The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-08
BARNUM AND KING EDWARD.
The Prince of showmen Experiences With the Wd Man of Boneo
and the siamese Twins, Who the King Presumed
Were Brothers." .".'.

go fishing, now you 60 fishing while you've
got chance!" .. -. -. -
Barnum told me that he saw only the
back of Greeley's head; that he never once
looked up or around, but banged the desk
with his left hand and kept on writing
hard and fast with the other; that this
made him half mad, and so he turned
about, took up a paper and read something
about the Siamese Twins. Barnun, as
you know, was always fond Of exhibiting
types of tribes and races. Siam, the land
of the sacred white elephant, was giving
! England much trouble at the time when he
! first read Of the twins and SO was con-
| spiuously before the public. Yet the pub
| lie knew next to nothing about that land
| or it's people. Why not get these twins
| and show them in London? ....-u
He told me the idea struck him 50 forci-
bly, that he started for home without even
saying good-by to Greeley. Well, he got
the twins. got them to London but it had
cost him nearly year and every dollar
| that he had. and it looked as if the venture
would be a frosty failure, for. other
! parties had been exhibiting all sorts Of
people. calling them subjects Of, Siam.
and everybody was very suspicious of his
twins. He had no money left. for adj
vertising and the papers cut him all to
pieces, calling him 'the great Yankee
humbug," and al THAT. They said SO
many hard things about him and his I'm
| Ola rubber twins" that he was In danger
| of being mobbed. He meantime and from
the first had appealed to the then Prince
of Wales to come and see some of the;
dusky subjects over whom he must some
day reign. And now, just when things
were at their worst, word came that the
prince. with his suite, would visit the
| hall the very next day.
The twins were exhibited standing on
a circular platform in the center of the
/ hall. in their native garb, although the
colder climate compelled the use Of much
tunderclothing and the covering of the
4 membrane that bound them together.
i Barnum told me he was never quite so on
4 his head with delight In all his life: that
4 he made several little speeches that night,
posed before his looking glass. and early
8 next morning had his twins rehearsing.
i They were told that their great coming
king was to look upon them and that they
!! must stand like soldiers to look straight
ahead, heads up, hands down, and not to
l!moYe muscle.
The prince came. hat and cane, at the
q head of his gentlemen, but his brow was
I dark with anger and Impotence. Barnum
forgot his speech and did not dare go for
4 ward or even attempt to lift a hand or
say one word. He saw it all at once. The
prince had read the papers and had come
4 to put down the elastic twins and save
his subjects from the prince Of humbugs!
4 The gentlemen gathered around the COM.
i ing king and they conferred for a moment;
then the prince poked one OF the twins
with the point of his slim little cane.
j Not a muscle moved : There was no more
sign Of life than If they had been made
4 Of mud. Then the prince struck the same