The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-15
Phinsas 7. Barnum.

Phinaas 7. Barnum.
In the death OF Phineas Taylor Barnum
America has lost one. of its most repre-
sentative characters and nearly every
American will feel he has lost an indi-
vldual acquaintance and personal friend.
Barnum-who does not know the name
was essentially a product of the time and
country. No other age, no other country,
could have produced character so unique
and yet so grand-for in many things Bar
mum was grand old man. There were
weak points in his makeup. as there
always have been and always will be in
the makeup of all men. He at times re-
sorted to schemes and methods which at
present would be looked upon as i'm
moral, but at the time he employed them
were tolerated by all, and in later wears
he had amply atoned by deeds OF charity
and benevolence for the errors of early
life.
Born at Bethel, Conn, July 5, 1910, the
son Of small storekeeper, Barnum
started on a mercantile career at thirteen
years of age. After drifting around for
five years ne returned to Bethel. and with
the money lie had saved opened q small
store, from which source. after adding
several schemes, he accumulated con-
siderable money. In 1929 he was mar
ried and shortly after started the
Herald OF Freedom at Danbury, Conn,
which he conducted until 1884 at consid-
cradle financial loss Then he removed
to New York, where he was buffeted by
adverse ipr.une for q year.
But this very adversely OF fortune was
with Barnum-ss with many otheEs-the
making OF the man. In casting about for
an investment for the small amount of
money left to him by his disastrous news
paper venture, Barnum heard of joyce
Heth, a Philadelphia negress, who
was reputed to be the nurse OF
George Washington. Approaching
the growing desire of Americans
TO be interested and amused, and perhaps
also even then approaching the fact that
the American people like to be hum
plugged, " this shrewd Yankee purchased
Joyce Heth for 81 900 and placed her on
exhibition. While realizing, from sad
experience, that little money was to be
made III running a newspaper he was
fully aware that there were millions in
the advertising columns for their patrons,
and he employed them in his interest Ia
what was then a lavish. not TO say profit
gate, way. He got his reward, and Tor
long time his receipts from the Joyce
Heth exhibition averaged the then enor-
nous average OF 81 800 per week. Organ
izing company, be took the negress
through the provinces and played to
big box receipts. in 1886 Joyce Heth
died, and a post norton examination
proved her to have been seventy-five or
eighty instead OF l6l years old as claimed
Whether or not Barnum then first knew
OF the fraud he had been perpetr ting on
the public Is not known, but certain it is
he had learned the valuable-to him
fact that the people want to be hum
bug,ed. and he immediately started in
to humbug them for their amusement
and his profit. For five years, however
he struck what Is known in theatrical par
lance as q frost, and the opening of the
year 1871 again found him in New York
bankrupt as to pocket, but rich in resource.
Without a cent he purchased Scudder's
American museum, by liberal advertising
paid for it at the end OF one year, and
from then up 10 1913 realized big profits
beside adding large collections 10 his
orig: nal exhibit In the meantime he had
found at Bridgeport the now world-famous
dwarf, Charles ). Stratton, known to the
curious people of all countries as Gen.
Tom Thumb. Barnum exhibited him
enormous profits from the exhibition.
In 1919 Barnum branched out into the
Legitimate" and secured Jenny Lind for
an American tour, paying her the then
princely sum OF $1,000 per night. But
owing 10 the excellence OF the attraction
and the liberal advertising methods that
had made his previous ventures, the tour
of Jenny Lind in 1S50-'5l resulted in re-
ceipts OF 100000, out of which Barnum re-
allied an immense profit.
In 1886, having meantime established
the circus a. an American institution and
having amassed a fortune, Mr.. Barnum
retired from business, built himself a
handsome home at Bridgeport and pub
lished 'Ihe Life of p. T. Barnum, Written
by Himself" Two years later the panic
of 1857 carried away his fortune and he
returned to his old New York museum.
This burned, was rebuilt, burned again
and was again rebuilt between that time
and 1865. During this time he laid the
foundations of that great amusement ag-
gregation" go dear 10 all the young and
old boys and girls, "Barnum's circus"
which had won him millions in recent
years.
At Bridgeport Mr.. Barnum has spent
most of his time of recent years. He had
several times been mayor of the city, and
In 1868 ran Tor congress as a republican.
but was defeated. During the closing
years OF his life Mr.. Barnum often lectured
on temperance, on success in business,
and had written many newspaper and
magazine articles on these and kindred
topics. He published two works of
more pretentious character-his auto
biography and his "Humbugs of the
World" He gave much of his time and
money 10 charities and public institu-
tons, and was in all things an exemplary
citizen. For many good deeds the people
loved and admired him, but his name will
most be remembered in time to come for
his intimate connection with the canvas
tented, sawdust-scented, much-frequented
Circus"
Death of the Rev. Il. ID. G. Prime.
NEW YORK, April THE Rev. Edward
Dorr Griffin Prime, d. d., died a. his resi-
dence in New York City this morning.
For more than thirty-two years he was
associated with his brother, the Rev. s.
Irenaeus Prime, ID. d., in the editorial