The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-03-13

One of Snowman Barnum's Assistants
a Resident of Baltimore County.-Only q
short distance from Baltimore lives the pioneer
"press agent" of America, Mr.. John F. Sutton,
says the Sunday american. He is also famous
Snowman and impresario. Much of the sue
cess of Jenny Lind, Adelina Patti, Artemus
Ward, General Tom Thumb and the famous
Barnum himself was due to the fertile imagi-
nation, initiative and earnest efforts of Mr..
Sutton. Now, at the ripe old age of "a, he is
living retired life in his country home, Guns
ton Lodge, at Monkton, on the Northern Gen.
trail Railway.
The home of the veteran Snowman stands on
a high hill, short distance from the station,
commanding a fine view of the picturesque
surrounding country. The house from the out
side is unpretentious IN appearance. but within
there is such an air of wholesomeness, simple
ity, coziness and good cheer that the visitor
soon finds himself feeling very much at home.
The old gentleman has with him his son. his
daughter in. law and his three grandsons. They
are English people and if the guest has not be-
come thoroughly convinced of the fact in the
furnishings and house decorations before tea is
served at o'clock, he is then, for the English
make tea as probably no other people can.
The veteran of the amusement profession is
exceedingly active for man of his age being
q well-preserved and cultured English gentle
man. He is quick in conversation and is still
able to deal with any situation with the same
acuteness that attracted the attention of 2. T.
Barnum, the great circus man, when Sutton
was but printers lad of IA. Barnum got
Sutton to go into the show business, and after
ward promoted him by degrees until he man
aged the entire circus and acted as treasurer
and press agent in conjunction. Mr.. Sutton
tells story that once when they were short OF
clowns he and P. T. Barnum dressed up and
got into the ring and played clowns. 1t was
a long time afterwards, he said, that Barnum
let it be known that he kept an audience in an
uproar, while it thought him $25-a-week
clown.
Sutton seemed to be born to execute the
plans of Barnum's genius. The great show
man decided that there was money in baby
show in New York. Accordingly the press
agent of the Barnum show was sent over the
United States to look for babies and get them
together for an exhibition. There were babies
tall and babies short. 1t is a strange fact that
one of the prize. winners at the baby show Sc
cured by Sutton was Bates, afterward called
the American giant, who travelled with Bar
mum in his older days.
Mr.. Sutton talked with Prince Albert of Eng.
land when Edward VII. was then but lad OF
eight years, mixed in the courts of Napoleon
Ill, and traversed the continents many times.
For time he was connected with the London
illustrated NeDS and afterward with the New
York Illustrated NeaOs and the old gentleman
is at home discussing courts, circuses and roy
altv while testing the flavor of Havana cigar.
Artemus Ward once said of Sutton There
walked down Fifth avenue one day this week
a man who, were he inclined to write book
telling of his experiences, might make for
tune and be an everlasting benefactor to his
fellowmen."
Mr.. Sutton was the courier for the famous
Jenny Lind. Yankee genius is boosted topic
in this country but it was this London man
who first suggested the idea of placing adver-
tisements on soap and other available articles.
II was thus he advertised Jenny Lind. Pocket
mirrors, match boxes and pocket combs were
distributed freely in this way for advertising
the great singer.
When Tom Thumb went on the stage, com.
ing from the hut of fisherman, it was Sutton
who first booked him and started him out on q
tour