18. S&T (1873 ed.), p. 766.
19. S&T, p. 685; PTB, pp. 228–29.
20. S&T, pp. 686–87; S&T (1873 ed.), pp. 769–74.
SEVENTEEN: MARRIAGE BONDS
1. Emerson, “The Barnums,” p. 219.
2. S&T (1873 ed.), pp. 841–43; PTB, pp. 228, 249, 393n10; SL, pp. 178–79, PTB to John Greenwood Jr. (?), Dec. 19, 1873, and to George H. Emerson, Feb. 21, 1874.
3. Emerson, “The Barnums,” pp. 215–20; quote beginning “perhaps causing her to exaggerate” is on p. 219.
4. Kunhardts, pp. 238–39. The Kunhardts say that Mary K. Witkowski, then of the Bridgeport Public Library, told them of a conversation she had with a cousin of Nancy’s that led them to discover the marriage certificate in London (348n).
5. S&T (1875 ed.), pp. 850–64. In 1870 parts of Fairfield, including Mountain Grove Cemetery, much of Seaside Park, and the properties where Barnum’s mansions were, had been, or would be, were annexed by the city of Bridgeport.
6. Ibid., pp. 851, 863, 867; New York Herald, Sept. 17, 1874; PTB, p. 253; New-York Tribune, Sept. 17, 1874.
EIGHTEEN: EXCITEMENT, PEPPER, & MUSTARD
1. S&T, pp. 697–98; S&T (1875 ed.), pp. 849–50.
2. New York Herald, April 26, 1874; New-York Tribune, May 30, 1874.
3. SL, p. 180, PTB to Mrs. Abel C. Thomas, May 22, 1874.
4. Andrew Hoffman, Inventing Mark Twain (New York: William Morrow, 1997), p. 496.
5. New-York Tribune, Feb. 5, 1872.
6. Twain, Collected Tales, Sketches, Speeches, & Essays, pp. 573–77.
7. SL, pp. 182–83, PTB to Samuel L. Clemens, July 16, 1874, and July 31, 1874.
8. Ibid., pp. 193 and 195, PTB to Samuel L. Clemens, Mar. 24, 1875, and Oct. 2, 1875.
9. See, for example, SL, pp. 188–91, 196–98, PTB to Samuel L. Clemens, Jan. 19, 1875, and Mar. 20, 1876.
10. SL, pp. 202, 204, 205, PTB to Samuel L. Clemens, Oct. 10, 1877, Jan. 10, 1878, and Jan. 14, 1878.
11. PTB, p. 251.
12. S&T, pp. 710–23; PTB, pp. 263–65.
13. S&T, p. 720.
14. Ibid., pp. 727–30.
15. Ibid., pp. 725–26.
16. PTB, p. 32.
17. S&T, pp. 731–34; PTB, pp. 270–73; SL, pp. 203, 214–15, PTB to Whitelaw Reid, Jan. 10, 1878, and to Joseph Roswell Hawley, Nov. 9, [1880].
18. S&T, pp. 736–40; PTB, pp. 235–37; Edward O’Reilly, “Henry Bergh: Angel in Top Hat or the Great Meddler?,” From the Stacks (blog), New-York Historical Society, Mar. 21, 2012, http://blog.nyhistory.org/henry-bergh-angel-in-top-hat-or-the-great-meddler/.
19. S&T, p. 737; PTB, p. 238; New-York Times, Mar. 17, 1888.
20. The Kunhardts, p. 269, quote Bergh as saying, “Whether . . . it is humane and praiseworthy to rescue . . . rare animals from the . . . jungle . . . and drag them through Christian lands to have peanuts and tobacco thrown at them by gaping crowds and then perish as they mostly do . . . drowned, shot, or burned—is at least open to question.”
NINETEEN: AND BAILEY
1. S&T, p. 741, n2.
2. New-York Times, Apr. 19, 1891.
3. S&T, pp. 742–43; PTB, pp. 285–86.
4. New-York Tribune, Nov. 24, 1880; New-York Times, Dec. 14, 1880; PTB, p. 273; S&T, pp. 743–44.
5. New-York Tribune, Mar. 27 and 29, 1881; New York Herald, Mar. 29, 1881; S&T, p. 745.
6. SL, p. 217, PTB to James A. Garfield, Mar. 12, 1881; S&T, pp. 747–48.
7. S&T, pp. 748, 753; PTB, p. 275.
8. PTB, pp. 276, 285.
9. Conklin, The Ways of the Circus, pp. 295–97; Richard E. Conover, The Affairs of James A. Bailey: New Revelations on the Career of the World’s Most Successful Showman, pamphlet (Xenia, OH: Self-published, 1957), pp. 1–3, 17.
10. Conklin, The Ways of the Circus, p. 299.
11. SL, pp. 297–98, PTB to James A. Bailey, July 5, 1888.
12. SL, p. 264, PTB to Mrs. James A. Bailey, July 5, 1885. Bailey married Ruth Louisa McCaddon of Zanesville, Ohio, in 1868.
13. Bartlett, Wild Animals in Captivity, pp. 45–49; S&T, pp. 756–57; PTB, pp. 291–92. In an article that appeared shortly after Barnum’s death, Bailey, or perhaps a circus publicity agent speaking for him, took credit for having found and purchased Jumbo. A publicity effort was made after Barnum’s death to downplay his role in Barnum & Bailey (New-York Times, Apr. 19, 1891).
14. Ruskin, The Works of John Ruskin, vol. 34, p. 561.
15. S&T, pp. 757–58; New-York Tribune, Mar. 11, 1882.
16. S&T, p. 759.
17. Sun (New York), Apr. 10, 1882.
18. Ibid. The distance between the park and the docks is just over four miles.
19. New-York Tribune, Apr. 10, 1882.
20. New-York Tribune, Apr. 9, 10, and 11, 1882.
21. S&T, p. 760, and image of an ad between pp. 758 and 759.
22. New-York Times, Apr. 19, 1891; Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), Sept. 19, 1885; S&T, pp. 785–86.
23. New-York Tribune, Sept. 17, 1885; SL, pp. 241, 265, letter and telegram to Henry A. Ward, Oct. 9, 1883, and Sept. 17, 1885.
24. Kunhardts, p. 301. A team led by David Attenborough for a BBC documentary studied the skeleton and concluded that Jumbo had been only 10.5 feet tall and that his bones showed the ill effects of carrying so many children on his back—often eight or nine at a time (Sun [U.K.], Dec. 10, 2017).
25. SL, p. 271, PTB to James A. Bailey, Oct. 12, 1885.
26. S&T, pp. 787–90; PTB, p. 312.
TWENTY: LAST YEARS
1. S&T, pp. 799–801; SL, p. 311, PTB to James A. Bailey, Apr. 14, 1889.
2. S&T, pp. 744, 764, 790; New-York Tribune, July 20, 1883; Sun (New York), July 23, 1883; Lehman, Becoming Tom Thumb, pp. 208–9.
3. SL, p. 311, PTB to James A. Bailey, Apr. 14, 1889.
4. SL, p. 328, PTB to James A. Bailey, Aug. 24, 1890; PTB, p. 115; Barnum, Funny Stories, p. 359.
5. PTB, pp. 281–82.
6. Ibid., pp. 289–90.
7. Ibid., 254–55.
8. SL, pp. 225, 279, 284, 288, 292, PTB to Carrie Bailey, Apr. 24, 1882; Lucy A. Thomas, July 10, 1886; Henry Rennell, Mar. 1, July 27, and Sept. 12, 1887.
9. PTB, pp. 316–17.
10. Ibid., pp. 279–80, 325.
11. Barnum also gave much smaller amounts to St. Lawrence University in upstate New York and Lombard College in Ohio. PTB, pp. 53–54, 57–58; SL, pp. 251–52, PTB to Rev. E. H. Capen, June 12, 1884.
12. Sun (New York), cited in Indianapolis Journal, Oct. 14, 1889.
14. Conklin, The Ways of the Circus, p. 253.
15. Nancy Barnum, S&T, p. 817.
16. Barnum, Funny Stories, pp. 366–67.
17. Sporting Times (London), Dec. 14, 1889.
18. Licensed Victuallers’ Mirror (London), Dec. 31, 1889.
19. Barnum, Funny Stories, p. 367.
20. Ibid., p. v.
21. New-York Tribune, Mar. 15, 1891; SL, pp. 319–21, PTB to James A. Bailey, Feb. 22 and 26, 1890; S&T, pp. 817–18. At Barnum’s request, Nancy wrote “Last Chapter” for his autobiography after his death.
22. S&T, pp. 811–12; Kunhardts, p. 328.
23. S&T, p. 818.
24. Ibid., pp. 818–19.
25. Ibid., pp. 819, 821; PTB, pp. 325–26.
26. New-York Tribune, Mar. 15, 1891; Newtown (CT) Bee, Apr. 10, 1891.
27. S&T, pp. 821–22.
28. New-York Times, Apr. 8, 1891; Times (London), Apr. 8, 1891.
29. Newtown (CT) Bee, Apr. 10, 1891; Sun (New York), Apr. 10 and 11, 1891.
30. New-York Tribune, Apr. 11, 1891.
INDEX
A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search fun
ction.
Across the Atlantic (Lewis), 1, 182
Adelaide, Queen Dowager of England, 92, 103, 124, 306n14
Adventures of an Adventurer (Barnum), 50, 167, 301n11
advertising, 36, 47, 74, 186
Barnum and, 22, 24, 202, 234, 245, 250–51, 257
Jenny Lind campaign, 132–35
Tom Thumb campaign, 80, 92
Agra, Zalumma, 222
Åhmansson, Josephine, 129
Albert, Prince Consort, 89, 90, 124
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, 91, 195–96, 265, 315n6
American Crystal Palace, 166–67
American Museum, N.Y.C., 1–2, 4, 6–7, 11, 29, 50–57, 75, 94–95, 118, 162, 177, 182, 188, 302n17
Barnum’s marketing strategy, 140–41
Barnum’s memorable line about, 52
British royalty visit, 195–96
Civil War dramas and exhibits, 200
Commodore Nutt at, 201–2
Confederate arson and fires at, 209–14
curiosities and exhibits, 6, 50, 52, 75, 95, 178–79, 211, 218, 222
educational appeal, 51–52, 55, 56–57
employees at the time of the fire, 213
Fejee Mermaid at, 1–3, 7, 58–68
Greenwood, Butler, and, 177, 188, 193
Happy Family exhibition, 98, 193, 218
Hitchcock and, 77, 110, 111
humorist’s description of, 55–56
Jeff. Davis in petticoats, 210, 211, 214
Lecture Room, 4–5, 57, 76, 139–41, 210, 218
menagerie, 193, 211, 218–19, 222
rebuilding, 213, 217–19, 317n16
renovations, 139–40, 142, 160, 193, 309n1
revenue, 57, 188
“temple of moral entertainment,” 139, 140–41, 142, 309n5
Tom Thumb at, 74, 76, 111, 201–2
Twain and, 246
wax figure of Rebel arsonist at, 210
“What Is It?” exhibit, 193–96
American Museum of Natural History, 270
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), 254, 275
Annapolis, Md., near-lynching in, 46
Anthony, Susan B., 221, 250
“Art of Money-Getting, The” (Barnum lecture), 185–87
Astor, John Jacob, III, 205
Astor House, N.Y.C., 54, 184, 196, 197, 212–13, 316n4
Attenborough, David, 321n24
automatons, 37, 38, 94–95, 300n16
Bachman, John, 66, 67
Bailey, James, 257–270, 273, 274, 281, 284, 285, 320n13
Baring Brothers Bank, 133, 152, 153
Barnum, Charity Hallett (wife), 20–21, 28, 29, 44, 49, 57, 67, 70, 75, 105, 107–12, 116, 173, 183, 185, 230, 242
as abolitionist, 199
Barnum, temperance, and, 119–20
Barnum mocking in letters, 109
Barnum’s bankruptcy and, 177, 178, 180, 191
death of, 239–40, 243
England trip (1844), 99–100
funeral, 240–41
health of, 115–16, 187, 238–41
Lind and, 150, 158
Lindencroft and, 190
marriage of, 20–21
New York town house and, 220, 221
Niagara Falls trip, 115–16
Barnum, Ephraim (grandfather), 11
Barnum, Frances (daughter), 75, 99
Barnum, Irena Taylor (mother), 11, 17, 19, 21
Barnum, Nancy Fish (wife), 239–43, 247–48, 250, 252, 260, 274–76, 278, 280–86, 318n4, 322n21
Barnum, P[hineas] T[aylor], 302n21
acquiring curiosities and exhibits, 1–2, 55, 58, 64, 66, 68, 94–95, 97–98, 118, 161, 178, 193, 201, 220, 232–33, 267, 272, 307n18
aging and last years, 264, 272–86
ambitions of, 12, 15, 19, 125
American character of, 1, 7, 8, 93, 98, 170–71, 181
as American symbol, 181–82
appearance, 143, 157, 196
as author, 4, 6, 12, 50, 95, 96, 98, 102, 109–10, 167–72, 226–29, 274, 275, 281 (see also specific works)
background and childhood, 7, 9–19
Bailey and, 258–70, 273, 284
birth of, 9
black enfranchisement and, 214–17
business advice by, 185–87, 220, 230, 314n25
as businessman, 4, 6–7, 14, 19–20, 29, 47–48, 82, 118, 160–72, 224–30, 241, 244
as businessman, bankruptcy, and recovery, 173–91, 238
“Celebrities at Home” description, 252
childhood joke on, 10, 15–16, 53
children born, 28, 44, 75, 108
as “The Children’s Friend,” 274–75
circuses and, 4, 5, 161–63, 232–38, 240, 244–45, 249, 250, 266–71, 278–81, 285–86
Civil War and, 4, 192, 198–200, 214
Colorado trip (1872), 236
criticism of, 3, 151, 153, 154, 157, 171, 181–82
death of, 9, 283–84
death of daughter, Frances, 99
death of daughter, Pauline, 252
death of grandmother, 17
death of wife, Charity, 239–40
deaths of friends, 273–74
early jobs and businesses, 13–23
earnings and wealth, 6, 44, 57, 82, 87, 92, 98, 100, 105, 123, 159, 174–75, 183, 185, 187, 261
education and cleverness, 12
energy, 96, 98, 118, 187, 188, 233, 254
in England, 84–93, 95–99, 109–11, 252, 260–61, 274, 278–81
in Europe, 94–95, 104–5, 108–9, 239
exhibiting animals and birds, 161–63, 231, 232, 233, 236–37, 239, 244, 245, 249, 251, 254–56, 269, 273, 279
fabrications, 72–74 (see also humbug)
faithful employees (Busy B’s), 261–62, 283
fame, 5, 98, 100–101, 181, 182
father’s death and family debt, 17
Fejee Mermaid, 7, 58–68, 103, 186
finds direction for his life, 29, 30
fires and devastation, 184, 209–13, 215, 217–18, 221–24, 227, 237, 241, 272–73, 278
funeral and burial, 285–86
generosity of, 195, 220–21
grandfather’s influence on, 11, 12–13
hard times, support during, 179–80
Heth affair, 30–43, 44, 50, 58, 195, 300n7, 300n13
home (Iranistan), 111–15, 117–18, 119, 125, 167, 176, 184
home (Lindencroft), 189–90, 199, 200–201, 220
home (Manhattan town house), 220–21, 239, 242
home (Marina), 282, 284, 285
home (Waldemere), 225–26, 232, 238, 241, 242, 243, 246, 247, 250, 252, 260–61, 282, 319n5
humbug and, 5–6, 38, 42, 120–22, 127, 171, 186, 216, 228–30
illness of 1881, 259, 260
internal conflicts of, 107, 109–10, 230
Jumbo and, 264–70, 320n13, 321n18
Kansas buffalo hunt, 232
land deals and real-estate development, 4, 107–8, 173–75, 188, 225, 226, 234, 236, 262
last birthday, 282
legal troubles, 175
lessons of human nature, 14, 18, 22–23
Lincoln and, 192, 196–99, 202
Lind and, 123–59
living on “excitement, pepper, & mustard,” 245–46
as local hero, 25–26, 299n29
lotteries of, 15, 17–18, 22–23, 28–29
married to Charity Hallett, 20–21
married to Nancy Fish, 240–43, 318n4
missteps, early career, 3, 4, 30, 33, 43
moral entertainment and, 139–43, 188, 236, 309n5
moral evolution of, 5, 127, 171, 172, 190, 197
as newspaper publisher, 23–24, 28–29, 165–66, 246
Niagara Falls trips, 115–16, 230, 250
personality and character, 82, 98–99, 100–101, 102, 165, 180, 190, 233–34, 237, 241, 253–54, 283
persona of, 50, 167
philanthropy of, 153–54, 175, 1
90–91, 226, 276–78, 322n11
philosophical, political, and moral views, 3, 4, 5–6, 45, 175, 200, 221, 253
political office and, 4, 101–2, 214–17, 249–50, 252–54, 312n16
as promoter or self-promoter, 4, 132, 143, 187
publicity and, 2–3, 22, 33–34
as public speaker, 4, 12, 120, 123, 142–43, 145–46, 147–48, 185–87, 202, 212, 220, 226, 231, 234, 236, 250, 282, 314n25
Queen Victoria and, 86, 89–92
racial views of, 42–43, 48, 49, 101, 102, 193–96, 197–98, 214, 300n13
religion and faith, 16–17, 18, 23, 24–25, 82, 190, 200, 252, 282
as Republican, 197–98, 214, 249, 252–53
reputation, 2, 3, 7–8, 33, 41, 43, 127, 171, 216
retirement attempt, 224–30, 232, 234
as self-made man, 171
as showman, 3, 4, 6, 7, 26–27, 29, 30, 33–34, 41, 42, 44–50, 57, 96, 118, 120–22, 153, 166, 182, 194, 201, 217–18, 231–36, 244–46, 250–52, 264–70, 279
siblings, 11
smallpox of, 19, 21
social class and, 153
temperance and, 4, 102, 118–20, 123, 140, 200, 226, 241, 249, 252
Tom Thumb and, 71–106, 192, 204–8
travels with John Fish (1869), 230–32
voice of, 186, 314n23
“Yankee cuteness,” 98, 179
Barnum, Philo (brother), 39, 71, 72, 107, 116, 184
Barnum, Philo (father), 11, 12, 16, 17
Barnum, William H. (cousin), 215–17, 316n10
Barnum & Bailey Circus, 5, 261, 264, 266–71, 278–81, 285–86
as Barnum & London Circus, 259–60, 261, 264–70
Barnum’s death and, 284, 285
Barnum’s last visit to, 282–83
fire and, 272–73
The Greatest Show on Earth, 5, 268, 278, 281
Johnson’s act in, 194–95
Jumbo and, 266–70, 320n13
in London (1889), 278–81
at Madison Square Garden, 259, 260, 268, 281, 284, 285–86
menagerie of, 272–73, 279, 280, 286
“Nero, or the Destruction of Rome,” 280–81, 285
Barnum & Bailey’s Winter Quarters, 258–59, 272–73, 284
Barnum and Van Amburgh Museum and Menagerie Company, 219–20
“Barnum Days,” 5
Barnum Museum, 277
“Barnum on His Feet Again” (pamphlet), 188
Barnum’s Advance Courier, 246
Barnum’s American Centennial, 250–51
Barnum’s Grand Scientific and Musical Theatre, 45, 47
Barnum’s Museum, Circus, and Mammoth Amphitheatre, 202, 203