While Barnum was in London, a representative of Mme. Tussaud’s Wax Works called upon him to ask if he was willing to be put into immortal wax. “Willing?” said Barnum. “Anxious! What’s a show without notoriety!” He was asked for his dimensions, and instead he sent his valet with samples of his socks, shoes, coat, waistcoat, trousers, frilled shirt, necktie, and hat. At last the time came to abandon this profitable notoriety and return home to native enthusiasm. Barnum said his good-bys to royalty, nobility, and clergy. The Bishop of London, bidding him farewell, said: “Well, good-by, Mr. Barnum. I hope I shall see you in Heaven.” “You will if you are there,” said Barnum to the Bishop. Three ships took the large show back to New York. Just before the departure Barnum gave the London reporters a luncheon on board the _Furnessia_. As they arrived on board, an incoming Australian steamer, loaded with dressed meat, ran into an outbound boat and was sunk. The reporters neglected their host and watched this unexpected news event, thus exasperating Barnum beyond words. A fine meal was ready for them, with plenty of liquor, for Barnum never allowed temperance to interfere with publicity. Finally, irritated beyond endurance, he shouted at the reporters, “Come, come, boys! That’s nothing but mutton! Come on down and have some wine and something to eat.” II The London triumph of the circus was utilized for all it was worth in advertising when the show returned to this country in 1890. Barnum gave innumerable interviews; in every city he visited he told reporters his experiences as friend of the royal family and caterer to the British public. Advertisements bellowed forth the praises of “The Princes of the Royal Blood” at the spectacle of “Nero, or The Burning of Rome, in which are included Religious Rites, Roman Orgies, Vestal Virgins, Marriage Ceremonies.” It was rumored in the United States that the circus had not made money in England, that it was growing too large for its own financial good, and when a Chicago reporter questioned Barnum about how the show was doing financially he answered: “Badly, very badly, losing money every day.” “Losing money? How?” asked the reporter. “Turning people away,” said Barnum. It was said that Bailey sold $1,500,000 worth of stock in the Barnum & Bailey Company after its return from Europe, and still retained the controlling interest.