Savannah morning news., 1885-02-25
GOING TO BE MARRIED..
Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb Tells the Facts of
Her Second Courtshin Hersalf.

Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb Tells the Facts of
Ber Second COurtship Herself.
In her cosy rooms at the Murray Hill
| Hotel, New York, Mrs. Stratton. better
known as Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb and years
ago as Lavinia Warren, sat Tuesday after
noon and talked to a New York Herald
reporter Of her approaching marriage.
She is still the size of a 5-year-old infant
who has discovered no undue precOcity
in soaring rapidity in life. She is as bright
! ana chatty as ever, too, and years of
welded life with the departed General
| have not weaned her from certain CO.
| quetries of manner which, it appears,
proved long ago irresistible TO the impend-
ing bridegroom. The latter is the Count
Primo Magri. He has chosen to be pro-
fessiOnally known as Count Rosebud, but
the authenticity OF his claim to descent
from the Magri family, his birth at B0-
logna and his right to certain ancestral
estates are undisputed.
Mrs. StrattOn's displeasure has been
aroused, it seems, by the currency given
to her proposed nuptias. She desired, so
fhe says, that the sacred mantle of pri-
vacy should cover her private life and
that the public should only take liberties
with such portions Of her existence as
were devoted to their entertainment. But
the newspapers, it appears, did not con-
suit her wishes and have presented va
rious narratives of the wooing and ap-
preaching wedding Of the little lady, so
that she was constrained to tell herself
the facts Of the case, that the truth might
be known.
STORY OF THE wOOING.
'EWhen the General died." said Mrs.
Stratton, Il made up my mind to remain
| a widow the rest of my life. We had
been associated before the public all over
the world. We had Travelled through Eu-
rope. Asia and Australia, and had been
presented to and received marks of con-
sideratiOn from the pOtentates and most
distinguished people of every country. 1t
was only natural that | should look for
retirement after his death. But somehow
the excitement OF public appearances to
which | have been used all my life was
too seductive. To me applause has
always been like n stimulant. Even now,
when | am nervous sometimes and una
bic TO sleep, go before the public and
their appreciation first eXcites me and
then acts as an Opiate.
'Well, l appeared again, and lately,
when | thought of resting, was made an
offer of marriage from Count Magri, which
| have accepted. We are acquainted now
some six years.' Mrs. Stratton went on.
''It was, think, In Springfield our party
met him and his brother. They had come
from Italy at the instance of manager
named Smith, and were performing
through the country. Count Magri is
quite musician, you know. He sings
and plays and his brother used to accom-
pany him. Well, the General and /
were very much pleased with the Magris.
They were far more cultured and Intelli-
gent than most of the little people that we
had met, aud the social relations between
~ nj Dnphu / CHI p-u11
not say 1t, simpered the little lady, ''but
the Count has told me that he was smit-
ten even then. OF course | knew moth
ing of this, but l always had a deep re-
spect and regard for him, and when he
proposed to me l accepted him."
POST NUPTIAL INTENTIONS.
what are your plans after marriageY'
the reporter asked.
"Oh, we intend to 60 to Italy to live
there; Not always, perhaps, but at least
for long time. | think | would be con-
tented to rest now, and | think Italy is a
good place for it. 1t is my husbands
country. He is known there in another
quality from what he is here. l think
shall like it. See, here is his picture,p
and the tiny .fdncee handed up photo
graph of the pigmy bridegroom, who, in
deed, seems to be bright and intelligent
little person.
He is not dark like some Italians,o
said she, gazing fOndly at the picture.
''He is not a bit like them."
Then she said that the papers were
wrong in fixing the day of her marriage.
1--WE agreed upon May 30" said she.
but the Count is desirOus Of its occur
ring sooner, as he wants to sail for Italy,
if possible, in April. My. manager, Mr..
Sylvester Baker, has booked me for en-
gagements up to the middle Of May. If
he can arrange it we shall foregO some of
them. | am to meet the Count three
weeks from to-day, and then all will be
arranged"
Then the small widow and bride that is
to be simpered and blushed again.