The Washington times., 1902-04-07
Many Men Of Affairs Gained
Their Start in This Way.
P. T. 5AANUM'S SCHEME
Great Snowman Oh His Last Legs Takes
Ncw Lease on Life by This Method and
Builds Up Tremendous Amusement
Enterprise.

means of freak" advertising are not
nearly so modern as they are commonly
supposed 10 be. Such mirth- provoking
specimens OF walking" advertisements
IS Willie and his goose" the cart be
fore the horse Reuben and the. maid.
ere merely present-day applications OF
old and successful lines of work. In fact, /
many Of the men who have built Up
large business and won both fame and
wealth owe their start up the pathway TO
success to the fact that they caught the
attention and interest of the public IN
their work through just such novel ad-
vertising mediums as may be seen upon
the streets today.
1t was through a freak advertisement
through doing something that no one else
rad thought of-something that impelled
the interest of even the most casual pc
destrian on New Yorks crowded thor
oughfaros-that the late 7. 7. Barnunl.
one Of the Droprietors of Barnum &
Eaiioy's famous circus, gained his hrst
material start.
1t was during the days when Barnum
was a young man ard was just making an
humble start as a Snowman He had
opened small museum in New York city
and was endeavoring to make it pay.
That was. Of course long before he or
ganized the mammoth show that bears
his name.
Mr.. Barnum's museum did not have
much in it then; in fact. it was lament
ably devoid of the attractions that go to
make such amusement enterprises inter
osting Consequently his business was
small indeed, and things looked dark for
the young Snowman. But he persevered,
hoping almost against hope that the tide
would turn and drift him into the realms
of fortune.
Business Very Bad.
Finally it began to seem as if the mu-
scum would prove failure Mr.. Barnum
was dc'rg his best to avert the crash. but
It seemed inevitable.
One day he was standing in the door of
his modest little show building. watching
dcjectcdly the crowds OF people surging
by. Sometimes they would glance at the
advertisements of his museum. but few
paused to enter. Across the street gang
of brickiayers and laborers were busy
laying the walls for a large building
Presently he saw shabbiIy dressed
young man stop amid the piles of brick
and sand to speak TO the boss OF the gang.
1t was evident that he was seeking en-
ployment. At length he turned away
and started to wander on down the street.
Suddenly. however, he caught sight OF
Barnums Museum and crossed the street.
Nr. Barnum found that he was seek
ing employment. He had nothing for him
TO do. however. and again the young
man was repulsed. But as be walked
slowly away Mr.. Barnum's eyes followed
him. He was. as he often said afterward
the ugliest specimen of humanity he had
ever behelf. His hair was 4 fiery red.
| and everything about his appearance was
comically out of place as to attract
| general attention.
As Mr.. Barnum watched the slowly re-
! treating figure an idea suddenly struck
| him. For a moment he hestated: Il
| would not cost much to try his scheme.
and it might do some gccd. At any rate
he decided to try.
I He ran after the yOTng man and brought
I him back to his museum. There he ex-
/ planned what he wanted. and the red
! headed individual WAS taken into his EN-
| ploy at the rate of 81 a day. The young
man quickly took in the details of the
| work he was to do. In fact, there was
| very little to be taken in.
! Crossing the street he managed to se
! cure four bricks. With these he pro-
ceeded down the street to the corner.
/ Assuming a serious attitude he s;oopeI
| down in the middle of the sidewalk AMI
/ began to pile his four bricks up. Two
were laid side by side and the remaining
/ pair laid crossways upon them. He was
/ very deliberate about his work pausing
+ frequently to gaze at it in a highly com
/ ical manner. When he completed the task
( to his apparent satisfaction he mounted
/ the little pile and stood gazing intently
! over toward Barnums Museum. Then
| stepping down, he picked up the bricks
and went over to the other corner, where
he repeated the same performance.
| Presently a crowd was following the
! cOmiCal fellow. absorbed in his mysteri-
! GUS actions AS he continued the queer
| antics he became more skilled in the
part, and his actions became more and
more amusing. Not once did he utter a
word. merely contenting himself with pill
| ing up the four brick mounting them. and
| gazing steadily toward Barnum's show
| building.
In short time all the passersby were
deeply interested in the red headed
young mans actions. and were also gaz-
ing at the little museum. Hour after
hour during the whole day the queer
looking fellow continued his mysterious
actions. frequently pausing in front OF
| Mr.. Barnum's place to give an exhibition.
The next day. and the next. he continued
| to do the same thing. never varying the
| performance. He soon became a familiar
sight in that portion OF the city and
pedestrians had their curiosity strongly
aroused regarding the little museum.
Presently they began to flock into the
| place-a few at first. but daily increasing
| in numbers. Mr.. Barnums S original ad-
| vertisement proving huge success.
Everyone became curious to pay visit
to the unprctcntious little show. In a
short time the man with the bricks as
he was called. had been heard about all
over New York City, and the money was
literally pouring into NJ. Barnums treas
ury.
| He was soon able to enlarge his mu-
scum and obtain many new exhibits. From
that time his little show grew rapidly
into the leading museum of its kind in
the metropolis. And it was not long be
fore Mr.. Barnum became wealthy of OF
the enterprise. Late he joined with
Bailey in organizing the famous circus
which has attained worldwide reputa-
tion.
And with the rise Of the Barnum Mu-
scum the red-headed young man found
his star in the ascendant also.