Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-11
CnARLlE DEeKER.s NASH.
He Likes IL Have Them Tickle
Him Under the shfn.
Louisrille CommercInI. .

Yesterday afternoon thero was n
decided sensation amcDg the CAV
pleasure seekers at the rink. Shortl,
alter three o'clock there was loud
blast Of buele. Ev rybody stopped
skating to See whence the sound G me
The spectacle thy witnessed wss a
peculiar one In wee litile Wagon.
hardly large enough for a play thing
tor a child. sat the merest midget of a
man He held the reins aud guided a
little white donkey, whose flaming
ears were by far the biggest hing
about HIM. Very prim and sedare
did the little man look as he cracked
his whip vigorously, pulled at the
reins, and stirred about him as much
as to ask what in the world all this
fuss aud feathers they were makipe
over him meant. He drove lei.urely
around the riuk, while the children
fairly screamed with laughter. The
little girls followed after him wonder
ingly, and as he drew 10 and GOT ou4
Of his fairy chariot and demurely ga,
down on bench, their older sisters
crowded up to see what manuer of
man he was. The little mau's feet
reached hardly halt way TO the ground
bat be dangled them about oonteuted.
ly and good humoredly answered all
questions that were asked him.
What q little duck Of o NOUS
taChe, said one impulsige young lsdv
as she gazed admiriHgly into his face
The little man stroked his moustache
proudly and gave the girl killing
glance
And what sweet little feet, said
another, elbowing her way up
II don't believe he's real,,r said a
third, as she caught his inlantile arm
between her fngyr and thumb. That
vas signal for a general and minute
examination Of the little fellow. They
peered into bis face, felt his hands
and his arms and legs, poked their
fingers into his breast, and then
laughed heartily when LIE appeared TO
be tickled. The midget stood their
examination good naturedly, and now
and then paid them back by pinches.
which only amused the girls the more
de was swinging about an ebony gold
headed cane very placidly when the
reporter sat down by his side.
y am known on tie stage as Gene.
raj Decker, he S i'd, in answer to the
reporters question. II am twenty.
seven years Old, and have been on the
road since / was eleven years DID,"
How do you like travelling about
as ouriosity?P
ITS an easy, pleasant kind ofa life
| rather like it. 0l course, ,i1keevery.
thing else, it has its drawbacks"
Are you much annoyed by people
looking at you?
"Oh, 90, fellow gets used to that
alter awhile Children annoy me by
their persisteney. do wish you would
go away and let me alone "
This last remark was addressed TO
a crowd OF ghls Who we're hanging
about listening to every word that
was said
DO the girls bother yodmuch?p
J The little mau smiled and looked IN
quickly. There was roguish twinkle
an his eye as be answered: "~'
i The dear creatures do bother me
sometimes. but then don't mind
them much" ''''' :
NDo they ever get mashed on your
| Sometimes they do and then they
have me | get all sorts of letter.
from the girls. Some of them are
mighty sweet and some are too sicken
Ing III show you nv letters some
day. Do ever get mashed myself
Now, youns man. that an imper'i
nent question. I'll bet Idnu't ger
m'shtd h IL as often as you do" sud
with an air of the greatest Importance
the little man started 10 leave
They say TIN Thumb Is much
epaller than you are, said the re
porter. This brought the. Genera
back again.
That's not true" he answered
quickly Tom Thumb is thirty sil
inches in hight. anu only thirty-on,
inches. You sec ( am Eve incher
smaller than the smallest maa in tn,
world. But there's q young lady
want to talk to- and the Genera
jumped down from the bench and wa
soon in deep conversation withA youn
lady, the pocket Of whose dress b
hardly reached. --