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Tom Thumb
Charles
Stratton
A New York correspondent of
the Cincinnati Gazette
writes: A stout built,
little old man, with a harsh
voice and unattractive
manners, and about eighty
pounds of solid flesh, is
what is now left of the once
wonderful dwarf whom Barnum
made so profitable.
His name is Stratton, and
the family, which lived in
Bridgeport, was poor till
the dwarf made them rich.
Barnum's brother, who kept
tavern in the town,
mentioned the case to the
renowned showman, who lost
no time in securing the
prize. Such was the
origin of this little
fellow, whose success is due
chiefly to Barnum's
ingenuity.
The name of Tom Thumb itself
was a lucky hit, and it may
be added that he was the
only dwarf ever allowed to
perform before Queen
Victoria. Tom Thumb is
now past forty. He
calls Bridgeport home, but
his roving habits are such
that he will never be
contented with retired life.
He is at present exhibiting
himself at Masonic Hall, but
it is made to painfully feel
the difference between the
past and the present.
The "General," as he desires
to be called, is estimated
to be worth about $150.000,
and as he is very close, it
is probable that he may yet
become a rich man.
He owns a yacht, and during
the summer, at Bridgeport,
lives in handsome style. It
may be said of Tom Thumb
that his success was the
first to give value to
dwarfs in America, but in
England the diminutive Count
Bowrolaski enjoyed a long
career of distinction.
Article above from the
Cincinnati Gazette
Monday
January 18, 1879
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 Toward
the end of the seventeenth
century it became incredibly
fashionable for aristocrats
and royalty to own a dwarf
or midget for the purpose of
entertain-ment. It was such
a fad, in fact, that
Catherine de' Medici – the
queen of France - attempted
to breed a pair of her court
dwarves. Many more attempts
were made, most notable of
which was done by Peter the
Great in 1701 when he staged
a grand wedding between two
dwarves – an event not only
attended by his courtiers,
but by foreign ambassadors
as well.
Therefore, one would expect
the lives of those little
people to be abject misery.
However, the memoirs and
life story of Count Josef
Boruwlaski contradicts that
assumption.
Click on Image to learn more
about Count Josef Boruwlaski. |
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