The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-31
must have stared at him like q rustic.
cling utterly at a loss to understand what he

must have stared at him like q rustic.
being utterly at loss to understand what he
meant
Upon getting this Amcricanism explained |
had the satisfaction OF finding TINT my inter
locutors question simply meant in English
who Is your inIprcsariof
"Well," thought |, Il am going to havo a
lively time Ia the States, that's evident this
sa foretaste that Is promising" | went to
my cabin thinking about the Yankee who
vas to boom my show"
Tho greatest boomer" In America Is the
great. the only. the unique Barnum. The
personality Of this king Of showmen Ia not
particularly interesting. except for being
typically American. and one that could not
,xist In any country but America.
Mr.. Phineas T Barnun. pursued by fate,
= every five years tho victim Of conaagra-
ion His fires happen with terrible resu-
arity Whilst was in America his tigers
md elephants were burned out Of house and
iome Scarcely had the flames been extin.
pushed when there were paragraphs in the
lapers TO say that Mr. Barnum's agent was
iuying fresh animals for the biggest show
N earth and all over the walls Of Americas
titles we're to 10 seen Aaring posters repre-
enting Phineas Baruum rising from the
,ames like modern phoenix Appended
vas long literary essay which began
Rising phoenix like from the ashes of my
if;h fire, and setting forth the wonderful
.ttractions Of the new show which was to DO
pened
Mr. Barnum holds In small esteem the man
gho lets slip chance OF making money
Ie would think it quite natural to offer
5000 week TO Gen. Boulanger to show
himself in his museum. and would think il
very unnatural that the general should re
use such q handsome offer The rumor has
{ that the enterprising Phineas wrote 10 II
pasteur some time since to try and engage
lin 10 guaranteed. it is said, $4,000 to
he illustrious -avant II he would noculate
,efore the American public twice Il day. II
Vas not much to ask, and the $4,000 would
lave been easily earned Barnum, however.
lad to content himself with engaging gen
enlan In spectacles, resembling moro or less
he famous professor. and he succeeded In
ecuring four little Americans whom Vi. Pas
eur bad just saved from hydrophobia They
we're inocuated with clear water probably
or month in all the principal towns Of the
'tatos. The society for the projections Of
.nimals, which does not include man ia its
irce Of operations, made no objection, and
lie Golfers Of the enterprising Phineas over
lowed with dollars
Mr Barnum does not understand how a
God offer can be refused He looks upon
verifying as being to sell or let, and the
.lmighty dollar as the master of the world
)ac day he took IL into his head TO make an
fer for the house ia which Shakespeare tras
lorn The English fred up at the idea, and
.e had to abandon bis project and be satisfied
Nth Jumbo
II every European nation were 10 become
republic the deihroncd monarchs could 90
nd make their fortunes in America, and the
-rcatest ambition Of Mr. Barnum would be
called
Nothing astonishes an American. That
which makes bis conversations immensely
ji4uant il, as | have already said the calm
iatural tone in which he comes out with the
most astounding statements
Ny impresario had just engaged me for
-cture season In the States and Canada
II shaD have two Europeans on mY list
next year." he said, Mir Charles Dickens
and Yourself wanted two others, but they
are not 10 be had"
That is not very lattering," said |. but
who Gre the two Europeans you cannot getT
M Gladstone and Lord Randolph Church
I'll, he replied, quito calmly.
Then, SURPRISING the words MI" and
Lord. according to the habit Of his country
men, be added with a sigh:
YES, Gladstone would have made lump,
and Churchill would have been an elegant
success