Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-30
A CHARLESTON MIDGET.
Negro Child May Be Smallest Person
In the World,


About nineteen inches in height,
two and a half years old, Weighing ex-
actly eight pounds, and particularly
strong and bright for a child of her
age, frankie May Fordham, little
negress living with her parents at No.
Heyward's court, is believed to be
about the smallest person in the
world, with perhaps one or two ex-
ceptions.
The child is a veritable marvel. She
was born in February, 1909, being the
fourth child of Henry and Kate Ford
ham, the husband being a Navy Yard
employee. The first three children,
who were born away from Charleston
about a year, are hearty and full siz-
ed; but It is the baby that is the won
der Of the family. The child is not a
deformity. but is probably one Of the
most perfectly-formed negro children
in the city.
Nothing was known generally of
the midget's existence until yesterday
as efforts have been made by the par
ents to keep the fact of her diminu-
tive size secret as they feared kid
| mapping; but reporter, having re-
ceived a mysterious Tip" in the form
of an unsigned pencil-wrltten letter,
visited the house last night and mar
yelled at many things which he saw.
He was met by the husband at the
front door Of the house, which Is
1 fPafr nd
ed into the bedroom, where the
mother had the little girl in her night
gown, just ready to put her to bed. AS
the reporter entered the room, the
| child, catching sight Of the father ex-
claimed, In sweet and childish voice,
with perfect enunciation:
Hello, papa"
The reporter glanced to. see who It
was talking and really had trouble in
locating the owner Of the voice, final
| ly espying the tiny tot on the floor.
She was playing around in high glee
at the prospect Of staying up few
| minutes later than her regular bed
| time, and danced and sung at a great
rate; showing unusual precocity for
child of her ago. Her eyes which are
dark brown, are exceptionally clear
and piercing, and her hair is silky
and rather long, absolutely unlike a
| negro's. Yet she Is very dark, and
had many OF the racial characters
tics.
The child weighed five pounds at
| birth. and gained three pounds during
| the first six months of her life. Since
| that time she has not taken on an
ounce, and several well-known doc
tors who have examined her, accord
ing to the parents, have stated that
she will never gain another inch in
height or another three pounds in
weight. Her parents have reconciled
themselves to this and lavish their
affection on the little girl, who Is GER
tain to make friend of everyone she
meets. She dances prettily, looks in
telligent and talks fluently, being able
to string words together into short
sentences already.
The parents state that they have al
ready received many offers from
vaudeville and side-show managers,
some having already offered as much
as fifty dollars a week and transpor-
tation for the mother under a five
year contract; but all OF these offers
the parents have turned down, hoping
for the ultimate development OF their
little one to her full stature, although
they have now become most sure that
their hope is vain. The father will
| keep and educate the child until II
reaches the age of seven or eight
years at least before thinking Of any
vaudeville departure.-News and Cou-
rier.