San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-21

Barnum had made two fortunes
and had practically decided to retire
from the show business when the
idea of the circus, which is now his
greatest claim to fame, was thought
of.
Strangely enough, this idea of an
immense travelling show, combining
all the elements of the museum,
menagerie, and variety performance,
was not Barnum's own conception,
at least in 1870, when he first joined
some other showmen in the organiza-
} ton of such combination.
1t is true that forerunners of the
circus were. present in "Barnum's
Great Asiatic Caravan, Museum and
Menagerie," and in Barnum's and
Van Amburgh's Museum and Mena-
gerie, but these were nothing in COM
pariS)n with the enterprise which
was now projected.
w. c. Coup and Dan Costello.
showmen Of experience, called
upon Barnum during the period
of his semi-retirement and urged
that he form with them a great
travelling show. They asked for
the power of his name and for
any financial support he was will
ing to supply, and they arrived
at the correct time. for, tired of
doing comparatively nothing, Barnum
approved OF all their plans.
In 1850 he had decided that it
was time for him to devote HIM
self "to serious reflections on the
ends and aims of human exist
ence," and he had no thought OF
engaging in the circus business.
In 1870 he was making preparations
with his new partners for the huge
exhibition which they suggested, and
which was larger than anything Bar
mum had ever previously attempted.
Give Him the Credit.
In his autobiography Barnum was
in the habit of giving himself credit
for the origin of anything with which
his name was associated, and his
partners, realizing the immense asset
/ of the name of Barnum in their en-
terprises, were willing to be silent,
Mt least until their retirement. w.
c. Coup published many years after
the end of his association with Bar
mum an interesting books of cir,
Gus recollections, "Sawdust and
Spangles;" In his book he printed
the following letter which Bar
bridgeport, Oct. s, 1870.
I will join you in show for next
spring and will probably have
Admiral Dot well trained this
winter and have him and Harrison
in the show. Wood will sell all
his animals outright, and will fur.
nish several tip-top museum curl.
osties. You need TO spend several
months in New York arranging
for curiosities. cuts, cages, bills
etc. All things got from Wood
I will settle for with him and give
the concern credit. We can make
stunning museum department. II
you want to call it my museum and
use my name it may be used by
allowing me the same very small
percentage that Wood allows for call
ing himself my successor g per cent
on receipts). You can have q Cardiff
Giant that won't crack, also a NOV
ing figure, Sleeping Beauty. or by
ing Zouave-a biz Grmnastic figure
like that in Woods museum, and lots
of other good things. only you neco
time to look them up and prepare
wagons, etc, etc.
"Yours truly,
"P. II. Barnum.
II will spare time to look III
the show in New York when vol
come. think Siamese Twins
would pay"
"A Cardiff Giant that wont
crack" referred to the then famous
curiosity, a huge figure, supposed &c
have been dug up in the small tow
of Cardiff. New York. and present
ed on exhibition as a fine prehistoric
relic. Soon after the exhibition o.