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Author's Preface from Wild Beasts Birds and Reptiles

Author's Preface from the book Wild Beasts Birds and Reptiles.


This item is part of the collection: Ourmedia

Author: PT Barnum
Copyright_holder: public domain
Posted_by: jessamyn
First_appeared: book published 1891
Other_type: preface
Date_created: 2005-04-01
Mature_content: No
Monochromatic: No
Mediatype: image
Publicdate: 2005-04-02 11:37:02

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Notes

To my Readers: Although I have reached the evening of my life, my heart is young and the sweetest music in my ear is the merry laughter of childhood. Before the parents of many of you were born, I entered upon my career as a manager of public exhibitions. I have catered to the instruction and amusement of three generations.
I have gathered from every point of the habitable globe the most marvelous curiosities in the realms of science art invention and the animal kingdon and I am still adding to my collection. I have expended millions in my efforts to educate and interest and amuse. I have appeared before presidents kings queens emperors and rulers, and there are few if any places in the world where my name is unknown. Looking back through the long vistas of years, it is a great satisfaction to know that my labors have been so well appreciated by those in whose behalf they were put forth. I have always given the public far more and better than was promised, thus demonstrating the "The Greatest Show On Earth" is in every respect worthy of its title. Recreation is one of the necessities of our being, and he who succeeds in making it instructive pure and elevating is a benefactor of his kind.
I have often thought that one of the most delightful means of instruction would be an illustrated history of the capture of the wild beasts, birds and reptiles which form the Natural History department of my great show. Such a history I present in these pages in the form of a stirring story into which is woven valuable information that I trust will be acceptable and pleasing to my friends everywhere.

P.T. Barnum
Waldemere Bridgeport Connecticut
April 1888