San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-02

national history, was Connecticut
Yankee.
He was born on July 5, 1910. He
arrived late. 1t was pity, for he
would have enjoyed being born on the
Fourth of July. Barnum himself
wrote that after peace and quiet
were restored and the audience had
regained their seats, he made his
debut.
His father was a farmer, but Bar
mum could find no outlet on a farm
for his enterprising instincts, and
while still in his teens had started in
business for himself as a storekeeper.
He was also interested in the sale of
lottery tickets, as lotteries were still
legal at that time, and it was in this
connection that he first gave signs OF
his genius for publicity and original
advertising.
his fortune in New York.
Barnum had no money worth
mentioning when he arrived in the
metropolis. In Connecticut he had
made large sums of money for his age
and for his environment, but he had
also spent large sums without any
anxiety dDOuI HIS aDlilty u COulinue
to earn them.
Wanted Something to Exhibit.
Business was bad, opportunities
were limited, and Barnum found
nothing to his taste. His money be-
gan to disappear, and his family was
in i'll health: in order to relieve i'm
mediate needs, he became a "drum-
mer" in a cap store and watched the
want" advertisements in the Sun.
In his mind was the fixed idea
that If he could get something to ex-
hibit to the New York amusement
loving public, he would succeed. But,
meanwhile, he answered advertise
ments of inventors and adventures
always to discover that they wanted
money Immediately in order to pro-
duce it in the future.
In the spring of 1885 he received
several hundred dollars of the debts
owed to him in Bethel for groceries
and lottery tickets, and with the
money he opened private boarding
house at 81 Frankfort street. The
Connecticut transients stopped at
Barnum's when in New York, and
soon Barnum and his wife had
enough trade to enable him to cap
italize his spare time by purchasing
an interest in a grocery store.
An Extraordinary Negress.
Mr.. Coley Bartram, of Reading,
Connecticut, called at Barnum's gro
Gerry store in July, 1885. He men
TONED to Barnum that he had just
sold his interest in an extraordinary
negress, and he Landed him a copy
Of the Pennsylvania Inquirer for
July Is, 1885, with the following ad-
vertisement:
"CURIOSITY.-The citizens of
Philadelphia and its vicinity have
an opportunity of witnessing at the
Masonic Hall, one of the greatest
natural curiosities ever witnessed, viz,
JOICE HETH, negress aged 161
years, who formerly belonged to the
father of General Washington. She
has been a member of the Baptist
church one hundred and sixteen years
and can rehearse many hymns, and
sing them according to former GUS
tom. She was born near the old
Potomac River in Virginia, and has
for ninety or one hundred years
lived in Paris, Kentucky, with the
Bowling family.
IAN who have seen this extraor-
binary woman are satisfied of the
truth Of the account of her age. The
evidence of the Bowling family,
which is respectable, is strong, but
the original bill of sale of Augustine
Washington, in his own handwriting,
and other evidence which the proprie-
tor. has in his possession, will satisfy
even the most incredulous.
"A lady will attend at the hall
during the afternoon and evening
Sor the accommodation of those ladies
who may call" 800
Mr.. Coley Bartram told Baruum
mat this extraordinary slave was
now owned by r. w. Lindsay, who
was exhibiting her in Philadelphia.
but who did not have much ability
as q showI-an and was therefore
anxious to sell his purchase and re-
turn to his homo in Jefferson Conn
". Kentucky.
Barnum was excited. He had read
mort paragraphs about his negress
In the New York newspapers, and he
had been interested but this detailed
description of her superb aualifica-
lions for his purposes enthralled
MIN. he hurried to Philadelphia to
iook at Joice Heth, and he was.
-favorably impressed with the an
pearance OF the old woman,~ who
might almost as well have been
called a thousand years old as any
ether age"
Nails -Four Inches Lonr.
She was lying on a lounge, her
nwef exeremities doubled up. She
could move one Of her arms, but the |
other was stiffly clasped to her
breast, and both legs were complete |
y beyond her control and could NOT |
De Strengthened. She was blind. and |
she had no teeth. Thick, bushy' saw |
age gray hair added to her value as
q monstrosity. The nails of her left
hand, which lay immovable across
her breast. were four inches Iono
and as the fingers were helplessiy
turned down, the nails extended
above the wrist; her toe nails were
equally large. "ei'
Present at Washlngton's Birth.
Jolce Heth was sociable, and she
eould talk intelligently with anv one
who would talk with her. She re-
ferred to George Washington as
dear little George swore that she
was present at his birth, and that
she was the first person IN mt
CLONES on TIE future father of his |
country. I'm fact" she told Bar
mum, and It was one of her fayorite
expressions: Il raised him.,
Mr.. Lindsay showed Barnum the
pdll o. sale from Augustine Wash
ington, George washington's father
GATED February 8, 1927. by which