Evening journal., 1914-02-10
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
inAneCdOte Of a Great Show
mans Business SagaCity
By Holland.

The late Arthur Twachtman, who
is slowly but surely gaining post
humous fame as an American painter.
whose genius was not recognized IN
his lifetime except by few who
we're Of good judgment, had a wide
acquaintance with painters and
sculptors and also with musicians.
He was fortunate enough to hear the
first performance of Wagner's "Meis-
tersinger" at Munich, and he had at
that time made acquaintance either
with Thomas Ball or intimate friends
OF Ball, who related to him many
anecdotes about the latter.
Ball was a sculptor who lived
many years at Florence, Italy, and
also spent some months each year
at Munich where Twachtman studied.
TIE bronze equestrian statue OF
Washington in the Boston Public
Garden and the statue of Webster in
New York were Balls work, but he
was perhaps best known as the
sculptor who designed and executed
the Emancipation group which
stood on the Capitol grounds in
Washington.
Mr.. Twachtman for some years was
a neighb0r Of mine, and / often had
the pleasure Of hearing his ancedotal
"reminiscences of men who had
achieved success in the world Of art
lie had very keen sense of humor,
and he once narrated the following
incident which was either told to
him by the sculptor Ball or by one
OF MIR. Balls friends:
"ln some way Tom Ball and =. 4.
Barnum. the great American show
man. established an intimate per-
sonal friendship at the time when
Barnum was in the height Of his ca
reer.
"That friendship was maintained
until Barnum's death. How sklllfully
the great Snowman was able to util-
ize his intimacies with men who had
gained high reputation was discover
ed by Mr. Ball just after Barnum
had built his magnificent country
home at Bridgeport. Connecticut
which he called 'Iranistan. Barnum
had often invited the sculptor to visit
him at Bridgeport. and the invitations
we're sometimes accepted. But when
Iranistan' was completed and fur
nished. Barnum urgently invited Mr.
Ball to go to Bridgeport and spend
a few days at this beautiful country
home. The day was fixed by
Barnum and the invitation was ac-
cepted. When Mr.. Ball arrived az
the Bridgeport station he found
Barnum ther awaiting him. The
Snowman led the famous sculptor
through the station TO carriage
drawn by four brilliantly caparisoned
horses and provided with a coachman
and footman in shOwy livery.
Ball was somewhat astonished AZ
the magnihcence OF this reception tC
him, but he unhesitatingly took the
seat In the carriage which Barnum
pointed out, The Snowman then
seated himself beside the sculptor
and the carriage proceeded on its
way.
Speedily Mr.. Ball discovered thai
this carriage was at the head of Z
procession which consisted of Ions
string OF circus and menagerie car
riages OF wagons which were gail,
painted and in the midst OF which was
a chariot IN which was seated a large
brass band which footed away vigor
ously The procession made parade
through all the streets of Bridgeport
and the Snowman in explanation saiC
to the sculptor that this was the
opening day for the greatest SHOW
on earth
But it was not till the procession
disbanded and Ball was enjoying the
household hospitalities of Mr.. Bar
mum that he learned that the grea
Snowman had caused It TO be widel.
advertised that with him was 10 rid
in the procession the great American
sculptor, Thomas Bail. That eX
planned to Mr.. Ball why so man.
people on the sidewalk looked at hin
with curious eyes,
Copyright, 1914. by +. j. Edwards
All rights reserved)