The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-08-06
THE WEE LOVERS.

Mrs. Tom Thumb Officially Announces
Her Matrimonial Rrogramms-How the
Bright 1lidgsts Net, Good, Loved ana
Became Engaged.
The widow of the late General Tom
Thumb, after spending few days at
the Murray Hill Hotel, left for Ph,la-
delphia to fill professional engage
ment in that city. In an interview &C
corded to reporter before her depar-
ture, this little lady expressed much
Indignation at the }'ippant manner in
which the vital subject OF her approach
ing nuptials with IN Italion Count had
been tossed about on newspaper pens.
She was dressed in a becoming costume
Of black silk. Her hair was creped as
artistically as when in the days of her
youth sho captured tho heart of the re-
doubtat 10 little General. She wore q
white lace tichu, which if spread out
would 10 about the size of child's
pocket handkerchief, around her throat,
and her little feet. clad in French boots
of the number which children of wear,
danglcl an incl, or two below the cusll.
ion of the full-sized eSsy chair in which
she sat.
II am glad you called" said she, af-
ter having warmly shaken the little fin
ger of the reporters hand (slle had
clambered back upon the deliberately
upholstered chair. "because I want the
public generally to understand that
there is nothing sensational about my
present relations with the Count or our
approaching marriage. We are not to
be married in a dime museum" and the
lady curled her lips i'll scornful disdain.
NOR with fireworks and q brass band.
l esteem tho Count very highly, and he
Is devOted!y attached to me. Our &C.
quaintance dates back nearly eight
years, and our union, when it takes
place, will he the result of mutual re-
spect and admiration between gentle.
man, who, though small of stature, is
EVERY INCH MAN,
and lady who fancies that the public
should by this time know her to he a
woman of sense"
There were seated in the room, bo-
sides the reporter and the widow, Mr..
Sylvester BECKER, who for 81 years has
been the manager of this little lady,
and Mrs. Blocker, his wife. 1.-THE truth
is, said this gentleman, "the generals
widow has certain professional engnge-
ments to ill and her tiance is also under
contract fer some time yet. This renders
it impossible for them to fix date for
their marriage, but 1t will certainly occur
before long"
Indeed it will, broke in the sprightly
relict of General Thumb, "for the count
has imperative duties connected with
the settlement of his estate in Italy
which require his presence in that coun-
try by the latter part of May and he is
resolved that he will not return without
me"
"Do I understand then," said the re-
porter as decorously as possible, that
Count Rosebud is or
"Tllere is no Count Rosebud about
it! J" exclaimed tho little lady with con-
siderable warmth. my intended hus-
band is Count Primo Magri, member
of distinguished italian family; a
Count III his own right, and IN accom-
plisl,ed scholar and perfect gentle
man."
Il feel it my duty ut this point"
broke in Mr.. Sylvester Blocker, ito as
sure you that tho lady is not throwing
herself away upon any mere adventure.
l am in some respects tho guardian of
Mrs. Stratton, and WAS lifelong friend
and partner of her husband. She has a
handsome fortune, including g beaut,-
full country seat at Middleborough,
Mass. Count Magri is not, however, a
fortune-hunter. He, is himself rich
man, and the match is in every way de-
sirable and equal"
HOW THEY MET AND LOVED.
The generals widow, who during
this somewhat embarrassing explana-
ton had sat with downcast eyes, her
bejewelled hands folded in her lap, now
looked up at the ceiling and brcathed a
deep sigh. 1T is not" said she pres-
emily, putting the corner of a lace
handkerchief, about tho sac of childs
penwipcr to her eyes, "as if I
were not we'll enough acquainted
with the count. I have known
him for more than soven years. We
met first in Springfield, Mass. That
was before the General had passed away
He was a4nomber of our little company
during two seasons and was a warm
friend of tho Generals. After the death
of the General in July, 1883, he wrote
me a beautiful letter of coincidence, and
We frequently met thereafter in our
travels through the country. I learned
to look upon him almost as brother.
l was, you will remember, the wife Of
the General for more than 20 years,
having been married in Grace Church,
this city, February 10, 1868, do not
know" land here the little lace handker-
chief left the widows eyes and wander
ed down to her lips, where it was held
coquetishly, as if she feared her tongue
would run truant with matronly wis
DOM chow my relations to tho Count
gradually assumed that condition which
rendered courtship possible. Per.
haps tho Count can tell you more
about that. All I need soy is that
we met last fall in Baltimore,
Count Magri having obtained an
engagement at the same place in which
was performing, and that I consented
to become his wife. He is an accom-
plished gentleman between IS and 36
years of age, master of several language
es, and q finished and dexterous
swordsman. It is our intention to be
married in this city in time to sail for
Italy not later than the middle of May.
shall meet the Count two weeks from
to-day, and tho details of our marriage
will then be arranged. Our plans for
the future are entirely indefinite, but
it is not at all improbable that we will
never return to this country, or only
perhaps, for an occasional brief visit.
We are not at all dependent upon our
profession for livelihood, and are at
liberty to follow our own inclinations
in the arrangements for our future
lives"
Mrs. Stratton, who is A years of age,
is estimated to be worth moro than one
hundred thousand dollars. She was, it
will be remembered. before her mar
riage to Tom Thumb, a Miss Lavinia
Warren. Her sister, Minnie Warren,
who married Commodore Mutt, died in
July, 1873. Count Magri, who is at
present in Milwaukee, is one inch and 4