The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-19
TOM THUMB.


tolerably clear recollection-though proba-
bly, not more than five or six years old at the
time-of playing with the General at "a little
Indiana village where the show with which
he was connected was wiptering. In .
general way remember bright little fellow
who wore smart clothes and had a great
many pretty things to show me, and who
patronized and oyerawed me by turns, and
made his society so agreeable that | rissed
the parental reproof on a good many occa-
slonS in order to enjoy it. He was
probably about twenty years old at the time
ana, any grown person being present, would
strut about with a killingly -mannish air but
alone with me he abonGoned himself with
the heartiest enjoyment to the ordinary
rompng and famiiarities with which chill
dren divert themselves together. Upon one
occasion, when had made a clandeStine de-
parture from the parental abode, and was
wildly absorbed i'll game of tag with the
General in the barnyard of the house where
lie was stopping, my father suddenly appeared
upon the scene and sternly demanded my in
slant return home, with an added intimation
that some mysterious settlement awaited
me upon arrival. The General dropped his
| child manner as suddenly as though it had
| beed hot poker, and drawing himself up to
his full height-which wasn't great TO be
and waving my father off with the patroniz-
! ing importance of the man of the world who
had stood unabashed in the presence of kings
and queens, he remarked: Don't be
alarmed sir, calling my diminutiye Chris
| tan name) is in my charge, and | will see
that no harm comes to him. My father was
| too much astonished and amused to continue
the discussion, and had hardly turned upon
his heel when the General was again in hot
pursuit around the barnyard of the playfel-
low his diplomacy had rescued from dis
agreeable consequences.
The General and wife both visited this city
in 1881 in connection with Barnum's show
upon which occasion they were interviewed
by Mr.. Phister, of the Gazette, who elected
many interesting facts of their history. No
ticing that the General had grown quite cor
pulent and somewhat gray while wrinkle
showed itself here and there, the interviewer
asked his age, and was informed that it was
forty-three. MANY, know" said the Cen
eral, take me to be fifty, but the mistake is
owing to Mr.. Barnum, he having represented
me in my young days as some seven years
older than | really was. | began my show
life when only four years of age, but the
public was told l was eleven"
"Ah, hal Then Barnum does tell stories
sometimes remarked the reporter
YES" broke in Mrs Stratton, "iust see
what awful stories he told about our court
ship and marriage"
What were those stories?" asked the
scribe.
why, don't you know? He claims all the
credit of our marriage, leading people to sup
pose that he did the counting"
''Well, now, what are we to infer from that
Mrs Sratton?n
"Why, it's all mistake, as I can testify to.
1t was match of our own making, wasn't
it, General?''
YES" said Tom, while a slight blush suf-
fused his face. 81 think l am man enough
to do my own counting. Why, l have kissed
more women, sir than any man in the
world, and the diminutive rascal bol5tered
himself up in his cushioned chair, and
winked slyly at the man of news.
Mrs. Stratton assented: Eyes, he used to
kiss every lady that bought picture from
him, and as he has been travelling for thirty
nine years | expect he has, kissed a great
many. But he doesn't do it now. Not while
I'm around, at any rate.
Now General, not to be impairment but
have you never regretted the tying of your
self up in the bonds of matrimony?'
''No, sir (emphaticallyG no, sir'
and you, Mrs Thumb?'
mo, sir. 1 am perfectly satisfied. The
General treats me kindly, and we live about
as happily as the rest, l suppose"
do you and the General ever quarrel?"
"W-e-ll," drawled out the little lady,
looking sylvia Tom and then at the reporter
until finally they both laughed.
'We don't exactly quarrel" said Tom, 1--WE
merely disagree"
when married folks tell me they never
have any spats, said Mrs T., II Just don't
believe them, that's all. am too much of
woman for that"
The reporter asked Mrs Stratton if she
had not bathed at Coney Island the same
summer, to which she replied: eyes was
in the water only five times, however in lust
the sweetest little duck of bathing dress,
hut hotb II.
water didn't agree with me and l gave it
up"
"You never bathed, General?'
mo, only in bath-tub; that's water
enough for me. But, here, have cigar
You smoke cigars, General?'
"Oh, always; cigarettes won't do for me-
There's no strength about them, see''
The reporter asked about the diamonds
that Mrs Stratton wore. 81 own, said the
General, together with my wife, $25, 600
worth of diamonds. and we don't carry a de-
tective with us either. That necklace,
brooch, earrings, bracelet and two diamond
hairpins l gave my wife upon our wedding
day."
Have you any children" asked the Ga
zette man.
None living" said the lady; I'VE never
had but one, and that is dead, though, ac-
cording to the papers, we have had several
The General was probably the most ex-
bCiioltS lI6fSiSl tldl SNGI ilNSui duu HAS Deen
on visiting terms with more potentates
and notable personages than any other
man. lie made the tour of Europe four
times.
He was at all times a genial pleasant COM
panion and very fond Of the social circle.
During his long career he had accumulated
a good-sized fortune and When asked, few
years ago, why he did not retire from active
life, he replied that he had become SO accus-
toned TO travelling that he could not be con-
tented in retirement. He has often been
charged with being fond OF high living and
fine wines, but his most intimate friends and
associates say that he very rarely ate more
than two meals day and that he was al
ways an entire abstainer from strong drink.
He made friends wherever he went. and at
the time of his death the deceased had prob
ably more personal acquainIances than any