It was with great anticipation that our ancestors would look forward to spring here in Concord each year. The snow would melt, the crops could be planted, youngsters anticipated the end of the school year and the circus came to town.
For many years the circus was as routine as the seasons themselves. There were many variations of this early entertainment, some focused on exotic animals while others focused on oddities. The circus performers functioned as a family of sorts, wintering in warmer climates as they relaxed and planned for the upcoming season. Concord was on the map for circus performers and as the years progressed the routine of circus entertainers increased in both frequency as well as quality.
On March 18, 1881, the Barnum and Bailey Circus debut was held in New York City and billed as the “Greatest Show on Earth.” P.T. Barnum certainly perfected the art of great showmanship for his circus was in existence for 150 years. It was a short period after his New York City debut that his circus scheduled a visit to Concordand what a visit it was.
It was in June 1881 that several newspaper men were gathering at the Eagle Hotel for gossip and coffee, a frequent occurrence, especially with the local politicians in town. The Eagle Hotel offered fine accommodations, wonderful dining and a clear view of the activity across the street at the New Hampshire State House.
On this fine day in June there was a wagon arriving at the Eagle Hotel with a small number of passengers. One passenger in particular caught the attention of the newspaper reporters and a conversation followed. The gentleman that had just arrived on the coach was Mr. Thomas and he was in fact an advance agent for the Barnum Circus. It was the job of Mr. Thomas to travel to each town before his circus arrived and promote the event with any means possible. It seems that Mr. Thomas was quite the expert at extracting free publicity when it could be found, the newspaper reporters were certainly on his list of people to see while visiting Concord before his circus.
As the gentlemen gathered around this mysterious stranger, they enjoyed his wonderful personality and soon found themselves inside the Eagle Hotel enjoying some spirits free of charge, compliments of their new friend Mr. Thomas. As the refreshments flowed there was much banter back and forth surrounding the events of the day as the conversation turned to the circus that was scheduled to arrive within a few short days.
The rivalry was both enjoyable and mutual as the bantering continued and one of the young newspaper reporters suggested a challenge to Mr. Thomas. He asked Mr. Thomas what it would be worth to him if the New Hampshire House, currently in session across the street at the New Hampshire State House, voted to adjourn so that the lawmakers could enjoy a day at the Barnum’s Circus. Mr. Thomas pursued the comment asking for clarification from the reporters.
The reporters said that in exchange for free tickets to the circus they would contact a friend at the New Hampshire House and request that he make a motion to officially adjourn so that the politicians could enjoy a day at the circus.
Mr. Thomas enjoyed this conversation regarding the New Hampshire House adjournment very much. The newspaper reporter said he would make his proposal to his friend, obviously it would be quickly dismissed by the representatives. The newspaper men further explained to Mr. Thomas that the value obtained would be the free publicity written about the proposal for adjournment in all of the local and regional newspapers. No better advertisement could be purchased for the Barnum Circus just days before the circus arrived in town. The timing was perfect and the payment was simply a handful of free circus tickets for the newspaper reporters. A plan was hatched and a visit to a New Hampshire Representative was made quickly.
It was a slow morning as the New Hampshire Legislature gathered in their hall. The contact made a quick visit to the speaker of the House and was placed on the schedule to make his motion for special adjournment for a day at the circus. During the first hour of the day only routine business was transacted, members were browsing over their morning newspapers, when the Barnum resolution was sent to the Speaker’s desk.
As the clerk proceeded with his various “whereases” members of the House started to set their newspapers down and pay strict attention to this proposal. Moments of profound silence followed in the hall.
Several members stood and voiced their concern as they denounced the resolution adding that the assembly was certainly deeply insulted to be entertaining such nonsense. One of the senior members secured recognition with a short speech and concluded by moving that the Barnum resolution be laid upon the table, which motion the house promptly voted.
Mr. Thomas was most pleased as he witnessed this event, along with his new friends working for the newspapers. With this story being printed on the front page of the newspaper the next morning across the state of New Hampshire the publicity proved to be quite excessive and affordable. The House adjourned before a vote was taken and there was important business at hand the next day. The lawmakers reported to their hotels and enjoyed dinner as they sought rest from the nonsense that had been presented.
The very next morning as the hall was called to order and a schedule was addressed as the lawmakers enjoyed a laugh or two regarding the Barnum resolution once again. Some eager members decided to push the matter a bit further to keep the lawmakers both entertained and fully involved in the assembly. The day progressed, various bills were proposed and the hours passed as the lawmakers made their laws. It was late in the afternoon that the subject of the Barnum resolution was once again addressed. This would not be had, a mockery at the very best, the lawmakers would not allow the esteemed assembly to become a circus itself.
As the day worked towards a conclusion and members were eager to return to their hotels for dinner the conversation once again erupted. The house decided once and for all that they would not approve a resolution to adjourn and attend the Barnum Circus on this day.
Many enjoyed the disruption in the assembly because it was a wonderful exercise to ward off boredom over the long hours. Though a few gentlemen felt that their evening could be spent rather enjoyably at the circus, since they were already in town for political reasons.
A creative young representative from northern New Hampshire stood and made a quick motion. A fellow member of the House from a neighboring town had passed away months before and he requested the House to be adjourned on this day out of respect to his memory.
This humble resolution was quickly voted and passed and the House adjourned promptly within the hour. Yes indeed, many of the politicians enjoyed a fine dinner, some spirits and a wonderful evening being entertained by the famous P. T. Barnum here in Concord on a fine evening back in June, 1881.
Both this session of the House and the Barnum Circus provided much entertainment proving to our ancestors that the greatest show on earth, here in Concord, was very real and very relevant.
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Circus and the State House - Concord Monitor
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