The Topeka state journal., 1899-05-09
CHI0UITA IS HERE.
An Inhabitant of Wonderland Reach
es Topeka

Senorita Espiridiona Cenda is sn To-
peka-
If you fail to recognize the senorita
under this name, it's because she has
a more common and much shorter
designation It consists of the Spanish
pet name for little one, "Chiquita-
Incidentally she is called the Cuban
midget, the living doll, a human atom,
q m0rsel of humanity, a miniature wo-
man the LiIliputian queen, a cOrusca-
tion of fairyIand, an x-ray from Venus,
and several hundred other synonymous
names It's. altogether inmaterfal to
the senorita which term you make use
of just so you pay 10 cents to see her
and buy one of her pictures after clasp
ing her tiny hand
Senorita Espiridiona slipped into To-
peka Monday afternoon She was COM
PEELED to wear slip to do it, much
against her will, but it is much cheaper
for woman of 29 years of age to travel
as a baby, especially if her size per-
nits.
Monday night she made her first ap-
pearance here at the Grand Opera
House. She was presented to the
audiences at the several receptions she
held by a gentleman whose height IS
dangerously near the seven foot mark
Her dark hair barely reached to the gen
tIeman's knee, standing beside him, and
the term human atom" almost fell
short in expressiveness by the compar-
ison-
The tall gentleman proved himself to
be the senorita's official lecturer by tell
ing the audience something about the
midget sitting at his feet He explained
that she was descended from an old Gu
ban family, and that her father, man
six feet one inch in height, distinguish
ed himself fighting for Cuban freedom.
He also explained that the senOrita
didn I mind having her age known, and
said she had just passed her 2Sth year.
At this the little woman smiled Then
he asked her to tell the audience If she
was married or single She cOquettish-
Iy spread her fan half way across her
face and answered single"
The lecturer bent himself into sew
eraI different shapes in order to hold
up the senorita's hand in q comparison
with his Then he attempted to show
the audience seRorita's tiny foot. but he
accidentally elevated her gown too ex-
tensively, and she brushed his big hand
away with a frown-
1t is part of the senorita's programme
to sing and dance Last night she sang
from a repertoire OF old Spanish and
late American compositions. and exc
cuted a very graceful waltz step Then
her auditors were given the privilege Of
shaking hands with her and buying her
pictures
Chfquita is an anatomical wonder
She shows her age in her face and is
perfectly developed In height she
measures but 26 inches.
She has been holding receptions" for
the past three years, and on the oath Of
her manager has amassed a fortune
of s200. 600 Jewels of value adorn her
midget fingers, and on her breast she
wears a diamond studded watch, a gift
from the Princess of Wales. She also
wears a plume presented her by the
Prince Of Wales and a tiara that was
given her by the Duchess OF MARI
borough
The little woman is constantly attend
ed by two maids One Is French
maid, and the other is an American girl,
who acts as the midget's mother when
travelling and going to and from hotels
and trains = That is, she carries Chi
Quita as she would carry a baby.
ChiQulta speaks Spanish dueutIy but
has not yet thoroughly mastered Eng