The Newtown bee., 1891-04-10
INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCE OF SHOW
MEN, HON P. t. BARNUM.

INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCE OF SHOW
MEN, HON P. T. BARNUM.
A reporter of the BEE called at the ele-
CANT home of Hon P. Il. Barnum, king of
the amusement world, and, pushing the
electric bell, the huge carved oak front
door was opened by his butler, Robert,
who has grown old in his service and who
always greets every one with a pleasant
smile and Good morning, sir, what is
it?' The reporter asked if he could see
Mr. Barnum. ''Wait a moment," says
Robert, land | will see." In few mo-
ments he returned and said, ''All right.
walk in, sir.' Mrs Balnum greeted the
reporter pleasantly, saying, II am go
ing to let you see Mr. Barnum, but you
must promise to make the interview short
and not worry my husband" The re,
porter promised and was ushered into the
presence of the greatest Snowman on
earth and found him reading New Y orE
paper containing an account of the open.
ing of his Greatest Show on Earth at
Madison Square garden. Mr. Barnum
shook hands with the reporter and invit-
ed him to be seated, saying that he was
always glad to meet newspaper man
The reporter asked, How do you feel
Mr. Barnum." Laying aside his paper
he said, VERY good, indeed, this morn
ing. Although confined to the house,
am the same as ever, not an ache or pain
Have eaten a hearty breakfast and slept
well, last night" Addressing his train
ed nurse, K. B. Allcott, a graduate of the
Bellevue hospital of New York city, he
said, elbow long have | been sick?" ALL
colt replied, '"Twenty weeks" ''Well, .
says Mr. Barnum, ''Many nights have
gone to sleep not expecting that | should
awake in the morning, and, during that
time, | have had plenty of time to think
or many things and death. Also to make
arrangements for my funeral, which will
be strictly after the English custom. On
ly nearest relatives will be permitted to
see the remains, after which the casket
will be closed. Rev l.. P. Fisher, pastor,
assisted by Rev DR. Collyer, will hold
brief services at the Universalist church,
the burial to be at the convenience of the
family" He said that the old heathen-
ish way of admitting every one, high and
low, clean and dirty, to rush in and see
the corpse is absurd; that the public
should remember the deceased as he look
ed at his best and not stand over the cas-
ket and make remarks about a black
streak on the side of his nose, a discolor-
ed spot near the ear or the expression of
his face; that, if there was a crematory
in the neighborhood, he would prefer to
be cremated; his wife would also. Now -
he added, IA Joke or story, else it would
not be Barnum. Both of us enjoy the
story of the woman who was cremated
and her ashes carefully preserved by her
husband in glass jar. Soon after his
second marriage, which occurred in the
Winter, the steps of his house became
coated with ice and he was afraid his
wife would slip. Not having anything
handy, he Sprinkled the steps with the
ashes of his first wife, Mr. Barnum en-
joyed hearty laugh at this, in which
the reporter joined. Are you not rather
premature in this matter, Mr. Barnum?''
asked the reporter. "Well, | may be-
rejOned Mr. Barnum. II have DIR Hub
bard and DR. Godfrey, who have attended
me during my Illness and, every night,
one of them sleeps in the room
with me. DR. LOOMS, who is considered
the most eminent physician in New Y orll
city, visits me occasionally. During his
last visit, he said that he should see me
alive in 1895. We'll, said, if that is
so, will give you my largest and best
elephant and have him trained 30 test the
pulse, also to use the telescope for ex-
aminng the heart. Besides, / will give
you free tickets to my Greatest Show on
Earth. BY the next morning mail, sent
him free ticket, admitting him to the
DtSb StSIS, IL I'VE 10 1880 ana auCCu.
good as long as live anyhow"
Mr. Barnum seemed as well as ever and
not fatigued by the interview, but, re-
membering his promise to Mrs Barnum,
the reporter thanked the veteran show
man, expressing the wish. knowing that
it was against the rules to give free tick
cts, that Mr. Barnum would be alive when
the Greatest on Earth opened in Madison
Square Garden in the Spring of 1900 and
that he could have free tickets, too. Mr.
Barnum, shaking hands, said, ''If l live,
| will gladly break the rules and you
shall have Them" The reporter, as he
walked down the long, sweeping drive
way, obtained one of the most beautiful
views of Long Island Sound, also saw the
beautiful green lawn, which is enclosed
by the handsomest wrought iron fence in
New England; pa ssing out through the
huge stone gate posts, with an immense
carved lion resting on each, he came to
the conclusion that, from the present
condition of Mr. Barnum, he was sure of
seeing the great show, for once, free
A. S. NJ.
In the office and warerooms of c.. j
Hughes of the Stratford granite and mar
bic works, opposite the station, are three
of ha