Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1891 — Barnum’s White Elephant. [ARTICLE]

Barnum’s White Elephant.

“ You probably have not heard bow Barnum secured the indorsement of the New York press on his alleged white elephant,” said Bert Davis, to a Mexico, (Mo.) Intelligence man. “ Upon the day of the white elephant’s arrival in New York Barnum entertained all the press gang at dinner and after that he was to conduct them down to the wharf to see the elephant—a scheme to obtain a little free advertising. In the meantime some of the boys had visited the wharf and saw the elephant was not white, but rather of a mouse color, and they had agreed among themselves to give Mr. Barnum a genuine ‘ roast.’ A few minutes before the start Mr. Barnum had a story to tell the boys in order to put them in a good humor. He said that there was once a big social gathering given in honor of a great beauty. When the beauty arrived with the usual flourish of trumpets all eyes were turned upon her and the general remarks were, 1 Isn’t she lovely ? ” and ‘ How beautifully she is painted ! ’ It is true, she was painted, not by hand, however, but by God. ‘ Now, gentlemen,’ said Mr. Barnum, ‘ the color o£ this unimal I am about to show you is just as God painted it. Had the work been left to me, I assure you he would have been perfectly white.’ The young men appreciated the little story, which resulted in the entire press of the city ndorsing the great humbuggar's white lephant.”