The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-24
Do You See Their Father ?

ton i'll the amusement world. The
queen OF al! the midgets has ever
since held lcr own steadily. year in
and year out. fearing no rival and
knowing no defeats. Many have come
and gone before the public gaze, other
mGsets have bid for fame and popu-
larity, hu; none has ever approached
the inVircible little lady.
Generations have come and gone, at
least two Of them. since the great
American public first made her ac-
uuailtanCc. and admired and won-
deed at the dainty little creature no
bigger than Il gOod-Sized doll, who at
the same time was as Symmet triCal
and perfectly formed as full-Srown
Venus.
1t is seven years since the little lady
and her devoted and urbane count Wis
tied this city, and the announcement
of their engagement at the Cook
Opera house all this week in de-
lightful little sketch. "A Peep at
Mars" written expressly for them by
Robert Griffin Morris, is an event in
the world of amusement Though
married to Count Primo Magri who
with his brother, Baron II. Magri, ap-
Il
Thumb retains before the public the
name which first made her famous. In
private life she is known as Countess
Magri, having been married to her
present husband for fifteen years. A
more devoted couple it would be diff
cult To find and during their married
life they have never been separated
but one week, and except for that
i'm, hDN
together. They are very proud OF
each other, and when visited by a re-
porter OF this panor yesterday in their
apartments at the Whitcomb house.
each was most interested in telling CT
the fame of the other
AS may he imagined they are charm
ing people to meet socially. having
travelled the world over and met all its
famous people on very friendly foot
ing. Probably no other American liv-
ing has met more crowned heads than
Mrs. Tom Thumb. She has the names
and genoalogy of the crowned families
of Europe on her tongues end. and
can relate many interesting anecdotes
of them. When her autobiography,
which has already been written, is Civ
Ell to the world il will be an interest
IilS anu NpIu'Ilul history OF events
for the life of one little woman.
Though the Countess Magri was 80
years old last October, she has retained
her youth to "A wonderful degree. Her
complexion is still pink and clear ana
her hair shows not u trace of gray.
When asked for the secret of her
youthful looks the countess said sh.
thought the life of travel and change
which she has led has kept her young.
She has grown quite stout, hut her
form is still good and her stage ap-
pearance as attractive as ever.
But are you never going to retire."
asked the reporter of the little lady
yesterday.
mo, ! hope not" Was the quick re-
ply. II could not live If had to settle
down. ! love this life, and shall al
ways live before the public" To all
this the count heartily concurred.
where is your home?" was asked.
"ln Middleboro, Mass. We have
just come from there, | have a pleas
ant country home, and my brother and
his wife live there and keep 1t for me-
so that ! can return at any moment
Many people are surprised when | tell
them | have a home. but ! could not
live without it, We have been in
vaudeville six weeks, and we have
really fine little sketch, But 7 find
that when we present it, the people are
more interested in our personality, and
so miss great deal of the dialogue
We just came back from Europe be-
fore we started in vaudeville, where
we played with our own company. We
were in London for seven months,
playing to packed houses, and later
we made tour of the country Yes,
met the present king and queen in
London, but they We're the Prince and
Princess of Wales then"
"Of course you have met the good
queen Victoria. probably many times?
What was your impression of her?"
she was lovely woman, so kind
and solicitous, l always found royalty
very kind. and they received us as in
formally as we are visiting now. Tha,
was in 1865, when we played before the
royal family at Windsor in the Rubens
room. After We had finished our per-
formanee the queen invited us down 10
visit with them. They shook hands
with us. and asked us many questions.
The Princess Louise took my sister,