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My parents and family favored the new road presented for me to follow, the only deterring obstacle being an erroneous impression of the character of Mr. Barnum, whom they looked upon as an arrant humbug. They thought he would do something to make the public believe that there was some deception in me -- that I would be looked upon as another of Barnum's humbugs.

Mr. Barnum finally sent an invitation to us to visit him at Bridgeport, and in his own home gave my family satisfactory assurances of his good faith.

I little thought when we accepted that invitation how many important events would quickly follow and be crowded into my life's history, one of the most important and least anticipated being my marriage, almost at the opening of my career. I had heard of General Tom Thumb, and had seen him once, but knew nothing of his character, reputation, and fame.

After a brief visit to Boston I returned to New York, where I held levees for three or four weeks. I arrived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel on December 30, 1862, and the next day received New Year calls. Among my callers were many who afterward became famous, among them Generals McClellan, Burnside, Rosecrans, and McPherson. Other callers were the Vanderbilts, the Astors, and others of the "Four Hundred," though that term had not then come into general use, and very surely the number of my callers was not limited by that fanciful term.

My reception by the press and the public of New York was all but overwhelming. The leading daily papers devoted a great deal of space to my appearance, and described me in most flattering terms. I will quote only one the many notices of the day.

The New York Tribune of December 23, 1862, said:

Yesterday we saw a very pretty and intelligent little lady at the St. Nicholas Hotel in this city. This woman in miniature is twenty-one years of age, weighs twenty-nine pounds, and measures thirty-two inches in height. She enjoys excellent health, has symmetrical form, and a perfect physical development. She has a full, round, dimpled face, and her fine black eyes fairly sparkly when she becomes interested in conversation. She moves about the drawing room with the grace and dignity of a queen, and yet she is entirely devoid of affectation, is modest and lady-like in her deportment. Her voice is soft and sweet, and she sings excellently well. This charming little woman was born in Middleboro, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Her parents are of ordinary size and stature. Miss Warren dresses richly and with exquisite taste. She is receiving, in her private parlor, visits from some of the most prominent families in this city.

It is probable that many people have regarded my marriage with General Tom Thumb as a purely professional and mercenary arrangement. Concerning this, let me quote Mr. Barnum:

"At the time I engaged Miss Warren, General Tom Thumb had no engagement with me, and in fact he was taking a vacation at his home in Bridgeport. Whenever he came to New York, he naturally called upon his old friend at the museum. While Lavinia was giving her levees, the General came to the city, and was at the museum daily; of course they had many opportunities of being in each other's company. One day he said to me:

'You have always been a friend of mine, and I want you to say a good word for me to Miss Warren. I have plenty of money, and want to settle down in life.' I told the General that this was too sudden an affair; that he must take time to think of it; but he insisted that years of thought would make no difference, for his mind was fully made up.

"'Well, General,' I replied, 'I will not oppose you in your suit, but you must do your own courting. Miss Warren is no fool, and you will have to proceed very cautiously, if you can succeed in winning her affections.' The General thanked me and promised to be very discreet. At his request, I invited Lavinia to accompany me to Bridgeport the following Saturday, and remain until Monday.

"The General met us at the depot in Bridgeport, and drove us to my house in his own carriage. After visiting awhile at 'Lindencroft,' my residence, he took Lavinia out for a ride, stopping at his mother's house. She there saw the apartment which his father had built expressly for him, and filled with the most beautiful furniture, all corresponding to his diminutive size. (I am still using the same furniture in my own home.) Then he took her to East Bridgeport, and no doubt pointed out in detail all the houses he and I owned. They returned to lunch. I asked her how she like her ride, and she replied, 'It was very pleasant; but it seems as if you and Tom Thumb owned about all of Bridgeport.' The General returned with his mother at five o'clock for dinner.

"The next evening, Sunday, the General called, and after spending a pleasant half hour asked me to step into another room, and there announced under promise of secrecy for the present his engagement to Miss Warren. The next morning he brought a very nicely written letter which he wished to send to Lavinia's mother. He deputed his friend Mr. George A. Wells to be the bearer and receive the reply. On Wednesday, Mr. Wells returned, saying that at first Mrs. Warren objected, for she feared it was a contrivance to get her daughter married for the promotion of some pecuniary advantage to me, but hearing from Mr. Wells that in case of the marriage he would cancel all claim upon her daughter's services, Mrs. Warren consented."