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Sketch Of The Life, Personal Appearance, Character And Manners Of Charles S. Stratton, The Man In Miniature, Known As General Tom Thumb, And His Wife, Lavinia Warren Stratton; Including The History Of Their Courtship And Marriage, With Some Account Of Remarkable Dwarfs, Giants, & Other Human Phenomena, Of Ancient And Modern Times, And Songs Given At Their Public Levees

Creator: n/a
Date: 1863
Publisher: Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck, New York
Source: Robert Bogdan Collection
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5  Figure 6  Figure 7  Figure 8  Figure 9  Figure 10  Figure 11  Figure 12

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SERENADE.

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At 10 o'clock in the evening the New York Excelsior Band serenaded the bridal party at the Metropolitan. The street in front of this hotel was so densely crowded with people, that stages and other vehicles were brought to a stand-still, or obliged to turn off through other streets, in order to pursue their way. After the band had played several airs, Mr. Stratton appeared upon balcony, and was greeted with cheers. Order having been restored, the little man addressed the assemblage as follows:

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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN -- I thank you most sincerely for this, and many other tokens of kindness showered upon me to-day. After being for more than twenty years before the public, I little expected, at this late day, to attract so much attention. Indeed, if I had not become a "family man," I should never have known how high I stood in public favor, and I assure you I appreciate highly and am truly grateful for this evidence of your esteem and consideration. I am soon off for foreign lands, but I shall take with me the pleasant recollection of your kindness to-day. But, ladies and gentlemen, a little woman in the adjoining apartment is very anxious to see me, and I must, therefore, make this speech, like myself -- short. I kindly thank the excellent band of music for its melody, the sweetness of which is only exceeded by my anticipations of happiness in the new life before me. And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, wishing you all, health and happiness, I bid you all a cordial good-night. -Applause.-

NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS OF THE MARRIAGE.

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On the day following, the Tribune Herald, Times, World, Sun, Evening Post, Commercial Advertiser, and other journals, laid before their readers graphic accounts of the marriage. Several of the above -- mentioned papers devoting upwards of two and three columns of their space to elaborate reports of a wedding, the like of which never before was seen in any country, and which, unless the seconds in the affair should prove imitators, can not be duplicated in this century.

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The staid and sober old New York Observer:

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The doubts which have held place in so many minds, as to whether Tom Thumb and Miss Warren were really to be married, were dispelled at 12 o'clock on Tuesday, at Grace Church, by the actual marriage ceremony which made them man and wife, before nearly a thousand witnesses. The arrangements on the occasion did credit to all the parties concerned.

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It is the event of the century, if not unparalleled in history. We know of no instance of the kind before where such diminutive and yet perfect specimens of humanity have been joined in wedlock. Sacred as was the place, and as should be the occasion, it was difficult to repress a smile when the Rev. Mr. Willey, of Bridgeport, said, in the ceremony -- 'You take this woman,' and 'You take this man,' &c. Commodore Nutt was the groomsman, and a sister of Miss Warren the bridesmaid on the occasion. The latter is now sixteen years old, and not more than two-thirds the size of Mrs. Stratton (the bride). Like her, she is a little paragon of beauty and perfection of form. The bridal gifts displayed at the reception at the Metropolitan Hotel were, next to the Liliputians, the centre of attraction of all the guests."

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The New York Herald says:

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We entered the sacred edifice. Grand, solemn, and silent dim aisles -- "storied windows richly eight," etc. -- and here, indeed, was the show. If we had thought it a delicious jam outside, what shall we say of it within? Here, indeed, was the true "vision of fair women." Here was the carnival of crinoline, the apotheosis of purple and fine linen. Never before was the scarlet lady seen to such advantage. Babylon was a rag-fair to it.

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Ah! The musical rustle of silk as they passed us by; the lace! the feathers! the gems -- and "the shining eyes like antique jewels set in Parian statue-stone."

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There were silks of every possible hue, and thus a rich variety of colors in the picture. There was, too, every possible species of toilet -- dainty head-dresses, delicate bonnets, and whatever can make the sex beautiful, and lead every body else into temptation.

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But, beautiful as they were, they were not dwarfs. How many wished they were! How many regretted their "superb abundance!"

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Around the chancel, up and down the aisles, here, there, and everywhere throughout the church there were policemen, and order reigned in the matrimonial Warsaw.

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So we quietly took our comfortable seat, and listened to the magnificent organ and Morgan, who, between them, gave the overtures to "William Tell," and "Oberon," a march from "Tannhauser," and from "Robert the Devil," the air "Robert Toi que Jaime."

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As it became quiet in the church it became every minute more and more like a fairy festival. The music "groaning like a god in pain," the whole body of the church filled with beautifully-dressed women, and shed over all a luxury of golden light streaming in through the windows "diamonded with panes of quaint device." All these made it seem less like a matter of every day nonsense, than like the action of some old romantic story.

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