Red Devils - 5 - Tom Thumb Meets Queen Victoria

“Did you do your show for any really famous people?” Cora Sue asked Mr. Barnum.

“How about Queen Victoria? Is that famous enough for you?”

“Did you go to Buckingham Palace?”

“Well, little Cora Sue, let me tell you all about it. But first I must tell you about my most successful exhibit - General Tom Thumb.

“It was in November, 1842, and I was at home, here in Bridgeport, when I heard that there belonged in one of the families of the place a phenomenally small child, so I got my brother Philo to bring the little fellow to my hotel. He was not two feet high; he weighed less than sixteen pounds, and was the smallest child I ever saw that could walk alone; he was a perfectly formed bright-eyed little fellow, with light hair and ruddy cheeks, and he enjoyed the best of health. He was exceedingly bashful, but after some coaxing, he was induced to talk with me, and he told me that he was the son of Sherwood E. Stratton, and that his own name was Charles S. Stratton. After seeing him and talking with him, I at once determined to secure his services from his parents and to exhibit him in public. I engaged him for four weeks, at three dollars a week, with all traveling and boarding charges for himself and his mother at my expense. They came to New York Thanksgiving day, 1842, and I announced the dwarf on my Museum bills as 'General Tom Thumb.'

“I took the greatest pains to educate and train the diminutive prodigy, devoting many hours to the task by day and by night, and I was very successful, for the boy was an apt pupil, with a great deal of native talent, and a keen sense of the ludicrous. I afterward re-engaged him for one year, at seven dollars a week with a gratuity of fifty dollars at the end of the engagement, and the privilege of exhibiting him anywhere in the United States, in which event his parents were to accompany him and I was to pay all traveling expenses. He speedily became a public favorite, and long before the year was out, I voluntarily increased his weekly salary to twenty-five dollars, and he fairly earned it. And the next year it went up to $50.

“But you need to know about our trip to London, so I can tell you about the Queen. It was Thursday, January 18th, 1844, we went on board the new and fine sailing ship Yorkshire, with Captain D. G. Bailey, bound for Liverpool. The party included General Tom Thumb, his parents, his tutor, and Professor Guillaudeu, a French naturalist and me.

“We were met at Liverpool by a large crowd of sight-seers, who had been attracted thither by the fame of 'Tom Thumb.' The curiosity of the populace was not gratified, however, for I had the child smuggled ashore unseen, under his mother's shawl.

"My letters of introduction were to many excellent families, and I was induced to hire a hall and present the General to the public for a short season in Liverpool. I had intended to proceed directly to London, and begin operations at headquarters, that is, in Buckingham Palace, if possible; but I had been advised that the royal family was in mourning for the death of Prince Albert's father, and would not permit the approach of any entertainments.

 “The first public appearance of Tom Thumb in London occurred soon after the arrival of the party there, and the spectators were delighted, the manager overjoyed, and I was pleased beyond measure. This brief engagement answered my purpose, in arousing public interest and curiosity.

“I then took a splendid mansion in Grafton Street, near Bond Street, in the fashionable and aristocratic West End of London.   

“We were called on by the Hon. Edward Everett, the American minister to England. He promised that we should, if possible, be received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

 “I engaged the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, and announced that Tom Thumb was to be seen there. The rush of visitors was tremendous. The aristocracy of London thronged the hall night after night, and a phenomenal success was assured. True, Everett had spoken of an audience with the Queen, but I had no idea that it would ever be granted.  

“Mr. Murray kindly offered his good offices in the case, and the next day one of the Life Guards, a tall, noble-looking fellow, bedecked as became his station, brought a note, conveying the Queen's invitation to General Tom Thumb and his guardian Mr. Barnum, to appear at Buckingham Palace on an evening specified.  

“Determined to make the most of the occasion, I put a placard on the door of the Egyptian Hall: 'Closed this evening, General Tom Thumb being at Buckingham Palace by command of Her Majesty.'

“When we arrived at the palace, a Lord-in-Waiting met us, and began 'coaching' us on points of court etiquette. I was told that I must in no event speak directly to Her Majesty, but through the medium of the aforesaid Lord. I must also keep my face constantly turned toward the Queen, and so, in retiring from the royal presence, must walk backward. Having thus been instructed in the ways of royalty, the diminutive General and I were led to the presence of the Queen.

“We passed through a long corridor to a broad flight of marble steps, which led to the picture gallery, and there the Queen and Prince Albert, the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Wellington, and others were awaiting our arrival. They were standing at the further end of the room when the doors were thrown open, and the General walked in, looking like a wax doll gifted with the power of locomotion. Surprise and pleasure were depicted on the countenances of the royal circle at beholding this remarkable specimen of humanity so much smaller than they had evidently expected to find him. (pictured above)

“The General advanced with a firm step, and, as he came within hailing distance, made a very graceful bow, and exclaimed, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."

“A burst of laughter followed this salutation. The Queen then took him by the hand, led him about the gallery, and asked him many questions, the answers to which kept the party in an uninterrupted strain of merriment. The General familiarly informed the Queen that her picture gallery was 'first-rate,' and told her he should like to see the Prince of Wales. The Queen replied that the Prince had retired to rest, but that he should see him on some future occasion. The General then gave his songs, dances, and imitations, and after a conversation with Prince Albert, and all present, which continued for more than an hour, we were permitted to depart.

"I felt," said Mr. Barnum. “entirely at ease in her presence, and could not avoid contrasting her sensible and amiable manners with the stiffness and formality of upstart gentility at home or abroad.

"The Queen was modestly attired in plain black, and wore no ornaments. Indeed, surrounded as she was by ladies arrayed in the highest style of magnificence, their dresses sparkling with diamonds, she was the last person whom a stranger would have pointed out in that circle as the Queen of England.

“On our second visit to the Queen, we were received in what is called the Yellow Drawing Room, a magnificent apartment. It is on the north side of the gallery, and is entered from that apartment. It was hung with drapery of rich yellow satin damask, the couches, sofas, and chairs being covered with the same material. The vases, urns, and ornaments were all of the most exquisite workmanship. The room was paneled in gold, and the heavy cornices beautifully carved and gilt. The tables, pianos, etc., were mounted with gold, inlaid with pearl of various hues, and of the most elegant designs.

“We were ushered into this gorgeous drawing-room before the Queen and royal circle had left the dining-room, and, as they approached, the General bowed respectfully, and remarked to Her Majesty, 'that he had seen her before,' adding, 'I think this is a prettier room than the picture gallery; that chandelier is very fine.'

“The Queen smilingly took him by the hand, and said she hoped he was very well.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied, "I am first-rate."

"General," continued the Queen, "this is the Prince of Wales."

"How are you, Prince?" said the General, shaking him by the hand, and then standing beside the Prince, he remarked, "The prince is taller than I am, but I feel as big as anybody," upon which he strutted up and down the room as proud as a peacock, amid shouts of laughter from all present.

“The Queen then introduced the Princess Royal, and the General immediately led her to his elegant little sofa, which he had brought with him, and with much politeness sat down beside her. Then, rising from his seat, he went through his various performances, and the Queen handed him an elegant and costly souvenir, which had been expressly made for him by her order, for which, he told her, he was very much obliged, and would keep it as long as he lived.

“On our third visit to Buckingham Palace, Leopold, King of the Belgians, was also present. He was highly pleased, and asked a multitude of questions. Queen Victoria desired the General to sing a song, and asked him what song he preferred to sing.

"Yankee Doodle," was the prompt reply.

“This answer was as unexpected to me as it was to the royal party. When the merriment it occasioned had somewhat subsided, the Queen good-humoredly remarked, 'That is a very pretty song, General, sing it, if you please.' The General complied, and soon afterward retired.

“The Queen sent me a handsome fee for each of his visits, but that was only a small part of the benefits which my acquaintance with her brought to me. Such was the force of Court example that it was now deemed unfashionable, almost disloyal, not to have seen Tom Thumb. Carriages of the nobility, fifty or sixty at a time, were to be seen at our door in Piccadilly. Egyptian Hall was crowded at every exhibition, and the net profits there were on the average more than $500 per day from March 20th to July 20th.

 The Queen Dowager, Adelaide requested the General's attendance at Marlborough House one afternoon. He went in his court dress, consisting of a richly embroidered brown silk-velvet coat and short breeches, white satin vest with fancy colored embroidery, white silk stockings and pumps, wig, cocked hat, and dress sword.

"Why, General," said the Queen Dowager, "I think you look very smart to-day."

"I guess I do," said the General, complacently.

“A large party of the nobility were present. The old Duke of Cambridge offered the little General a pinch of snuff, which he declined. The General sang his songs, performed his dances, and cracked his jokes, to the great amusement and delight of the distinguished circle of visitors.

"Dear little General," said the kind-hearted Queen, taking him upon her lap, "I see you have no watch. Will you permit me to present you with a watch and chain?"

"I would like them very much," replied the General, his eyes glistening with joy as he spoke.

"I will have them made expressly for you," responded the Queen Dowager; and at the same moment she called a friend and desired him to see that the proper order was executed. A few weeks thereafter we were called again to Marlborough House. A number of the children of the nobility were present, as well as some of their parents. After passing a few compliments with the General, Queen Adelaide presented him with a beautiful little gold watch, placing the chain around his neck with her own hands.

“The Duke of Wellington called frequently to see the little General at his public levees. The first time he called, the General was personating Napoleon Bonaparte, marching up and down the platform, and apparently taking snuff in deep meditation. He was dressed in the well-known uniform of the Emperor. I introduced him to the 'Iron Duke,' who inquired the subject of his meditations. 'I was thinking of the loss of the battle of Waterloo,' was the little General's immediate reply. This display of wit was chronicled throughout the country, and was of itself worth thousands of pounds to the exhibition.

“Thus the London visit and the tour of England were successful beyond all anticipation, and it was with an overflowing purse that we set out for the French capital.”