Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-03-13


few months, these extracts are inves-
ted with peculiar interest to our
readers:
APPENDIX Ii.
WRITTEN UP TO FEBRUARY, 1873.
THE GREAT SHOW CAMPAIGN OF 1872
THAT OF 1873 PAR TO srRPAss 1T.
On the 10th of April 1872, my great
travelling Museum, Menagerie and
Hippodrome moved westward. We
travelled entirely by rail. | carried
i6O horses, and nearly thousand
men, women and children. besides by
Ear the largest number of rare wild
beasts that ever travelled in one con-
Germ. Added TO this was the museum
Collection, and it is no wonder that
was obliged TO use ninety-fve cars and
five locomotives. In order TO exhibit
only IN large towns. 1t was frequently
necessary TO travel one hundred miles
in single night, arriving in season 10
give three exhibitions and the usual
street pageant, at $ o'clock A. NJ BY
means of cheap excursion trains, thou
sands of strangers attended daily from
along the lines of the various railroads
for distance of fifty. seventy-iive,
and even a hundred miles. Other
thousands came in wagons, on horse
back. and by every means OF convey
ance that could be pressed into service,
until by 10 o'clock-thc hour for the
morning exhibition-the streets, side
walks and stores were filled with stran-
gers. The great "show day" thus
always proved profitable TO those do
ing bus mess in towns where We eX-
hi bited.
Some idea of the excitement
throughout the country may be formed
from the fact that, upon arriving at
daylight, We usually found wagon
loads of rural strangers-men, women
and chi!dren-who had come in dur
ing the night and pitched camp Tie
public and the press universally ac-
owleded that showed all | adyer-
,ised, and much more. No travelling
exhibition ever before gave such uni
versal satisfaction.
The gross receipts for IA days (29
weeks were perfectly enormous: and
although my expenses exceeded $1,000
per day, | found an aggregate profit
ut the end of the season that was as
surprising AS it was gratifying. |
will say that the gross receipts OF my
world-renowned musical tour with Jen-
ny Lind, in 1901 although hitherto
unparalleled, were scarcely haif as much
as the amount taken at my tent door
in the summer of 1872. OF course, no
other travelling exhibition in the world
ever received or expended one-quarter
of such enormous sums i'll single
tcnting season ; indeed, it required my
forty years reputation as Il liberal ex-
httitor of attractions worthy Of public
support, including the moral and re-
ligious classes, TO warrant such an
unprecedented expenditure. But my
example is infectious. Half the men,
ageries of the country now boast OF
their "Hippodrome, 'Aquaria and
Museum, "and absolutely attempt 10
draw comparisons with my establish
ment, one tent of which would swal-
low up half dozen of these petty i'm
itators. An ordinary wagon would
hold all the curiosities contained in
these pretended Museums, and the
public are too wary to be taken in 10y
such "vain boastiDg."
Early in November last opened Il
new and beautiful Museum in New
York. combined with my great travel.
ing Show. This entire establishment,
was burned to the ground December
"a, while was in New Orleans, ex
hibiting great Menagerie of rare wild
animals.
Returning to New York l Learned
that my loss on building and propert,
amounted to the neighborhood o
100000. To meet this held insur
ance policies to the amount of $4,000
1t is amusing 10 witness the differ
ence in mems dispositions. | arrived
in New York from New Orleans Tn,
night before New Years, just weel
after the fire. l found my manager
Mr.. Coup, and my son-in-law, Mr.
Hurd, in rather low spirits. l laugh
ed at them and called them my dea
cons, but begged them not to 90 int,
mourning.
Its astonishing how you can laug
when you know our museum buildin
and all our rare animals are burned u
and We cannot get more in time fo
the spring show drawled the lugu
brious Coup, in an injured tone.
IF the fire had waited ten days ii
the holidays were over, we shoul
have been $4,000 better Off" chime
in the chop-fallsn Hurd.
''If the skies had fallen we shoul
have caught larks." replied; but 9
the skies did not fall, let US be col
tent with what is still left u.s."
"As for you, Coup" 1 continued
you talk about what we cannot dc
now, have l not told you often enoug
that the word can't is not in my di
tiOnary!
"But you cant help the fire can you
retorted Coup.
II shall not try but can restore a
it has destroyed and much more," / r
piled; "and ! will do it within thr,
months at furthest."
''That is easier said than done," r,
sponded Coup with sigh
"Surely, Father, you don't think '
can get new show upon the road b
fore July, do your" asked Mr.. Hurd.
81 repeat that l see nothing to pr
: vent our exhibiting the largest al