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

the maximum time allowed for an
individual performance under the Bar
mum & Bailey regime, which came
few years later than the Barnum and
Comp show, was six minutes.
Bailey is said to have imported
n famous English clown, who could
not possibly shorten his act, he in
sisted, to less than twenty minutes.
Bailey paid the clowns expense back
to England.
But psychologically the three-ring
circus proved great success, and
brought huge financial profits. The
size of TIE circus gave body to the
statement that it was the Greatest
Show on Earth. and Barnum's show
when it finally combined with Bailey's
was certainly the largest; throughs
out Barnum's career largest and
greatest were synonymous.
Plans Madison Square Garden.
In September. 1873. Barnum visited
Europe for the purpose of attend
ing the International Exhibition at
Vienna. While he was in Europe.
Coup obtained a lease on the old
New Haven railroad depot. at. Madi-
son Avenue and Twenty seventh
street. New York. and he determin-
ed 10 build what is now Madison
| Square Garden. where the Barnum
& Bailey circus had performed for
many years.
Barnum declined absolutely to join
Coup in this enterprise until Coup
cabled him that he had plenty of
offers of capital and did not need
his aid. Then Barnum determined
TO join the enterprise.
In his autobiography Barnum pre-
scented a different version of his re-
action to the plan for Madison
Square Garden. If we are 10 believe
him, he received letters from Coup
and his son-in-law that the New
Haven depot was available. IL i'm
mediately telcgraphed them to take
the lease. and within twenty-four
hours from that time | was i'll tele-
graphic communication with seven
teen European cities where l knew
were the proper parties 10 aid me
in carrying out grand and novel
enterprise"
The grand and novel enterprise was
the construction of Madison Square
Garden on the site of the New Haven
depot and the operation there of 4
gigantic place Of amusement, com
bining all the features of the circus
museum and menGgerie. which was
to be called the great Roman Hippo
drome. Coup's health broke down
from overwork on the Madison
Square Garden project. He went
to Europe and later sold out his in
terest in Barnum's show. Costello
had already left the show.
Lost Fortune OH Toss.
Coup was a bold adventurer. Later
he invested all his capital in the
New York Aquarium, where he had
valuable collection of aquaria and
several giraffes and elephants. His
partner was German, who insisted
that the Aquarium must be kept opcr
on Sunday. Coup would not consent
70 this, and since they could not set
tie the difference of opinion. CouT
coolly suggested that they flip coir
to determine which partner should
own the giraffes and other large ami
mails and which should take thC
a0uaria. which were far more valu'
able. Coup lost. and by the flip OF
that coin he lost the fortune he had
spent years of a wandering circus
life in gaining.
Congratulated by General Grant.
| When Barnum returned 10 New
York. the show. which had opened
as the Great Roman Hiprodrome a
Madison Square Garden, was larger
than ever. and he was greeted will
cheers by the crowd assembled in thu
immense building. This app!aus'
Barnum took as a gratifying tribute
TO his enterprise as manager of
monster exhibition. President Gram
and his cabinet. governors of states
and Judges visited the great show
and congratulated Barnum on a stup
endOus achievement.
In December, 1874, the show re-