1955-09-03 — Page 6

* Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1955.

THE COURTSHIP OF GENERAL TOM THUMB

T

HERE was nothing One Of The World's

unusual about carriage and horses which drew up at the entrance to Bucking- ham Palace on that cheerful day in March, 1844; but the diminutive figure who stopped from it with such dignity

the Was surely strangest guest ever bidden to the home of the Sovereign,

Charles Sherwood Strat- ton, an American, was only 12 years old, but it was his or rather lack of height

it not his youth, which was extraordinary. He was only 25 inches tall.

His head with its thick mop of fair hair over a broad, In- telligent forchead senréely the white silk reached above stockings

foounen in of the their knee-breeches.

The boy was "General" Tam Thumb, certainly the most famous, and later probably the wealthiest, dwart of all time.

He was now on the threshold of his fantasile eureer.

A few minutes later the sound of laughter echoing from the Royal

Gallery Ficture showed that Queen Victoria had met the little man from America,

to

On this occasion Queen Vic- toria was amused, so much that she summoned the bright- eyed, entertaining midget her twice again, heaping him, Phineas T. words of Barnum, the great showman who had Tom under contract. "with

costly gifts." I many WBS An advertisement worth many thousands of pounds,

in the

It Was Barnum, always

for novelties, searching!

who discovered the dwarf da his native village of Bridgeport, Connecticut, in November 1042.

future "General" The then ten years old, under two feat

than tall, weighed less

was

Strangest Stories

Told By Louis

Wulff

1&

Tom and Lavinia: Her parents objected to the match until he cut off his moustache.

either of

to

16 pounds, but was perfectly to smuggle Tom ashore by formed. His parents were of carrying him in her arms like a normal height, with no history baby. Soon Tom and his retinue of dwarfs In

their Including a tutor-moved familles,

London, where the "General" had another immediate success. Barnum engaged the boy at a

for A week or two later Barnum modest $3

week 超

triumphantly put up a notice a month.

at the Egyptian Hall: "Closed this evening. General Tom Thumb being at Buckingham of Hor Palace by

command Majesty." Tom Thumb's dame was established.

his

three

Modorn publicity exparty Barnum's discoveries. It was could learn from the methods of love at first sight.

this toutotaller from Connec... Like Tom, Lavinia was the ticut, who managed to use the daughter of parents who were of Qucen of England in his ad- normal height, and her seven vertising campaign.

brothers and slaters wore also normal stature, But she, at of the age of 21, was only 24 inches tall.

It was his brilliant choice of the name Tom Thumb with Its suggestion of fakey tales and

She was on exhibition at the ancient legends of the friendly American Museum with another gnomes plus the added ages- dwort, Conummodore Nuti. "Gen- tion of grandeur given by the cral" Tom had amassed enough purely fictitious ranit of General money during his 20 years of that first spurred public Interest. tours to retire to a comfortable But Tom himself played the house at Bridgeport, furnished greatest part in the success to his own scale. Here he spent story.

his time riding ponies and sall- He had a keen wit and ning his yacht like a gentleman sharp sense of the ludicrous. He of leisure. had an engaging ale that mixed

the innocent appeal of child- hood with the dignity of a man -combination that women especially found irresistible.

years

ure;

to

General Tom

and; for size, #bearded Britis troope

were

Ruth Braithwaite learns all about

THE FARMER WHO

F

WAS A

A KING

a tiny Hertfordshire Michael is very much tha village a group of trip squire as regards his, sports pers stands in the road to bit of a GI about his cap, which jacket, but, say the villagers, A red-brick Goor- ts US Army style.

gape-at a

gian mansion with green Anne whose housewifely shutters and iron gates, bonst it is that she has never trim lawng and

more than £10 on an wooden spent

cutfit since she came hero-la usually to be seen in a simply

grounds.

For sleepy Ayot St tullored

dress, hatless,

Lawrence, formerly famous brogue-shood.

What is it really like in the

as the home of Bernard house behind the wall? Shaw, is again blinking be- The x-king's staff-which neath the glare of an un- mumbered hundreds in Bucharest, exchange their vows before the sought publicity this time excluding the Palace guards-s row reduced to fivo, Not the Rey Junius Willey, watched as the home of a king in least among

them is tho gardener's Bridgeport. They were

wite, Mrs Joyco by a congregation which included exile..

Once the excursionista No. 1 Young. members of Congress and Army

attraction was "Shaw's Corner,"

As wo chat she tells me: generals.

"At first we found it quite a On December 5, 1883, their Now it is mellowing Ayot House, only child was born, a girl who where Michael of Rumania and problem what to call them. Now Princess Anne, his wife, arc 1 always use Your Majesty' in weighed only three pounds at

trying to lead

new life the moming and 'Sir or Madam' But the attractions of Lavinin birth,

Then Mrs T. Thumb longed together as farmers, instead of the afternoon."" "His dark eyes seem to have drew him to New York, where,

personages, as father and the Com- for public life again and the royal

LOCAL INDUSTRY seen so much, and to give him to the distress of

a typical young couple who Ayot House has become the a look of experience beyond his modore, who was also smitten "General" obediently set off on [nother to three lusty children, tiny with her charms, he became an his travels, this time accom-usa which, with his

IL centre of a local industry. the panied by his wife and daughter, are out to build their future.

When they first announced supplies the village greengrocers remarkable almost constant visitor to make

their intention the one American Museum where he had for so who had been christened Minnie.

political with vegetables, it solls practi- wrote

At one year she weighed only

The thought cally everything woman after taking tea with long been an exhibit.

from peaches 74lb. And she lived only a few scares scoiled. the "General,"

Lavinia appeared to return his months more, dying at a Norwich of the heavily beredailed son to flowers.

turning to the And Princess Anne is playing It wog part .. Barnum's affections but there

was an hotel in September 1865, white of King Carol

more correctly, the her part as farmer's wife...from polley

choose the most obstacle. When he

touring East plough (or proposed her parents

reenhouse)

the was just too funny trundling luxurious and expensive quar- Lavinia told him her mother Anglia.

rubbish Inden for words, they sald.

wheelbarrow to the compost heap find for his would not hear of the match. ters he could

Today it is a different story... to feeding the poultry (160 hens Warren's objections were

"A nice young family," they and a gaggle of geese). protege, and to dress, feed and Mrs equip him regardless of cost. His based not on her prospective

tell you at the Brocket Arms, carriage, 20 inches high and 11 son-in-law's lack of inches but,

The couple do little entertain log. This tragedy apparently broke "keep 'emotives to 'emselves...

They get most of their one of strangely enough, on the fact

from the spirit of the couple. They and never get in anyone's way." amusement

a television Inches wide, built by the leading coachmakers of that he wore a moustache,

to America and went back

screen. But they read a lot THREE ACRES trostly books about farts London, cost between £400 and

"I'll cut it off and my eyes out settled down at Bridgeport.

For 'as well if it will make you say

years Tom, now love- grown portly, enjoyed his leisure, on at Ayot House are devoted children give them time.

The three acres under cultiva, management!

That is to say when tho yes." volunteered the

Lppearing at occasional perform to growing vegetables. Amitten "General"

nhees in aid of Bridgeport When their engagement was

This year ex-King Michael Just like other parents, the charities; but his

monarch health began won prizes for broad beans at And that three amall children and his wife announced receipts at. the to fail, and on July 15, 183, the local show, and another (a museum mounted 40 $3,000 while

friends at Middle-

can demand a lot of attention. a day, and Barnum offered the

for red "Orst")

currants. pair $15,000 to postpone their apoplexy. He was 51.

sctts, he died of cabbages came second. His to hail, Helena is nearly 'five,' and Margaret is now six and a bore,

matoes (there are thousands of Irina is just over two. wedding for a month and show

He left an estimated fortune

hem) fetch themselves together.

top prices In the

Such the picture of Michael $200,000 and a large amount London shops, Tom Thumb was not to be of property, In private, as in public, he

and Anne-happy doméstic maved by such base considera- His wife Lavinin survived him, little man tions as money, and on Febru- and later married another dwarf. 1k the only time he has been picture of a dovoted couple who must have been lonely, pining ary 10, 1863 they were married the Tallan Count Magri. She is when a villager heard him out a new life from a Communist-created nightmare, for companionship of one of his in Grace Church, New York. died in 1918, aged 78, one of the say: "I'm getting blisters- yes, and foun In work and their

It was a fantastic eccarion- imgesi-lived

Blisters. You should have seen children own size.

known the size ony

of the plot I turned security. Bride and groom stood on A dwarfs.

lever. Colossal specially erected platform to

£500,

Though Barnum (and his par- eye on ents) kept a watchful his size and height, Tom Thumb was allowed to cat and drink what he liked.

But he was a man of moderate tastes.

scenied lively and cheerful. But the

When "General" Tom Thumb made his debut at the American was muscum on Broadway he дл immediate

A success, begun to pour stream of cashi into his (and Barnum's) lap. It was to continue for another 19

Durng the next

years Within a year

1 yours.

Tom he toured Europe, meeting most had become

favourite of such a

the crowned heads and that the astute showman raised famous people of the day. And always his saldry to $50 a week, he drew £150,000 from the and engaged business mannger,

it on a 50-50 basis with Barnwn, Then Darnum planned a trip

Where did the secret of Tom to Europe at the same salary. Tom Thumb had become Thumb's success lie? There have almost a national institution. been other dwarfs just as tiny, such The New York City brass band but none ever achieved accompanied the party to the world-wide fame or medo so docks and a crowd of at least much money. Part of the credit, the master 10,000 saw the “General” leave, goes, of course, to

At Liverpool the crowds were showman nad advertiser so great that Mrs Stratton hud Phineas T. Barnum.

father ** pockets of the publle, He shared

What this new. self-winding chronometer

means to you...

A chronometer is a "super watch"

It has been specially made, specially adjusted, and has passed stringent government tests for accuracy. Every Swiss chronometer is sold with an Official Rating Certificate showing just how it performed in these government tests. Particularly good-chronometers are awarded a distinctive notation: "especially good results” printed on this certificate.

Before you buy a chronometer, look to see whether it is officially certified with "especially good results." Every Omega Constellation is! Automatic, waterproof, shock-protected, antimagnetic,

•You'll know the Omega Constillation by the obterna- tury engraved on the back of the cast-your garantee of an

"specially good chronomein."

However, back In America he met Lavinia Warren, another of

of

fcw

(COPYRIGHT)

And

His

to boast about himself

former

contentment

(COPYRIGHT).

just spent a tourist-week in Moscow

They're tough by SHELLEY ROHDE, who has -these Russian women!

TOOK over a Russian girl's job recently. For two hours on the way home from Moscow I knew something of what it is like to be a girl working in Russia.

It happened high above the clouds some→ where between Moscow and Leningrad.

She The Russian plane had no hostess. had seen us off at the airport - but was not travelling with us.

The pliot, co-pilot, and radio operator did not, speak a word o. English. So my two-hour job was really a dual one ---- inter- preter and air hostess,

We had been in the air only a few minutes when the radio operator appealed for help. He wanted someone to explain to the returning Wolverhampton Wanderers sup- porters that they must give their cameras to him during the flight.

Two minutes Inter he was back again. Would I picose say that if any passengers wanted a cup of tea they must ring the bell at the side of their senis.

Minutes

SEE WHAT I MEAN ?

I snapped this Moscow street-scene of three husky women road-meriding.

my on make-up or make themselves passed. And friend was back again. Would look glamorous..

front cabin?

I please go with him to the Thore is pathing a woman cannot do, in the calimation of the Russian. No job is too There in a tiny space between hard, No work too tough. No pilot and

I was profession too skilled. passengers, shown where cups, sugar, lemon (for Russian tea) were kept.

They dig

FROM then on

During six days in Moscow I saw women doing every sort of job.

was

For,

and

Well, first consider the own-a pleasant, If small, house FASHION MODEL: This is not with a garden and an attractive 2 popular Job, Nor on tasy view, For sportsuen Dra

There is no glamour at privileged people in Russia. tached to it; no fame.

onc.

At Moscow's leading fashion house five models (Including one man) give three shows a day, one and a half hours long, six days a week. Fay: Nine roubles (about 178.) a session.

* #

*

con

THE BEAUTY SPECIALIST: Valya Zuseva specialises in the care of the hands. She la a plump, placid giri, quite tent, to sit in corner all day The women marched attending the work-worn hand down in heavy, semi-heeled shoes and thick, seamless stock- of her customers. She has been ings. And they are not chosen three years at the same salon

as hairdresser Lucía. for their trim figures or allm hips. If they at the bulky stan 1,000 roubles (nearly £100)

Her present wage is about dard sizes the job is theirs.

month it varies according to the number of customers, and will continue to increase with her years of service. Site charges Next, the HAIRDRESSER:' I two roubles 50 kopocks (about met Lucia Polykarnova, a 59.) for an ordinary manicure

hairdresser-"master" and three woman, "master"

roubles an elderly

75 kopeeks who was hefully attacking a because she has been in the (about 78. 8d.) for a manicuro pavement with a pick-axe, it business five years and can perm and nall varnish. the minded doing such work. 30 heads a day.

Valya, who is married, took "Why should 17" she said. "I

beauty care courses when sho am as strong as

She charges 36 my husband.

roubles 00 left school. Now her plump And he sits in an office all day!" kopecks (about £3 5s.) for a lttle hands are crimson upped A girl of 20 who was washing rem; one rouble 10 kopecks for and her hair is carefully pormed a deserted street at midnight a cut.

-an unusual sight in Russia, with a long length of hose-pipe

She works an eight-hour day, told me: "It is just a job. I am alx days a week, In her tiny,

Maxim which holda YES, they are certainly tough, cramped salon, about four customers. And if a comes in - wilch' they man sometimes dosho perma. his

I asked

paid to do it”** And

Model

hair too.

*

*

these Russian women.

They sweep the streets. It was

one they

She must have enjoyed it them, repair

battering rain was pouring down and the wirl of tea-browing, serv- away at the pavements and Ing biscuits, and washing-up. highways with pneumatle drills. pavements were already spotless!

After seeing them at work I Miss Daisy St Clair Mander They carry loads of bricks and

have littlo faith in the old and her nephew, Sir Charles cement. They build houses.

Russian maxim - much quoted Mender, two of the Wolves' They dig holes. My first taxl in THEHE was nothing unfeminine

therd at the moment: "If boys. in the plano have Moscow supporters

driven by a about these women in manual

are born into a family, there promised me testimonials if I woman,

Jobs. Their faces might be

THE SECRETARY: Natasha, will be war. If girls are born ever want to change my job. "I like driving," she told me. weatherbeaten and sunburned; a pretty, plump girl with fair into a family there will be no

But the hostess's cabin on this "It is my job and my relaxa- their hands calloused and un- curly hair, works with the war." route is much smaller than those tion, I would not care if I were cared for. Yet their smlies and Soviet Sports Committee. She

It strikes me that the Russian feminine in a British airliner.. I Anished driving a tank."

enough. studied languagos at a univer-

out-Amazon the up balancing biscuits on a sult- Half an hour later I boarded. They are women first-workers sity; now translates letters and Kira could case, with a bowl of washing-up a trolleybus driven by a second, water on the floor and rows of woman,

But what of the Russian

who Next day I was nearly ascas- women

do jobs that Natasha, 28 yours old, is cups on a wavering shelf.

athlete turned No wonder the Russian. air ainated by a monster truckmore nearly parallel the sort of married to an hostesses never have, time to put driven by a woman.

work done by women in Britain? trainer and has a home of her

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN.

IT'S ME. MUSH.)

YEAH,COME IN MUSH.

DOESN'T THE

DSS WANNA

MET

MUSH.I'LL SAY IT QUICK. THE MOB DOESN'T NEED YOU ANY MORE. YOU'RE THROUGH!

|BUT,805S--IDO EVERYTHING

·YOU TELL ME--

volces pro

DIDN'T I HELP ON THAT PAYROLL JOBY

types them.

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

YEAH-AND

ALMOST GOT! US CAUGHT. YOU'RE TOO

FAT AND OLD, MUSH. BESIDES

--EVERY COP KNOWS YOUR FACE,

•TAKE OFF, AND GIVE US NO TROUBLE, IF YOU KNOW WHATS GOOD FOR YOU!

YEAH-

Amazons,

(COPYRIGHT) MONDAY,

Inside a Russian home

Sociéte

OMEGA Constellation

Suisse

Pour

Industrie Horlogère · S.A. Geneva, Switzerland.

OMEGA * ZKRI

MAGICIA

ausberg