The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-29
A Press Agents Revelations of the
By Willard d. Coxey
Secretary of the Friars' Club

death, and it was this picture touched up little
each season to portray the natural advance of age
that was utilized, and is still utilized, by the print
ers for the great showman's counterfeit present
ment
Among his business STAFF and during the
months of preparation I'm the winter offices in
New York City, Mr. Bailey was usually cordial
and, at times, almost loquacous He much pre-
Ierred. however, to draw out the members of his
Official family" and hear them talk. He used TO
say humorously, that, after hearing a discussion
between the members of his staff and securing
ther opinion, be did exactly the opposite thing
ana always found he was right. When the Bar
mum and Bailey show returned from Europe the
ast time some one said, in greeting to him
Il suppose. Mr.. Bailey. you saw all the lions
when the show the Continent?"
MI. Bailey smiled quietly
All the lions l saw, were those in my own me-
nagerie" he said And then he added: 81 was
too busy moving the circus to take in the catbe-
drals and museums and famous show places My
agents did that for me-"
Nevertheless. there was not a famous museur,
or other notable place in Europe that Mr. Bailey
could not describe. His information was secured
by listening to the comments of his employees who
had seen them.
Bailey's "Get-there-frst" habit
M r. Bailey was a very rapid eater and sometimes
IL was dlthcult to keep up with him. He
was always a hurry. 1t was an amusing and
peculiar point of pride with him to get down to
the office first in the morning and to return to
the Office first after lunch. Occasionally one of
the stan would hurry through lunch and get ahead
OF him, and then he would be visibIy annoved
When the others came in, however he would have
his revenge.
Good evening. gentlemen he would saw" is
TINS your first appearance at the Office today?"
This would create laugh and Mr. Bailey re.
covering MS good nature, would forget his tenn
porary annoyance.
Mr. Bailey's "get-therearst" habits were also
IN evidence ION the road" he was always the
hrst on the lot in the morning and no matter how
eneTgeuc an executive man might be. he ran a
chance of offending Mr. Bailey by anticipating
MIN on the circus grounds.
For several years prior to his death Mr. Bailey
Ate
order but he rarely permitted illness to interfere
win MS personal management of the show. For
TINS reason 1t was difficult for him to understand
how anyone could absolutely yield to an attack of
Illness.
Dick" Ball. agent who had been with the
snow many years. was compelled by sickness to
lay on Tor several weeks Shortly after he had
returned to work he approached Mr. Bailey in
front of the MARQUEE (the canopied entrance to
the big show and solicited him for a few davis
vacation.
Mr. Bailey looked up at the petitioner with
every evidence of surprise.
Why 'Dck,'" he said, you've just had va
cation Weren't you sick nearly four weeks?"
Ihls was not intended to be either selfish or un
kind 1t was simply the expression of convic
ton.
He also had a penchant for being shaved by one
man. The barber shaved him for twenty
years and he followed the tonsorialist all over
New York city. When he returned from Europe
the first man he looked for his old barber
Mr. Bailey knew the country backwards and al
ways routed the show himself At home he had a
billiard room, but the billiard tables were rarely
utilzed for balls and cues. They used to
spreads out his maps on. And there for an hour or
two every evening after dinner, ali winter long
he would study the country and the railroads. In
variably at o'clock he would retire. He did not
care for theatrical performances, and never visit
ed another circus until within a year or two of his
death. He fond of a horse trade and few
men could get the better of him in one. He would
also spend hours and days fighting an increase in
salary on the part of agent he wished to re-
engage, but, when he had won his point: he would
rule voluntarily give the agent the figure he
asked tighter,
rarely neglected to send substantial checks to his
loyal employees.