New Britain herald., 1930-06-04

New York, June 4-John Ring ling, one Of the five richest men 'n America and absolute czar of the circus. is perhaps the least known prominent figure in the land. Save in art galleries where he spends much time. he is rarely recognized by the public If recognized he is blushingly shy and hurries away.
 Ringing now owns practically all ! the railroad shows in the land-onlV ! three or four outside his control amount to anything. He is brood- . ing. Buddha-like figure-large n | effect as well as in mass. His mol est sensitivlty prccludes many intl- mate friendships, although he likes l people.
 The circus king rarely goes 10 bed before four or five in the morning and does his most constructive plan ming after midnight. He dlsl!Ke5 appointments and will not keep date he can avoid. Nobody knows his wealth which, besides circuses, includes network of railroads. He is not in Who's Who," because he does not answer his mail.
 His memory is nothing short Of phenomenon. In talking to him once mentioned my birthplace, Platts- burg. Mo. He instantly recalled the date his show played there years ago. and told or chariot wheel rolling into the audience. He plac d the exact hour Of the accident. which l later verified.
 This was not an isolated incident. On an instant's notice he can tell you what happened in a given town, where the show grounds were. what the receipts were and what railroads were used to reach there. He is also , able to give the last census figures
 for any town in America.
 Ringing hates to be phot ograph-
 cd and rarely is. He has not an- , swered ten letters in as many years, , and vet he retains mental picture
 Of every letter sent to him. He
 does not reveal 10 closest associates
 the plans for his show until fe" f weeks before the opening. Aerial , acts please him most.
 , To his circus he is Mister John.' { His greatest joy is to stand in some
 obscure spot smoking q cigar ana , watching his show There have beeH
 seasons when he has not missed z l sInsle performance. He is an Ep!cl.
 ran of distinction and his favorltf dish is caviar. His middle initial x
 x. and stands for Nicholas,
 %
 1 wonder if the word connoiss'1I
 ever looked right 10 anyone Wri'Ins Q it without first looking it up in th' = dictionary.
 n Karl Edwin Hartman on jaun
 70 Europe several years ago though 4 ID the idea of removing wine lab2t
 from vintage wines 10 put unde 2 glass for cocktail trays for friend s at home. The stunt became hobb' i and he is eff on another lab" z scouting expedition. e One Of tae best known drugstore Is at Sd avenue and 18th street. ]
 is an expensive oaken room tH ! -I retains the sombre white label hot q lied dignity Of the nIneues in con
 trast 10 the modern chain store gil,
 ter. A huge red and green not.l z gracas each window. The clerks ar Q middle aged and stitfly sedate. m a'
 paca coats. It's trade is solely 10 F prescriptions.
 ,g OO--
 l. Almost every slap-sucN com@d|d Id d landing Tn first rate musical sho 10 is hailed with lachrymose senllnel n taltv as q gifted and undiscoNcfa F Salivini with a deep and hidde III meaning 10 hurljne custard nle 10 whansing somebody with bladde or Such balderdash has been Nrlte of joval harlequins such as ChaI o lin. Id WNn1. Jimmy SalNo, Be ,o Lahr and the Marx Brothers. Mo m ot them are excellent burlesq'