The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-27
TON THUMB ABROAD.
THE FAMOUS owkRF's VISIT TO ENG
LAND IN 1874.

THE FAMOUS owsRF's VISIT TO ENG
LAND IN is44.
Barnum,s Clever Advertising In the
London Newspapers - The Yankee
Midget Was Great Success and n
Prime FaVorite with Royalty.
In st. Nicholas Mary Shears Roberts
recoants the successes Of the famous
dwarf Tom Thumb. There have been
smaller dwarfs. but none brighter or
more intelligent than our tiny Yankee.
who was never more tbsa three feet
tai. Re was born IN Bridgeport. Conn.,.
IN 1S3s or thereabouts. of poor but
honest parents. His real name was
Charles ). Stratton, and although his
relatives always called him Charley he
was known TO the world AT large as the
one and only General Tom Thumb
Under the management Of Mr.. p T.
Rarnum our small hero Travelled all
over and all around the earth. making
two colossal fortunes. one for himself
and one for lis manager. On Jan. Is.
1874. he set sail for Europe To try his
fascinations on kings and queens and
princes
In those days a voyage across the
Atlantic was a much more important
event than II IS now. and you may
rest assured that Mr.. Barnum made
great capital Of this 10 days journey.
The party consisted Of the manager.
the General" his parents, his tutor
and a French naturalist. and brass
band escorted them 10 Sandy Hook.
This fact was duly beralded in the
London newspapers. TO which was add
ed the statement that ION leaving New
York the dwarf was escorted to the
packet by no less than 10000 persons" ="
Soon after arriving in London Mr..
Barnum and his charge called at the
Office Of The Illustrated London News.
The first portrait of Tom Thumb taken
IN England appears in that Journal.
dated Feb -. 1874 There are two
cuts In the first he is seen standing
on 4 chair by a table. which serves TO
emphasize his diminutive size. The
second picture is very good and is call
ed THE American Dwarf ~ the PTin-
cess HThcafer." He is represented as
being on the stage before the fcotlishts
parodying the walk and manners Of
Napoleon. Tom Thumbs performances
Mt the Princess theater made such
hit that Mr.. Barnum next engaged
Egyptian hall Piccadilly. whittier
thronged many visitors Of rank and
fashion
The american minister. the Hon. Ed
ward Everett. was very kind to his
countTymen. and il was at his house
that Mr. Barnum met a certain Mr..
Murray. master Of the queens house
hold On the day following one OF t,n-
Queens Life guards appeared before
Mr.. BarEum with a note containing an
invitation from the queen te General
Tom Thumb and his guardian. Mr..
Barnu2. to appear at Buckingham
palace on specified evening.
In retiring from the royal presence
Mr. BaInum attempted to follow the
example set 10y the lord in waiting 10y
backing ont The gallery was Of great
length. and the gentlemen with long
strides made rapid progress, but Tom
Thumbs short legs left him far behind
or before Seeing that he was losing
ground. hc turned and ran 4 few steps.
then resumed the process OF hacking.
Again losing ground. be repeated the
performance. to the great amusement
of the royal spectators. The queen
soon sent another summons. and the
General" with his guardian. made
second visit 10 the palace being re-
ccived IN the yellow drawing room. 4
third visit was soon paid TO BucEing
lam palace and this time TIE queens
uncle. Leopold. king OF the Belsians.
was present and was greatly amused.
asking many questions. ANA Queen
Victoria. desiring the General 10 sing
inquired what song he preferred
Yankee Doodle" was the prompt re-
ply. All present laughed heartily. ana
her majesty said: THAT is a very p9et-
e. song. General Sing il. If you
please" And he did.
The British public was now fairly ex-
cited. From March 20 10 July 20 the
levees OF the little General" at Egyp-
Tan hall were continually crowded.
one afternoon. attired in court
dress. consisting of & handsomely en-
broidered velvet coat. short breechcs.
white satin vest. white silk stockings.
pumps. wig. cooked hat and dress
sword. he went TO Marlborough House.
the residence OF Queen Adelaide. wild
Ow of William ~.
why. General " said the queen
dowager. Il think you look very smart
today" i guess do he answered
contentedly. Before he left the queen
took him up on her lap saying: Il see
you have no watch VIII yoI permit
me TO give you one:" Il should Ike II
very much" was the answer. And
few weeks after he was again invited
TO Marlborough House. where many
children Of the nobility were present.
and Queen Adelaide gave him a beau
tlful but tiny watch and chain.
He received many other presents
from various people. and these were
nil placed under a glass case and ex-
hibiied AT the receptions. The Duke
OF Wellington frequently looked 10 up
on the little man. and on ore occasion.
when the small General" with folded
arms and knitted brow. was struting
Up and down. Initiating Napoleon. the
big general. Wellington. laughinSly in
quired. "Of what are you thinking.
81 .fyaf- s-f-
of the battle of Waterloo" vas the
prompt reply. the little features never
losing their serious expression.
Making DiSttnc1fOns.
DO you know much about muSic:'
..N-o. =. .-,-n.,t a..aI" quS,vpra1 Mr.