We would not pass by so remarkable a character as that presented to us
in the life of P. T. Barnum, a man born of poor parents at Bethel,
Connecticut. Like many boys, he picked up pennies driving oxen for his
father, but unlike many other boys he would invest these earnings in
nick-nacks which he would sell to joyful picknickers on every holiday,
thus his pennies increased to dollars. At an early age he was deprived
of his father, and began work for himself at six dollars per month. He
here saved his money, and afterwards opened a store which proved a
successful business venture, especially after he added a lottery scheme.
It is interesting to read of the many of our successful men who have
drifted from one thing to another until they settled upon some
life-work, then there was a hard struggle for victory, which was sure to
come, provided they persevered.
In 1835 Barnum heard of a negress in Philadelphia who was reputed to
have been the nurse of George Washington, and who it was claimed was 162
years old. Barnum immediately set out for Philadelphia, and succeeded in
buying her for $1,000. This was more money than he already had; he,
therefore, risked more than he owned, but by judicious advertising he
was enabled to draw large houses, bringing the show up to paying $1,500
per week. The next year the negress died, and a post mortem examination
proved her to be possibly eighty years old, but Barnum had secured a
good start. From this time on, for fifteen years, he was connected with
traveling shows, and his museum proved a most profitable enterprise.
In 1842 Mr. Barnum first heard of Mr. Charles Stratton, whom he
presented to the world as General Tom Thumb--exhibiting him in both
America and Europe.
In 1849, after much correspondence, he secured the sweet singer, Jenny
Lind, for one hundred nights, at one thousand dollars per night. His
profits on these concerts were simply immense, and he retired from
business.
In 1857 it was heralded all over the land that Barnum had failed. It was
so; unfortunate speculations had swamped him, and he returned to New
York a bankrupt. Without a dollar he bought the Museum again, and in
less than a year he succeeded in paying for it. His life henceforth has
been full of its ups and downs; twice was he burned out, but as often he
came forth in some new role--or rather an improvement on the old.
General Tom Thumb was again taken to Europe. This venture, and his
lecture on 'Money Making,' in England, succeeded beyond his most
sanguine expectations. Every note was taken up, and he is to-day once
more a millionaire. He has been for years the central figure in 'The
Greatest Show on Earth,' the expense of which is from four to five
thousand dollars a day. But not alone is he great as a showman; his
lectures must have made him noted, and he is connected with different
other enterprises.
He is a very shrewd man, and is also honest. Think of it! at fifty a
ruined man, owing thousands more than he possessed, yet resolutely
resuming business life once more--fairly wringing success from adverse
fortune, and paying his notes at the same time.
When solicited for money with which to carry on his campaign for
Congress, he answered, "God grant that I be defeated, sooner than one
grain of gold be so basely used." Such principles are glorious, and upon
their perpetuation depends the rise or fall of a Republican form of
government. Mr. Barnum's latest sensation, in order to draw crowds, is
the consolidation of his great show with that mammoth show formerly
belonging to Adam Forepaugh. This caps the climax, the two "Greatest
Shows on Earth" united.