The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb - Melanie Benjamin [87]
“Vinnie, for goodness’ sake! You forget how old I am now! I know how to carry a doll!” Minnie’s little nose stuck up in the air as she sighed with disdain; I shared a smile with Mama and Papa. I could do this; I could keep my sister safe and innocent. I could preserve her childlike ways.
If only it had been that easy! For the one thing that I did not realize—and I don’t believe my parents did, either—was that my sister was really no longer a child. She was a young woman, despite the fact that none of us was willing to see it. And young women have passions and yearnings that even the most vigilant sister cannot always anticipate or even acknowledge.
Particularly when she hasn’t yet experienced them herself.
AND SO WE WERE MARRIED. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ACCOUNTS of that day; I’ll simply enclose the following report, which was printed in the Manitou, Wisconsin, Daily Bugle.
LILIPUTIAN WEDDING, A FAIRY’S DREAM
This Tuesday last, a ceremony like no other took place in Grace Church in New York City. It was there that that miniature gentleman, Charles Stratton or as he is more popularly known, GENERAL TOM THUMB, at last married his dainty bride-in-miniature, Lavinia Warren.
The bride wore an exquisite gown of white satin and lace, and her hair was arranged à la Empress Eugenie, with a bridal veil held in place by a coronet of orange blossoms. Her little white kid gloves measured from wrist to tip of the finger only four and one-half inches! The bridal bouquet consisted of roses and japonicas, and the jewels adorning the lovely bride were a gift from her dashing little groom, all of dazzling diamonds.
The bride and groom were attended by Commodore Nutt, whose broken heart was much evident, as he had competed for, and lost, the lily-white hand of the tiny Queen of Beauty. However, he was much consoled by the fact that, upon his arm was the tiny bridesmaid, Minnie Warren, younger sister of the bride and even more petite.
The four tiny principals took their places before the chancel, and the ceremony began. The responses of the bride and groom were given in clear, distinct tones, easily heard throughout the packed church where the likes of Vanderbilts, Astors, Generals, Governors and Ambassadors all sat in rapt attention, honored to have been invited to so solemn and heartfelt a ceremony.
After the ceremony, the fairy-like wedding party then entered their tiny carriages and were driven through cheering crowds to the Metropolitan Hotel, where a reception was held for ten thousand guests! The petite party had to be lifted upon a grand piano, from where they greeted their guests, to avoid being crushed by their loyal subjects, all eager to bestow their blessings upon their little King and Queen of Cupid’s Arrow.
The hundreds of wedding gifts were displayed, only a few of which will be mentioned, as there is not enough newsprint to list them all:
A MINIATURE SILVER HORSE AND CHARIOT, EYES OF THE HORSE MADE OF GARNETS, THE CHARIOT DECORATED WITH RUBIES, GIVEN BY TIFFANY & COMPANY
A CHINESE FIRESCREEN OF GOLD, SILVER, AND PEARL, A GIFT OF MRS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
A SET OF GOLD CHARMS, ALL OF THE TINIEST SIZE, TO BE WORN BY THE BRIDE, A GIFT OF AUGUST BELMONT
A SET OF PERFECTLY MATCHED PEARLS, GIVEN BY MRS. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT
A QUAINT GIFT OF EMBROIDERED SLIPPERS, PERSONALLY WORKED AND GIVEN BY MR. EDWIN BOOTH
A CUNNING BIRD AUTOMATON, BEJEWELED AND COVERED IN REAL FEATHERS, GIVEN BY MR. P. T. BARNUM
After the reception, the tiny pair retired to the Honeymoon suite; they were serenaded by the New York Excelsior Band, which prompted the newly minted bridal couple to appear on the balcony where the General addressed the crowd, beginning with the words, “I will make this speech, like myself, short.”
The General and his new wife will leave on a bridal tour which will commence in Philadelphia, ending up in Washington where the President and Mrs. Lincoln will give a reception in their honor.
This account is