The Flannagan and Imperial was the last cargo I carried, but I
carried it near five years. It was what you might call a continuous
cargo; the _Annalee_ was in partnership with it; that is,
Flannagan and I went into partnership together. Madame Bill's
influence appeared to act expansive on Flannagan's ideas, and they
expanded the Company. She was an uncommon woman, with a pushing mind,
and exhibited as "The Princess Popocatapetl, Lineal Descendant of
Montezuma and Queen of the Caribbeans." Flannagan engaged Bill to
exhibit as "The Fat Boy," and he was very successful in this way,
weighing two hundred, and in height four feet eight inches, though
thirty to forty years old. His face was round and smooth as an apple,
and he wore a little jacket and sailor hat, and carried a piece of
gingerbread in general, when on exhibition; and in that way he looked
as young as might be needed, and satisfactory to every one. Flannagan
used to rent the advertising space on Bill's legs, for "Infants'
Foods" and "Patent Medicines for Dyspepsia," which was popular and
profitable. But I was saying Madame Bill was a handsome woman, and
valuable, and Flannagan himself hadn't a better eye for giving the
public sensations.
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