GENERAL  MITE

Franky Flynn appeared with this little lady in 1887. (Photo courtesy "The Little People")

PART II

Carte de Visite from the author's collection of Señorita Lucia Zarate, the "Greatest Wonder of the Age".  Lucia came to the U.S. in 1875 and toured almost continuously until her untimely death in 1890. This is a companion piece to the previous carte of Francis.  Although the two teamed up for appearances, I've yet to see an actual photo of the pair together.

In 1880, under the direction of Frank Uffner,  Francis teamed up with not only Lucia Zarate but also Chang Woo Gow, the Chinese giant.   After Lucia left for the States the following year, Francis was then paired with another diminutive lady: English-born Millie Edwards.    Though Francis was billed as being 18 years old he was actually 10. Millie was billed as 15 but was really only five! The couple were a great draw and toured for two years when it was decided that they would be "married" in order to keep the public interested in their levees.

General Mite and Millie Edwards were married May 1884 at St. James Hall in Manchester. Spectators were charged  1s to 5s a ticket to view the brief ceremony. Though represented as being of marriageable age, Francis was actually 12 years old and Millie was only seven.

"Mr. Francis M. Uffner hereby offers a Challenge of £1000 to any Manager who will produce and exhibit the Equal in Contrast  of his ENORMOUS GIANT and MARVELLOUS TINY MITE"    Chang toured the U.S. in 1881 after his successful 1880 European tour. He died in his adopted hometown of Bournemouth, England in late 1893.