TOM THUMB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue II, 3 January 1890, Page 2

TOM THUMB.

Mr Barnum, the veil. ■HH American Showman lias J u 3q^^H to England the " Greatest SilH Earth "and has also been nttwflH to the press reporters some jxHHi of his life and experiences. "JhH these, are particulars of CBM I'om Thumb, of whom all ourißßH must have heard of, and raan^^B as we have often sees his littl jflflj in Regent street, Louden, aifiaßH little man, at cinies with hi»^BH wife, getting in and put of it,. sflH have reproduced thsm, as bein^E subject of iutereit. - JjH Mr Barnum heard of the jiflflj man who became famous as "roM Thumb in 1842. "lie was not jtofij feet high ; he weighed less than UiS teen pounds, and was the smafiteH child I over saw that could raffl alone ; but ho Iras jeitfoctly forrfflH bright eyed litile fallow, with hair and ruddy cheeks, and hjEH joyed the best of iealth. HdHBH exceedingly btjhfuljbiH after J|H| coaxing, Lo was indaeed to taikfl^H me. ;md iii told ruffle w«s th'j^Hj of Tuorwoud'^h s^ittoir,- luKfTMH his own name* was $iarle.s M. StratHj ton. After swing ■liuu and tnlkinfl with him, I s{ on s dotonmned H secure his serfiees'ffr '»i his pHrerSß and to exhibi(himiin publics I egg gaged him is foil* weeks at thr|H dollars a wojlc, \|th all travcllrnaj and boarding e X jsnses for hims^fl and his mothc- Jt expouse. Tbflß came to NevfYorf'" 11 'i'hanksgivijHl day, Deoemfev 8, 1 1842, and I Jfl non need th^clwoiJ 011 ln .V musflH bills as 'GfeevalTom 'i'humb.'Hß took the paiws to t>dtt(fl^g and train Jay ftfainutiv.i J'^'^tß^H devoting mjij yps to tuo tusl-^y^ day and bjujgiii and I was (very 1 successful, |o r jjci-as an «pt pupil, 1 with a grit fcji of native talei^ fl aud a kcm| enßd ]f the ludioront;/' 8 '^°^i)MEdp Exgu>d. I ! So g;t'ef|was t° ms success tha fl ! Mr Barmu d.i^i'ied t-> take him j an Knofliaf t our< ind the Httlo man J took I-ion^n m D j storm. He hold s his recopf> n8 a {)|je Egyptain Ha'J. B Very soojL afte^ ar^ 3 Btfnma I receired Btoyßl*°' um * n 'l to B|>poai; 1 l»ef » ti.Q-.jjb ni BticVinjfhnoi 1 Pula-n. « Wo| woro «<JMdueted,'! I

• k oori'ulor to a broM flight of mavblo , steps, which led 1 1 the Queen's rungnificjiit picture tr -Hory, whore hor u*id ijrinoj Alhert, the ' .Duchess of Tvept, and f.wunty or i-kivty i t the. nobility \Y»;Ve awaiting <Lii.ii* arrival Tljoy v.-er'o staudini;- at ■lie farther nul ?i" tho room wlion tho i •doors wero tluiwu open. -Mid the ] ■General walked] in, !.<.«! king like a j

wax doll gi tddKvit'i the power o: jocomot'o.i.. "■■urpiise and pleasure T/ere depicted ou the count'n:inr.'e? of the Kov.u circle at boliolding this lVMuarlf/'^io speeimon of iiuxaiiity sc ■jntujh smaller tha:i they had tmtl^'.itly expected to find htm. The li-enoral advacei \yith a firm sttop, and, as ho came within hai'iug disatanco made a vor^y grateful bow; and exclaimed, *Good evening, ladio* and gentlemen !' A bust ni 'aUghter folloiVfd this sahiTation. Tho QiH'<iii then took him by the hand, 2wl him nbous tho gallery, and asked Uiim mmy questions, the answers to which kept the p-irty in an unintor • ruptotl stmiu oi merriment. The "General familia»ly informed the Queen that her picture gallery was * first-rate,'' and lold her ho should 'like U^ see the Prince of Wales. "I'lj'e Qiioeu replied f.iiat the Prinoi* had ro tired to rest, hut tl\tL he should see him on soib'j ia*,;hei (n-casioii. Tl»e General ga-a mem his songs, dances, and imitfUrns, :nid, after a conversation -vvitfi Prince Albert and all present, "which contiuued for more th.ni nn liour, we were per-luitt.-d to «\epart"" The Qjeex (Uij.3 ex Tom i'or a SongOn another of the General's visits *° f 'ne Queen hei Majesty asked him w iiat song he preferred to sing. '» Yankee Doodle," was tho reply, >*hich occasioned groat merriment •* That is a vory pretty song, General; 'sing it if you pleiise." The British public was now greatly c citod, and She General's lovi'es were crowded to excess. 11 is pkn'traits were published, polka-* a-id quadrilles wore • named after him, and ho became, in short, the hero of the hour. The (iueeu Dowager Adelaide requested tho General's attendance at Mail horough Houso ouo afternoon. He. wont in hia Couit dress, consisting of a richly embroidered brown silk velvet coat and short breeches, whi o *atm vest, with [fancy coloured em broidery, white silk stockings and pumps, bagwig, cocked hat, and a •dress sword. " Why, General," said the Queen Dowager, l I think you look very smart to-da}'." " I guess t do," said tho General com placdntly. A largo party of the nobility were present The ohl Pfliko of Cambridge offered tho little Oeneral a pim-h of snuff, which he declined. The Genornl aung his songs, performed hs danoes, and cracked his jokes, to tho great amusement aud delight of the dis • tiuguished circle of visitors* " Dear little General," said tho kind-hearted Queen, taking him upon her lap. •'*'.[ see you have got no watch. Will you permit me to present you with a watch and chain ?" " I would like them very much," replied the General, his eyes glistening with joy as he spoke. The duke of Wellington called frequently to see the little GoDeral atais public levees. The first time he called, the General ■was personating Napoleon, and he was greatly amused.

Morn. Even. Jan. 4 ... ... 81* 841 5 i) 4 11.84 I! <I 4:-) 10.1