infant in its cradle. Sailors often amuse themselves in its capture, which is effected by baiting a hook with a piece of pork, attaching a light piece of wood to prevent its sinking, and then "paying it out" at the end of a long line. Though the albatross is skilled in fishing, he is a stranger to this mode till he has swallowed the hook, when he finds himself gradually led to the side of the ship, to be taken on board and introduced to the sailors. Having never heard a "sailor's yarn," it is very likely he thinks he has been taken in by one. When fairly on deck he is permitted to go at liberty, as he cannot rise upon his wings unless lifted upon the railing, or permitted to jump from the side of the vessel.
       There were several implements of war, from the Fejee Islands. Among these was a huge battle axe or war club, so constructed as to be used for paddling a boat. It exhibited evidence of having seen some service, and had probably been used by the natives of those islands in their battles. There was also a smaller club, resembling a huge salt-mortar pestle, only much longer; and a beautiful bow, of very ingenious construction, fitting it for use as a spear when in close contact with an enemy or a wild animal. This bow, and also a spear, were more ingenious than any we have ever seen made in this country. They must have cost great labor, as the natives of those islands know nothing of the use of iron tools, and do all such work with shells and stones. Of course they possess great patience, ingenuity, and talent, which if applied to the arts of civilized life, would add greatly to their comfort and happiness.
       Those two boxes of Chinese flowers, made of rice, that pretty fan, and the curious ivory balls, three in one, wrought one within another, no Yankee is skillful enough to make such things. This shows us that Chinese, though we count them among the heathen, are decidedly superior to us in some of the arts of civilized life. They have many singular fashions, which look absurd to us, though probably some of our would be equally so to them. The Chinese ladies compress their feet in very tight shoes, so that they never grow to be more than half the natural size, and yet if they were told that the American ladies screw their waits into so small a compass as to destroy their health, and make them resemble wasps, they would probably laugh. They wear rings in their noses instead of their ears, but we can see no great differences in the propriety of each. They think themselves greatly our superiors, because they know little about us; and we think them our inferiors, from the same cause. When we know more of each other, probably we shall think better of each other.