BARNUM'S GOOD STORIES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1990, 4 January 1890, Page 1

BARNUM'S GOOD STORIES.

Mr Barnum is as good a story teller as be is a showman, and the other evening at the Hotel Victoria he was in the happiest of moods. With what an unctuous satisfaction he told how he got the better of Anderson the Wizard of the North. But here is the story in his own words : "It was in 1844 that I first visited this great country, and for three years, broken only by one or two flying visits to New York, to see my Museum there, I travelled continuously through Great Britain. Indeed I think I may say that few Englishmen have visited so many towns in their native land as I have done, While at Aberdeen during that trip I met my old friend Anderson, known as the Wizard of the North, who was giving performances in that town. We were stopping at the same hotel, and one evening as we were sitting in the smoking-room (for in those days I could drink and smoke with the best of them), Anderson, for a joke, introduced me to the company as the great Wizard of the North. I was immediately besieged with questions, but I kept up the joke and did not reveal my identity. Then, after the excitement had a little subsided, I addressed the company with, ' Gentlemen, there is one thing I tilways do on entering a town, and that is to give free passes to my entertainment to all gentlemen whom I meet with as I have met you.' Then I sat down and wrote out and signed in Anderson's name, and as fast as I could, passes for Anderson's performance. I had written about thirty and would have written about thirty move, but Anderson could stand stand it no longer, and cried out that all those tickets should be passed, but he couldn't see any more given away, and he declared who he was." Mr Barnum's style of telling his stories cannot be effectively reproduced on paper, and the yarn necessarily falls flat without the slight nasal accent, the sparkling eyes, the unctuous smile. ''Dr Franklin said that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," said Mr Barnum, « and I am of his opinion." And from all appearances this is probably a correct statement.