Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-12
Barnum and the Bell Ringers.

| Barnum and the Bell Ringers. | During the visit of the Royal Hand Bell Ringers to Bridgeport, Connecticut, Decem- ber 7th, an episode very interesting to those | gentlemen occurred.
 Bridgeport is the place of residence of MT. Phineas T. Barnum, the prince and patriarch | of showmen. It is also the place where such l of the properties of the worlds show as are ! kept over the winter are stored in his i'm l mense permanent depot. | Mr. Barnum had received a circular, in | common with the rest of the residents, an- l nouncing the concert of the Royal Hand Bell Ringers. But it was predicted, as he rarely ! came himself to entertainments, he would \ not be present.
 l After the doors of Hawes' Opera House ! had been opened, and while the audience | were assembling, Mir. Barnum (whose resi- l dence, some two miles away, is in telephonic communication with the city)himself inquir- ] ed of the stage manager: What kind of 2 show is it? S M--Think it will be good properties are first rate house half half full now, crowding in? | s. M.-Thirty minutes from this. B.-Gues I'll come. MT. Barnum, accompanied by Mrs. B., was | in the parquet, and at the conclusion of the | concert was conducted by Colonel North to | the stage, and was introduced by that gentle man to the artists. l Mr. B.-Pve been very interested as tyou know) I ! first brought Bell Ringers over to this country. MT. Miller-Yes, believe so.,We have all much de- 1 sired an opportunity of seeing you. B-Im very pleased to know you personally. I've riety.
 young lady.-This is 8 moral show isn't it Mr. B.-Yes, capital Burning round) you all put your selves right into it. You'll do here. know you specially as you are temperance man. We P gnaIF- d. half" >--' '- '''''-'-'' O' Mr Henry Havart.-Half tea and half coffee M-Really without joking, we are all total abstain B.-tAssured) So you ought to be, but I'm glad MI suppose to find five English professionals thorough temperance men is 80 uncommon that you B.-That's so guess; very rare, but I'm very hap py to hear you say How long do you stop here? B.-Yes you won't i do much after that If you are in New York in March, you must come and see my MI want you to hear a piece we didn't in- clude in the programme, The Turkish Patrol March bells 9s-ON'' B.-Thats exquisite. We'll gentlemen, you'll be great success this side. General handshaking. B.-Good bye, glad to have met you.
 Since the above Mir. Miller has received the follow ing:
 BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Dec 6, 1884,.
 have been quite delighted with the entertainment which have seen and heard, none compare in merit with these. P. T. BARNUd.
 MT. Miller was also very desirous to have MT. Barnum's deliverance on the temperance question, as it affected him personally, and Mir. B. replied:
 WALDEMERE,
 BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, Dec. 6. 1881. D. S. Miller, Esq:
 DEAR SIR: was not only pleased with your enter tainment but I adopt with pleasure the words of Rev. Newman Hall ILL D.: 'tYour music is all the more pleasant from my knowledge of your devotion to the good cause of temperance" I confident, that if had not given up intoxicants Gas did in l84, should not have been permanently successful in my profession and t0hdt IS stiu important me, should have been in my grave twenty years agoi Truly yours,
 F. T. BARNUM