Saturday, September 13, 2025

Diary of George Templeton Strong, March 3, 1860

George Anthon called in Wall Street, and before going uptown, we stopped at Barnum’s. The "What-is-it?” is palpably a little nigger and not a good-looking one. There are other animals in the establishment much more interesting; for example, a grand grizzly bear from California, a big sea lion, a very intelligent and attractive marbled or mottled seal (phoca vitulina?), a pair of sociable kangaroos, and (in the happy family cage) an armadillo, a curious spotted rodent said to be Australian, two fine owls, and so forth.

SOURCE: Allan Nevins and Milton Halset Thomas, Editors, Diary of George Templeton Strong, Vol. 3, pp. 12-13

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