General Mite sings the tambour-major’s song extremely well; manages a “sociable” tricycle like a professional, and waltzes gracefully. The General is very brisk, very lively, a wonderful mimic; he acts several little pieces with real talent—amongst others, a scene of drunkenness, and the promenade of a New York dandy. But neither the General nor his wife possess the same charm as Princess Paulina. I have been quite close to this wonderful little creature and taken her by the hand, which, like the whole of her person, is modelled with infinite delicacy. [p066] She might be taken for a waxen statuette, a tiny dancer from Tanagra freshly exhumed, with a little carmine still clinging to her lips, a little gold to her tunic. One might apply to Princess Paulina the same praises which Loret, in 1653, addressed in his “Gazette” to “a little dwarf belonging to Mademoiselle,” who was suffering from a cold on the chest produced by the slamming of a door— “Jamais près de Roy ny de Prince[3] On ne vid de naine si mince. Quand une puce la mordait Et qu’icelle se défendait, La puce pour finir la guerre, La mettait aizément par terre, Et la moindre haleine du vent La fazait tomber bien souvent. Enfin, elle était si petite (Quoiqu’aucunement favorite), Que, dans un petit balancier De cuivre, d’arain ou d’acier, Ètant par plaisir un jour mise, Avec robe, jupe et chemize, Et de plus sa coiffure encor, Tout ne pezait qu’un louis d’or.” [p067] “Princess Paulina,” says the voluble individual who advertises her to the public, “is eleven years old. She is of Dutch origin, and measures 15-3/4 inches, and weighs ten pounds; she is introduced by her brother who is with her.” [Illustration] And the robust stripling lifts the little doll like an ounce: he holds out one arm and, in the pleasantest manner, the little princess performs a few acrobatic feats over it. She is very [p068] proud of this little social talent. When I was introduced to her behind the scenes, she courteously said: “Shall I turn a somersault for monsieur?” And in an instant she was standing on her hands, head down, feet in air, like a clown. With her tiny dress of coral-coloured muslin and satin flying out around her, Princess Paulina did not look any larger than a bouquet of roses enveloped in white paper. I asked her all the questions that etiquette requires when speaking to a dwarf. “Princess Paulina, have you a doll?” “As large as this, Monsieur.” She raised her hand above her head, but even then it only reached the medium size of the _Bébés Hurel_. “Princess Paulina, what did you eat for dinner?” “Six oysters and some breast of chicken.” “Princess Paulina, do you speak English?” “Very well.” “Princess Paulina, can you speak German?” “_Sehr gut._” “Princess Paulina, will you give me a kiss?” “Kiss a gentleman!” cried the little princess, quite alarmed.