St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-16
FoREPAUGH,s CIRCUS.
How j. e. Cooper Comes to Own
the Big Show.

To the Editor Of the Globe:
Now that P. T. Barnum is dead the greatest
thing On earth is Adam Forepaugh, ana he is
not on earth either. The company which
owns his circus, however. pretends that he is
and posts his portrait on every billboard in the
country to arrest the attention of the passerby.
1t does this partly because his countenance
is drawing one and partly because it re-
ceives bonus from Chauncey III. DepeW for
the advertising it gives him. ~
The quotation is from an extremely clever
and humorously written drive at Chauncev
M. Depew, but it unwittingly does
gross injustice in two of its state
ments. The company which owns
his adam Forepangh's) circus does not
exist. His circus is owned solely and indi-
vidually by Mr.. James E. Cooper. Neither
Mr.. Cooper nor any one in his employ in any
form or manner pretend that Adam Fore
paugh is alive They do pretend that Ibis
works live after him. and that the shows
gwen under his name embrace all of his show
property, and his portraits are used to iden-
tify the property. Your statement is, how
ever. facetlous upon its face, direct impu-
tation of deceitful practices, when in fact Mr..
Cooper spends great deal of money in max
ing his name conspicuous as the sole owner,
and also In the publication of Mr.. ForepaUgh's
last will and testament and the bill OF sale of
his property to Mr. Cooper by the executors
of his estate. AS smaller shows are busying
themselves just now in frightened protest
against Mr.. Cooper's re entree into the circus
business-and their chief reliance for sym
pathy is upon a false charge that both the
Adam Forepaugh and Barnum shows are
owned by the same company and that they
: ure trying to establish a monopoly of the
show business by sending out such enormous
Shows that all the others will be showed un-
der, you can easily see how your innocent fun
with Mr.. Depew supports the little shows in
their libels against Mr.. Cooper. They will be
quick 10 make an ally of the GLOBE. In view
of this fact it may not be amiss to give the
mi rnQ yl1r-f1 TO 49,
sail him as they do. James E. Cooper is
Americas Oldest living Snowman Several
years ago. after he could count his fortune
by Enthusiastically retired from active
business His home in Philadelphia is prob
ably the most costly and elegant in that city,
while none other contains more refined
cultured and charming family. Only Mr.
Forepaugh's death could have induced
retirement 1t is well-known fact
among showmen that the Forepaugh show
property In solid, material wealth, has been
the ideal for years past 1t was regarded. as
it was and is, the finest show property in the
world. TO own it, or one like it. has been
the ambition of every Snowman. Mr.. Fore
paugh was a sturdy, rugged pioneer. He be-
lieved in roast beef. and did not properly ap-
preciate the taste of others for delicacies So
speak OF the solid material wealth of his
property and his shows i'll that sense In his
parade he preferred filling the eye with
solid chariot or cage rather than with the in
expensive banner Mr. Cooper could not
see this magnificent property divided or in
incapable hands, and he was the only man
living with the capital and experience nee
esSary to fulfil Mr.. Forepaugh' S dying desire:
keep my show and name alive" Mr. Cooper
believes in cake as well as roast beef; in ban
ners as well as solid chariots He also be-
lieves in popularlzing the circus as an insti-
tuition in this country until it will be on
equal footing in public esteem with the cir
Gus in Europe-established i'll permanent
buildings, with patronage Identical with
the theater or grand opera. To do this he
i'll vogue sells really reserved seats by cou-
pom tickets. There is no peddling of any
kind allowed in the audience; neatness and
politeness are absolutely compulsory upon
all employees. Ladies, no matter how sensi-
tive, cannot see or hear anything to shock
eye or ear. To do these things necessitates
the loss of what has been, and still is with
the little shows, very considerable
part of the income of a tented show.
but Mr.. Coopers wealth enables him
to carry out his very worthy plans in that
direction. Deprived of that income the
little shows are fearful they cannot live-and
certain it is that when the public once sees
the vast magnitude of the Adam Forepaugh
shows, together with their neatness and COM
pieteness throughout, and the efforts made
toward securing comfort for its patrons it
will no longer submit to the petty practices
and discomforts of the little shows.
Indeed the Adam Forepaugh shows in
their quantity, quality and conduct this year
mark new era in tented exhibitions That
is why the little fellows assail Mr.. Cooper
underhandedly they dare not do it
openly. am sure the GLOBE would con
them. Your most obedient
WHITING ALLEN
Agent Adam Forepaugh Shows.
saltwater, June II.