CHAPTER XXXV.
GENERAL AND MRS. TOM THUMB. Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum | ||
35. CHAPTER XXXV.
GENERAL AND MRS. TOM THUMB.
MISS LAVINIA WARREN — THE RIVALS — MISS WARREN'S ENGAGEMENT TO TOM THUMB — THE WEDDING — GRAND RECEPTION — LETTER FROM A WOULD-BE GUEST, AND DR. TAYLOR'S REPLY.
In 1862 Mr. Barnum heard of an extraordinary dwarf girl named Lavinia Warren, who was living at Middleboro', Massachusetts, and sent an invitation to her and her parents to visit him at Bridgeport: they came, and Barnum found her to be a very intelligent and refined young lady. He immediately made a contract with her for several years, she agreeing to visit the Old World.
He purchased a splendid wardrobe for her, including many elegant dresses, costly jewels and everything else that could add to her naturally charming person. She was placed on exhibition at the Museum, and from the first was a great success. Commodore Nutt was exhibited with her, and although he was several years her junior, he at once took a violent fancy to her. One day Mr. Barnum gave Miss Warren a diamond and emerald ring, and as it did not exactly fit her finger, he offered to get her
At the time Tom Thumb was not on exhibition at the Museum; he was taking a vacation at his home in Bridgeport. One day he came to New York quite unexpectedly, and naturally called on Mr. Barnum at the Museum. Lavinia was holding one of her levees when he came in, and he was presented to her.
After a short interview with her he went directly to Mr. Barnum's private office and asked to see him alone. The door was closed and the General sat down. His first question gave Mr. Barnum a slight inkling of the object of the interview. The General wanted to know all about the family of Lavinia Warren. Mr. Barnum gave him all information, and the General said, earnestly, "That is the most charming little lady I ever saw, and I believe she was created to be my wife. Now, Mr. Barnum, you've always been a friend of mine, and I want you to say a good word for me to her. I've got plenty of money and I want to marry and settle down, and
Mr. Barnum laughed, and recalling his ancient joke, said: "Lavinia is already engaged, General.''
"To whom? Commodore Nutt?'' asked Tom Thumb, jealously.
"No, to me.''
"Oh!'' laughed the General, much relieved. "Never mind; you may exhibit her for a while, and then give up the engagement; but I do hope you will favor my suit with her.''
"Well, General,'' replied Barnum, "I will not oppose your suit, but you must do your own courting. I will tell you, however, that Commodore Nutt will be jealous of you, and more than that, Miss Warren is nobody's fool, and you will have to proceed very cautiously if you succeed in winning her.''
The General promised to be very discreet. A change now came over him. He had been very fond of his country home at Bridgeport, where he spent all his leisure time with his horses and his yacht, for he had a great passion for the water; but now he was constantly running down to the city, and the horses and yacht were sadly neglected. He had a married sister living in New York, and his visits to her multiplied to such an extent that his mother, who lived in Bridgeport, remarked that Charles had never before shown so much brotherly affection, nor so much fondness for city life.
His visits to the Museum were frequent, and it
But while the Commodore was performing on the stage, and on Sunday afternoons and evenings, the General found plenty of opportunities to talk to Lavinia, and it was evident that his suit was progressing.
Finally, Tom Thumb returned to Bridgeport, and privately begged Mr. Barnum to bring Lavinia up the next Saturday evening, and also to invite him to the house.
His immediate object was that his mother might see Miss Warren. Mr. Barnum agreed to the proposition, and on the following Friday, while Miss Warren and the Commodore were sitting in the green-room, he said:
"Lavinia, would you like to go up to Bridgeport with me to-morrow, and stay until Monday?''
"I thank you,'' she replied, "it will be a great relief to get into the country for a couple of days.''
"Mr. Barnum,'' said the Commodore, "I should like to go up to Bridgeport to-morrow.''
"What for?'' asked Barnum.
"I want to see my ponies; I have not seen them for several months;'' he replied.
Mr. Barnum remarked that he was afraid he could
"Oh! I can perform at half past seven o'clock and then jump on the evening train and go up by myself, reaching Bridgeport at eleven, and return early Monday morning.''
Fearing a clash of interests between the two little men, but wishing to please the Commodore, Mr. Barnum consented, especially as Miss Warren seemed to favor it.
The Commodore had made his feelings almost as plain to the manager as had General Tom Thumb, but Lavinia Warren's secret was her own. She kept up a wonderful self-possession under the circumstances, for she must have known the reason of the General's frequent visits to the Museum. Barnum was afraid that she intended to reject Tom Thumb, and he told him as much; the General was nervous but determined; hence his anxiety to have Lavinia meet his mother, and also to see the extent of his possessions in Bridgeport.
The General met his lady-love and Mr. Barnum at the station Saturday morning, and drove them to the latter's house in his own carriage — the coachman being tidily dressed, with a broad velvet ribbon and a silver buckle on his hat, especially for the occasion.
After resting for a half hour at Lindencroft, he came back and took Lavinia out to drive. They stopped at his mother's house, where she saw the apartments which had been built for him and filled
He stayed to lunch at Lindencroft, and was much pleased when Lavinia expressed her opinion that "Mr. Barnum or Tom Thumb owned about all Bridgeport.''
The General took his leave and returned to five o'clock dinner, accompanied by his mother, who was delighted with Lavinia. The General took Mr. Barnum aside and begged him for an invitation to stay all night, "For,'' said he, "I intend to ask her to marry me before the Commodore arrives.''
After tea Lavinia and the General sat down to play backgammon. By and by the rest went to their separate rooms, but Tom Thumb had volunteered to sit up for the Commodore, and persuaded Miss Warren to keep him company.
The General was beaten at backgammon, and after sitting a few minutes, he evidently thought it time to put a clincher on his financial abilities. So he drew from his pocket a policy of insurance and handed it to Lavinia, asking her if she knew what it was.
Examining it, she replied, "It is an insurance policy. I see you keep your property insured.''
"But the beauty of it is, it is not my property,''
"That is a very wise way, I should think,'' remarked Lavinia.
"That is the way I do all my business,'' replied the General, complacently, as he returned the huge insurance policy to his pocket. "You see,'' he continued, "I never lend any of my money without taking bond and mortgage security, then I have no trouble with taxes; my principal is secure, and I receive my interest regularly.''
The explanation seemed satisfactory to Lavinia, and the General's courage began to rise. Drawing his chair a little nearer to hers, he said:
"So you are going to Europe, soon?''
"Yes,'' replied Lavinia, "Mr. Barnum intends to take me over in a couple of months.''
"You will find it very pleasant,'' remarked the General; "I have been there twice, in fact I have spent six years abroad, and I like the old countries very much.''
"I hope I shall like the trip, and I expect I shall,''
"Yes, it will be very interesting indeed. I have visited most of the crowned heads,'' remarked the General, with an evident feeling of self-congratulation. "But are you not afraid you will be lonesome in a strange country?'' asked the General.
"No, I think there is no danger of that, for friends will accompany me,'' was the reply.
"I wish I was going over, for I know all about the different countries, and could explain them all to you,'' remarked Tom Thumb.
"That would be very nice,'' said Lavinia.
"Do you think so?'' said the General, moving his chair still closer to Lavinia's.
"Of course,'' replied Lavinia, coolly, "for I, being a stranger to all the habits and customs of the people, as well as to the country, it would be pleasant to have some person along who could answer all my foolish questions.''
"I should like it first rate, if Mr. Barnum would engage me,'' said the General.
"I thought you remarked the other day that you had money enough, and was tired of traveling,'' said
"That depends upon my company while traveling,'' replied the General.
"You might not find my company very agreeable.''
"I would be glad to risk it.''
"Well, perhaps Mr. Barnum would engage you, if you asked him,'' said Lavinia.
"Would you really like to have me go?'' asked the General, quietly insinuating his arm around her waist, but hardly close enough to touch her.
"Of course I would,'' was the reply.
The little General's arm clasped the waist closer as he turned his face nearer to hers, and said:
"Don't you think it would be pleasanter if we went as man and wife?''
And after a little hesitation she agreed that it would.
A moment later a carriage drove up to the door, the bell rang and the Commodore entered.
"You here, General?'' said the Commodore as he espied his rival.
"Yes,'' said Lavinia, "Mr. Barnum asked him to stay, and we were waiting for you.''
"Where is Mr. Barnum?'' asked the Commodore.
"He has gone to bed,'' answered Tom Thumb, "but a supper has been prepared for you.''
"I am not hungry, thank you,'' said the Commodore petulantly, "What room does Mr. Barnum sleep in?''
He was answered, and immediately went to Mr. Barnum whom he found reading in bed.
"Mr. Barnum,'' he said sarcastically, "does Tom Thumb board here?''
"No,'' said Mr. Barnum, "Tom Thumb does not board here. I invited him to stop over night, so don't be foolish, but go to bed.''
"Oh, it's no affair of mine. I don't care anything about it. Only I thought he'd taken up his residence here.'' And off he went to bed, in a very bad humor.
Ten minutes after, Tom Thumb rushed into the room in the greatest excitement, and cried joyfully: "We're engaged, Mr. Barnum! We're engaged!''
"Is that possible?'' said Barnum.
"Yes sir, indeed it is,'' responded the General, "but you must'nt mention it. We've agreed to tell no one, so don't say a word. I'm going to ask her Mother's consent Tuesday.''
Barnum swore secrecy, and the General went off radiant with happiness.
The next day the family plied Lavinia with all sorts of questions, but not a breath passed her lips that would give the slightest indication as to what had transpired. She was most amiable to the Commodore, and as the General concluded to go home the next morning, the Commodore's happiness and good humor were fully restored. The General made a call Sunday evening and managed to have an interview with Lavinia. The next morning
The General called on Monday to tell Mr. Barnum that he had concluded to send his letter to Lavinia's mother by his friend, Mr. Wells, who had consented to go to Middleboro' the next day, and to urge the General's suit if necessary.
The General went to New York on Wednesday to wait there for Mr. Wells's return. That same day he and Lavinia came to Mr. Barnum, and Tom Thumb said: "Mr. Barnum, I want somebody to tell the Commodore that Lavinia and I are engaged, for I'm afraid there will be a row when he hears of it.''
"Why don't you do it yourself, General?'' asked Barnum.
"Oh!'' said the General, almost shuddering, "I would not dare do it, he might knock me down.''
"I will do it myself,'' said Lavinia. So the General retired and the Commodore was sent for. When he had joined them, Mr. Barnum began by saying, "Commodore, do you know what this little witch has been doing?''
"No, I don't,'' he answered.
"Well, she has been cutting up the greatest prank you ever heard of. She almost deserves to be shut up for daring to do it. Can't you guess what it is?''
He mused a moment, and then said in a low tone, and looking full at her, "Engaged?''
"Yes,'' said Barnum, "actually engaged to be
"Is it so, Lavinia?'' he asked, earnestly.
"Yes,'' said Lavinia, "it is really so.''
The Commodore turned pale, choked a little, and turning on his heel, he said, in a broken voice:
"I hope you may be happy.''
As he passed out the door a tear rolled down his cheek. "That's pretty hard,'' said Barnum.
"Yes it is hard,'' said Lavinia, "and I am very sorry. Only I could'nt help it. It was all the fault of your emerald and diamond ring.''
Half an hour later the Commodore returned to the office and said:
"Mr. Barnum do you think it would be right for Miss Warren to marry Charlie Stratton if her mother should object?''
"No, indeed,'' replied Mr. Barnum.
"Well, she says she will marry him anyway; that she gives her mother the chance to consent, but if she objects, she will have her way and marry him.''
"On the contrary,'' said Barnum, "I will not permit it. She is engaged to go to Europe with me, and I will not release her if her mother does not consent to her marriage.''
The Commodore's eyes glistened, and he said: "Between you and me, Mr. Barnum, I don't believe she will consent.''
But she did, although at first she had objected, thinking that it might be merely a money-making
After the Commodore heard the news Mr. Barnum said to him:
"Never mind, Commodore; Minnie Warren is a better match for you anyhow. She is two years younger than you, and Lavinia is older.''
But the Commodore replied grandly; "Thank you sir, but I would not marry the best woman living. I don't believe in women.''
Barnum then suggested that he stand with Minnie, as groom and bridesmaid, but he declined. A few weeks later, however, he told Barnum that Tom Thumb had asked him to stand with Minnie, and that he was going to do so.
"And when I asked you, you refused,'' said Barnum.
"It was not your business to ask me,'' said the Commodore pompously, "when the proper person asked me, I accepted.''
The approaching wedding was announced and created an immense excitement. Lavinia's levees were crowded and she not infrequently sold three hundred dollars' worth of photographs in a day. The General was engaged to exhibit and his own photograph was largely in demand. The Museum was so well attended, the daily receipts being nearly three thousand dollars, that Barnum offered
"No sir,'' said the General excitedly, "not for fifty thousand dollars.''
"Good for you Charlie,'' said Lavinia, "only you should have said one hundred thousand.''
It was suggested to Barnum to have the wedding take place in the Academy of Music and charge a good admission.
But Barnum refused.
Grace Church, at Broadway and Tenth St., was the scene of this historic wedding, which occurred at noon of Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1863. Long before the hour designated the entire neighborhood was thronged by expectant and smiling crowds awaiting the arrival of the happy pair with their attendants, and looking with ill-concealed envy upon the scores of carriages that bore to the scene of action the fortunate possessors of cards of invitation. At the entrance the ubiquitous Brown was to be seen, bland and smiling, looking more like an honest Alderman of yore than a sexton, and recognizing in each new deposit of youth or beauty or wealth another star to shed lustre upon the extraordinary occasion.
Excellent police arrangements, no less than the self-respect and decorum that always characterizes an American crowd, secured the utmost quiet and order. The truth was that an outsider could only have discovered the marriage to have been one of peculiar interest from the snatches of feminine gossip
APPEARANCE OF MUSEUM AFTER THE FIRE.
[Description: Black and white engraving of Barnum's American Museum after the fire.]The church was crowded with a gay assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, the former appearing in full opera costume, and the latter in dress coats and white neck-cloths. In front of the altar a platform three feet high covered with Brussels carpet had been erected. Pending the arrival of the wedding cortege, Mr. Morgan performed a number of operatic selections on the organ.
At high noon the murmuring of the swarming throng outside and the turning of all heads townward presaged the arrival of the bridal party; its undoubted arrival was announced by the arrival of Barnum himself.
The bridal party quickly entered the church, and proceeding up the middle aisle, took proper positions upon the platform. Commodore Nutt acting as groomsman, and Miss Minnie Warren as bridesmaid.
After several operatic performances on the organ, the marriage services were commenced, the Rev. Dr. Taylor and the Rev. Junius M. Willey officiating. The petite bride was given away by the Rev. Mr. Palmer, at the request of her parents. Dr. Taylor pronounced the marital benediction, when the party left the church and were rapidly driven to the Metropolitan Hotel, the street, stoops, buildings and windows in the neighborhood of which were crowded with men, women and children.
At 1 o'clock the reception commenced, the bride and groom, attended by the Commodore and Miss Minnie Warren, occupying a dais in one of the front parlors. The crowd soon resolved into a perfect jam, and for some time great confusion prevailed. After a time, certain arrangements were made by which the company were enabled to pay their respects to the little couple.
The graceful form of Mrs. Charles S. Stratton was shown to advantage in her bridal robe, which was composed of plain white satin, the skirt en traine, being decorated with a flounce of costly point lace, headed by tulle puffings; the berthe to match. Her hair, slightly waved, was rolled a la Eugenié, and elaborately puffed in nœuds behind, in which the bridal veil was looped: natural orange blossoms breathed their perfume above her brow, and mingled their fragrance with the soft sighs of her gentle bosom. Roses and japonicas composed a star-shaped bouquet, which she held in her just-bestowed hand.
Her jewels consisted of diamond necklace, bracelets, earrings, and a star-shaped ornament en diadem, with brooch to match.
Mr. Stratton was attired in a black dress coat and a vest of white corded silk, with an undervest of blue silk.
The Commodore was similarly attired, and Miss Minnie Warren appeared in a white silk skirt, with a white illusion overdress, trimmed half way up the skirt with bouillonnes of the same material, dotted
At 3 o'clock the bridal party left the reception room, and retired to their private parlor, when the company soon after dispersed. Upon leaving the hotel the guests were supplied with wedding cake, over two thousand boxes being thus distributed. In a parlor adjoining that used for the reception were exhibited the bridal presents.
The jewelry and silverware were displayed in glass cases.
That night, at 10 o'clock, the New York Excelsior Band serenaded the bridal party at the Metropolitan, when Mr. Stratton appeared upon the balcony and made the following speech to the large assemblage in front of the hotel:
The following entirely authentic correspondence, the only suppression being the name of the person who wrote to Dr. Taylor, and to whom Dr. Taylor's reply is addressed, shows how a certain would-be "witness'' was not a witness of the famous wedding. In other particulars the correspondence speaks for itself.
Sir: The object of my unwillingly addressing you this note is to inquire what right you had to exclude myself and other owners of pews in Grace Church from entering it yesterday, enforced, too, by a cordon of police for that purpose. If my pew is not my property, I wish to know it; and if it is, I deny your right to prevent me from occupying it whenever the church is open, even at a marriage of mountebanks, which I would not take the trouble to cross the street to witness.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
W*** S***
MR. W*** S***
Dear Sir: I am sorry, my valued friend, that you should have written me the peppery letter that is now before me. If the matter of which you complain be so utterly insignificant
Respectfully submitted, by your obedient servant,
THOMAS HOUSE TAYLOR.
Not long after the wedding, a lady called at Barnum's office and called his attention to a little six-paged pamphlet which she said she had written. It was called "Priests and Pigmies,'' and she asked Barnum to read it. He glanced at the title, and at once estimating the character of the publication, promptly declined to devote any portion of his valuable time to its perusal.
"But you had better look at it, Mr. Barnum; it deeply interests you, and you may think it worth your while to buy it.''
"Certainly, I will buy it, if you desire,'' said he, tendering her a sixpence, which he supposed to be the price of the little pamphlet.
"Oh! you quite misunderstand me; I mean buy the copyright and the entire edition, with the view of suppressing the work. It says some frightful things, I assure you,'' urged the author.
He lay back in his chair and fairly roared at this exceedingly feeble attempt at blackmail.
"But,'' persisted the lady, "suppose it says that your Museum and Grace Church are all one, what then?''
"My dear madam,'' he replied, "you may say what you please about me or about my Museum; you may print a hundred thousand copies of a pamphlet stating that I stole the communion service, after the wedding, from Grace Church altar, or anything else you choose to write; only have the kindness to say something about me, and then come to me and I will properly estimate the money value of your services to me as an advertising agent. Good morning, madam,'' — and she departed.
CHAPTER XXXV.
GENERAL AND MRS. TOM THUMB. Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum | ||