The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-20
AMERICAS GREAT SNOWMAN
Mr.. Croffut Encounters 2. 7. Barnum,
and Engages Him in Conversation.
Saved from Whisky and Tobacco
Views on Politics and Religion.
of the Indianapolis Journal


much Of that seaside dissipation which we call
rest. Into the smokingcar I strolled for an
empty seat to lounge in. AS l sat down a
CHEEKY voice saluted me from the next seat-one
of a quartet Of card -players. 1t was p. 7. Bar
mum, and the subject of immediate discussion
was railroad euchre." Never did / see it
played so fast Two hands minute was about
the average TELEGRAPH euchre," / should
rather call it. Cards were in the air all the
while, like knives over the head of the Japanese
juggler
They played for an hour, perhaps, with varied
luck, when the Snowman secured substitute
and retired to the vacant seat behind me- had
not seen him look 30 well in twenty years. and
told him so-his eye bright, his step elastic, the
grasp of his hand firm.
"No," he protested" l am far from WE'LL
have caught fatal disease which daily grows
worse. The doctors have given me up. and tell
me it is incurable"
He placed his hand over the cardiac region and
looked at nae for sympathy
l thought of malaria, softening of the brain
and the affection through the medium of which
the late DR.. Bright succeeded in immortalizing
''l've got it bad" he continued, smiling, call
over me. 1t has, 1 suppose. some Latin name,
but common folks call it old age It's got me.
It's going to carry off. Old age is the disease
that has got its claws on me and is going to
fetch me in the end. Yes as you say. I'm max
ing good fight of it. I'm seventy-ive years
DID, / have frst-rate digestion l sleep well.
l have recovered from the effects of the sun
stroke of five years ago, and am in perfect
health. If 1 had ever taken lessons of my
gymnasts I believe l could turn sommersault
to-day"
asked him about his personal habits. "Well,"
he said leaning back in the seat and rejecting,
lets see. l am economical of my life forces.
try to go to bed at 10 every night. In the morn
ing l answer my correspondence, and attend
to my tenants and communicate with my part
ners by telephone and telegraph-fnishing up
everything before dinner, which I take in the
middle of the day. After dinner generally doze
in my chair for moment. If I can lose con-
seriousness for five minutes, it is just as refresh
ing to me as genuine sleep. 1 take drive
mornings and afternoons. In the evening we
read, or have music or play cribbage or whist.
| am up at seven in the morning. never drink
or smoke"
AS expressed some curiosity about those
habits, he said:
when was young man in Danbury, ev-
eryb ody drank. Cider brandy, called 'gump
tion,' was the favorite drink. Every occasion
was the occasion for horn Parties and we'd
dings, christenlngs and house raising and husk
ing-bees, and even at funerals, the clergymen
and mourners all drank liquor. at auctions the
auctioneer held bottle of liquor in his hand,
and, when bidding was slow, he would cry out.
"A dram to the next bidder' lifting his bottle to
emphasize the offer. Up would go the bid, and
the bidder would take his deadhead dram. Ev-
erybody drank. Those who think that the world
has degenerated and is fast going to the dogs
would not think so if they could remember the
times of the war of 1912 as can"
Il drank good deal in these days, for it was
the fashion. If this year was 1926 instead of
1885, this smoking car, instead of being quiet,
would be full of noisy roysterers drinking and
carousIng. Only there wouldn't be any car
then. would there?"
l said l had heard that Rev E. H. Chaplin
saved his soul on the temperance question.
eyes," he concurred "Chapin delivered
lecture at Bridgeport on moderate drinking, and
L went down into the cellars of Iranstan and
knocked my champagne in the head. That was
in 1847, but had ceased to drink spirits regu-
larly long before that DR. Willard Parker
scared me out of the use of tobacco in 1860, and
1 never smoked again."
You have somehow picked up q definite
religious creed, Mr.. Barnum," l said
Eyes, don't believe in Ingersoll's notions"
he answered "Of course, we cannot definitely and
positively KIN ow anything about what happens
after death beyond what we see: but earnestly
believe there Is another life where the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe will see that justice is
done. The mind longs for a balancing of &C
counts. l believe that he who has inflicted
harm or others here will have to pay
has been wronged and robbed and
prosecuted here will receive compensatory
benefits there. Repentance won't do it. Pardon
won't do it. The thief who repents on the gal
lows will 60 to hell for a time-that is. he will
60 into a condition of remorse and suffering
but if God is good as believe he is, he isn't
going to punish any body infinitely for q finite
sin-isnt going to Danish any human soul be
yond the confines of his love-"
You seem to think" suggested, shat the
worst bankrupt and moral tramp can somehow
get into the celestial show, by crawling under
the tent of eternal pity"
For heavens sake' laughed Mr. Barnum,
don't indulge in such startling metaphors!
They're worthy of Rev Sam Jones Only the
Reverend Samuel would say that the angel Ga
briel is inspecting the tickets at the wagon to
see if they bear the predestination coupons, and
that Peter, and Paul, and John Calvin are
especial police to see that nobody tries to get i'm
on passes. l don't believe in such a narrow doc
trine concerning the great hereafter. | believe
justice will be done through infinite time recon-
pense made for evil suffered and something like
harmony and happiness established at last in
domain which is ruled by love"
l asked Mr.. Barnum what he thought of par
ties.
II am Republican, you know" he said
"But it seems to me that our chief danger is from
monopolies-that is, corporations that use their
money and power to injure and rob the people
who created them. l have always felt So In
1865, when l was speaking in the Connecticut
Legislature, advocating bill to compel the New
York q New Haven railroad to keep faith with
the State, telegraph dispatch from my son-in-