Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1885 — Barnum in an Emergency. [ARTICLE]

Barnum in an Emergency.

“Oh, yes,” said the old ringmaster, scratching a match on the solo of liis shoe, “Barnum .was always prepared for emergencies.” And we thought we heal’d a chuckle, but it might have been the pipestem rattling against his teeth. “I remember one occasion, in particular, when we had pitched our tents at a large town in Connecticut.' Barnum came around the first night as usual before the performance, and found the Sacred Bull stretched on the "ground.” “ ‘Dead, hey’’[remarked Barnum. “ ‘As a eottin nail, sir,’ replied the keeper; ‘cholera, I take it.’ “ ‘Send a man for that bull we saw two miles back here. The Great and Only isn't going to fall short of sacred bulls in a cattle district like this.’ “At that moment a man came up and observed in a business like way, ‘The monkeys have pulled all the fur off the rabbits; snatched’em regular baldheaded.’ “ ‘Put them in a separate cage and label them from the ruins of Pompeii.’ “ ‘All right, sir,’ replied the man, •but what are we to do for dromedaries? The 'Stock’s running low and we’ve advertised that lot, big.’ .. “Barnum tore a leaf from his diary and handed him the following memorandum, with the order, ‘Put a blanket on the horse that went blind yesterday, and tack this on him in a conspicuous place.’ “The following is what the man read: ‘Notice: The hump usually found on this dromedary has been absorbed as nutriment; it is expected out in a few days.’ “Yes, Barnum had large resources,” and the ringmaster solemnly contemplated the wreaths of smoke as they rose into the ambient air, and with feelings of awe we stole silently away, loath to disturb his reveri e.f-Cly dc, in New York Judge.