P.T. Barnum once asked Twain to drop his name in an article as free publicity for his circus before he merged with Bailey to create “The Greatest Show on Earth,” Twain said no, but eventually did write Barnum asking for the letters he received from people wanting to join the circus.
It is an admirable lot of letters. Headless mice, four legged hens, human handed sacred bulls, “professional Gypsies”…deformed human beings anxious to trade on their horrors, school teachers who can’t spell, - it is a perfect feast of queer literature! Again I beseech you, don’t burn a single specimen, but remember that all are wanted & possess value in the eyes of your friend. *
Parts of the circus fascinated Twain and at one point he had an idea to write a story inspired by two of Barnum’s earliest stars, Chang and Eng. Chang and Eng were Siamese twins conjoined at the liver and the fathers of 22 children. Twain’s idea was about Siamese twins where one drank, one was sober and they were both in love with the same woman. I’m not positive but I don’t think he ever wrote the story.
While I loathe the circus for a myriad of reasons, P.T. Barnum did say a great line applicable to my always-misspelled first name!
I don't care what you say about me, just spell my name right.
*This information can be found on pages 369, 371 and 543 of Mark Twain: A Life by Ron Powers.
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