Note 22 — Chapter XIII · THE CIRCUS
Reading edition
Barnum apparently thought it necessary to handle the publicity even for this complimentary dinner. He wrote the following letter to Gordon L. Ford, business manager of the New York Tribune:
“Waldemere, Bridgeport, Conn., June 18, 1874.
“My dear Mr. Ford:
“Will you please hand the enclosed slip to Mr. Reid [Whitelaw Reid] with my compliments. The Committee on dinner are to invite Mr. Reid. If I cannot have the honor of his company (which I hope I can) I hope he will kindly send a reporter and I shall be glad to pay his expenses. There will be 150 to the dinner including some distinguished guests.
“Yours, “P. T. Barnum.
“Dinner at 7 P. M., all over before 10.”
Autograph Letter from the Gordon L. Ford Collection, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, New York Public Library.