LOVE AMONG THE MIDGETS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 145, 20 June 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

LOVE AMONG THE MIDGETS.

Prince Colibki and .Princess Dedale.

A Royal Scandal.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

London, May 1. Performing at the Empire Theatre jusfc now are a troupe of the tiniest midgets ever seen in London. The Colibris (as they havo been christened) number five, and are all grown men and women. The biggest of them is far smaller than Tom Thumb ever was, and the smallest can sit comfortably on an inverted teacup. Midgets» however, have passions like other folk. Ib appears to be an undoubted facb that Princa Colibri, the dashing young bachelor of the troupe, has been indiscreet enough to fall violently in love with his friend Prince Dedale's wite. Worse than this, the lady returns his illicit attachments, and on Friday last allowed herself to elope with the misguided midget. The pair slipped out of the hotel when their manager (they thought) was taking forty winks. Mr Munstaat gob wind of their departure nevertheless, and following them to Charing Cross, arrived breathless, but just in time to lift tho little people through the carriage window. They were then securely tucked one under each arm, and walked back home.

Upon the news of this Royal scandal reaching the "Star" Office, Mr Hands's moat amorous, and (go far aa the ladies are concerned) large-hearted of reporters was despatched to Midgetland to investigate the story. After introducing the subject, he says :

In this pigmy community there are two who form one family—Prince Dedale and Princess Dedale, about 3fb high, about five and twenty years of age, and man and wife. They say that if the two had a fussy, solicitous old maidish aunt, SUCH AS HEDDA GABLER had, she would be able to look forward with an:;ious joy to the fact that before long there would be congenial work for an old aunt to do in the household. If Princess Dedale does not love her husband dearly, she ought to. But, alaa for conjugal felicity, marriage was a failure. The silken bonds of matrimony became a burdonsome chain of corroding iron. The Princess Dedale loved, with all the fervour of her human eoul, the Prince Colibri, another member of the tiny troupe. How shall one trace in miniature the growth ot this romanne 1 Prince Colibri is a young man of engaging manners and " distinguished military appearance," like Mr Wilfrid Murray. He is a man of strong individuality, of force of character. The little Princess ia a quiet, domesticated creature, whose joy in life has always been to make the midget beds and compound the tiniest of cakes and nail up little ornaments in the corners of the rooms —a simple-minded little woman in habit, bub with the quick nervous temperament of tho artist. She it ia who sings the bright little songs in the midget entertainment. She used to sing "Wink the Other Sye " till Marie Lloyd got jealous. What shall one say of them ? How shall one discuss their actions—with pitying sympathy or with cold formality of horror ? The Prince Dedale seems to have been constantly out of the way. The two were constantly thrown together. The stronger mind of the Prince Colibri impressed itself upon her imagination, and Prince Colibri, though a prince and a midget, is only human after all. The claims of friendship and of honour were insufficient to dam the torrent of his humanity. He gave way at last co a wild paseion for another man's wifo, and she loved him as tho wisest and greatest ot men. It is the real, living, palpitating humanity of this story that constitutes its interest. He loved her and ehe loved him. Who shall describe tho course ot the passion of which these two, this grown man and woman, found themselves the thralls ? Who would lay bare the details of their love, and describe the glance? they threw at one another as they sat in their high-railed chairs at table? Who would tell of the stolen embraces behind the fire screen or within the shadow of the tablecloth ? Is ib necessary to tell how the husband Dedale saw them once whispering together behind an egg spoon, but was TOO PROUD TO HARBOUR SUSPICION ? Sufficient let ifc be, as ib was sufficient for them, that they loved one another with a great love that filled the universe. The climax came a day or two ago. The manager of the troupe, Herr Munstaat, lying one afternoon in pretended sleep on the sofa in their Regent's Park lodgings, overheard their tiny voices as they talked, sitting side by side on two inverted teacups by the fire. This is the conversation he overheard. Prince Colibri: Star of my life, do you not know that I love you ? Princess Dedale t Alas ! and do I nob love you only too well ? Then fly with me, my princess, my queen. Fly with me. An, no ! Colibri; you must not ask me. Am 1 not bound by all ties to another ? But my life, I love you ! I love you ! And do I nob love you, too ? But do not ask me this. Is it not enough for us that >ye love each other ? By the sky, no. Do you think I can live and see you another'si ? Do you nob know that I love you ? You are mine and lam yours. Our love sanctifies everything. Come with me, my love. There are other "lands where the sun is bright and Men- are Free. Come with me to America. I love you ;do you not love me ? Colibri, you are all the world to me, and where you are my sun is always shining But, alas ! I dare nob. n " Dare not! What have you to fear so long as I am with you ? Do you not know that ib is that 1 may shield you from every harm that I ask you to fly ? Ah, my angel, do you doubfc me ? Once in America you are mine for ever. Why should you sacrifice our love—to him 1

Oh, heavens, what shall I do? What shall I say? Colibri, you prevail on me; bub still I fear. Know you the way to this America ?

My life, my love ! trust in me. Colibri, I fear, I fear, I tremblei I love you ! i love you ! But it is madness ; ib ia wicked. I love you, my Princess. Will you nob trusb me? Do you fear when it is I who am wibh you ? I love you ! Fly with me! Then let ib be so. I am yours. Take me far away, Leb us go now before the patron wakes up. Hurriedly they rushed to their apartments, and packed up their belongings in pill-boxes. Colibri carried a little

Bagful of Paipek Money. Furtively they carried a chair to the front door, and Colibri, climbing up, drew back the latch. Out they went inco the street, and were free. He stopped a crawling cab, and they climbed in. "Charing Cross, quick," said Colibri, and the cab started. Charing Cross wae the only railway station he knew. But what was that other cab which followed cautiously behind, and who was that prim foreigner with the cynical smile who sat inside it ? Ib was outraged society in the person of Manager Munsbaab, who had jumped up from the sofa when they leffc, and had hurried after bhem. They libde thought, as the porter ab Charinj; Cross lifted them out of the cab, that Munstaab was standing behind the pillar. " Where to ?" asked the porter. " Dover," said Colibri. Dover was where the boat stopped coming over, and to Dover he was going to take boat for the land of freedom. Wibh his love hanging trustingly on his arm, Colibri, looking defiance at the whole world, marched to the booking-office, and, standing on tiptoe and shouting up, demanded two first-class tickets for Dover. "Two half-tickets?" asked the booking clerk. Colibri withered him wibh a glance and took his two Full-sized Tickets. They went to the train and took their seats. The train was nearly due to start). Everything went well. But we think we are free agents, when all the while we are puppets in the hands of fate. Jusb as the brain was about to start. Fate, in tho person of Munstaab, walked up, lifted them oub through the carriage window, put them one under each arm, and marched them back home. There have been terrible scenes in the midget household. There was a stormy m6ebing and an interchange of reproach and defiance between husband and wife. And there have been scenes between Prince Dedale and Prince Colibri. The injured husband challenged the destroyer of his happiness and honour to a

Duel With Swords in Regent's Park, and the challenge was accepted. Only on the representation of Justice, in the person of Munstaat, that such a proceeding would mean imprisonment, was the meeting abandoned. Bub the end is not yeb. Justice Jeune or, since de minimis non curat lex, a tragedy seems the only prospect. The two men glare at one another on the stage and off, and Law and Order in the person of Munstaat has to be continually on the watch lest evil ahould befall.