The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-23
DWARFS or EUROPEAN COURTS.
Hudson, BOruiNAski and Gibson All Famous
Little Men.


The report that the Sultan Of Turkey has
installed a. favorite the clever dwarf, Me-
hemmed Selim. who stands % inches in his
socks, speaks half a dozen languages fu-
emily, and can conjure sweet music from a
dozen instruments. turns ones mind agree
ably from the subject Of giants to the men
Of few inches. Of whom many entertaining
stories are told.
One Of the most notable Of these little
men vas Jeffery Hudson, who was intro
duced to Henrietta Maria, consort Of
Charles l., in a noble venison pie, says Tit
Biz. when the pie was opened" out
stepped Jefrery in all the dignity Of his IS
inches and made a courtly obeisance 20
the astonished and delighted Queen, begging
TO be taken into her service, a favor which
was promptly granted.
Jeffery was a man OF a stout heart and
adventurous spirit. Ho fought two duels,
one with a turkeycock and the second with
a Mr.. Crofts, who faced the little man armed
with a squirt and was forthwith shot dead
Twice JeIery saw the inside Of prison
walls-onoe when he was captured by the
French on his way across the Channel and
again when he was captured by Barbary
venture ne was accused Of being mixed
up in the Popish plot and ended his rather
troublous days in the Gate House in 1882.
A very notable dwarf was Borulwasld ,
the Pole, Of whose debut the following story
is told: As a boy Of fifteer, when he was
just one inch higher than a two-foot rule,
he was presented TO the Empress Maria
Theresa, who was so charmed by his grace
and good looks that she seated him on her
lap and gave him hearty kiss. And what
do you consider the most interesting sight
in Vienna7' she asked the boy. what
/ now behold he answered. And what
Is thatl' why said the tiny oourtier,
TO see 30 little man on the lap OF so great
a lady Naturally a youth who exhibited
such a ready and oourtly wit had a dis
tinguished career before him. From that
day Borulwash became the pet OF the courts
OF Europe. He was a special favorite OF
Stanislaus H., who brought him to Eng
land and introduced him TO George III.
and his family; and for more than half a
century he made his home with us.
Borulwaski, who at his tallost was a yard
and three inches high, had a sister whose
head was just level with her big brothers
and courtly man, but scholar OF repute;
he lived in Eve reigns, and was laid to rest
in Durham in 1897, side by side with the
Falstaffian Stephen Kemble.
Richard Gibson and his wife, who four
ished in the seventeenth century. we're a
remarkable pair, quite apart from Their
inches. which, combined, barely reached
seven feet. Both were clever miniature
painters, and Gibson was drawing master
10 the daughters OF James H., both future
Queens Of England. Al their wedding,
which was arranged by Henrietta Maria,
Charles /, gave the bride away, the Queen
placing a valuable diamond ring on her
| finger.
Among other dwarfs Of interest are
| Philetas, who acted as tutor 70 Ptolemy
| Philadelphus, and who was said 10 be 80
! light az well as short that he carried weights
! in his pockets 20 prevent his being blown
! away; Coropas and Andromeda, two tiny
landmarks Of Julia, niece Of Augustus
each Of whom was but % inches high
and Riohebourg. who died in Paris in 1855
| and who was one inch under two feet.
II IL eloquent Of the healthfulness Of
| dwarfs that BorulwRsh was but two years
| short OF the century when he died; Richie
bourg was %; Gibson was "a, while his
: widow died at the great age Of 80 years.