The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-07


Che-Mah, aged sixty-four
years, and a native of Can
ton, China, is the wonder.
He came to the United States in the
spring of 1881, and has, since that time,
never returned to his native land
Most of the twenty-one years spent in
this country he has been employed by
various amusement agencies, with which
he has travelled not alone over the United
States, but in England France. Germany
and the foreign provinces.
Mr.. Nah enjoys also the distinction of
having performed before almost all the
the crowned heads of Europe, from many
of whom he has received medals and hon.
ors-all because he was the smallest man
in the world.
Even the midget Tom Thumb was at
least four inches taller than Nah. and the
next nearest aspirant for the Lilliputian
position, Mrs. Tom Thumb, was three
inches taller than he.
Common belief regarding Mr.. Thumb as
being the smallest man is entirely wrong.
BY actual measurement in competition
smaller of the two,
Che-Mah has never boosted of his pc
culiar distinction. In manner and life he
is extremely modest, friendly and enter
tanning.
In Knox. where he owns considerable
property, he IS one of the most popular
citizens. Everybody knows Che-Mah, and
everybody is the friend of Che-Mah.
Besides his native language, he speaks,
reads and writes English as well as the
natural-born American. He speaks sew
eral other languages, but is very reticent
when it comes to showing off his abili-
ties. Ar example of this: One day a
friend ar American, requested him to
speak a little French for the benefit Of
an acquaintance, whom he wished to be
impressed with Che-Mah's intelligence.
Che-Mah smiled broadly and replied:
Friends, we are net in France"
Another time, when asked to exhibit his
knowledge, he replied: "It is no use for
me to tell how smart I am. After becom-
ing familiar with my history the people
ought to judge for themselves. American
people are in some respects very peculiar.
A certain visitor to the Barnum & Bailey
show, with which Travelled for number
of years, once asked me when I was
born and upon receiving my reply wanted
to know how old 1 was Now, why could
he not tell as well as I?'
When Che-Mah first came to this coun-
stry he was Immediately recognized by
circus and museum managers as gold
mine. 1t must have been highly salts
factory for the little celestial to know ma
was so, much in demand, and months
after contract had been signed and as
he expresses 1t, ''he was the cynosure OF
all eyes - he could not help being amused
-at+the gaping. curious throng which daily
gathered before his stand.
In China he was no wonder, just an
ordinary. everyday sort Of an individual
The Chinese. as a people, are not so tau,
and 1t is not unusual to find men and
.women who are far below even the aver
age hight.
In the latter part of the eighties he was
signed with the Barnum & Bailey circus,
with which organization he was the star
attraction for many years.
His experiences on the road were many
and varied, The life of side-show actor
is not at best one Of luxury and pleasure,
but with all the many disadvantages of
his vocation Che-Mah always appeared
tcontented.
Several times his diminutive little self
was the means of separating angry com.
sbatants, something unusual, too, for Che
Nah does not have the appearance Of be-
Ing possessed with even ordinary strength
In that respect. If in no other, he is a
genuine surprise ......
Y One amusing incident Mr.. Nah never
tires Of relating.
It was in London. One extra foggy
evening Nah was making his way from
his boarding house to the museum hall
when, after the manner of all foreigners
in the English metropolis, he lost his way.
After wandering up one street and down
another until he was fatigued. he sat
down upon a curb stone very much wor-
ried and not little frightened
Nah had been away from China just
long enough to pick up smattering of
the English language and hardly long
enough to become accustomed to the
strange manners and customs of the En-
glish speaking people. He did not even
wear beard.
He sat for perhaps three-quarters of an