Smyrna times., 1875-12-22
mise e/IUW e OMS.
From tie Nelc York San, Norenlber col
A Ride With P. T. Barnum,

IS Busy? | should say | was said p. T.
Barnum. Mayor of Bridgeport, Ct, vester.
day, as he-drove his "big sorrel' through
the streets at a slashing pace, scattering
mud IN all directions. Il have lust re-
turned from lecture tour as far west as
kansas City, and tomorrow start South.
and here find enough work for dozen
men to do, getting ready for the auction
sale. You know we are going to sell all
the animals, trappings, and everything
connected with the Universal Exposition
Company. But I've got time to give YOU a
ride and show you the animals and some
Of the traps
About two years ago" continued Mr..
Barnum, Just before we started the Hippo
drome in New York. the State of Connect
cut granted US a charter for an association
to be known as Barnum's Universal Ex-
position Company with an authorized capi
tai of 81 100000. | was the President. Mr..
). II. Hurd, one of my sons-in-law. was
Treasurer, W. c. Coup was manager. and
Dan CASTILLO, Geo. Bunnell, and other old
showmen were stockholders. Under this
charter we started the Roman Hippodrome
in New York, travelling show called Bar
NUNS Museum, Menagerie, Circus, and the
Worlds Fair, and another concern that
didn't use our name, I've forgotten what it
was called.
You can imagine what a lot of stuff it
required to fit all these shows out. They
cost us a full million of dollars. The Hin
podrome paid from the start in New York.
Philadelphia, and Boston So that when
We started with it through the country it
had paid for itself. But travelling shows
didn't do well last summer. There was
great deal of bad weather. and the times
were hard, you know but the BOYS re-
ported profit of $4,000 on the Museum.
Nenagerie, Circus, and Worlds Fair, and
10000 on the Hippodrome; but I tell
them the wear and tear on the property
moro than covered their gains.
CLOWNS INDISPENSABLE
The Hippodrome didn't pay in the
small towns. In the cities it drew well.
but in the towns the people would flock
from all around the country to the first per-
formanee, and then 90 home disappointed
because there wasn't no clown
" It's good fun to study the country peo-
PIE" continued the great Snowman, laugh
ing. Last summer I met the museum,
menagerie, &C., in Akron, Ohio, and in the
afternoon performance was walking in the
museum, when an old man who was stand
ing before the Sleeping Beauty the breath /
ing figure, you know, turned to me and
said, How long has that woman been in
that condition, sir? Ever since she was
bOrn,' answered You don't say so. 1
want to know; : and the old man was aston
ished- just then along came two young
fellows who stopped before the automatic
drummer and organ grinder. One Of them
turned and said !: Come along, jim, that
fellow amt alive; it's darned humbug' /
No. said Jim, there amt half of these |
things real; it's all a darn humbug; : and |
of they went. They had expected to be
humbugged, and were not disappointed. |
There was another very funny incident at
Erie, when this same show was there. The
canvas was packed full, and sat down by |
the side of an old couple who were watch
ing the circus performance. What want
said the old man, is to see Barnum. I'd
give more 10 see him that the hull caboodle
put together. Do you know which of
them is Barnumg said he turning to me.
I said that thought Mr.. Barnum wasn't
in the ring. BY and by there came into the |
ring young fellow about twenty-five years
old, riding four horses. He went through |
all his manoeuvres, and ended by standing
on his head on horse and kicking his |
legs in the air. There wife, I'll bet hun
dred dollars that that's Barnum. There
amt another man in the wnld cud do that.
know The Mayor laughed heartily at
the idea Of his standing on his bead or
riding four horses.
THE ANIMALS.
Well, here we are, said he, driving up
toa ssumense old building. "IIere's where