Evening star., 1935-09-22
Triumph Of
Great DiUa
UnequQled by
Any Onein
artistic Field
Before orSmce:

general is a most symmetrical per-
sonage. and although formed in one
Of natures smallest mouldS, Is per-
feet specimen of humanity-polite,
fascinating, agreeably acute, enter
tanning and at times merry as a
cricket. To Mr. Barnum, his worthy
preceptor, guide and companion, is
the Lilliputian monarch indebted for
his entree into all the courts of Eu-
rops, his excellent training and that
pre-eminent success which has at
Emperors, Kings, Queens, princes.
dukes and the elite of London and
Paris looked upon le petit monarque
with astonishment and admiration"
When Tom Thumb had reached the
age Of 26, Barnum conceived the idea
sthat in order to boost his advertis-
ing power and, of course, to increase
the box-ofice receipts, the celebrated
midget must have a wife. And so, up
in Middleboro. Mass. ne sought Mercy
Lavinia Mompus, or Bonpasse, the
name of the French family from which
oAAC 90 6Co(CAAACNs 31Ct dAu AOJ
suit Barnum, and he substituted for
show purposes that of Lavinia Warren,
and Tuesday, February 10, 1868, she
was led to the altar of Grace Church,
New York, by the gallant Mr.. Thumb.
At this time Miss Warren was 80
inches in height and weighed 90
pounds, while Tom Thumb was
slightly taller, though when first ex-
hibited he measured only 2 feet in
height, which, however, ultimately was
increased to around 40 inches.
Commodore Mutt and Minnie War
rem, the brides sister, two other ia
nous midgets, who used to come to
Odd Fellows Hall in this city and
who were subsequently married, served
as groomsman and bridesmaid. Both
of these were even much smaller than
the contracting couple, but unusually
we'll formed Tor little people.
MANY an old-timer will still recall
A'A when these noted little people
came to Odd Fellows Hall, which stood
on the site of the present building
belonging to that order, on Seventh
street between D and e streets. This
was then one of the most beautiful
halls in Washington, and no one who
ever saw the beautiful, massive chan
deliers which. hung from the ceiling
of this amusement place will ever for
get their sparkling, dazzling beauty.
Amateur plays, professional per-
formances, dances and all kinds of
entertainments were given at Odd Fell
lows Hall and here came the seven
Sunderland sisters, with hair reaching
to the floor; Punch and Judy, the tat
tooed man, the fat woman, the sword
swallower and all the freaks that
usually make up side show. And
here also came the man who played
such sweet music on glass goblets,
which we never hear today, although
the tone and the harmony produced
we're Just as mellow as the xylophone
or any other musical instrument.
Barnum brought so many famous
artists and attractions to this country
that to say which was the greatest or
most important would depend largely
upon the way ones mind might hap
pen to lean. Some would unhes-
itatingly say Jumbo, while others,
with musical turn, would say Jenny
Lind. And probably the more cul-
tured class of people would say the
latter we're right.
Jenny Lind, The Swedish Night
ingale," was the sensation Of her
period and Barnum early signed the
diva up for 100 concerts at $1,000
each and, according to the agreement,
he deposited $187,500 in a London
bank, an amount sufficient to pay Miss
Lind as well as the orchestra leader
and for incidental expenses. Her first
concert given in this country took
place at Castle Garden in New York
and the tickets sold amounted to
$17,864.05, some of which sold as high
as $25 apiece.
Jenny Lind made her first appear
anCe in Washington on Monday, De-
cember 16, 1850. The building IN
which she sang was specially con-
structed on the site of the National
Theater, which had burned to the
ground for the second time on March
S, 1845. Messrs. Willard and Reeside
erected the hall for the purpose and
the event was an epoch in Washington
musical life.
The morning after ''The Night
ingale" arrived in Washington Presi-
dent Fillmore called at her lodgings
and left his card, the diva not being
at home. The next day she returned
the Presidents call. Both this con-
cert and the one given on Wednesday,
December 10, were attended by the
President and his family and every
member Of the cabinet, and Mr.. Bar