The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-04-25

To make the beast pay dividends he
sent it to his farm in the suburbs of
Bridgeport. The keeper was gorgeously
arrayed in oriental costume and made to
pillow with the elephant in forty-acre
lot adjoining the railroad, where trains
were constantly passing between New
York and New Haven. It proved
tremer dous advertisement. The trains
ran slowly, crowds went out to see the
elephants pillow, and presently articles
about it began to appear in all the lead
ing newspapers in America and Europe.
After getting about $40, 600 worth of ad-
vertising ont Of this agricultural exploit,
Bsrnum sold the elephant for good
round sum to travelling managerie, and
the beast proved a greater attraction
than a dozen ordinary elephants from
the jungles of Africa, having never plow-
ed in the fields of New England.
BRINGING OUT JENNY LIND.
Barnum's negotiations and success
with Jenny Lind are unparalleled in the
history of the "show business" Bar
mum says; "No one can imagine the
amount of head work and hand work
which performed during the first four
weeks after Jenny Lind's arrival In
America. An enormous sum OF money
had to be secured before negotiations
could be opened with the Swedish song
stress in Europe. Nearly 100000 was
deposited with London bankers as
guarantee of good faith The American
public knew little or nothing OF her
genius as a singer and the press OF the
country had to be filled with stories
about her to create curiosity and de
sire to hear her.
At last she came. multitude were
at the wharf in New York. Floral arches
and enormous placards OF welcome |
greeted her Her eyes filled with tears
as she witnessed the ovation. Barnum's |
money paid for it all at first; then the
public did the rest. Her fame soon
Lind became a household word from San |
Francisco to Calcutta.
BARNUM AND TOM THUMB.
One OF Barnum's European achieve |
ments was the exhibition OF Tom Thumb |
in England. He was assured by British |
showmen that the kingdom Was overrun
with dwarfs and the people were tired of
them. But Barnum's genius made Tom
Thumb the sensation OF the day. Royal
ty patronized the little fellow until his
fame spread through all Europe. When
Barnum reached London with his mu
scum show he took a furnished mansion
at the West End. in the very center of
fashion and wealth. The house had
once been occupied by Lord Brougham
From this mansion letters OF invitation
were sent to members of the nobility to
see Tom Thumb. They came in crested
carriages and were ushered in by liveried
servants at the door.
The browning event in the show world
at that period was Barnum's feat in get
ting Tom Thumb and himself received
by Queen Victoria. Edward Everett, the
American Minister, Baroness Rothschild
and many persons close to the court were
80 much interested in the little General
that royalty itself wished to see the Am
erican wonder. Barnum' g tact and good
sense never deserted him in the presence
OF the Queen and her illustrious reuinue.
To the surprise of the lord in waiting, he
broke all the rules of court etiquette and
was allowed the great honor OF convers-
ing with Her Majesty direct, without the
formality of speaking through the third
person, who officiates on all such occa-
sions. After the reception refreshments
we're served to Mr.. Barnum and the Gen
eral in the royal palace. On the follow.
ing day the Court Journal contained an
extraordinarily long and detailed ac-
count OF the event. 1t is nerdle-s to say
that it was written by Barnum himself
and printed as be wrote it, thus proving
him to be the prince of press agents as
we'll as the prince of showmen.
Barnum gave Bridgeport magnificent
driveway along the Sound and public
park. The most recent of his many
gifts is the memorial building devoted to
Science and History" and costing
1925 900, and presented to the Scientific
and Historical societies of the city. 1t is
TO be OF sandstone and terra Gotta, with
historical panels, incnptions and towers
the whole surmounted by a great
dome. The building will have picture
gallery, library, lecture-room and fire.
proof vaults for the storing of relics and
other historical valuables