The times., 1900-04-01
GREAT CIRCUS MANAGERS.
Bailey, the Snowman, began Life as
n BcIIboy.
From the New York rre--J

The greatest Of advance advertising
agents. having done for the moment with
( proclamation from Charing Cross now
hies him to the Continent TO announce the
coming of the Greatest Show on Earth.
and one of his first devices is to scatter
broadcast through the German Empire a
biography of James Anthony Bailey, con-
tanning no less than $500 words. Tody
Hamilton Is writing for the Fatherland
and we find in his eloquent eulOgium our
American dollars and cents translated into
marks and confines. This modern Bos-
well has given his Johnson a splendid
pauegyric, which, uuquestionably, is am
ply deserved. The late Mr.. phineas Tay-
lor Barnum. greatest in wind, greatest in
vanity, greatest in humbuggery, was
mere Lilliputian in comparison with Gull
liver Bailey When James Anthony went
up against the Bridgeport marvel it was d
finish fight in one short round.
The young folk of the world will never
know Mr.. Bailey as they knew Barnum,
for while the former is ever in the back
ground, avoiding display, Barnum set
himself out where every child and adult
could gaze on and admire him. Barnum
always felt that he was as much a part
of the show as Jumbo and Tom Thumb.
Nobody would know what Bailey looks
like but for his alleged likeness on the
billboards and in the newspapers. Tody
says Of him.: For this man and multi
millionaire work is life blood. breath, and
meat This bundle Of concrete. nervous
energy and phenomenal activity is a nan
below medium height, Of slight build, gem
tie voice. and most modest and unassum-
ing manners. His capacity for work is
marvellous and frequently wears out men
in the best of health not half his age. He
wears no iewelry. dresses in good taste,
does no Dragging. and keeps his own
counsel. He is distinguished also for be-
ing the least boastful Of any man ever
achieving success in the show business.
He doesn't care rap whether people know
OF his personal triumphs or not; all he
cares for Is the elevation of his show.
In that he is Barnum's antithesis.'
Bailey started in life as a bellboy. and
by his own energy and clever4ess has be-
come the greatest Snowman that ever lived.
His generosity says TOdy, lis rs un-
bounded as the magnitude Of his enter
prises while his benefactiOns are as count
less as the stars on the brightest night.
Besides owning the greatest show on
earth. Mr. Bailey is an active partner in
the two next largest shows. namely. Buf-
fao- BnFs Wild West and FOrepaugh &
Sells Bros. 's'zs4Ie is a stOckholder in
numerous banks. railroads insurance COM
panies,s and other commercial enterprises.
Not long after the consolidation OF the
Barnum and Bailey shows Mr.. Bailey said
to his European agent What was the
biggest thing you saw while abrOad?"
An elephant in the London Zoo, replied
the agent How big is it2' The agent, !
stepping on a chair. took cane in his |
hand. and. reaching far up on the wall.
said "As big as that" What's the
price," "Forty-thousaud marks That |
settles ii; ve'll have it Barnum didn't
like the idea of paying so much for an
elephant. but Bailey had his way. and |
Jumbo was soon on exhibition, one of the !
greatest living attractions the world Of /
amusement ever knew. He brought to The |
show over 100000 marks profit
While Barnum and Bailey were spend !
ing millions in rivalry an elephant belong |
ing 10 the latter gave birth TO a baby. the |
first baby elephant ever born in captivity. Z
The event was chronicled far and wide. and /
Barnum. quick to see the advantage of /
having so important an attraction, tele- /
graphed 10 Bailey as follows: viii give /
for your baby elephant 100000 marks
Bailey telographed in reply: VIII not /
sell at any price" This seemed a daring /
thing for Bailey to do, for GOO marks /
was tremendous sum to refuse for a tiny ]
beast But as soon as Barnum's territory /
was invaded It was billed with huge pos
ters on which was most conspicuOusly /
printed in flaming type-"What Barnum 1
Thinks Of the Baby Elephant" Under /
meath was Barnum's telegram offering .
100000 marks for the infant. 1t was Bar
mum first defeat, and it settled his fate
He made overtures which were SO hatter- |
ing to Bailey that the latter became his |
partner