As far as I can see, the animal part of the show is just the same
as it always was. The people that take you to the show always
pretend to be interested in them, but it's my belief they stop and
look only to tease you. Away, 'way back in ancient times, there
used to be a man that took the folks around and told them what was
in each cage, and where it came from, and how much it cost, and
what useful purpose it served in the wise economy of nature, and
all about it. That was before my time. But I can recollect
something they had that they don't have any more. I can remember
when Mr. Barnum first brought his show to our town. It didn't take
much teasing to get to go to that, because in those days Mr. Barnum
was a "biger man than old Grant." "The Life of P. T. Barnum,
Written by Himself" was on everybody's marble-topped centertable,
just the same as "The History of the Great Rebellion." You show
some elderly person from out of town the church across the street
from the Astor House, and say: "That's St. Paul's Chapel. General
Montgomery's monument is in the chancel window. George Washington
went to meeting there the day he was inaugurated president," and
your friend will say: "M-hm." But you tell him that right across
Broadway is where Barnum's Museum used to be, and he'll brighten
right up and remember all about how Barnum strung a flag across to
St.
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