Arizona weekly citizen., 1886-11-27
7 HOW TOM THUMB WAS FOUND. !
Barnum's First Introduction to the Great Little MAn-An Interesting Chat.

] Hlrnum' ElTsl No Nne 1Ttal
 Little MAn-An Interesting Chat.
 srm the man who was the means ol Tom Thumb being found by P. T. Bar num- was the remark made by MT Henry Folsom, of South William street, to a reporter the other afternoon.
 @How sogr was the query of the person to whom this information was vouchsafed.
 sWeI. I will tell you how it came to pass,H Mir. Folsom responded. About forty years ago I knew a family named Stratton who lived in Bridgeport, Conn. The head of the family was in the habit of indulging too freely in liquor Some people called him a 'bummer;' but, as far ever knew, he was a quiet, inOdonsiye man. He was in very poor condition financially. and his family sometimes sui fered for the want of the necessaries of life. This man had c son, who was the smallest child of his age I ever saw in my life The little fellow was probably , or 6 years of age at the time. He was a cum ming youngster, and the wonder of the neighborhood in which he lived This small chap was Charles :. Stratton. after ward known as Tom Thumb
 But how did Barnum find him'7
 @Oh, I'll explain that to you presently. There was a restaurant and liquor saloon in Bridgeport in those days. The proprie- tor had trap door in the floor of his saloon that opened into sort of cellar where clans were kept This establish ment was situated on the docks. so that boats loaded with clans could come alongside for the purpose of dumping their loads into the cellar aforesaid 4 large number of men who were engaged n. fw. LaN .F frequenting this place. There were other customers who came there to eat chOwder and to partake of the liquid refreshment offered at the bar. The saloon became known as the headquarters of a class of happy-go-lucky men, of whom the elder StrattOn was one of the acknowledged leading spirits. The elder Stratton often brought his dwarfed boy into the saloon toamuse the men who oOngregated there. Nobody then had any idea that the little fellow would ever be of much account. l was then acquainted with F. T. Barnum. At that time Barnum kept small mu- scum. His museum was such a one horse affair that there was not sufficient income from it to keep it's proprietor from financial embarrassment
 ~One day Barnum asked me fl I would take the trouble the next time l visited Bridgeport to go tO his brother, PhilO Barnum, who lived thre, and obtain for the snowman a loan of 80 did the CT rand as requested Feeling interested 'n Barnum's museum enterprise, naturally began to think about ways and means of helping him in his business. l said tO him: See here, Barnum, there is a dwarf named Charlie StrattOn up in Bridgeport. He isn't bigger than a pint of cider. lt seems 10 me that it would be good idea for you to get him for your museum Thank you for the suggestion, returned Mir. Barnum, and I'll go up to see the lit tie chap Barnum accordingly went Co Bridgeport and saw Charlie StrattOn. He was greatly pleased with the dwarf, and forthwith resolved to brinA' him to New York and place him on exhibition. It was not difficulty task to make a bargian with the elder StrattOn. who was de lighted at the prospect of making a little money without having to work for it We'll. tO make a long story short, Charlie StrattOn's name was changed to Tom Thumb. and he was exhibited as the smallest and most wonderful dwarf on the face of the globe He was great at . traction for the museum, and it was not long before the proprietor began to realize the fact that Tom Thumb was q trump card' People came from far and near to visit the lliputian wonder. New York i Star