to ask her about her mouth, she would have explained that she
had the usual number of teeth. But almost all the doctors who
examined her directed their questions to Lent, while Julia kept
silent. Silent but lucrative, which was how Lent liked it. Exhibiting
Julia had made Lent a wealthy man, but by then rival showmen
possibly even including P.T. Barnum, began to take an interest in
her. Lent decided to make the
arrangement with his living,
breathing,
investment
more
permanent; he proposed to Julia.
We don’t know exactly what Julia
thought
of
Lent,
although
Bondeson believes she was in
love and “touchingly devoted” to
him. Certainly, Julia’s entire
world revolved around her
showman: she was not allowed
to go out during the day, in case
being seen on the street would
diminish her earning power, and
only travelled to the circus at
night wearing veils. She had very
few friends, although she did
develop a rapport with the
Viennese actress and singer
Friederike Gossman, who later
said that a “light fog of sadness”
always
hung
over
Julia.
Nevertheless, Julia accepted
Lent’s proposal. She once told
Gossman, “[my husband] loves
me for myself.”
41