Year: 1877

A Duodecimo Copy of Natures Finest Work


A Curious Little Man.


Count Joseph BornwlasE was aptly
termed ga perfect copy of natures finest
work in duodecimo." His intellect was
remarkable and was early developed: He
spoke several languages. To soundness
of understanding he combined qnlckness
of apprehension and solidity. of judg-
ment. He soon acquired an elegance of
department only attained by intercourse
with polished society. He was born IN
Challez, in 1879, and measured but eight
inches at birth. He was exceedingly
well proportioned, and became portege
of the Countess Humiska, a woman dis
tinguished in her birth and personal ac-
complishments. She soon took him on
tour through the leading courts OF Eu-
rope. He reached Vienna at the age OF
fifteen, and at that time was bnt twenty
five inches in height. He saw Maria
Theresa, who became much attached to
him. That great princess was at that
time at war with the king Of Prussia.
The queen asked the dwarf his opinion
of the Prussian monarch. Madam,
said he, CT have not the honor to know
him /; were I in his place, instead OF
waging q useless war against you, 1
would come to Vienna and pay you my
respects, thinking it more honor to gain
your esteem than to gain victory from
you" The queen took him in her lap
and kissed him. He laughed. The
queen asked him what he was laughing
at. His quick reply was :" To see so
small man on the lap of 80 great wo-
man." This answer procured him fresh
caresses. He gazed aI a ring on the
hand Of the queen once when sitting on
her lap, and she asked him if he thought
it pretty. Bornwlash replied :" 1t is
not the ring that I was looking at, but
the hand beseech your majesty to kiss"
This was granted, and the queen took
from her daughter diamond ring and
gave it to Bornwlashi. The young lady
from whose finger the ring was taken
was the unfortunate Maria Antoinette,
afterward queen of Fra re.


Maria Theresa made strenuous efforts
to have the dwarf remain member OF
her court, but Countess Humiska would
not consent to the arrangement.


When in Paris Count Olinski gave Oh
entertainment to some ladies of high dis
tinction. and, to please them, he put
Bornwlaski into an urn. The urn was
placed on the table, and q funny. noise
proceeded from it. Thescount refused
to uncover the urn, and the curiosity OF
the ladies was raised to the highest point.
At length the cover was removed and
out sprang Bornwlaski, who ran about
the tables to the no small astonishment
and diversion of the ladies.


He visited various courts of Europe,
his reputation proceeding him, and
everywhere he was caressed by the Ia
dies, who universally took him on their
laps and kissed him.


At twenty-five he fell in love with an
actress and proposedto to her she laughed
at him. At forty love was again inter.
fered to disturb his peace OF mind. He
married shortly after Isalina Barbonton,
and was turned adrift into the world by
his former benefactress, countess Hum
isktra he set out and gave concerts for
the support of himself and wife. A little
daughter of one of the members of the
nobility heard him sing, and asked her
father to go buy the little man for her.
When asked what she would do with
him, replied : "I will keep him in my
room and dress him like doll.


Once, when the wife of Bornwlaski was
sick, he sent for DR.. Walker, who, seeing
Bornwlaski in the room, bade him keep
quiet. It was with difficulty he was
made to believe him husband and q
father. he had two children and lived to
the extreme age ofninetY eight.