The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-04
MONSIEUR PETIT

''No, no, baby, you must not do it! The 'orrid b1oke will kill you. e will b1acken your beau-u-tiful eyes, e will knock you down and stamp on your lovely facei 4 Oh, baby, promise me you will not-p-p-ronnise, p-p-1ease!'
 The heartbreaking appeal, which ended with a series of convulsfve sobs, was voiced by a woman who, although
 mature and rounded and plump, fell much below the average stature of her sex. In fact, it was stated on the emblazoned banners of Madame la Rooma's show that the lady in ques- ton was only three feet in height The yokels at the fairs where Madame La Rooma exhibited her marvellous and stupendous collection of living curiosities accepted this statement at it's face value, although a careful measurement would probably have re- vealed the fact that 'fSignora Italia the professional name of Suke Stevens of Yorkshire-was at least three feet six. On this point, however, the read CT must remain in Ignorance, for the lovely dwarf exhibited her charms in the middle of the eighteenth century, and her tiny body has long since crumb1ed into dust.
 The man addressed as baby by the sobbing little woman was bit IS Madame La Rooma asserted that he was "in the neighborhood of seven feet in height and he certainly look ed it, although he was only about six and a half feet. Nor was he any human bean pole, but a muscular, well built fellow, of powerful physique, whose feats of strength made him the big drawing card of Madame La Rooma'S show.
 The giant was visib1y affected by the fearful appeal of the dwarf, and for a moment he seemed to be on the point of giving the required promise. Then his face hardened and he shook his head.
 'sAh, Ieedle one, it is ze mos difhcile to refuse, but it eez an affair of ze honor I have promise M'sieur Samp- son, and he will geev me ze hundred pound if I am ze conqueror. It will be mes easy, for I am so beeg zat zen, Mam'sel1e, you shall my own be, an we shall have ze 1eedle shop, an so happy be! Nl
 Madame La Rooma, who had been a silent listener, then broke in with other forceful appeals, cOuched in language which strangely belied the lady's foreign name, and which be- trayed her London origin. In fact, 1 Madame La Rooma's real name was Fry, and her brother kept a stall in SpitalfeIds Market. Most of the members of her company, although they, too, bore names indicating French of Italian origin, were of Eng | fish birth. The brilliant exception was the giant strong man, billed as Monsieur Petit,'' who was French to his fingertips.
 Monsieur Petit was a native of St. Pierre, near Calais, but at the time this dialogue occurred he had been Mo To Q 'sS show for more than a year. The big had fallen in love with the beautiful dwarf girl. The show trav- eIed all over England, exhibiting at the various fairs, and it was always one of the most, popula attractions. Madame La Rooma's tent was nearly 1 always thronged with staring-eyed, rustics, and the fair owner was rapidly amassing a for ,une She earned every penny of it, for her freaks were a temperamental ot, and always giving her trouble.
 Madmae La Rooma's latest worry lad to do with the threatened defec- ion of the Frenchman, who was one )f her best cards. Monsieur Petit had oeen matched to fight Jack Slack, the h champion of England, for the title of worlds champion bruiser. In those lays no fair was complete without a boxing booth. and Monsieur Petit had become acquainted with some of the cruisers, who had induced him to take ID the study of the manly art. With n a few weeks the Frenchman was ,namored of ''le boxe," and after a ime became sufficiently proficient to ight some of the professionals who the fair circuit. His vic- ories in these contests inspired him with the notion that he was a world 3eater, and his tremendous size and