The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-18
BARNUM "REMINISCENCES
STORIES lLLUsTRATINGTHE GREAT
SHOWMAN'S NATURE.

There is perhaps 10 name that it would be
harder to erase from the minds of the people
than that Of Phineas Taylor Barnum, the
great Snowman. There are few men who
do not retain through life the distinct im>
pressions made on their minds in youth, and
since the old men of to-day were boys the
advent Of Barnum's circus has been an event
in the life of young America. Barnum,
with his wild beasts and his wonders, has
been the connecting link between the chill
dren and the land of their story books.
While to millions Barnum was only a
name that was synonymous with circus, the
man himself has to hundreds Of thousands
been personal presence Of familiar form
and features. Until few years ago, when
the pressure Of the hand of time became so
heavy as to check his enthusiasm, it was his
pleasure to appear at the performances of
his circus in the larger cities of the country.
In this way he formed a sight acquaintance
with perhaps more persons than any Ameri-
can of his time.
The life OF Barnum is a familiar story to
the public. Enough has been printed con-
corning him to fill library, and his death
has resulted In deluge Of auecdote and
"reminiscences. The why's and wherefores of
his success have been assigned by a thousand
pens. That his success was genuine one,
who can denyl Born with no inheritance
save Yankee shrewdness, he made millions
IN business that it remained for him to
raise from a disreputable to a legitimate
standard, and he die no lored and loved by
those who knew him well, and respected by
all. At this time therefore, it is fitting to
tell those who had not personal acquaint-
ance with him something of those charac-
terlstics in him which were most pro-
nounced to those who did.
No phase of Barnum's character was so
full of human interest as his love for chill
dren and his apparently innate power of
attracting children to him. A happy smile
on the chiId's face acted like tonic on the
old man. To be surrounded by group of
such was his paradise on earth. His face
would light up, his ewes sparkle, and he
would rub his hands together delghtedly.
No title ever given to him pleased him
nearly as much as that Of THE
Chiidren's Friend" name he re-
ceived many years ago. With him it
was not case Of liking some children. He
loved them all, black aud white, homely
and pretty, so long as there were smiles on
their faces. And the affections Of children
seemed to 60 out to him at first sight.
Barnum was probably never more sincere
than when he wrote what he was pleased TO
call his PHILOSOPHY" which was printed in
the appendix of his book. 1t consists of
the following epigrammatic sentences;
If you would be as happy as a child please
one.
Childish wonder is the first step in human
wisdom.
TO best please child is the highest triumph
Of philosophy.
Ahappy child is likely to make honest man
To stimulate wholesome curiosity In the mind
of a child is to plant golden seed.
would rather be called the children's friend
than the worlds king.
Amusement to children is like rain to flowers
He that makes useful knowledge most at
tractve TO the young is the king of sages.
Childish laughter is the echo OF heavenly
music.
The noblest art is that of making others
happy,
Wholesome recreation conquers evil thoughts
Innocent amusement transforms tears into
rainbowS.
The author of harmless mirth is a public ben
efactor
Isay, as the poet said of his ballads, if I
might provide the amusement of a nation I
would not care who made its laws.
In the old days the matinee performances
in Madison Square Garden were Barnum's
special delight, because the children were
there. He always reserved box for him
self in the center on the south side of the
garden. The happiest moments of his life
seemed to be those when he was walking
across the arena to his box. There is Bar
num-" would go around. The children
would all clap their little hands and Bar
mum, taking off his hat would bow to the
right and the left, smiling to the ears
After one Of these receptions he remarked
with a chuckle, as he took his seat in the
box:
II don't value the applause of the adults
half so much as that of the children. The
clapping of their little hands and their
shrill laughter is a whole symphony to me. :"
Barnum knew how to talk to children,
and it was a pleasure to him to do it, No
Sunday school Entertainment in Bridgeport,
his home, was complete unless Barnum
went and addressed the children. On a
score of occasions at the lnatinees in Madi-
son Square Garden, he used to mount the
stage before the performance and talk. In
what he said no never considered the adults
1t was the boys and girls to whom he spoke,
in words that all could understand, telling
them stories about animals and birds in the
menagerle, and asking them to go after the
performance and see particularly the birds
or animals of which he spoke, so that what
he told them might be impressed on their
minds. Barnum believed what he said
when he asserted that his show was great
educator to young minds.
ANY feature Of the show that could be
| made particularly interesting to children,
Barnum was quick to turn to their enjoy
ment. 1t was at his suggestion that great
saddle was built for Jumbo, on which
twenty children could be seated. 1t was O
| pretty sight when the great elephant used
to make trips around the garden before the
| performances, with a score of laughing
youngsters on its back. II any animal were
| born in the menagerie Barnum at once
issued orders that the attention OF the chill
dren be specially called to the babies
Two stories that are new will illustrate
more forcibly than anything else could the
bond Of affection that existed between Bar
mum and the children. Three years ago.
when the show was about to open at the
| garden, a most pathetic letter, addressed to
| Mr.. Barnum, came from a little 9-year-old
| boy on the East Side. 1t was printed on a
scrap of paper, and is given here verbatim:
DERE Mr.. BARNUM: am little boy an am
| very sic in bed hav ben waiting long time
| for yure circus to come an now its come can
not 20 the doctur sails Dere Mr.. Barnnm please
| let the perad go by my hous.
Mr. Barnum at once ordered the parade
to conform its route to that sick boys wish,
| though it took it four blocks out of the line
originally laid down.
Another story, showing the children's
| love for Barnum. is told in connection with
the story Of his deathbed. Monday week
ago package arrived at Mr.. Barnum's
Bridgeport house. 1t Was opened and found
to contain little folio with twenty crude
little sketches illustrating the circus. There
was also a letter addressed to Mr.. Barnum,
1t came from a l0-year-old girl in this city.
She said she had been to his circus and had