Charles Tripp, Unusual Pose

Charles Tripp, most famous of the armless men, is shown here in a very unusual portrait. In the hundreds of portraits Tripp had made over the years he is nearly always posed sitting in a photographer's studio, with his pants legs pulled-up, displaying his dexterity with his toes-- cutting with scissors, writing with a pen, drinking from a teacup, etc. This image was probably created for distribution to friends, family and fellow showmen, as it simply presents the man, without any sideshow pretensions or devices. Cabinet Card by EISEMANN.