The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-03-22
LITTLE BUT CUTE
One of the Historic Dwarts Of the
Last Century.
In Spite Of Hb Diminutive Size He Was
Neither weak Nor Puny-One Of the
Most Gallant Of CeurtIers
and EiAttererS

In Spite Of His Diminutive Size He Wa
Neither weak Nor Puny-One Of the
Most Gallant Of Csurtlers
and FiattererA
Joseph Boruwlaslxi. usually called
Count Boruwlaski, was . dainty little
mite of man born q century and .
half ago in Polish Russia.
He was very tiny, very sweet-tem-
pered and charming. and the beauties
of his mind and person were known
and admired in nearly every court in
Europe, for he was a great traveller and
lived to be nearly one hundred years
old. he was just two years older than
the French dwarf, Bebe, and. like the
latter, writes Mary Shears Roberts in
st. Nicholas, he measured about eight
inches at the time of his birth.
Notwithstanding Joseph's diminutive
size he was neither weak nor puny; he
learned to talk and to walk at the
same age as other infants, and his
mother declared that in his infancy he
gave her as little trouble as any of her
six children.
He had Eve brothers, some short and
some tall, and one sister, Anastasia.
She was very. very tiny; SO short, in
deed. that she could stand erect under
the little counts arm. She WAS q per-
feet model Of symmetry and beauty.
with . lively. cheerful temper and Q
kind, benevolent heart.
When Joseph was scarcely eight
years old, his father died, leaving the
widow and six children very poorly
provided for. The little count, who
was often called "Joujou" (toy) in the
early days, went to live with rich
lady, friend Of his mothers He re-
manned with this kind benefaetress for
four years, and although he measured
only twenty-one inches At this time,
his progress in his various studies was
not in proportion TO his stature. He
was remarkably intelligent, and SO
amiable and vivacious that he became
. general favorite with everybody. On
q certain Countess Humieska he made
% strong an impression that abe was
extremely DESTROYS to have Jouiou at
tsched to her household. His first bon
efactreSs was not willing to give him
up, but after a good deal of talking and
pleading, Joujou went TO reside with
the countess. Sir months after, when
this lady started on tour through
France and Germany. she resolved to
make Joseph the companion Of her
t1avels. At Vienna. the little count.
Who was now just fifteen years old and
inches tall, was presented
to Maria Theresa, empress-queen Of
Austria.
At this time Austris and Prussia
were at war. and one day. when some
complimented the empress on
q recent Austrian victory, she turned
to Joseph. who happened to be in the
of the Prussian monarch.
Madam" replied he, II have not
the honor to know him; but were / IN
his place, instead of wsginG . useless
war against you I would come to
Vienna and pay my respects 70 you,
1t . thousand times more glo-
rious to gain your esteem and friend
victories over your troops"
This long speech from such Q small
person pleased the empress 20 highly
that she caught the manikin up beside
her, and covered him with oaresses.
While he was still at the Austrian
court the empress desired him to per-
form q Polish dance. This he executed
with such grace that Maria Theresa,
as usual, was delighted. Boruwlaski's
little hand being accidentally in that
Of the empress, she noticed that he was
looking at a very beautiful
diamond ring which she wore.
do you think the ring pretty2" she
inquired.
II beg your majesty's pardon" re-
piled Boruwlaski, 1t is not the ring I |
I'm looking at, but the hand. which / |
beseech your permission TO kiss" and
he raised it TO his lips.
This speech pleased her majesty 40 |
much that if the ring had not been en-
tireiy too large 1t would have been the |
reward of the eourt1y reply. |
At this moment very charming little
girl, about Eve years old, entered the |
apartment The empress called the
child TO her side, and. taking from her
baby hand an exquisitely jewelsd
ing. placed it on the tiny finger of the |
count, where it fitted TO perfection.
was delighted, but the lit
lie girl was perhaps not SO we'll pleased.
Poor child! she was then Princes
Mario Antoinette. daughter of Maria
Theresa; but afterward she became the
oeautiful and unfortunate queen of /
France, and persisted upon the soaffoid
many years before the death of Boruw-
ask The little count preserved the
ewel as long as be lived