Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-12

CELEBRATED uLIrUTIANs orvAHIorsN NA-
TIONS,

TIDNS.
Dwarfs were called homuncioneS by the
Latins, observes the ST. Louis Post, by
the Italians, piccoluomini, and by the
Flemings mennekin-whcncc. no doubt
the word manikin.
The most remarkable pair Of these dim.
inuiive beings ever recorded was thai
narrated and described by Marco Polo in
his travels through Tartary He says
that at the Court of the Khan there were
twins, of the unhcard of stature of eleven
and twelve inches in height. They were
- years of age. The one twelve inches
lall was a boy called Meereshal, and the
other girl named Fatima They were
perfectly developed and well proportion
ed and formed, and are described as ex-
tremcly intelligent. The Khan ordered
them to be married, and, for a wonder,
the union turned out to be prolific. Four
| children were born to this diminutive
couple, three of whom attained the aver
| age Tartar stature. while the fourth and
youngest grew to the gigantic stature. of
six feet three inches. Meereshal and
Fatima lived until their 4jth year, when
Fatima sickened and died, and was FOL
lowed in few months by her husband
These dwarfs were the smallest couple
ever recorded
All the readers oi"Peveril of the Peak"
are acquainted with Sir Godfrey Hudson,
the favorite dwarf of Charles l. of Eng
land. lie WAS born in 1919, and died in
1862, 63 years of age. He was a native
of Oakham, and was about Years of age
when eighteen inches high and was taken
into the service of the Duke OF Bucking.
ham. From the age OF ! TO 30 he grew
no taller, but aiterward shot up to three
feet nine inches. He was once served up
in a pie At i royal entertainment, from
which he suddenly sprang forth in full
armor. Sir William Davenant wrote a
poem on L battle between him and a tur-
key cock, when woman rescued him
from his furious antagonist The cour-
tiers teaZed him about the story till he
challenged n young gentleman, Mr..
Crofts, who had offended him. CrOits
appeared at the rendezvous armed with 4
squirt. which SO enraged the dwarf that 4
real duel ensued. The weapons Were
pistols, and both parties were on horse
back to put them on level At the first
fire Geoifrv shot his antagonist dead. He
was afterward taken prisoner by a Tur-
hlNL lpNtl. Iil'l lbl u lIlLt WIS u NllNt III
Barbary. At the beginning of the civil
war he was made a captain in the royal
army. He died in prison. in which he
had been cast for heing privy to a Popish
plot.
Nine Theresa called the Corsican fairy
from the place of her birth. l143, was re-
markable tor physical symmetry beauty,
and mental vivacitv She was exhibited
in London, in ll12. and was thirty-four
inches high and weighed fifty y-iour pounds.
The Dutch Dwarf,a Wybrand Lolkis,
was born 1880, and possessed mechanical
taste and skill lie had success aS 4
matchmaker. and when 61 wears OF age
was twenty-Seven inches high and weigh
ed titty-seven pounds.
Prince Coiobi, q Slcssing dwarf. who
was exhibited in Dresden in 1857, was
twenty-five pounds in weight and twenty
five inches high at the age of p.
General Tom Thumb Charles 5. STRAIT
tom, tie celebrated American dwarf, was
bonn in Bridgeport. Conn, in 1881. His
parents are the average height. well-iorm-
ed and healthy. At the age of ) Years he
was not two feet high and weighed less
than sixteen pounds. He has fine talents
and is remarkable for his agility and
symmetry, while his lively sense OF the lu
dicrous gives excellent success in per-
formances suited to his character. In
1854 he visited England and was several
times exhibited TO the Queen and Court at
Buckingham palace, and was invited to
parties OF the nobility. In Paris he gain
ed applause as an actor. The marriage
of the General and Miss Lavinia Warren.
a celebrated dwarf, in New York, Feb
ruary 10, 1858, created quite a sensation.
They are at present living in Bridgeport
in afiluence and elegance. His height is
twenty-five inches, weight twenty-five
pounds.
Lucia Zarate and Gen. Mite. termed
the "Midgets." are however the most
diminutive species OF the human race ever
seen in modern days. They exceed all
their predecessors in dwarfishnesS, and
are without peers As king and queen of
the dwaris. Gen. Mite is fourteen years
OF age and weighs nine pounds. while
Lucia Zarate, who is OF the same age, is
scarcely five pounds. They are the tin
lest specimens of humanity living.