The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01
GREAT CIRCUS MANAGERS.
Bailey. the Snowman, Regain Life a.
n BeIiboy.

] ifToiu thC New ltIk Ilcs>.l
| The greatest of advance advertising
| agents. having done for the moment with
I proclamation from Charing Cross, now
I HES him to the Continent to announce the
coming of the Greatest Show en- 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
! panegyric, which. unGuestionably, is am
/ ply deserved. The late Mr.. Phineas Tay
Tor Barnum. greatest in wind, greatest in
vanity, greatest in humbuggeTy, was a
mere Lilliputian in comparison with Gull
liver Bailey. When James Anthony went
up against the Bridgeport marvel it was a
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 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 man
below medium height of slight build. gen
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 jeyelry, dresses in good taste,
does no Dragging, and keeps his own
counsel. He is distinguished also for be-
ing the least boastfu of any man ever
achieving success in the show business.
He doesn't care a rap whether people know
of his personal triumphs or not; all he
cares for is the elevation of his show.
In that he is Barnums antithesis.
Bailey started in life as bellboy, and
by his own energy aud clever4ess has be-
come the greatest Snowman that ever lived.
His generosity" says Tody, lis as I'M
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, Buff
falo- 'Biifss Wild West and Forepaugh &
Sells Bros sr1ndIe is a stakeholder in
numerous banks. railroads, insurance COM
panies,x and other commercial enterprises.
Not long after the consolidation of the
Barnum and Bailey shows Mr.. Bailey said
70 his European agent: What was the
biggest thing you saw while abroad?'
AN elephant in the London Zoo replied
the agent. How big is it?' The agent,
stepping on a chair, took a cane in his
hand. and, reaching far up on the wall,
said: LAS big as that" What's the
price," Forty thousand marks" That
settles 1t; we'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 1900, 900 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.
The event was chronicled far and wide, and
Barnum. quick to see tine advantage of
having so important an attraction, tele-
graphed 10 Bailey as follows; VIII give
for your baby elephant 100000 Marks
Bailey teIegraphed in reply: VIII not
sell at any price" This seemed daring
thing for Bailey to do for 100000 marks
was tremendous sum to refuse for tiny
beast. But as soon as Barnum 5 territory
was invaded it was billed with huge pos
tiers on which was most conspicuously
printed in flaming type-"What Barnum
Thinks Of the Baby Elephant. Under
meath was Barnum's telegram Offering
400,0 200 marks for the infant. II was Bar
NUNS first defeat, and il settled his fate
He made overtures which were SO fatter-
ing to Bailey that the latter became his |
partner.