The daily gazette., 1883-09-03
THE LITTLE GENERAL.
HOW He Was discovered and Brought to
the Attention of the Public.

me AttenttOn OF the Public
New York STAR
am the man who was che means OF Tom
Thumb being found by P. T. Barnum,' p
10 a representative of the Star yesterday
| afternoon. "How so p was the query Of
the person to whom this information was
vouchsafed.
"Well, will tell you how 1t came to
pass" Mr.. Folsom responded. About 4O
years ago knew family named Stratton,
who lived in Bridgeport, Conn. The head
OF the family was In the habit of indulginP
too freely in liquor. Some people called
him hummer but, as far as / ever knew,
he was a quiet, inoffensive man. He was in
very poor condition financially, and his fam.
lily sometimes actually suffered for the want
of the necessities Of life. This man had a
son, who was the smallest child of his age
that ever saw in my life. The little fellow
was probably 5 or 9 years of age at the
time. He was cunning youngster, and
the wonder of the neighborbood in which he
lived. This smsll chap was Charles 8.
Stratton, ,afterward known as Tom Thumb .
"But how did Barnum find himp
"Oh, I'll explain that TO you presently.
There was restaurant and liquor saloon In
Bridgeport in those days. The proprietor
had trap door In the floor OF his saloon
CLANS were kept. The establishment was sita-
ated on the dock, so that boats loaded with
clans could come alongside for the purpose
OF dumping their loads into the cellar aiore-
said. A large number of men who were
engaged In the clam business were in the
habit of freqenting this place. There were
other customers who came there to eat
chowder and partake OF the liquid refresh
ment offered at the bar. The saloon be-
came knowR as the headquarters of class
of happy go-lucky men, of whom the elder
Stratton was one of the acknowledged lead
ing spirits. The elder Stratton often
brought his dwarfed boy into the saloon to
amuse the men who congregated there.
Nobody then had any idea that the little
fellow would ever be of much account.
was then acquainted with p. I. Barnum.
At that time Barnum kept a small museum.
HIS museum was such a oDe-horse affair
that there was not sufficient income from 1t
to keep its proprietor from financial en-
barrassment. One day Barnum asked me
If would take the trouble the next time
visited Bridgeport to go to his brother, ,Philo
Barnum, wholived there, and obtain for the
Snowman a loan of $50. / did the errand
as requested. Feeling interested in Bar
NUNS museum enterprise, naturally be-
gan to think about ways and means of help
ihh htth III mo bdsihNoos bhIh W DOt
here, Barnum, there is dwarf named Char
lie Stratton up in Bridgeport. He isn't big
ger than pint OF cider. 1t seems to me
that It would be a good idea for you to get
him for your museum Thank you for the
suggestion returned Mr.. Barnum, and
I'll 90 up to see the little chap Barnum
accordingly went to Bridgeport and saw
Charlie Stratton. He was greatly pleased
with the dwarf, and forthwith resolved to
bring him to New York and place him on
exhibition. 1t was not a difficult task to
make a bargain with the elder Stratton who
was delighted at the prospect OF making
little money without having TO work for It.
Well, to make long story short, Charlie
Stratton's name was changed to Tom
Thumb, and he was exhibited as the small
est and most wonderful dwarf on the face Of
the globe He was great attraction for
the museum, and 1t was not long before the
proprietor began to realize the fact that Tom
Thumb was trump card People came
from far and near TO visit the liliiputian
wonder"