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VERSATILE SHOWMAN ONCE PLAYED IN NEGRO ROLE HERE By II. W. KKNDAl.l,. In Greensboro Daily New a Rocky Mount,?Add to the accomplishments and multitudinous axJventures of the lute I*. T. Barnum the fart that at one time in hi* life he occupied the pulpit and sprinkle the additir^i with a strictly Tar Heel flavor by the appendage of a footnote stating this sole venture in the l?ulpit waa made on Tar Heel soil. On a Sunday morning in the late summer of 1830, Barnum preached a sermon before the congregation of the Rocky Mount Falls i'rimitive Baptist church, located at the Falls of the Tar river just beyond the present Rocky Mount mills village and on the site where the village of Rocky Mount originally stood prior to its shifting southward to its present locution. The sermon is aiv thenticated by Barnum's own declaration as he devotes several paragraphs to it in his autobiography. Naturally no one is alive at the present day to give firsthand impressions of the pulpit declarations of the circus king, at that time just launching upon his white top career, nor is the church at which he delivered his discourse standing although another structure is at the original foundations of the old church, around which the community life of the section centered for a long period of years. It is significant, however, thut hole in Tar river just beyond the site of the church is at the present duy known as the elephant hole, and the name is traced directly to the fact that Barnum Watered his elephants, or probably it was merely "elephant" then, at the place. In those days when circuses were indeed rare and when in all probability the occasion represented the first visit of such an attraction to the then small hamlet of Rocky Mount it was not hard to understand how the watering hole was given this name and how the name has stuck with succeeding generations. The church at which Barnum preached his one and only sermon, so far as the records go, was long prominent in the history of northeastern Carolina. It was one of the first houses of worship in the section being erected about 1740 by pioneer settlers and remaining in continuous service as the religious center of the section until 1840 when it was destroyed under decidedly peculiar circumstances. The story which is told by older inhabitants about the destruction of lhe church is an interesting by-product of the story which I started to tell about Barnum and his venture in the pulpit. This "side show," to revert to the parlance of the circus king himself, was a product of the days when liquor flowed freely and every cross roads hamlet was made up largely of saloons. The Rocky Mount section was no exception and the effects of drinking, carous-1 ing and accompanying rowdyism evi-1 dently gave the church leaders at the J Falls considerable trouble and had a decidedly harmful effect upon their1 efforts for good and the work and! services of the church. The result was that the church leaders get their heads together, so to speak, and out of that gathering of heads came the first "three mile limit. ( o nun it tees and officials from the church laid their case before their legislators and through theij- cooperation succeeded in having a bill passed by the North Carolina general assembly prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors within three miles of the Falls church. The bill was evidently aimed at nearby traffickers who operated near the church and look advantage of the gatherings there to do a thriving business "in the devil's name. 1 he bill, at first purely of a local nature although later broadened to apply to other churches was passed and put into effect, and shortly thereafter the Falls church, the structure at which Barnum hail preached two years previously, was burned to the ground. General belief at the time .was to the effect that the church had been burned by the nearby liquor traffickers, who hoped to bring about the removal of the restructive law by destroying the structure to which it applied. The theory was to the effect that a certain negro had been hired to do the job of church burning. Events devek>ped to the point where the black in question was formally arraigned and given trial on. a charge of arson. Hut the defendant had good lawyers, the authorities could get little on him, and as a result he was acquitted of the charge. The belief, however, that the church was maliciously burned because of its responsibility for the restrictive liquor legislation still exists despite the fact that the blame for the fire was never fixed in the courts. The present structure J was erected about 1870, or right after the Civil war, upon the foundations of the old church, and has remained in continuous use as a house of worship since that time. But to get hack to the main story of Barnum at his sermon at the FaM? church. Tradition offers two versions of the incident. One is to the effect that the preacher at the chnrch, who probably lived some distance away or was more likely a Find, of circuit rider with several ch%rohe* comprising his charge, ' failed to show up for' the service on this particular Sunday when Barnum bad pitched his camp near the house 4V v'f. i of worship and that ihe circus promotcr, rather than see the I'lmgrtgution disappointedly go away without hearing a sermon, volunteered to fill the pulpit and delivered his discourse in the preacher'* stead. The other version (s to the effect that Harnurn addressed the congregation at the conclusion of the preacher's regular Sunday morning sermon, and this version seems to be substantiated by the* circus king's autobiography. The authentic account narrates that B&rnum, with his first traveling circus, was heading south through the country from Richmond to New Orleans, Crossing eastern Carolina, he camped near the Falls Ciiufyii vV'ci a week-end ana utiiized his stay to emerge temporarily from the sawdust ring to the pulpit. A pity it is that there was no shorthand expert or newspaper reporter on hand in that day to catch a verbatim account of the circus man's one and only recorded attempt at preaching and the reaction which it drew from an audience other than that which munched peanuts and drank lemonade under the gleaming canvas of the big top. Barnum himself leaves a brief quotation from bis sermon for he left the statement that he assured the congregation: "We cannot violate the laws of God with impunity, and he will not keep back the wages of well-doing. Diamonds may glitter on a vicious breast, but the soul's claim sunshine and the heartfelt joy is virtue's prize." From this meager quotation it may be seen that Harnurn knew how to handle the King's English in the pulpit as effectively as he rolled forth spiels which caused gaping throngs to part with their shekels and pass through the flap in the tent to witness the wonders therein. Barnum goes so far as to say that members of the congregation came forward to shake his hand and congratulate him. There can be only ..peculation as to Barnum's motive for venturing into the pulpit. Whether he was sincerely religiously inclined or whether he took advantage of the occasion to notoriety upon which he thrived is a mere matter of guess work. His varied experiences and his continuous efforts at publicity argue for the latter interpretation. Regardless of the motive behind the sermon, however, it served to show his personal versatility. In this same connection, Barnum's negro singer left him the next week at Camden, South Carolina, just before a performance. The man who had just played preacher several days before blacked his face, went through the act, sang the coon songs and received the most hearty sort of encores. But it may he unjust to Barnum to say that lu' was actuated in entering .he pulpit of the eastern Carolina church by anything but the highest motives. Study ol his early life shows that ho was brought up in a strictly religious New England home, that he attended church regularly, that he was consistently a Universalist and that he also came under the stern influence of Connecticut Methodism. In this connection Barnum in commenting on his early religious life told a New 'l ork Sun reporter when i.e was 73 years of age that "1 was brought up in fear of hell, and when I went to the Methodist praver meetings, at the age of 13 or 14, I used to go home -and pray and cry and beg God to take me out of existence if he would only save me; but I didn t see much chance for me m the way they put it." One author declares that doubtlessly as a reaction from the fiery hell of the early Methodist influence Barnum turned to Universalism as soon as he was able to choose for himself. While the sermon at the Falls church was probably the only one of its kind which Barnum delivered, a biographer records that as a youth he attended a Bible class where the students were supposed to prepare compositions on whatever text they drew from the clergymen's hat. Barium drew-,the text Luke 10:42, "But one thing is needed; and Mary hath chosen 'hat good part whuh shall not bet taken away from her. "Question: What is the'" one thing needful?" Barnum's composition, servfhg as a creed for his later life, was as, follows: "This question. 'What is the one thing needful?,' is capable of receiving various answers, depending much upon the persons to whom it is addressed. "The merchant might answer that 'the one thing needful is plenty of customers, who buy liberally without beating down, and pay cash for all their purchases.' "The farmer might reply that 'the one thing needful' *is large harvest.-, and high prices.' "The physician might answer that 'it is plenty of patients.' "The lawyer might be of the opinion that 'it is an unruly community, always engaged in bickerings and litigations.' "The clergymen might reply 'It is a fat salary with multitudes of sinners seeking salvation and paying large pew rents.' "The bachelor might exclaim. 'It is a pretty wife who loves her hust>arvd and who knows how to sew on buttons.' "The maiden might answer, 'It is a good husband who will love, cherish and protect me while life shall last.' ?- , a* . .- j -'Wgs?? "Hut the most proper apawvr, and doubtless that which applied to the case of Mary, would be, 'The one thin# needful is lo believe in th** j Lord Jesus Christ, follow in bis j footsteps, love (lod and obey his eom-j mandraenU, low our fellow-man, and I embrace every opportunity of* admin-1 islering to his necessities. In short, the one thing needful to live a lif? that we can always look baA upon with satisfaction and be enabled ever to contemplate its termination with trust in him who has so kindly vouched it to us, surrounding us with innumerable blegftings, if we but have the heart and wisdom to receive them in u proper manner," Later, on about 1831, Uarnum became so much interested in religious controversy that he founded a paper in which to express his views. At that time religious history was rife in New England protracted meetings of the high tension type and hortatory witchery were in vogue and there were even some ministers who agitated a Christian party in politics. Barnum, with many others becanle alarmed over the prospects of religious fanaticism, and wrote several articles warning against this impending danger to the nearest paper, published in Danbury, Conn. They were returned by the editor who re! ^retted that he could not find space for their publication. Barnum thereupon took action of his own, purchased a press and type and started "The Herald of Freedom" in Danbury. He continued the publication of the paper for several years and during the period of its publication was sent to jail and fined $100 because of an article in which he upbraided a deacon of "taking usury of an orphan boy." The newspaper venture, however, serves to show Barnum'a interest in religion and combines with other incidents of his life to show that he had taken part in religious jnatters and that his sally irvto the eastern Carolina pulpit was 1 more than likely actuated by highest motives and not by mere grandstand play for notoriety. That Barnum believed in publicity and advertising to the fullest extent goes without saying. His policy was to get people to his shows and amusement ventures by any means possible, the means being justified in his opinion if people were given their money's'^ worth after they got there. Be his show career, however, as it may, the prince of humbugs preached in Edgecombe county. This title may have applied to his pulpit apjaibaranee 1 and again it may not have, but re-'j gardless of the interpretation which i may he assigned to the motives for his sermon it met just as hearty fa'toi with the members of the congregation as did his offerings beneath the canvas. And it is altogether likely that I vho firm handshakes of those -pioneer eastern Carolina Baptists as they congiatulated Barnum on his sermon that Sabbath morning nearly a 100 years ago meant much more to the then young and struggling circus promoter than the applause which later greeted his sawdust productions. At least the memory of the shakes lingered sufficiently so long to cause the prince of humbugs to recurd the incident in his autobiogj raphy several score years later. Wealthy Man and Wife Killed Chicago, Oct. 29.? John J. Mitchell, Sr., head of Chicago's second largest financial institution and internationally known as a banker, and Mrs. Mitchell were killed in an'automobile accident near here today, while enroute from their summer home at Lake (,eneva to Chicago to meet a funeral train. In trying to avoid striking a (.luster of uu >mobiles and persons who had ha! ed on state highway number 21, to aid two automobiles which had ju-t crashed in a dense fog, John Bradley, the Mitchell chauffeur, locked the wheels of the big closed car in which Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell were riding. The machine spu^around and pitched into ' the roacWde ditch. MASTER'S SALE State of South Carolina, County of Ker^drnw. (Court of Common Pleas) J. E. Cousar, Plaintiff, against J. V. Arrants, Defendant. Under and by virtue of an order of the Court of Common Pleas made in the above entitled case and dated ! October 18, 1927. I will sell to the highest bidder at public auction before the Kershaw County Court House door, Camden, S. C., during the legal hours of sale, on the first Monday, being the seventh day of, November, 1927. the following de-1 scribed real estate, to wit: All that tract of land containing thirty-nine (39) acres, more or less, i and bounded as follows. Northeast] by public road from Bishopville to Camden; Southeast by other land of grantor; Southwest by land of *F. E. i Sparrow or run of Beaver Creek Dam i Swamp; and Northwest by land i formerly of L. P. Arrants, now' own-' ed by mortgagor. "Also,, all that tract of land' con-i taining twenty five (25) acres and bounded as follows: Northeast byroad from Rijtiopyijl; CsiruicD' ' Southeast by tract above describedSouthwest by land of W. A. Stuckey; and Northwest by land of J: E. Arrants. This being the tract of land conveyed to mortgagor by L. P Arranta." R- H. HILTON Milter Kershaw County. October 19, 1927. ' ; ' ~ -~r- ? ' siSassBafesg&fc - l-fe! Man C.ave Circus Party Sumter, Oct. 27.? Many hearts in Sumter were made glad oli last Friday when Irving A. Ryttenberg, well known to the building trade of the State by his jhwi name of "Kyt," gave what was termed a circus party. Mr. Ryttenberg was host to Ibd children at the circus, the sixty-odd being proteges of Miss Antonio (libson, city nurse, who Accompanied them to the circus to see that none of them got into trouble or mischief. Arrived at the circus Mr Ryttenberg gave each child a bag of peanuts, a box of popcorn and a liberal amount of candy. The youngsters feasted their eyes and minds on the circus stunts, while their body feasted on the goodies. At the tflose of the regular performance all of the children were invited to remain to the Wild West show as guests of the circus manage ment, an invitation which was readily accepted and appreciated. MASTERS SALE State of South Carolina County of Kershaw (Court of Common Pleas) Henry Belton, et. a!., Plaintiffs against Nora Miller, et. al., Defendants. Under and by virtue of a Decree made in the above entitled ease and dated October 8, 11)27, I will sell to the highest bidder at public auction, for cash, before the Kershaw County Court House door, Camden, S. C., during the legal hours of sale, on the first Monday, being the 7th day of November, 1927, Qie following described real estate, to wit: Tract No. 1. All that piece, parcel or tract of land situated in the county of Kershaw, state of South Carolina, containing 109.87 acres more or less. Bounded on the north by lands of Laura Smith; East by lands of Mrs. Sidney Trantham; South by lands of Eloyd, and by tract No. 2 of said Belton lands, and West by CamdenLiberty Hill road, as designated on plat of A. B. Boykin, surveyor, of date February 1926, on file with the record of the case herein. Tract No. 2. All that piece, parcel or tract of land situated in the County of Kershaw, state of South Carolina, containing 88.15 acres, more or less, bounded north by tract No. 1 of said Belton lands and by lands of Floyd; East by a branch which separates said lands from lands of Floyd, and by Granny's Quarter Creek: South by tract No. 3 of said Belton lands; and West by Camden-Liberty Hill road, as designated on plat of A. B. Boykin, surveyor, of date February 1926, on file | with the record of the case herein. Tract No. 3. AH that piece, parcel or tract of land situated in the coun ty of Kershaw, state of South Carolina, containing 88.35 acres, more or less. Bounded north by tract No. 2 of said Belton lands; Southeast by Granny's quarter Creek, and West by Camden-Liberty Hill road as designated by plat of A. B. Boykin, surveyor, of date February 1926 on file with the record of the case herein. Anyone bidding on any of the said tracts of land shall first deposit with the Master the sum of one hundred ($100.00) in cash or certified check, as evidence of good faith. R. H. HILTON >. 1 Master Kershaw County. October 19, 1927. Power,# 1 where power counts most | ^pfcOR almost a quarter of a century,. J? Buicks have b?en making good wherever power counts most. I So that now) when the task to be I accomplished is difficult--When stam- j ina, dependability and ttnfailing I power are essential ? the advice of ; 9 those who know is, "Buy a Buick!"' ; Drive a Buick for 1928 today and I know the reason for this preference. 9 Sedans #1195 to #1995 Coupes #1195 to #1850' j Sport Models #1195 to #1525 All Print f I. b. 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