New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
4 CHAT WITH p. T. BARNUW.
THE OLD SNOWMAN TO DIE IN HARNESS.
HE WILL ONLY HINT AT THE BRILLIANT FEAT
UREs PROMISED BY HIS GREATEST SHOW
FOR NEXT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

FOR NEXT sEAsoN-REMINIscENcEs
OF HIS EARLY DAYS
p T. Barnum the famous founder Of tho Greatest
Show on Earth arrived in the city recently on o1ei
business trip lie is hale and hearty sdI, ana carries
the weight Of HIS years with the case and grace OF
much Younger man. When asked about his plans Tor
the future his Characteristic smile OF diplomacy
spread across hts features and he assumed his fons
familiar attitude Of meditation, with his hands folded
in his lap and his eyes cast down. After momehFs
silent thought he spoke.
81 should like 10 tell you all about my plans-!ol
know believe talking freely TO the press, he SAID
But unfortunately It is impossible for me to DO 50
10 any great extent just at present You See sue
cessful men have host Of imitators. Now, TX you
were 10 win a gratifying az something, there
would be plenty Of people who would rely upon your
Judgment and try to follow you In everything you
might attempt afterwsrd 1t is just so In my case
You can understand, therefore, that II were TO tell
you Just wha, intend exhibiting to the public next
season. somebody would Immediately get up Nasty
imitation, and start out with II before do
However will give you just an linking Of what
have In store for the public AS every season goes
around think that at last have gathered together
everything that Is and interesting to the American
people but before the next season arrives find that
/ am mistaken. Instead of there being nothing new
under the sun, there is always something new. Ac-
cordingy, 1 keep accumulating novelties, until
now I can safely and honestly lay claim 10 having
the greatest show earth. This year have col
ected more novelties than before, because have
pursued different tactics In addition TO my regular
collection agents, / picked out citizens of almost
every foreign nation, and sent them among their own
people to seek for things which stranger would over
look These people not merely interpreters, but
old showmen- performers who have travelled I'm this
country and know what the public wants. The result
IS that have secured number of features which VIII
astonsh even you-a newspaper man. One OF these
I.lx~ rf
for tho entire have also secured something
for 1890 which will amaze the whole Nation. Al
though feature Of my show, II IS wholly unlike
circus and nobody seeing IL would conceive that
Il could be transported by rail from one city to an
other as intend doing The cost will naturally be
something enormous. I made an offer OF $4,000
cash the feature for that but was refused
and for the first time IN my entire experience am
compelled 10 give a share in my profits 10 a single
feature OF my show"
"Do you ever intend retiring from business again,
Mr. Barnum7'
Never replied the great Snowman, emphatcally
az shall die in harness When this country grows
tired Of me l shall 60 abroad intend taking my
show to England day, anyhow, and to Australia
also but not now. No, shall never retire again
did once and didn't ike it. Shortly after my first
museum in this city burned down, the great Horace
Greeley met me. and told me to give up the show
business and go arfshing. 1 replied that had not
found time TO go fishing for twenty-five years. and
thought It too late to do so then. However, after
my second fire l took Mr. Greeeys advice and did
retire. When four five years had PASSED began
feel myself growing rusty In ideness, and longed
for a change About that time i came across Mr..
Coop who reminded me of a promise made years be-
fore to start him in the circus business some day.
was ripe for such promise then, and made good
my promise Immediately This required so much OF
my attention that the Old fever naturally came over
me again. and took an interest in the circus myself
and sent 1t out under my Just before
the season opened ! met Avery Smith, one of the
celebrated showmen Of that day, and told him what
was doing He laughed and said was fool and
would lose everything. When asked him why, he
said because | giving own name TO the show,
and no circus had been known exist under one
name for than two years.
Having used my name for that purpose for more
than that time in years previous he held that tho
value my name had run out. Let me explain hero
that the reason for smiths assertion was because so
many clrcuses had travelled through the country, adj
vertisng than they had. that the public
lost confidence in them after one or TWO seasons.
Consequently, the show had TO be disguised Undcr
new name YOu see The American people have too
good memories for to attend false pretensons
in the circus business very long. Well. To resume,
paid no attention 10 smiths advice, bur depended
upon my former reputation and about six weeks later
Smith came 20 astOnished az my success He
then offered me $25 600 for the OF my name for
one season. In connection with small show that no
wanted 10 take through the smaller circuits that
never visited. I refused him, however, and although
let So5 900 slip through my fingers by doing
had the satisfaction of knowing that my name had
that policy ever since, and have never had cause to