The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-21
MR.. CHARLES s. STRATTON
Rem iniscences of "Tom Thumb"
Americas Famous Dwarf
How He Was Discovered-His First Euro
pean Tour-AccOunt of His Wedding
Memories of Commodore Mutt.


lounglng about the piaZzaS OF the White
Mountain Hotel, and there | met and talked
long with the man who made STATIONS for
tune and whose fortune Stratton at least
laid the foundation of-Phineas L. Bar
num- the Snowman. 1t was Mr.. Barnum,
too, who gave Stratton the name by which he
is known to fame-Tom Thumb. Mr. Bar
mum related many "reminiscences of the ia
nous dwarf, but when the news of the lat
ter's death came, Mr. Barnum was in Canada
and l was tied to the metropolis, so | must
give from memory the story of the little
Generals" career.
He was born in Mr. Barnum's own city of
Bridgeport. Conn, on Jan. 4, 1888, and was
about as big, said his nurse, as "nubbin"
OF corn. His father was Sherwood E. STRAIT
ton, carpenter, and man of ordinary size
AT three years old Charley went to school,
He was bright and apt at study. On exhibit
ton day his school-mistress held him stand
ing erect on the palms of her hands while he
recited his little lesson. Nearly two years
later Mr.. Barnum first saw him. He was
then twenty inches tall and weighed only
fifteen and quarter pounds. But he was
well formed, healthy, intelligent and
winning in manners. His CHEEKS were rudy
and his haxen hair hung in profuse curls
about his temples. The Snowman at once hired
him of his parents for four weeks at SO a
week.
1t was on December s, 1912, that the child
made his advent in New York at Barnum's
Museum He had been well advertised, nn-
der the name of General Tom Thumb" He
was represented to be fourteen years old,
and his precocity of mind and manners
favored the deceit. Mr.. Barnum found him a
paying attraction. When the month was up
he re-engaged him at 81 week, and soon
after that engaged him for year at $25 a
week-probably the largest salary ever
earned by boy five years old. For two
years TON Thumb" was the attraction and
curiosity of the day in a dozen American
cities where he was exhibited. Then Bar
nun took him to England and exhibited him
at half dozen leading London theaters.
Then Edward Everett who was then
American minister there, took an in
terest in him and had him presented
to the Queen at Buckingham Pal
ace. Her Majesty was delighted with the
little fellow, and invited him to call again;
which he did several times, and became a
favorite playmate of thee royal children.
Gar Nicholas, of Russia; King Leopold, of
Belgium, and the King of saxony, were
then in London, and they paid much atten-
ton to the little Yankee. OF course, this
was nuts for Barnum. The boy became
1.-The fashion" more than Langtry has ever
been. All the fashionable people were wild
to see him, and peers and peeresses and cab
met ministers crowded to his receptions at a
guinea head. Three receptions a day were
given, and the receipts were reckoned by the
hundreds of thousands of dollars. Then the
boy went all over the continent holding re-
captions and playing at theatres in little
piece composed expressly for him, and
everywhere he met with the same phenom-
email success. Meanwhile, he learned French,
music, drawing, dancing, Ieneing and nu-
merous other accomplish
On his return to this country he was lion
lied, and the history of his success under
Barnum's management is unparalleled. The
climax was reached in 1868, when on Feb
ruary 10, he was married to Lavinia Warren,
a dwarf even smaller than himself. She was a
native of Middleboro, Mass, and was a high
ly cultured little lady. She is still living
Well, the wedding was a tremendous adver-
tisement 1t took place in Grace Church,
then by far the most fashionable sanctuary,
especially for weddings, in the city Refer
ring to the newspapers of that date l find
that the "Wee Wedding was the leading
sensation in local news From leading
daily of the next morning copy the follow
ing account:
The immortal p T. Barnum and
score of other dignitares supported the quar-
tette, while thousa nds of interested and interest
ing enpctatOrS 'aaSiRtpQ" at the a rpr
ny. Leng before the hour designated the entire
neghOorhood of Grace Church was thronged by
expectant and smiling crowds awaiting the ar
rival OF the happy pair with tdcr attendants,
and looking with lll-concealed envy upon the
scores of carriages that bore to the scene of ac-
ton the fortunate possessors of cards of invita-
tion. A the entrance the ubiquitous Brown
IGrace Churohs famous sexton, since deceased
TO he seen, bland and smiling, and looking
more like an honest alderman of yore than
sexton, and recognizing in each new deposit of
youth or beauty or wealth another star to shed
luster upon the extraordinary occasion. The
church was crowded with q gay assemblage of
ladies and gentlemen, the former appearing in
full opera costume and the latter in dress coats
and white neck cloths. In front Of the altar a
platform three feet high, Covered with Brussels
carpet, had been erected. Pending the arrival
Of the wedding cortege Mr.. Morgan performed a
number OF operate selections Oh the organ.
At high noon the murmuring of the crowd out
side, and the turning of all heads, prcsaged the
party quickly entered the church, and proceed.
ing up the middle aisle, took proper positions
the platform, Commodore Mutt acting as groOms-
man and Miss Minnie Warren bridesmaid.
After several operate selections on the organ,
the marriage services were commenced, the
Rev. Dr. Taylor and the Rev. Junius NJ. Wdey
officiating. The bride was given away by the
Rev. Mr.. Palmer. DR.. Taylor pronounced the
marital oenediction, when lie party left the
church and were driven rapidly 10 the Metropo-
itan Hotel the street, stoOps, buildings and win
dews of which were crowded with men, women
and children.
At 1 O'Clock the reception commenced, the
bride and groom, attended by the Commodore
and Miss Minnie Warren, occupying q dais In one
of the front parlors. The crowd soon resolved
into perfect jam, and for some time great con-
fusian prevailed The graceful fOrln Of
Mrs. Charles s. stratton was shown to advaut-
age in her bridal robe, which was composed of
plain white satin, the skirt EN- traine, being dec
GRATED with a founce of costly point lace,
headed by tule puthngs, the berthe to match.
ME and deliberately pulled in nGuds behind, in
r.rIS oh fhA AL rah nod NJ.