The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-28
MIDGETs TO BE MARRIED.
Mrs. Tom Thumb Makes an Official An
nouncement ofthe Event.

nOuHCemGuL "a tie TbSeuts
New York World.
The widow of the late General Tom Thumb,
after spending few dnys ut the Murray Hill
Hotel. left for Philadelphia last evening 20 fill a
professional engagement in that city. In an in
terview accorded to reporter this little lady
expressed much Indignation at the fiippant man
ner in which the vital subject Of her approach
ing nuptials with an Italian count hal been
tossed about on newspaper pens. She was
dressed IN n becoming costume of black silk.
Her hair was creped az artistically as when IN
the days of her youth she captured the heart OF
the redoubtabe little General She wore a white
lace fchu, which. if spread out would be about
the size of a child's pocket-handkerchlef around
her throat, and her little feet, clad in French
boots of the number which children of four
wear, dangled an inch or two below the cushion
Of the full-sized easy chair in which she sat.
II am glad You called" said she. after having
warmly shaken the little finger of the reporters
hand She had cambered back upon the elabor-
ely-uphostered chairl. because | esteem the
World very highly. and because want the pub
lie generally to understand that there is nothing
sensational about my present relations with the
Count. or our approaching marriage We arc
not to be married in dime museum" and the
lady curled her lips in scornful disdain, "nor
with fire works and a brass band. esteem the
Count very highly and he is devotedly attached
to me. Our acquaintance dates back nearly
eight years, and our union, when 1T takes place,
will be the result of mutual respect and admrra.
ton between gentleman, who, though small of
stature, is every inch man, and y lady who
fancies that the public should by this time know
her TO be a woman of sense"
There were seated in the room, besides the re-
porter and the widow, MIR. Sylvester Blocker,
who for twenty one years has been the manager
of the little lady, and Mrs Blocker, his wife.
THE truth is, said this gentleman, ''the Gen
erals widow has certain professional engage
ments TO fill and her fiance is also under contract
for 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 impera-
tive duties connected with the settlement of his
estate in Italy which require his presence in that
| country by the latter part of May and he is re-
solved that he will not return without me-"
do / understand then, said the reporter, as
decorousy as possible, that Count Rosebud
| s2'--
'.There is no Count Rosebud about It'll" ex-
| claimed the little lady. with considerable
warmth. my intended husband is Count Primo
| Magri. member of a distinguished Italian
family, a count in his own right and an accom-
| plished scholar and perfect gentleman"
| Il feel 1t my duty at this point" broke in Mr..
| Sylvester Blocker, Ito assure you that the lady
| is not throwing herself away upon any mere ad
| venturer. l am in some respects the guardian
| of Mrs. Stratton, and was life-loL friend and
partner of her husband She has a handsome
fortune, intending beautiful countryseat al
marlborough, Mass Count Magri is not,
however fortune hunter. He is himself a rich
man, and the match is In every way desirable
and equal"
The Generals widow, who, during this some
what embarrassing explanation had sat with
downcas1 eyes, her bejeweled hands folded in
her lap, now looked up at the ceiling and
breathed deep sigh. 1t is not said she pres
emily, putting the corner of lace handkerchief
about the size of a child's penwiper to her eyes,
"as if were not well acquainted with the Count
/ have known him for more than seven years.
We met first in Springfield, Mass. That was
before the General, had passed away. He
member of our little company during two
seasons and was q warm friend of the Generals.
After the death of the General in July, 1883, he
wrote me beautiful letter of coincidence, and
We frequently met thereafter in our travels
through the country. | learned to look upon
him almost as brother / was. you will remem-
years. having been married in Grace Church,
this city. Feb. 10, 1863 / do not know land
here the little lace handkerchief left the widows
eyes and wandered down to her lips, where it
was held coquettishly as if she feared her
tongue would run truant with matronly wis
DOM how my relations to the Count gradually
assumed that condition which rendered court
ship possible Perhaps the Count can tell you
more about that All l need say is that we met
last fall in Baltimore, Count Magri having OBJ
tanned engagement at the same place in
which was performing, and that / consented to
become his wife. He is an accomplished gentle
man. between thirty five and thirty six years Of
age, master of several languages, and finished
and dextrous swordsman. 1t 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 the de-
tails of our marriage will then be arranged. Our
plans for the future are entirely indefinite, but
it is not all improbable that we will never re-
turn to this country, or only perhaps. for an oc-
casional brief visit. We are not at all depend
ent upon our profession for our livelihood and
are at liberty to follow our inclnations in
the arrangements for our future lives"
Mrs. Stratton. who is forty four years of age,
She was, it will be remembered, before
her marriage to Tom Thumb a Miss Lavinia
Warren. Her Sister. Minnie Warren, who
married Commodore Mutt, died in July, 1873
Count Magr who is at present in Milwaukee,
is one inch and quarter taller that the wealthy
widow he is about to we'd