The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-09-02
In New York
By GEORGE ROSS

learning about the midget world from Paul Renos, who long has chaperoned Tom Thumbs around the theater circuits of the United States. He knows the tiny folk ii1- timately and elahorates about them as follows:
 Midgets aren't born as rnidgets, They usually are normal babies who become midgets between the ages of 1 and 6, when dat ol debbil, Pituitary Gland, gets to work. One out of every million births results In such a stunted child, so 1t ought to be easy to compute the popula- ton of the entire midget world.
 Parents, in fact, seldom realize what is happening to their child until 1t Is too late. If treated with injections of adrenalin by special ist before the age of seven, the gland may respond and the child may grow. If however, the Injections are made after that crucial age, the children will be neither normal nor midgets.
 The more diminutive midget, the more valuable is he or she. The tiniest fellow in the world ct the moment is Captain Warner, who is just IT inches tall. He was ct the last worlds fair in Chicago and more than Q half million people paid a dime to see him and his ab- breviated colleagues in Midget Vil- lage.
 Few Are Scandinavians
 Most midgets do not come from strange parts of the world. Many in fact, are Americans. There are now about fifty in New York mostly in theatrical circles--and seldom they have to look for work, The majority of midgets, 1t may please those who shrink at the sight of them to know, are cultured and proficient in music and the arts Naturally, they have to be trained for stage antics as do normal sized people. st .e'.
 But circuses and freak shows are not the most natural vacations of the midget world. Instead. mid gets are most adept ct diamond setting and watchmalsing. The Swiss, In particular, realize this |, great virtue and hire them to work on the smallest and most delicate timepieces Oddly Norway and Sweden rarely produce Inidgets Don't ask me why, for Paul Renos doesn't seem to know. a
 In Europe, by the way, Q midget can be bought frequently for a pair of thriving pigs or diligent shepherd dogs. The peasants are superstitious of the diminutive ere. atures and want to be rid of them Often, even enlightened America ii sensitive about allowing midget children to be seen. Recently. a | midget near Pittsburgh, who hadn'i been out of the house until hC reached his 26th birthday, finally escaped from his shocked parents Hard to Suit 4,E.
 Most midgets are immaculate fl their habits. All their clothes must be made to order, and they pride themselves on complete wardrobei of bathrobes, little pajamas, canes top hats, and other adult para. phernalia. Many midgets patronizl Fifth avenue tailcrs. There Is nc advantage in their going to the boys of junior misses departments be. cause most young in'e garments will have to be altered for then anyway. ~ M
 Their hat sizes range iron | 6M, to 6k, which'is almost normal But 90 per cent of all midget shoe must be especially manufactured Chlidrer's sizes in shoes arenf must help because the little people require high arches. It ig the of. feet of these elevated arches, b the way, that makes female midget superb toe dancers The ladies f this curious world. Incidentally, can buy stockings to iit them. So the! make two of one. The women arr usually clever with thread ant needle. They have to bc to ge along. "A
 Furthermore. midgets eat less . Q single setting than normal hunaai beings but partake of more meal per day. This is natural, since the. energy as most of Iig do, to accom- expelid four or i've times ns ziitcl plish the same tasks. But some Ton Thumbs are capable of drinking homo aapieng Of average hei9h under the table. They are efea patrons of mechanical 1aFnes. par ! iicuipFlv cf fi1e nin hali yafietS