Handbill advertising At the Court House! General Tom Thumb on Thursday and Friday, August 26 and 27 in Poughkeepsie, New York. This advertisement heralds the approach of Charles S. Stratton, performing as his character General Tom Thumb, and lists the performance dates and times. It also gives a quick overview of his costumes and what will be done in the performance, as well as promises that each visitor will receive a visiting card with the General's name on it. At the top of the handbill is an illustration of Stratton dressed in a suit, his short stature shown in sharp contrast against the other regular sized individuals around him. Printed by Journal and Eagle Printing and Publishing Establishment. The exact year is unknown. Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838- July 15, 1883), known as General Tom Thumb, was an entertainer and Bridgeport, Conn. native who got his start with P.T. Barnum in 1842. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum at age 4, as exhibiting those with dwarfism was lucrative at the time. Stratton took quickly to performing, and he entertained audiences worldwide, including nobility such as Queen Victoria. Stratton married fellow performer M. Lavinia Warren and the two had a happy marriage. Stratton's performances brought him renown as a celebrity, perhaps one of the biggest at the time, and he and Warren were able to live comfortably when not working. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with his wife beside him.
