San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23

"finds" as a Snowman was the md
get. Gen. Tom Thumb.
In November, 1872, Bernum stopped
one night at the Franklin hotel in
bridgeport, Conn. which was kept by
his brother, Philo f. Barnum. His
brother mentioned that there was a
dwarf in Bridgeport, who played daily
in the streets, and was accepted oy
the rest of the population as nat
ural curiosity.
Barnum asked his brother TO bring
The child to the Franklin hotel. and aS
soon as he saw this dwarf he real
lied that here was a NATURAL curiosity
who could be transformed by lnstruc,
ton and publicity into a unique and
profitable one.
The child was the smallest Barnum
had ever seen, and was in excellent
health, without any deformities. lie
was two feet, one inch in height 3nd
weighed fifteen pounds. His hair was
elaxen and his eyes dark, his cheeks
were pink, and his whole appearance
gave the impression of health. symme,
try, and whimsical charm on love
~. diminutive scale.
He was very bashful, and Barnum
only learned after difficulty that his
name was Charles :. Stratton, and
that he was five years old.
Hired for Three Dollars.
Batnum visited Mr.. and Mrs.
Sherwood L. Stratton, the childs
parents, and after some persuasion
they consented to exhibit their son al
Rarnum's Museum for three dollars a
week and board for himself and his
brother.
Barnum hired him for four
weeks only. because at the time
he was doubtful whether a five-year-
old child who was only two feet IN
height might not grow before long to
normality that would make him
mediocre. :,
The dwarf and his mother arrived
in New York on Thanksgiving Day,
1912. and Barnum had something to
be thankful for that day. Mrs. STRAIT
Ton was astonished and somewhat an
moved when she noticed that her son
was announced in large handbills as
General Tom Thumb. a dwarf eleven
years Of age, just arrived from Eng
land"
The "just arrived from England :
was the first instance OF a method
Barnum often repeated. He realized
early in his career the love Of the
American mind for an importation.
and he never advertised anything as
domestic if he could possibly deceive
his patrons into believing that he had
incurred much trouble and expense
by importing it from abroad, where
its popularity was always stupendous
Normal as q Baby.
Barnum made his dwarf eleven
wears old for fear that the public
might not believe that child five
years old would not grow beyond his
present height.
In the various pamphlets concern
ing the life of General Tom Thumb,
which were sold at his exhibitions, it
is recorded that when he was born
lie weighed nine pounds, two ounces,
mere than the average weight of Il
new born baby. and that at five
months he had CEASED TO grow and
weighed only fifteen pounds. His
height of two feet. one inch. we're
said &c have remJlred unchanged FROM
the age of five months until the age
of five years and for many years
thereafter.
The change of name from Charles
s. Stratton to General Tom Thumb
was one of Barnum's inspirations. and
it contributed largely to the Cen
erals subsequent success.
General Tom Thumb was soon do
mesticated to the ways of public ex-
hibition. Barnum taught his pupil
day and night new jokes and old roles.
which he learned quickly. for the child,
according TO Barnum. had love OF
the ludicrous and humorous charm.
Danced Among the Dishes.
When be was ready to make bis
debut. Barnum took General Tom
Thumb first on tour Of the news
paper offices, and even invaded the
home of one newspaper editor, who
happened to be eating dinner. Tom
Thumb danced between the tumblers
and hoped over the toast.
James Gordon Bennett wrote in
the Herald on December 10, 1872 !:
"We were visited yesterday by the
comical little gentleman who is ut
present holding nightly levees at the
American Museum. He is certainly
the smallest specimen Of a man We
have ever seem"
The generals popularity was imme-
date, and after the first four-weeks
engagement was finished Barnum re-
engaged him for one year at seven dol
lars a week, with a bonus Of fifty
dollars at the end of the engagement.
II is clear that neither General Tom
Thumb nor his father had any idea of
the value of a dwarf, and BaTnum
took advantage of the age Of the boy
and the ignorance Of his father. Bar
NUN also retained the privilege Of
sending the general on a tour Of the
country.
Before the end of the year Bar
mum increased Tom Thumbs salary To
SO per week. and he assures US that
the general deserved the raise. Be
sides exhibiting frequently at the Mu-
scum. where he sang songs, danced.
and told stories in the pert and saucy
manner Of people who are too small
to be slapped. General Tom Thumb
was sent TO other cities, where he
made money for Barnum and advcr-
tised the American Museum.
Tie Jealous Giants.
\ the same time as the eZhibitior
of General Tom Thumb in New York
Barnum presented ut the Museum two
famous giants, NJ. Bihin. the tall thir
French giants. and Colonel Goshen. {
portly Arab. The giants were amiabl'
enough, but Jealous of each other
success. and QUarreled furiously onf
day when the Arab called NJ Bihir
"a Shanghai" and NJ. Bihin called th'
Arab "a Niger
They relied clubs and med'~.
5s 90 c-ii'itiOn in coscs. an