The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-07-26
MRS. TOM THUMB.
Her Appearance I'm Socfesy-Po ssibly
Not Done Growing.

NOT DOue GFOW1mgs
New York Cor Inter DC an.l
Speaking of widows, came across
Mrs. Tom Thumb the other day in the
elevated railroad car. She had to make
considerable of jump to seat herself,
and / observed her companion made no
offer of assistance This was in accord
with the lady's well-understood desire.
You may have happened to find out
that old men don't like to be helped
on with their overcoats, because it i'm
plies decrepitude, which they dislike
to acknowledge, even to themselves.
Well, Mrs. Thumb has that sort of feel
ing with reference to any real or implied
notice of her size. She sat there in
great dignity, but with her feet dangling
far above the floor.
"She ought to carry an adjustable
foot-stool," I remarked, cor else some
thing in the way of an automatic length
ening apparatus, like thos' fishing rods
that slide out of thenaselve attached 70
her heels"
My companion was short and femi-
nine Said she: "Bless your heart, that
little creature isn't practically any
worse off than good many of the rest
of us. Woman's rights are cruelty dis
regarded by railroad managers, if you'll
take the trouble to notice. They give
us shorties choice between practically
standing up and not much more than
leaning against seat; or squarely seat
ing ourselves and letting our feet dangle
unsupported. Look at that row oil
women across the car. The only one
who at once rests her back fully against
the support intended for it, and her feet
fiat on the floor, is nigh as tall as you
are. All the rest are dozen sizes toe
small for the seats. If sitting away
back properly, they only touch then
toes to the foor-like line of ballet
girls tiptoeing on the stage. Why
shouldn't a happy medium in the height
of public seats be struck? Why
shouldn't a man be made to sit on
level little below their knees instead
of putting the whole Inconvenience o.
adjustment on our less heightened sex
Really, think of writing to Susan B.
Anthony about it.
The little Widow Thumb is casually
resident of New York, and welcome
visitor in q considerable number OF
rather wealthy and fashionable families
She is now lady SO mature and gni
| fed, notW outstanding her diminutive
form, that nobody in the way of social
| intercourse dares, or is much inclined
| to treat her IS human trife. To see
her in the midst of round of calls is te
get the impression, at first sight, thai
| your eyes have somehow sudden y be
come telescope inversely, SO exactly is
she miniature of the conventions
danes of ceremonious society. She
dresses for an afternoon of formal visit
ing in toilet of semi-mournirg suit
able in style for quiet woman OF 40
which age she acknowledgement or
ders from livery stable one of those
coupes that, as to liveried dri, er anG
| general appearance, are scarcely dis
tinguishable from private eluipages
| Provided with visiting list, and easily
commanding an air of wellbred bal
ance, she lacks only in stature to b.
the ideal of a millionaire's wife o
course she attracts staring attention
wherever she alights, but her manner O
silent reproof is usually effective as
cure for impudence, and she is able t.
go about with far less annoyance thar
might be supposed. She is now abou
three feet ant half in height, OF foo
more than when she was first put OF
exhibition by Barnum, and it was onl,
within few years that she stoppet
growing.
It would not surprise me-" she latel
said, "if should take to growing agai
at any time. My case is one of retarde
development, you know, an ! may ye
catch up with the rest of you. The ma
jority of the dwarfs exhibited are reall
children, phenomenally small, but b
no means the adult midgets that the
are represented to be; and conse
quently, they grow out of the profes
sion. That has been the case wit
many freak as the showmen ca
them"