TOM THUMB COMES TO TOWN
By Marianne G. Morrow The Performance Tom Thumb had already performed twice in Hali- ver the years, the city of Char- fax, in 1847 and 1850, O lottetown has had many exotic but he had never come visitors, from British royalty t o gangsters. to Prince Edward Perhaps the most unusual, though, was Island. His visit in 1868 the celebrated "General" Tom Thumb probably followed a set and his troupe of performers. On 30 July pattern. The group's 1868, Tom Thumb, his wife Lavinia "Director of Amuse- Warren, her sister Minnie, and "Commo- ments" was one Sylvester dore" Nutt arrived fresh from a European Bleecker, but advance pub- tour to perform in the Island capital's licity was handled by a local Market Hall. agent, Ned Davies. There Tom Thumb was a midget, as would be five performances were the other members of his com- spread over a two-day period. pany. Midgets differ from dwarfs in "Ladies and children are con- that they are perfectly proportioned siderately advised to attend the beings, "beautiful and symmetri- Day exhibition, and thus avoid cally formed ladies and gentlemen the crowd and confusion of the in miniature," as the ads for evening performances." Thumb's performance promised. S The pitch was irresistible. What society considered a disability, \ "The Smallest Human Beings of Tom Thumb had managed to turn 1 Mature Age Ever Known on the into a career. By the time he arrived S Face of the Globe!" boasted one on Prince Edward Island, he had been 4 ad. 'They are undoubtedly the before the public eye for 26 years. I most astonishing and delightful wonders of the Age!" exclaimed another. "After an absence of The Cast three years in Europe, where they have delighted nearly all Tom Thumb was born Charles the Kings, Queens, Emperors, Sherwood Stratton of normal-sized Nobility, and 5,000,000 citizens parents in Bridgeport, Connecticut on 4 ren on 10 February of the 'Old World/ these wonderful January 1838. He weighed 9 lb. 2 oz. at 1863 in Grace LILLIPUTIANS have returned to their birth, but stopped growing when he was Church, New York, the wedding pushed Native land, and are giving a few FARE- a year old. When he was five, Phineas T. news of the American Civil War from the WELL ENTERTAINMENTS prior to Barnum, the circus impresario, took hint front pages of the newspapers. By the their final retirement to private life." to New York, where he trained him as a time of his marriage, Tom was a wealthy The advertisements outlined what to sideshow performer. In her autobio- man. He owned a yacht, a stable of fancy expect. The company would be driven to graphy, Mrs. Tom Thumb says her horses, and a mansion in Connecticut, and from the Market Hall in a miniature husband, "always enjoyed watching which was furnished with appropriately carriage ("costing$2,000") drawn byShet- children at play as he never had any lilliputian furniture. land ponies and "attended by Elfin Coach- childhood." He took his stage name from Tom was the acknowledged star of men and Footmen in Livery." In 1865, the a famous fairy tale character. His military the troupe that came to Charlottetown in quartet had appeared before Queen Vic- rank? Tom's wife quotes her husband as 1868. His companion, Commodore Nutt, toria at Windsor Castle. In Charlottetown, saying, "Queen Victoria gave me the title whose naval rank neatly complemented they would wear the same costumes, of General Tom Thumb and I am as Tom's military title, had reputedly been "which absolutely cost over $50,000" (al- proud of that as I am of my American in love with Lavinia as well. One story though another ad put the value at citizenship." tells that the two suitors engaged in fisti- "$20,000 in Gold"). Also on display, were Tom Thumb's life came to resemble cuffs over the lady before settling their "theSPLENDIDJEWELS,etc."presented one huge sideshow. Under Barnum's differences to become lifelong friends. to Tom by the "Crowned Heads of Eu- management, he became a celebrity, In any event, the ad for the Charlotte- rope and other celebrated personages." touring extensively on both sides of the town performance describes the Com- At their "levees," the troupe would Atlantic. When he married Lavinia War- modore as Minnie Warren's fiance. sing, dance, do comic imitations, and per-
20 form amusing tricks, pantomimes, bur- t^- Positively two DAYS OM.T "count" named Primo Magri. She died in lesque comedies, and "fantastic orations." 1919 and is buried next to Tom Thumb. The shows would, the ads promised, "en- MARKET HALL, - CHARLETTITOIH. THURSDAY & FRIDAY, JULY 30, & 31 1868. But first, there was one last curtain chant the children, delightthe ladies, and Thursday 2 Levees at 3 anc£ 8 P. M. call in Charlottetown. In 1896, 28 years Friday 3 Levees, at 11 A. M., 3 & 8 P. M. astonish and please the gentlemen." Admission, - . - . _ ~Lt. fid. after her first visit, Mrs. Tom Thumb Childi-'en, u i u | f r l < ) - - - - 1 O After so much build-up, it is disappoint- J* e» .served. S e a l s , - 3 O returned, accompanied by Count Magri, ing — though not unusual — to find that Children, u n d e r lO to R e s e r v e d S e a t s , 1 O Baron Magri, and a friend, Mrs. Liable. Tom Thumb's visit seems to have gone SYLV^TEflT BLEECKER . T ' T T PirecTor of Amusement.. During their stay, they gave a private unreviewed in the local press. The ad- RETURN FROM EUROPE performance at Notre Dame Conventfor Vh„,*?**." *l *»', » c e otjnireo %>ar«wheretheyappearedbefore nearlyah vance publicity, after all, was paid. Surely, the Klutt*.
In the Character a Crow!
representing this wel'-kno tm ^"->y bird to perfection in appearance MRS. L A V I N I A WARREN-STRATTOI T wl« t,*?K.l?J5S£M « D U E T S . »n^ DANCES, and having an extensive and £chrLeve\ ' " hc' w,n m'"*T,n T H R E ^ DIFFERENTCOSTUMES* GENERAL T O M T H U M B Sources w 1 n N AP0I E0N POLITICAi JjSI!l^r?L ORATOR^« . , ' DANCES BONAPARTE, DUETS, , Aca . SCOTTISH vaaaawtaiRCHIKFTAIN, a LITTLE MINNIE WARREN tfea«v^ The idea for this article came from a •THCEI O H . X > F O L K S ! poster in my collection. I am indebted to Dressed in the Ancient Costume* of our Anoeitors! Also, in a side-splitting Comicality entitled Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Tom Thumb's wedding, 1864. ITBW-YBAR'S C A L L S ! which rally exhibits their comic and versatile abilities. Wisconsin, which supplied me with much A MAGNIFICEN T M I N I A T U R E C O A C H , (coating $2,<>Q0), drawn by THE SMALLEST POMES in the world, and xtt ended of the information on Tom Thumb's life. by miniature COACHMAN and FOOTMAN IN LIVERY, will psomeiade the street, and the four little wonders will all ride at once in it to and ft>m the Hall of Exhibition. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb, The SPLENDID JEWELS, etc., presented to Gen'l TOM THUMB b» the Curtain Call Crowned Heads of Enrope and other Celebrated Personages, will be on exhibtiou written with Sylvester Bleecker, H. Saxon at each Levee. 0T~ The Public are most respectfully informed that this will be positivu* the laat appearance, in this place, of the TOM THUMB TBOIPE previous o was very helpful, as was Have You Seen their retirement irto private life. Tom Thumb's "final retirement" proved BT"LAD1ES and C H I L D R E N are considerately advised to attend the •MB? KxMlbltioii. and thos a v o i d tlie c r o w d and eoatftaaloa of the Tom Thumb? by Mabel Leigh Hunt. The Kveaing Performances. somewhat premature. In September > Cta.; Cbildrt* n d i r tea, 15 Gte. Islander for 24 July 1868 contains an ad 1879, he and Lavinia were back, this time Itwrnd Seat*, 50 CU,; QUMxm. i n t o Urn, tft 01* for Tom's first performances in Charlotte- in company with "the Skatorial town. The Daily Examiner charts his Phenomenon and Comic Genius, Major former attractions." return in mid-September 1879. Lavinia's Newell," for performances in Char- Fouryears later, in 1883, Tom Thumb last visit is noted in the Patriot for 21 lottetown and Summerside. They played died, and was buried in his native September 1896. before "an uncomfortably crowded house Bridgeport, Connecticut, near the grave My thanks to Sheila Lund, who pro- last evening," reported the Daily of his friend P. T Barnum. His widow vided material on Tom's return to the Examiner on 18 September. "The said of Tom, "His excellent qualities were Island, and to Allan Dunlop, Public Ar- entertainment was pleasing in every numerous. I never knew a person so chives of Nova Scotia, for passing along respect. The General has grown very devoid of malice, jealousy, and envy." information about Tom's performances corpulent since his first appearance in Lavinia eventually re-married. Her new in that province, MI this city, but his lady retains all her husband was also a midget, an Italian
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