eneral Tom Thumb," the celebrated dwarf of
Barnum's Circus. Charles Stratton, surnamed "Tom Thumb," was born at
Bridgeport, Conn., on January 11, 1832; he was above the normal weight
of the new-born. He ceased growing at about five months, when his
height was less than 21 inches. Barnum, hearing of this phenomenon in
his city, engaged him, and he was shown all over the world under his
assumed name. He was presented to Queen Victoria in 1844, and in the
following year he was received by the Royal Family in France. His
success was wonderful, and even the most conservative journals
described and commented on him. He gave concerts, in which he sang in a
nasal voice; but his "drawing feat" was embracing the women who visited
him. It is said that in England alone he kissed a million females; he
prided himself on his success in this function, although his features
were anything but inviting. After he had received numerous presents and
had amassed a large fortune he returned to America in 1864, bringing
with him three other dwarfs, the "Sisters Warren" and "Commodore Nutt."
He married one of the Warrens, and by her had one child, Minnie, who
died some months after birth of cerebral congestion. In 1883 Tom Thumb
and his wife, Lavinia, were still living, but after that they dropped
from public view and have since died.

In 1895 the wife of a dwarf named Morris gave birth to twins at
Blaenavon, North Wales. Morris is only 35 inches in height and his wife
is even smaller. They were married at Bartholmey Church and have since
been traveling through England under the name of "General and Mrs.
Small," being the smallest married couple in the world. At the latest
reports the mother and her twins were doing well.

The Rossow Brothers have been recently exhibited to the public. These
brothers, Franz and Carl, are twenty and eighteen years respectively.
Franz is the eldest of 16 children and is said to weigh 24 pounds and
measure 21 inches in height; Carl is said to weigh less than his
brother but is 29 inches tall. They give a clever gymnastic exhibition
and are apparently intelligent. They advertise that they were examined
and still remain under the surveillance of the Faculty of Gottingen.

Next to the success of "Tom Thumb" probably no like attraction has been
so celebrated as the "Lilliputians," whose antics and wit so many
Americans have in late years enjoyed. They were a troupe of singers and
comedians composed entirely of dwar