The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-09-07
sroRlEs OF aARkuM.
@o~uip Ab0ua ths showmNa and MA EASw
by ons of Hia AMsoefAa~&


before the railroad shows were In
existence. We travelled by wagons
from town TO town in those days.
halting on the outskirts of the town
10 enable the circus people TO put on
their show clothes and prepare for
the parade. We were to show in a
small town in Pennsylvania, and I
had noticed that bridge over which
the wagons were to pass was weak.
/ sent word to Mr.. Barnum 70 put
the rhinoceros wagon at the rear,
but he did not do so, and as IL was
in advance il broke the bridge. The
show did not reach town in time TO
make much of a parade.
THAT night Mr.. Barnum was seat
ed in the village hotel when an an
cry lot of people who were disap-
pointed at the size of the parade
waited upon him and told him that
he was a fraud.
"'How SOP said Barnum.
"'well. replied the spokesman
for the crowd, you advertised two
miles Of parade, and there was only
one.
Yes replied Barnum, there
was one mile of parade and another
mile of d-d fools following It.
That makes two miles. doesn't it?' "
A rhinooeros is the most expen-
sive animal in \ circus. A well bred
and we'll developed rhinooeros costs
| s5. 900. The Barnum show lost =
rhinoceros and was compelled TO
cable TO Hagenbeok at Hamburg TO
send ON another at once. Hagen
beck is the largest animal supply
agent on earth. He furnishes the
geological gardens of London and
similar gardens in the capitals Of
Europe. Elephants are quite CON-
mon these days. and half a dozen Of
them could be bought for the price
of one rhinooeros.
The elephant is the meanest ami
NAL that the show people have 70
deal with. Everybody is afraid Of
him, for no one can tell when the
big brute will take one unawRres TO
crafty some long treasured or fan
cied grievance.
A few years ago the show was in
Rochester when the elephant keeper
went into the elephant car TO zee
that everything was secure before
the train startsd. He fastened the
rear door and thoughtlessly passed
through the car 10 examine tho front
door. AS he was passing the ele-
phant the brute, realizing that he
was alone with his keeper, crushed
him to death against the side of the
car. The elephant Is the biggest
coward of oil animals and never un.
dertakes, to get the better of his
keeper unless he can take him of
his guard.
1t costs not less than s5, 600 n day
TO run n big circus and menagerie.
Notwithstanding this seemingly
large outlay a first class show Is
usually n sure winner. Before start
ing out a discount for rainy days is
made by averaging the rainy days
during the past ten seasons While
this is not by any means reliable j;
affords pretty fair test.
When p. I. Barnum was in Lon.
don Is years or so ago. he sent tick.
cts of admission TO all the clergy aud
to the bishopof London and his fam.
ily. Barnum's reputation as a PHI
lanthropist had gone before him. and
it became necessary 20 establish q
regular picket guard around him "a
protect him from annoyances in his
hotel. The applicants for oharitahl.
donations would frequently gel
through the line and apply for dona
tions ranging from tiOO to fi0, oOO
After the bishop of London and his
family had seen the show the bishop
called upon Barnum and ohatted
with him for some time. Barnun
impressed him, as he did everybody
as being big hearted, amiable and
brainy man. The bishop on leavinf
took his hand and said:
''Mr. Barnum, you are not such Z
bad man after all 1 hope TO NEE
you in heaven, sir"
We'll, you will IL you are there,
, replied Barnum.
The answer was too much ever
for the bishop, and those who heart
! it shouted with laughter.
Courier.
A Singular Gaze.