The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-19
.DEAD?ICUESSN NOT
Mrs. Tom Thumb Incensed Over
Magazine Article.
Asserted That She Died in the
Early Eighties.
WILL OFFER PROOF.
Refers Those Who Doubt to
Barnum's Daughter.
Says She Expects to Live Good
Many Years More.

| bO look TO you as though ndU
been dead for 20 years?''
This was the comment of the Coun-
| tess Magri (Mrs. General Tom Thumb),
which she made to State Journal re-
| porter this morning as she was shown
| an article from the current issue OF
1.-The Live Wire" which stated that
she had died in 1888, three years after
her marriage to Count Primo Magri.
The statement to which the little
| countess objected SO strenuously ap-
| pears in the editors preface to an ar
ticle on her wooing by General Tom
Thumb, which was printed years ago
as a press advertising story. and which
was written by P. T. Barnum, with this
| end in view
Il think that before publishing such
articles as these continued the little
| lady, that editors should make some
effort to ascertain the truth OF the
| stories they print. That story in the
| live Wire is libelous and it hurts US
| in business way. If it wasn't for the
| unpleasantries of a legal suit we would
sue Mr.. Munsey for libel for he has
printed such statements as these In
many of his publications and of course
no matter how colored and untrue a
story is there are some people who will
believe 1t.
Since these stories have appeared,
it is absolutely impossible for the count
and myself to secure an engagement
at any respectable theater in New York,
because they say that l am an 1mpos-
ter
The Countess Magri this morning
was busily engaged entertaining
party of visitors in the parlors of the
Throop hotel. So numerous are her
callers that she has to spend nearly all
her time when not on the stage, IN
receiving them
Although so busy the countess was
easily interviewed and talked fuentiy
and rapidly on her purported demise
of two decades ago. She invited the
reporter who is the shortest one IN
town. to a seat on long settee in the
parlor of the hotel and after consider
able exertion managed to take seat
beside the short reporter. The snort
reporter never had occasion before 70
feel the Importance of his size so much
as he did on this occasion
With her little fingers she n1moly
traced the lines of the article in the
| i've wire and as she would read a
sentence which tingled with untruths
! or sensationalism, she would express
| her opinion of the magazine with words
| which were strikingly suitable TO the
| occasion se
long to find something to talk about
| She had read but couple or lines IN
| the headline of the article, When she
| found herself depicted as midget.
! This is outrageous said the famous
mum never spoke of US as m1dgets.
| With him we were always miniature
| ladies and gentlemen
| tt was mostly to the editors per-
| facing remarks she objected. 'OI
| course" said she, Mr.. Barnum told
of our courtship and wedding in a
manner that is highly colored, but
that was just a characteristic Of him.
| He was always after any ming that
would make him money.
"About all there was to our court
ship was that there was considerable
| rivalry between Charles s. Stratton,
| the famous Tom Thumb, and another
! little man, Commodore Mutt. 1 liked
| both of them but the general was the
| first to propose. I asked Mr.. Barnum
| whether 1 should marry the general
| or not and he said: 'Lavinfa, l would
advise you to be married He al
| wavs called me Lavinia. My maiden
| name. you know, was Lavinia Warren
We continued with Mr.. Barnum for a
| great many years after our wedding
| and always took his advice. AT the
| death of the general. Mr.. Barnum ad-
vised me to appear in public as much
| as possible and remain with the stage
! shortly before his death, after my
| marriage to the Count, he again
| reiterated his advice, and that is the
| l.
| IT don't like this magazine" said
| the Countess, as she continued the
| perusal of its pages Il think 1t has
/ heen misnamed, as The Dead Wire
| would be a far more appropriate
name for such a publication, when it
| prints statements as false as these
! are.
1 Now, I suppose you have some
doubt as to my being Mrs. Tom
Thumb, as all newspaper men are
rather of the dubious order that way
and are always hunting some scandal.
| But If you want me to prove it / can
name a whole lot Of people who have
known me for many years. Back in
my old home in Massachusetts,, there
are hundreds of people who know
me. But if that is not enough proof,
DR.. W. H. Bucftel, of Denver, Colo.
She is a daughter of Mr.. Barnum and
| has been one of my greatest friends
| for years She is also a sister-in-law
| of the governor of Colorado. While
| in Denver week before last I was en-
tertained at her home and we passed
many happy hours in talking over old
| times together and in "reminiscences
| of her father.
MY first husband. the general, died
/ in 1888. Commodore Mutt, my hus-
| bands rival suitor, died in 1882 NV
sister, Miss Minnie Warren, who was
| also a very small lady. died in 1878.
but as for myself, despite my sixty-
| six years. most all of which has been
| spent in public life, I am still living
| and expect to live several more years
as I am in good health, and feel a 3
young as ever
And the Countess Magri laid par
ticular emphasis on this last state
| ment.