The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-03-11
TOM THUMB AND WIFE.
an lnterestinE Interview with These
Well-Hnown Dyyarfs.

An intersstirs Interview with These
Wen-hnown Dwarfs.
The New York correspondent of the
CINCINNATI Commercial had an interview
with Mr.. and Mrs. Tom Thumb. the
lilliputians, while exhibiting in a mn. @
scum in the metropolis. He writes
Down stairs rushed the crowd, and in n
few moments the curtain that concealed
a SIN ali stage was drawn up, and par
ticularly long and lean man cantered
out to announce Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Stratton. A man mt the piano struck
up, "See! the conquering hero comesp
and the tiny couple entered. Tiny, did
| sayP Then let me take it back, as far
as the general is concerned, for he has
grown fearfully and wonderfully fat,
rather yellow and very wrinkled. He
looked, in fact, like an orange that had
been sat upon, and his gray goatee and
hair added to his evident accumulation
of years. He must weigh at least ITO
pounds, which considering bis height
to the square inch, is doing very well.
His little wife looks careworn, and is
hardly stouter than when she first ap-
peared, but she wore charming toilet
of pink satin and pearls, and smiled the
same five for cent little smiles as of
yore. She sang in voice fine as 100
thread song about the shamrock, and
then the general appeared in his favor
ite character of Napoleon. think the
spectacle would have made the great
warrior wriggle in his grave even more
than Nine. Remusats memoirs; :" and
when the plump exhibitor went to
strike the attitude of meditation he lost
his balance and toppled over on one side,
TO the amusement oftbe audience. Then
n tall, slim young man came out as a
Chinaman and danced and sung and
slid round on parlor skates and the mat
inee was over.
After the people had dispersed had'a
little chat with the famous small
couple.
"How long have you been before the
public, generalP" was asked.
"Over forty years." said he, folding
his arms and striking an attitude.
People seem to have an idea that l
have retired, but the truth is | can't do
without the excitement of public life,
though my wife is getting rather tired
of it."
YES" said Mrs. Thumb. with Il
weary little sigh; eve have been mar
ried seventeen years to-day, and think
it's about time we stayed at home. You
see, | am domestic in my tastes, and
love housekeeping, but the general
wants to be on the go all the time"
We'll, well" said the husband, with
an imperial wave of his short fat hand.
" In summer | have my yacht and fast
horses, and that passes the time away,
but the winter season is pretty dull in
Middleborough."
Yes" said Nine. Thumb, with an
expressive look, eff it we're not for so
much yachting and fast driving our
bank account would be little bigger
to. day."
My dearn said the general, and an
awkward pause ensued, broken by our
correspondent remarking: People were
very sorry to hear ofyour sisters miss
Minnie Warren) death"
Yes" said the wee woman, with
tears in her eyes and as much feeling as
a six-footer. at was great blow to
me, and then came the loss of nv dear
little son. A good many people thought
he was nothing but an advertisement"
she continued, growing a trifle inco-
herent; "but if they had known how /
felt they wouldn't"
And what has become of little Major
Newell, your brother-in lawP"
w ny, ulunC you see nlm IN the
Chinese song-and-dance?"
" That tall young manP Tmpossiblew
"Oh, yes; that was the major. You
see, about the time that Minnie died the
poor fellow began to grow (this very
mournfully), and he kept OH growing
and growing until he was just like any
body else. Of course it ruined his bust
less, and he had to go into the varie-
ties"
And where is Commodore Mutt
nowadaysP"
Lob, he is making his money fly out
in San Francisco"
Here the carriage was announced, and
with a Come along, my dear" the
general led his wife and helped her in
the coupe, and filled up one seat himself
The colored driver whipped up the dap
pie gray ponies, and off they went, smil-
ing and bowling.