Connecticut western news., 1916-08-31
REMINISCE CENTIAL.

"Tody" Hamilton, the famous circu! press agent, who recently died, ac quired his fame hardly less through personal tact in his intercourse with the newspaper gentry than through wonderful genius in the preparation of his press notices of the "greatest show on earth,'' which revealed con. scientious study of the dictionary, Roget's Thesaurus and kindred books of synonyms. The writer recalls, with sense of mournful pride in view of "Tody's'' passing on, the receipt about quarter of a century ago, of 8 graceful letter of acknowledgement of an editorial tribute to "Tody's" genius and popularity, accompanied by a photograph bearing the autograph in scription, "From Tody to Rody."
 Tody was a worthy successor to the lamented Dave Thomas, a royal soul, who had travelled the world over for and with P. T. Barnum, and achieved no small degree of fame as a balloonist. Thomas abandoned the circus business to become the pro, prietor of job printing plant in New Haven, where he died good many years ago.
 This reference to Barnum recalls an incident of thirty years or so ago, in which Julian H. Sterling figured-the only notable of the quartet mentioned, by the way, who is still living. The old Connecticut Press Association, the predecessor of the present Connecticut Editorial Association, was holding it's annual Good Friday meeting and ban. quet at Black Rock, near Bridgeport. P. T. Barnum, with Colonel William H. Stevenson, (also deceased,) was a guest of honor. During the post prandial oratory the president--we are quite sure Colonel N G. Osborn was president that year-called upon MT. Barnum for speech. The great show man, who had at an early stage of the meeting presented each guest with an autographed copy of his richly illu- mined "Life," responded, and took occasion to admonish the scribes to be. ware the growing tendency to depart from the strict letter of the facts, in their pursuit of journalism. He be- moaned the propensity of correspond. ents especially to exaggerate, distort and sensationalize, and as he spoke of the vice of exaggeration he fixed his eyes on ''Jule" Sterling, who, at that time was supplying the New York World with Bridgeport news, and see- ing to it that the news lost nothing of its interest in the telling.
 When Barnum concluded Sterling was called on for remarks, and he rose to his feet with alacrity. In polished phrase and with every evidence of pro- found sincerity he endorsed MT Bar num's admonition against exaggera. tion, and frankly confessed that he, himself, realized that he was more or less guilty of the fault, though he had tried in vain to overcome it. He at. tributed his failure in that particular to the thorough manner in which he had been trained in the art during his early years as an artist, when he was employed to design circus posters for the Barnum show and was consistently, vehemently and everlastingly enjoined by MT. Barnum, himself, to lay it on thick and magnify and exaggerate every feature to the full capacity of his imagination.
 AS Sterling proceeded with his con fession, Barnum's expression changed from solemn interest to pained sur prise, and finally relaxed to broad grin of humorous appreciation, and when the speaker concluded, shook him by the hand. linked arms witt him, and marched him out to the but termilk counter-Barnum drank moth ing stronger than buttermilk.