Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-11-16
TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
The Most Famous Dwarf of the Cen
fury, and Some of His Triumphs

In st. Nicholas Mary Shears Roberts
recounts 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 than three feet
tall. He was born in Bridgeport, Con-
necticut, in 1882, or thereabouts, of
poor but honest parents" His real
name was Charles S. Stratton, and al
though 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. Barnum, our small hero
travelled all over and all around the
earth, making two colossal fortunes
one for himself and one for his man
ager On January IS, 1874, he set sail
for Europe to try his destinations on
kings and queens and princes.
Fifty years ago voyage across the
Atlantic was a much more important
event than it is now, and you may rest
assured that Mr.. Barnum made great
capital of this nineteen days journey.
The party consisted of the manager.
the General, his parents, his tutor, and
a French naturalist; and brass band
escorted them to Sandy Hook. This
fact was duly heralded in the London
newspapers to which was added the
statement that Ion leaving New York.
the dwarf was escorted to the packet
by no less than ten thousand 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 February "a, 1874
There are two cuts. In the first he is
standing on chair by table which
serves to emphasize his dimunitivC
size. The second picture is very good
and is called The American Dwarf al
the Princess Theatre" He is repre-
sented as being on the stage before The
footlights, parodying the walk anC
manner of Napoleon. Tom Thumbs
performances at the Princess Theatre
made such a hit" that Mr.. Barnun
next engaged Egyptian Hall, Piccadil
ly, whittier thronged many visitors O.
rank and fashion.
The American minister, the Hon. Ed
ward Everett, was very kind to his
countrymen, and it was at his house
that Mr.. Barnum met certain Mr.
Murray, master of the Queens house
hold. On the day following one of the
Queens Life Guards appeared before
Mr.. Barnum with a note containing an
invitation from the Queen to General
Tom Thumb and his guardian, Mr.
Barnum, and others to appear at the
Palace on a specified evening
The British public was now fairly
excited, From March 20 to July 20 the
levees of the little general at Egyptian
Hall were continually crowded
One afternoon, attired in a court
dress, consisting of handsomely EN-
broidered velvet coat, short breeches
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 w.
why, General said the Queen
Dowager, Il think you look very smart
today" Il guess | do, he answered
contentedly. Before he left, the Queen
took him up on her lap, saying: 81 see
you have no watch; will you permit me
to give you one?" 81 should like it
very much,' was the answer; and a
few weeks later, he was again invited
to Marlborough House, where many
children of the nobility were present
and Queen Adelaide gave him a beau
tiful but tiny watch and chain.
He received many other presents
from various people, and these were all
Iplaced under a glass case and exhibited
at the receptions. The Duke of Wei
lington frequently looked in upon the
little man; and on one occasion, when
the small general, with folded arms
and knitted brow, was strutting up and
down, initiating Napoleon, the big gen.
eral, Wellington, laughingly inquired:
"Of what are you thinking, my little
man." 81 am thinking, sir OF the bat
tie of Waterloo?" was the prompt re-
ply, the little features never losing
their serious expression.