The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-27
LINCOLN AT A CIRCUS.
Another Incident in the Career of
the Martyred President.

Another Incident in the Career of
the Ma rtyred President.
There is one man In Springfield whose
supply of stories never grows less, never
loses interest, never falls to fill the void
into which a prosaic world forces us, but
goes forth to make people laugh, to for
get the sterner realities of life; for,
withaI, we must be amused, and where
shall we find a better story-teller than
Capt. T. w. S. Kidd? says the Spring
field News. On the desk he finds letter
from Bailey, of the Barnum & Bailey
circus, now touring in Europe, and pick
ing it up he says:
This letter from my old friend Bailey
reminds me, as Abe Lincoln would put it.
of an incident in the life of the martyred
president which has never before been
given to the world, and it illustrates one
of his many unparalleled characteristics.
Barnums Great and Op'Y' was then in
it's glory, and Springfield, always up-to-
date, on show day was clad in It's best
bib and tucker to witness the greatest
event OF the season. Did you ever see an
old-fashioned circus day in this city? If
you have not. it would repay you to come
miles to see one-that is. ii you could go
back a few years. 1t was like no other
day, and unlike any other city in the
world; people came in farm wagons
mothers and fathers and children of all
ages; little boys and big boys. and girls
hats; young men and maiden. old MEN
and Old women; and always the wonder
full man who sold balloons so opportuneIy
on every corner.
day fever was at It's height, and every
one within sight of the gorgeous bills
which pictured untold wonders and ex-
citing spectacles was liable to catch the
disease. With hundreds Of others we
were trudging along toward the greatest
aggregation. then located on the old
Carpenter lots, Tenth and Jefferson
streets, and, nearing the ticket wagon.
were about to buy our tickets, when up
stepped Mr.. Lincoln, and. passing me a
s. bill. said: Tom. buy me five whole
and eight children's tickets, while 1 take
care Of these little tackles | bought
them with mine, and made the divide,
and we all. started for the entrance. He
had his smaller boys and six other young
sters they had picked up. He gave two
OF the whole tickets to couple of law
students, two to an elderly Irishnan and
his wife; and he went in with his flock
he saw a woman with a little boy about
seven years who looked wistfully at the
youngsters going in The little fellow
knew one Of the boys Mr.. Lincoln already
had in tow, and said to him; Are you
goin' in, Jimmy? Is Eat gentleman a-tak-
In you? Visit he'd take ma and me-
1.-THE mother chided him and was mod
eStly retreating with the boy, when Mr.
Lincoln said: Jimmy. is that you friend q
Yes, sir, said Jimmy. an he's awful
Turning to me- Mr. Lincoln said: Tom.
corral this herd until we attend to the
other Kid
81 herded them. and In a few minutes
he returned with the tickets for the little
tackle, and, calling him up, said: Now,
you take your mamma and yourself and
see the elephantine, the rhineossenhoss
and the monkeys The little boys face
was wreathed in smiles, and Mr. Lin
coin never was happier. / enjoyed ii all
but hurrying him into the tent, l said
IF you don't get in soon you'll be bank
rupt'