- . .
PHINEAS T. BARNUM.
STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS:
OB,
FORTY TEARS RECOLLECTIONS
OF
P. T. BARNUM.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.
AUTHOR S EDITION,
[BIOGRAPHY COMPLETE TO APRIL, 1872.]
" a map of busy life,
Its fluctuations, and its vast concerns."
BUFFALO, N. Y.
WARREN, JOHNSON & CO.
1872.
G y
fa gJi/./II f nio .
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by
P. T. BARNUM,
. r] ^ I
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Entered also at Stationer s Hall, London, England.
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MY WIFE AND FAMILY
"r DEDICATE
i N- r: -;I, yr Oil* f Tf-JH^J. Ot rjfJSfl J y/t-H J>jj ; ^lOTr Olft 1o irfgtl
THIS STORY OF A LIFE WHICH HAS BEEN LARGELY
DEVOTED TO THEIR
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INTERESTS AND SERVICE.
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2026
CARD INTRODUCTORY.
To the Public : Although the large octavo edition of STRUGGLES
AND TRIUMPHS, upon fine paper, has enjoyed an unprecedented large
sale at $3.50 and upwards, according to styles of binding ; yet deter
mined to supply the popular demand for a cheaper edition, and thus in
a measure render to the great American people, who have lavished
upon me so many favors, a due recognition of their claims upon my
gratitude and esteem, I have purchased, of the original publishers,
the electrotype plates of text and engravings together with the copy
right of the work ; and, now enabled to control the publication myself,
I give the same precise text with the original, (together with an addi
tional chapter bringing the biography down to April 2d, 1872,) at the
low price of $1.50.
Copies of the cheap edition can be had on application to the Amer
ican News Company, New York, Warren, Johnson & Co., Buffalo,
and elsewhere.
Your obedient humble servant,
PHINEAS T. BARNUM.
No. 438 Fifth Avenue, New York City, April 2d, 1872.
PREFACE.
THIS book is my Recollections of Forty Busy Years,
Few men in civil life have had a career more crowded
with incident, enterprise, and various intercourse with
the world than mine. With the alternations of success
and defeat, extensive travel in this and foreign lands;
a large acquaintance with the humble and honored ;
having held the preeminent place among all who have
sought to furnish healthful entertainment to the Amer
ican people, and, therefore, having had opportunities
for garnering an ample storehouse of incident and an
ecdote, while, at the same time, needing a sagacity,
energy, foresight and fortitude rarely required or ex
hibited in financial affairs, my struggles and experi
ences (it is not altogether vanity in me to think) can
not be without interest to my fellow countrymen.
Various leading publishers have solicited me to
place at their disposal my Recollections of what I
have been, and seen, and done. These proposals, to
gether with the partiality of friends and kindred, have
constrained me, now that I have retired from all active
participation in business, to put in a permanent form
what, it seems to me, may be instructive, entertaining
and profitable.
Fifteen years since, for the purpose, principally, of
advancing my interests as proprietor of the American
VI PREFACE.
Museum, I gave to the press some personal reminis
cences and sketches. Having an extensive sale, they
were, however, very hastily, and, therefore, imper
fectly, prepared. These are not only out of print,
but the plates have been destroyed. Though includ
ing, necessarily, in common with them, some of the
facts of my early life, in order to make this auto
biography a complete and continuous narrative, yet,
as the latter part of my life has been the more event
ful, and my recollections so various and abundant,
this book is new and independent of the former. It
is the matured and leisurely review of almost half a
century of work and struggle, and final success, in
spite of fraud and fire the story of which is blended
with amusing anecdotes, funny passages, felicitous
jokes, captivating narratives, flaovel experiences, and
remarkable interviews the sunny and sombre so in
termingled as not only to entertain, but convey useful
lessons to all classes of readers.
These Recollections are dedicated to those who are
nearest and dearest to me, with the feeling that they
are a record which I am willing to leave in their
hands, as a legacy which they will value.
And above and beyond this personal satisfaction, I
have thought that the review of a life, with the wide
contrasts of humble origin and high and honorable
success ; of most formidable obstacles overcome by
courage and constancy; of affluence that had been
patiently won, suddenly wrenched away, and triumph
antly regained would be a help and incentive to the
young man, struggling, it may be, with adverse for
tune, or, at the start, looking" into the future with
doubt or despair.
All autobiographies are necessarily egotistical. If
PREFACE. Vll
my pages are as plentifully sprinkled with "IV as was
the chief ornament of Hood s peacock, u who thought
he had the eyes of Europe on his tail," I can only say,
that the "Ts" are essential to the story I have told.
It has been my purpose to narrate, not the life of
another, but that career in which I was the princi
pal actor.
There is an almost universal, and not unworthy
curiosity to learn the methods and measures, the ups
and downs, the strifes and victories, the mental and
moral personnel of those who have taken an active
and prominent part in human affairs. But an auto
biography has attractions and merits superior to those
of a " Life " written by another, who, however inti
mate with its subject, cannot know all that helps to
give interest and accuracy to the narrative, or com
pleteness to the character. The story from the actor s
own lips has always a charm it can never have when
told by another.
That my narrative is interspersed with amusing inci
dents, and even the recital of some very practical jokes,
is simply because my natural disposition impels me to
look upon the brighter side of life, and I hope my
humorous experiences will entertain my readers as
much as they were enjoyed by myself. And if this
record of trials and triumphs, struggles and successes,
shall stimulate any to the exercise of that energy, in
dustry, and courage in their callings, which will surely
lead to happiness and prosperity, one main object I
have in yielding to the solicitations of my friends
and my publishers will have been accomplished.
P. T. BARNUM.
WALDEMERE, BRIDGEPORT,
Connecticut, July 5, 1869
.1
PAQB.
1 PORTRAIT OP P. T. BARNUM, Frontispiece
2. MY PROPERTY AND MY TENANT, 32
8. MY DELIVERY FROM IMPRISONMENT, 65
4. BARNUM ON A RAIL, . I9.T! f ; : 84
6. THE COWARD AND THE " BRAVE," 100
6. VICTORY OVER VESTRYMEN, 138
7. SQUALLS AND BREEZES, 146
8. BATTLE OP THE GIANTS, . . 162
9. THE GREAT DUKE AND THE LITTLE GENERAL, 184
10. ROYAL HONORS TO THE GENERAL, . 192
11. MANURE CART EXPRESS, ? ^ ^ L . 217
12. PUT ME IN IRONS 243
13. IRANISTAN, /3V. } if. -V > .- -V < V- 263
14. WELCOME TO JENNY LIND, ... 288
15. J. G. BENNETT AND HIS MONKEY, 327
16. ELEPHANTINE AGRICULTURE, 358
17. MOUNTAIN GROVE CEMETERY, 369
18. THE " CUSTOMS OF THE COUNTRY, 432
19. " THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT," 610
20. GRIZZLY ADAMS AND HIS FAMILY, 580
21. THE PRINCE IN THE MUSEUM, 643
22. EAST BRIDGEPORT, r^V* i . ji . , l J . ", v 649
23. CAPTURING WHITE WHALES, 562
24. TROUBLE IN A TURKISH HAREM, 680
25. MARRIAGE IN MINIATURE, . . -/*; f Q ...*.. 603
26. ALARM AT LINDENCROFT, . .616
27. THE GREAT UNKNOWN, . . [HU1 680
28. AFTER THE FIRE, 702
29. BARNUM FIVE SECONDS AHEAD 705
30. A GROTESQUE FIRE COMPANY, 720
31. HALF-SHAVED, 726
32. SEA SIDE PARK, . . . yt? -.vr.IV. j: . ; : . .758
33 WALDEMERE, . . \ .. *" >Tv . . 768
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. EARLY LIFE.
MY BIRTH FIRST PROPERTY FARMER BOY LIFE GOING TO SCHOOL EARLY
ACQUISITIVENESS A HOLIDAY PEDDLER FIRST VISIT TO NEW YORK-
LEARNING TO "SWAP" MISERIES FROM MOLASSES CANDY " IVY ISLAND"
ENTERING UPON MY ESTATE CLERKSHIP IN A COUNTRY STORE TRAD
ING MORALS THE BETHEL MEETING-HOUSE STOVE QUESTION SUNDAY
SCHOOL AND BIBLE CLASS MY COMPOSITION THE ONE THING NEEDFUL, 25
CHAP. II. INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
DEATH OF MY GRANDMOTHER MY FATHER HIS CHARACTER HIS DEATH-
BEGINNING THE WORLD BAREFOOTED GOING TO GRASSY PLAINS THE TIN
WARE AND GREEN BOTTLE LOTTERY "CHARITY" HALLETT OUR FIRST
MEETING EVENING RIDE TO BETHEL A NOVEL FUR TRADE OLD " RUSHIA"
AND YOUNG " RUSHIA" THE BUYER SOLD COUNTRY STORE EXPERIENCES
OLD " UNCLE BIBBINS " A TERRIBLE DUEL BETWEEN BENTON AND BIB-
BINSFALL OF BENTON FLIGHT OF BIBBINS, 38
CHAP. III. IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF.
MY CLERKSHIP IN BROOKLYN UNEASINESS AND DISSATISFACTION THE
SMALL POX GOING HOME TO RECRUIT "CHARITY" HALLETT AGAIN
BACK TO BROOKLYN OPENING A PORTER-HOUSESELLING OUT MY CLERK
SHIP IN NEW YORK MY HABITS OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY IN BETHEL
ONCE MORE BEGINNING BUSINESS ON MY OWN ACCOUNT OPENING DAY
LARGE SALES AND GREAT PROFITS THE LOTTERY BUSINESS VIEWS
THEREON ABOUT A POCKET-BOOKWITS AND WAGS SWEARING OUT A
FINE FIRST APPEARANCE AT THE BAR SECURING "ARABIAN "A MODEL
LOVE-LETTER, 48
CHAP. IV. STRUGGLES FOR A LIVELIHOOD.
PLEASURE VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA LIVING IN GRAND STYLE THE BOTTOM
OF THE PILE BORROWING MONEY MY MARRIAGE RETURN TO BETHEL
EARLY MARRIAGES MORE PRACTICAL JOKING SECOND APPEARANCE AS
COUNSEL GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING SELLING BOOKS AT AUCTION THE
"YELLOW STORE" A NEW FIELD " THE HERALD OF FREEDOM" MY
EDITORIAL CAREER LIBEL SUITS FINED AND IMPRISONED LIFE IN THE
DANBURY JAIL CELEBRATION OF MY LIBERATION POOR BUSINESS AND
BAD DEBTS REMOVAL TO NEW YORK SEEKING MY FORTUNE " WANTS "
IN THE "SUN" WM. NIBLO KEEPING A BOARDING-HOUSE A WHOLE
SHIRT ON MY BACK, 59
1*
14 CONTENTS.
CHAP. V. MY START AS A SHOWMAN.
THE AMUSEMENT BUSINESS DIFFERENT GRADES CATERING FOR THE PUBLIC
MY CLAIMS, AIMS AND EFFORTS JOICE HETH APPARENT GENUINENESS
OF HER VOUCHERS BEGINNING LIFE AS A SHOWMAN SUCCESS OF MY
FIRST EXHIBITION SECOND STEP IN THE SHOW LINE SIGNOR VIVALLA
MY FIRST APPEARANCE ON ANY STAGE AT WASHINGTON ANNE ROYALL
STIMULATING THE PUBLIC CONTESTS BETWEEN VIVALLA AND ROBERTS
EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT CONNECTING MYSELF WITH A CIRCUS BREAD
AND BUTTER DINNER FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY NARROW ESCAPE FROM
SUFFOCATION LECTURING AN ABUSIVE CLERGYMAN AARON TURNER A
TERRIBLE PRACTICAL JOKE 1 AM REPRESENTED TO BE- A MURDERER
RAILS AND LYNCH LAW NOVEL MEANS FOR SECURING NOTORIETY, . 71
CHAP. VI. MY FIRST TRAVELING COMPANY.
THREE MEALS AND LODGING IN ONE HOUR TURNING THE TABLES ON TURNER
A SON AS OLD AS HIS FATHER LEAVING THE CIRCUS WITH TWELVE
HUNDRED DOLLARS MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY PREACHING TO THE
PEOPLE APPEARING AS A NEGRO MINSTREL THREATENED WITH ASSAS
SINATION ESCAPES FROM DANGER TEMPERANCE REPORT OF MY ARREST
FOR MURDER RE-ENFORCING MY COMPANY " BARNUM s GRAND SCIENTIFIC
AND MUSICAL THEATRE" OUTWITTING A SHERIFF "LADY HAYES S ""
MANSION AND PLANTATION A BRILLIANT AUDIENCE BASS DRUM SOLO
CROSSING THE INDIAN NATION JOE PENTLAND AS A SAVAGE TERROR AND
FLIGHT OF VIVALLA A NONPLUSSED LEGERDEMAIN PERFORMER A MALE
EGG-LAYER DISBANDING MY COMPANY A NEW PARTNERSHIP PUBLIC
LECTURING DIFFICULTY WITH A DROVER THE STEAMBOAT " CERES "
SUDDEN MARRIAGE ON BOARD MOBBED IN LOUISIANA ARRIVAL AT NEW
ORLEANS,
CHAP. VII. AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER.
66
DISGUST AT THE TRAVELLING BUSINESS ADVERTISING FOR AN ASSOCIATE
RUSH OF THE MILLION-MAKERS COUNTERFEITERS, CHEATS AND QUACKS
A NEW BUSINESS SWINDLED BY MY PARTNER DIAMOND THE DANCER
A NEW COMPANY DESERTIONS SUCCESSES AT NEW ORLEANS TYRONE
POWER AND FANNY ELLSLER IN JAIL AGAIN BACK TO NEW YORK ACT
ING AS A BOOK AGENT LEASING VAUXIIALL FROM HAND TO MOUTH
DETERMINATION TO MAKE MONEY FORTUNE OPENING HER DOOR THE
AMERICAN MUSEUM FOR SALE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE-r-HOPES
AND DISAPPOINTMENTS THE TRAIN LAID SMASHING A RIVAL COMPANY, 104
CHAP. VIII. THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.
A. TRAP SET FOR ME I CATCH THE TRAPPERS I BECOME PROPRIETOR Of
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT HARD WORK
AND COLD DINNERS ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM EXTRAORDINARY ADVER
TISING BARNUM S BRICK-MANEXCITING PUBLIC CURIOSITY INCIDENTS
AND ANECDOTES A DRUNKEN ACTOR IMITATIONS OF THE ELDER BOOTH
PLEASING MY PATRONS SECURING TRANSIENT NOVELTIES LIVING CURI
OSITIES MAKING PEOPLE TALK A WILDERNESS OF WONDERS NIAGARA
FALLS WITH REAL WATER THE CLUB THAT KILLED COOK SELLING LOUIS
GAYLORD CLARK THE FISH WITH LEGS THE FEJEE MERMAID HOW IT
CAME INTO MY POSSESSION THE TRUE STORY OF THAT CURIOSITY JAPAN
ESE MANUFACTURE OF FABULOUS ANIMALS THE USE I MADE OF THE MER
MAID WHOLESALE ADVERTISING AGAIN THE BALCONY BAND DRUMMOND
LIGHTS, 116
CONTENTS. 15
CIIAF. IX. THE ROAD TO RICHES.
THE MOST POPULAR PLACE OF AMUSEMENT IN THE WORLD THE MORAL
DRAMA REFORMING THE ABUSES OF THE STAGE FAMOUS ACTORS AND
ACTRESSES AT THE MUSEUM ADDING TO THE SALOONS AFTERNOON AND
HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES FOURTH OF JULY FLAGS THE MUSEUM CONNECT
ED WITH ST. PAUL S VICTORY OVER THE VESTRYMEN THE EGRESS ST.
PATRICK S DAY IN THE MORNING A WONDERFUL ANIMAL, THE "AIGRESS"
INPOURING OF MONEY ZOOLOGICAL ERUPTION THE CITY ASTOUNDED
BABY SHOWS, AND THEIR OBJECT FLOWER, BIRD, DOG AND POULTRY
SHOWS GRAND FREE BUFFALO HUNT IN HOBOKEN N. P. WILLIS -THE
WOOLLY HORSE WHERE HE CAME FROM COLONEL BENTON BEATEN
PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBITION AMERICAN INDIANS P. T. BARNUM EXHIB
ITED A CURIOUS SPINSTER THE TOUCHING STORY OF CHARLOTTE TEM
PLE SERVICES IN THE LECTURE ROOM A FINANCIAL VIEW OF THE
MUSEUM AN "AWFUL RICH MAN," . . . . i/. . lA;i 133
CHAP. X. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
PEALE S MUSEUM MYSTERIOUS MESMERISM YANKEE HILL HENRY BENNETT
THE RIVAL MUSEUMS THE ORPHEAN AND ORPHAN FAMILIES THE FUDGEE
MERMAID BUYING OUT MY RIVAL RUNNING OPPOSITION TO MYSELF
ABOLISHING THEATRICAL NUISANCES NO CHECKS AND .NO BAR THE
MUSEUM MY MANIA MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES S. STRATTON
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN NEW YORK RE-ENGAGEMENT AN APT PUPIL
FREE FROM DEBTTHE PROFITS OF TWO YEARS IN SEARCH OF A NEW
FIELD STARTING FOR LIVERPOOL THE GOOD SHIP " YORKSHIRE " MY
PARTY ESCORT TO SANDY HOOK THE VOYAGE A TOBACCO TRICK A
BRAGGING JOHN BULL OUTWITTED ARRIVAL AT LIVERPOOL A GENTLE
MAN BEGGAR MADAME CELESTE CHEAP DWARFS TWO-PENNY SHOWS
EXHIBITION OF GENERAL TOM THUMB IN LIVERPOOL FIRST-CLASS EN
GAGEMENT FOR LONDON, 156
CHAP. XL GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
ARRIVAL IN LONDON THE GENERAL S DEBUT IN THE PRINCESS S THEATRE
ENORMOUS SUCCESS MY MANSION AT THE WEST END DAILY LEVEES
FOR THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY HON. EDWARD EVERETT HIS INTER
EST IN THE GENERAL VISIT TO THE BARONESS ROTHSCHILD OPENING
IN EGYPTIAN HALL, PICCADILLY MR. CHARLES MURRAY, MASTER OF THE
QUEEN S HOUSEHOLD AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE BY COMMAND OF HER
MAJESTY A ROYAL RECEPTION THE FAVORABLE IMPRESSION MADE BY
THE GENERAL AMUSING INCIDENTS OF THE VISIT BACKING OUT
FIGHT WITH A POODLE COURT JOURNAL NOTICE SECOND VISIT TO THE
QUEEN THE PRINCE OF WALES AND PRINCESS ROYAL THE QUEEN OF
THE BELGIANS THIRD VISIT TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE KING LEOPOLD,
OF BELGIUM ASSURED SUCCESS THE BRITISH PUBLIC EXCITED EGYP
TIAN HALL CROWDED QUEEN DOWAGER ADELAIDE THE GENERAL S
WATCH NAPOLEON AND THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON DISTINGUISHED
FRIENDS, 173
CHAP. XII. IN FRANCE.
GOING OVER TO ARRANGE PRELIMINARIES PREVIOUS VISIT TO PARIS ROB
ERT IIOUDIN WONDERFUL MECHANICAL TOYS THE AUTOMATON LETTER-
WRITER DION BOUCICAULT TAX ON NATURAL CURIOSITIES HOW I COM
PROMISED THE GENERAL AND PARTY IN PARIS FIRST VISIT TO KING
LOUIS PHILIPPE A SPLENDID PRESENT DIPLOMACY I ASK A FAVOR AND
GET JT LONG CHAMPS THE GENERAL S EQUIPAGE THE FINEST ADVER
TISEMENT EVER KNOWN ALL PARIS IN A FUROR OPENING OF THE LEVKES
"TOM POUCE " EVERYWHERE THE GENERAL AS AN ACTOR "PETIT
POUCKT" SECOND AND THIRD VISITS AT THE TUILERIES INVITATION TO
ST. CLOUD THE GENERAL PERSONATING NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ST. DENIS
THE INVALIDES REGNIER ANt CDOTE OF FRANKLIN LEAVING PARIS
TOUR THROUGH FRANCE DEPARTURE FOR BRUSSELS, 186
1C CONTENTS.
CHAP. XIII. IN BELGIUM.
CROSSING THE FRONTIER PROFESSOR PINTE QUALIFICATIONS OF A GOOD
SHOWMAN " SOFT SUP "GENEROUS DISTRIBUTION OF MEDALS PRINCE
CHARLES STRATTON AT BRUSSELS PRESENTATION TO KING LEOPOLD AND
HIS QUEEN THE GENERAL S JEWELS STOLEN THE THIEF CAUGHT RE
COVERY OF THE PROPERTY THE FIELD OF WATERLOO MIRACULOUSLY
MULTIPLIED RELICS CAPTAIN TIPPITIWITCHET OF THE CONNECTICUT
FUSI LEERS AN ACCIDENT GETTING BACK TO BRUSSELS IN A CART
STRATTON SWINDLED LOSING AN EXHIBITION TWO HOURS IN THE RAIN
ON THE ROAD THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY A STRICT CONSTRUCTION-
IST STRATTON S HEAD SHAVED" BRUMMAGEM " RELICS HOW THEY ARE
PLANTED AT WATERLOO WHAT LYONS SAUSAGES ARE MADE OF FROM
BRUSSELS TO LONDON, 208
CHAP. XIV. IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
LEVEES IN EGYPTIAN HALL UNDIMINISHED SUCCESS OTHER ENGAGEMENTS
"UP IN A BALLOON "PROVINCIAL TOUR TRAVELLING BY POST GOING
TO AMERICA A. T. STEWART SAMUEL ROGERS AN EXTRA TRAIN AN
ASTONISHED RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT LEFT BEHIND AND LOCKED UP
SUNDAYS IN LONDON -BUSINESS AND PLEASURE ALBERT SMITH A DAY
WITH HIM AT WARWICK STRATFORD ON AVON A POETICAL BARBER-
WARWICK CASTLE OLD GUY*S TRAPS OFFER TO BUY THE LOT THREAT
TO BURST THE SHOW ALBERT SMITH AS A SHOWMAN LEARNING THE
BUSINESS FROM BARNUM THE WARWICK RACE S RIVAL DWARFS MANU
FACTURED GIANTESSES THE HAPPY FAMILY THE ROAD FROM WARWICK
TO COVENTRY PEEPING TOM THE YANKEE GO-AHEAD PRINCIPLE AL
BERT SMITH S ACCOUNT OF A DAY WITH BARNUM, 223
CHAP. XV. RETURN TO AMERICA.
THE WIZARD OF THE NORTH A JUGGLER BEATEN AT HIS OWN TRICKS
SECOND VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES REVEREND DOCTOR ROBERT BAIRD
CAPTAIN JUDKINS THREATENS TO PUT ME IN IRONS VIEWS WITH RE
GARD TO SECTS A WICKED WOMAN THE SIMPSONS IN EUROPE REMIN
ISCENCES OF TRAVEL SAUCE AND " 8ASS " TEA TOO SWEET A UNIVER
SAL LANGUAGE ROAST DUCK SNOW IN AUGUST TALES OF TRAVELLERS
SIMPSON NOT TO BE TAKEN IN HOLLANDERS IN BRUSSELS WHERE ALL
THE DUTCHMEN COME FROM THREE YEARS IN EUROPE WARM PERSONAL
FRIENDS DOCTOR C. 8. BREWSTER HENRY 8UMNER GEORGE 8. AND LO
RENZO DRAPER GEORGE P. PUTNAM OUR LAST PERFORMANCE IN DUBLIN
DANIEL O CONNELL END OF OUR TOUR DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA
ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK 239
CHAP. XVI. AT HOME.
RENEWING THE LEASE OF THE MUSEUM BUILDING TOM THUMB IN AMERICA
TOUR THROUGH THE COUNTRY JOURNEY TO CUBA BARNUM A CURIOSITY
RAISING TURKEYS CEASING TO BE A TRAVELLING SHOWMAN RETURN
TO BRIDGEPORT ADVANTAGES AND CAPABILITIES OF THAT CITY SEARCH
FOR A HOME THE FINDING BUILDING AND COMPLETION OF IRANISTAN
GRAND HOUSE-WARMING BUYING THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OPENING THE
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM CATERING FOR QUAKERS THE TEMPERANCE
PLEDGE AT THE THEATRE PURCHASING PEALE S PHILADELPHIA COLLEC
TION MY AGRICULTURAL AND ARBORCULTURAL DOINGS "GERSY BLEW "
CHICKENS HOW I SOLD MY POTATOES HOW I BOUGHT OTHKR PEOPLES
POTATOES CUTTING OFF GRAFTS MY DEER PARK MY GAME-KEEPLR
FKANK LESLIE PLEASURES OF IIOME, .... 255
CONTENTS. 17
CHAP. XVII. TFIE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE.
GRAND SCHEME CONGRESS OF ALL NATIONS A BOLD AND BRILLIANT ENTER
PRISE THE JENNY LIND ENGAGEMENT MY AGENT IN EUROPE HIS IN
STRUCTIONS CORRESPONDENCE WITH MISS LIND BENEDICT AND BELLETTI
JOSHUA BATES CHEVALIER WYCKOFF THE CONTRACT SIGNED MY RE
CEPTION OF THE NEWS THE ENTIRE SUM OF MONEY FOR THE ENGAGE
MENT SENT TO LONDON MY FIRST LIND LETTER TO THE PUBLIC A POOR
PORTRAIT MUSICAL NOTES IN WALL STREET A FRIEND IN NEED, 270
CHAP. XVIII. THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK.
FINAL CONCERTS IN LIVERPOOL DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA ARRIVAL OFF
STATEN ISLAND MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH JENNY LIND THE TREMEN
DOUS THRONG AT THE WHARF TRIUMPHAL ARCH "WELCOME TO AMER
ICA" EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY SERENADE AT THE IRVING HOUSE THE
PRIZE ODE BAYARD TAYLOR THE PRIZEMAN " BARNUM S PARNASSUS "
" BARNUMOPSIS " FIRST CONCERT IN CASTLE GARDEN A NEW AGREEMENT
RECEPTION OF JENNY LIND UNBOUNDED ENTHUSIASM BARNUM CALLED
OUT JULIUS BENEDICT THE SUCCESS OF THE ENTERPRISE ESTABLISHED
TWO GRAND CHARITY CONCERTS IN NEW YORK DATE OF THE FIRST
REGULAR CONCERT, .... 286
CHAP. XIX. SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
HEAD-WORK AND HAND-WORK MANAGING PUBLIC OPINION CREATING A
FUROR THE NEW YORK HERALD JENNY LIND s EVIL ADVISERS JOHN
JAY MISS LIND S CHARITIES A POOR GIRL IN BOSTON THE NIGHTINGALE
AT IRANISTAN RUMOR OF HER MARRIAGE TO P. T. BARNUM THE STORY
BASED ON OUR " ENGAGEMENT "WHAT IRANISTAN DID FOR ME AVOIDING
CROWDS IN PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE A SUBSTITUTE FOR MISS
LIND OUR ORCHESTRA PRESIDENT FILLMORE, CLAY, FOOTE, BENTON,
SCOTT, CASS, AND WEBSTER VISIT TO MT. VERNON CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
NEW YEAR S EVE WE GO TO HAVANA PLAYING BALL FREDERIKA.
BREMER A HAPPY MONTH IN CUBA, .... 301
CHAP. XX. INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR.
PROTEST AGAINST PRICES IN HAVANA THE CUBANS SUCCUMB JENNY LIND
TAKES THE CITY BY STORM A MAGNIFICENT TRIUMPH COUNT PENALVER
A SPLENDID OFFER MR. BRINCKERHOFF BENEFIT FOR THE HOSPITALS
REFUSING TO RECEIVE THANKS VIVALLA AND HIS DOG HENRY BEN
NETT HIS PARTIAL INSANITY OUR VOYAGE TO NEW ORLEANS THE
EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD ON BOARD I SAVE THE LIFE OF
JAMES GORDON BENNETT ARRIVAL AT THE CRESCENT CITY CHEATING
THE CROWD A DUPLICATE MISS LIND A BOY IN RAPTURES A MAMMOTH
HOG UP THE MISSISSIPPI AMUSEMENTS ON BOARD IN LEAGUE WITH
THE EVIL ONE AN AMAZED MULATTO, 319
18 CONTENTS.
CHAP. XXL JEN NY LIND.
ARRIVAL AT ST. LOUIS -SURPRISING PROPOSITION OF MISS LIND*S SECRETARY
HOW THE MANAGER MANAGED READINESS TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT
CONSULTATION WITH " UNCLE SOL." BARNUM NOT TO BE HIRED A "JOKE"
TEMPERANCE LECTURE IN THE THEATRE SOL. SMITH A COMEDIAN,
AUTHOR, AND LAWYER UNIQUE DEDICATION JENNY LINDAS CHARACTER
AND CHARITIES SHARP WORDS FROM JIIE WEST SELFISH ADVISERS
MISS LIND S GENEROUS IMPULSES HER SIMPLE AND CHILDLIKE CHARACTER
CONFESSIONS OF A MANAGER PRIVATE REPUTATION AND PUBLIC RENOWN
CHARACTER AS A STOCK IN TRADE LE GRAND SMITH MR. DOLBY THE
ANGELIC SIDE KEPT OUTSIDE MY OWN SHARE IN THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
JUSTICE TO MISS LIND AND MYSELF, 334
CHAP. XXII. CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
PENITENT TICKET PURCHASERS VISIT TO THE "HERMITAGE* "APRIL-FOOL"
FUN THE MAMMOTH CAVE SIGNOR SALVI GEORGE D. PRENTICE PER
FORMANCE IN A PORK HOUSE RUSE AT CINCINNATI ANNOYANCES AT
PITTSBURGH LE GRAND SMITH S GRAND JOKE RETURN TO NEW YORK
THE FINAL CONCERTS IN CASTLE GARDEN AND METROPOLITAN HALL THE
ADVISERS APPEAR THE NINETY-THIRD CONCERT MY OFFER TO CLOSK
THE ENGAGEMENT MISS LIND S LETTER ACCEPTING MY PROPOSITION
STORY ABOUT AN " IMPROPER PLACE " JENNY S CONCERTS ON HER OWN
ACCOUNT HER MARRIAGE TO MR. OTTO GOLDSCHMIDT CORDIAL RELATIONS
BETWEEN MRS. LIND GOLDSCHMIDT AND MYSELF AT HOME AGAIN STATE
MENT OF THE TOTAL RECEIPTS OF THE CONCERTS, o44
CHAP. XXIIL OTHER ENTERPRISES.
ANOTHER VENTURE " BARNUM*S GREAT ASIATIC CARAVAN, MUSEUM, AND
MENAGERIE" HUNTING ELEPHANTS GENERAL TOM THUMB ELEPHANT
PLOWING IN CONNECTICUT CURIOUS QUESTIONS FROM ALL QUARTERS
THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN MY NOVEL FARMING HOW MUCH AN ELEPHANT
CAN REALLY " DRAW " SIDE-SHOWS AND VARIOUS ENTERPRISES OBSE
QUIES OF NAPOLEON THE CRYSTAL PALACE CAMPANALOGIANS AMERICAN
INDIANS IN LONDON AUTOMATON SPEAKER THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON
ATTEMPT TO B"Y PHAKESPEARE S HOUSE DISSOLVING VIEWS THE CHI
NESE COLLECTION WONDERFUL SCOTCH BOYS SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF
DOUBLE SIGHT THE BATEMAN CHILDREN CATHERINE HAYES IRANISTAN
ON FIRE MY ELDEST DAUGHTER S MARRIAGE BENEFITS FOR THE BRIDGE
PORT LIBRARY AND THE MOUNTAIN GROVE CEMETERY, . . . . . 358
CHAP. XXIV. WORK AND PLAY.
ALFRED BUNN, OF DRURY LANE THEATRE AMUSING INTERVIEW MR. LEVY,
OF THE LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH VACATIONS AT HOME MY PRESIDENCY
OF THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY EXHIBITING A PICK
POCKETPHILOSOPHY OF HUMBUG A CHOP-FALLEN TICKET-SELLER A
PROMPT PAYMASTER BARNUM IN BOSTON A DELUDED HACK-DRIVEK
PHILLIPS S FIRE ANNIHILATOR HONORABLE ELISIfA WHITTLESEY TRIAL
OF THE ANNIHILATOR IN NEW YORK PEQUONXOCK BANK OF BRIDGEPORT
THE ILLUSTRATED NEWS THE WORLD S FAIR IN NEW YORK MY PRESI
DENCY OF THE ASSOCIATION ATTEMPT TO EXCITE PUBLIC INTEREST-r-
MONSTER JULIEN CONCERTS RESIGNATION OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE PRESI
DENCY FAILURE OF THE CONCERN, . , ,. . ,.,>. 371
CONTENTS. 19
CHAP. XXV: THE JEROME CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT.
T?& EAST BRIDGEPORT ENTERPRISE W. H. NOBLE PLANS FOR A NEW CITY
*^DR. TIMOTHY DWIGHT S TESTIMONY INVESTING A FORTUNE SELLING
CITY LOTS MONEY-MAKING A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION CLOCK COM
PANY IN LITCHFIELD THE "TERRY AND BARNUM MANUFACTURING COM
PANY" -THE JEROME CLOCK COMPANY BAITING FOR BITES FALSE REP
RESENTATIONS HOW I WAS DELUDED WHAT t AGREED TO DO THE COUN
TER AGREE31ENT NOTES WITH BLANK DATES THE LIMIT OF MY RESPON
SIBILITY HOW IT WAS EXCEEDED STARTLING DISCOVERIES A RUINED
MAN PAYING MY OWN HONEST DEBTS BARNUM DUPED MY FAILURE
THE BARNUM AND JEROME CLOCK BUBBLE MORALISTS MAKING USE OF MY
MISFORTUNES WHAT PREACHERS, PAPERS, AND PEOPLE SAID ABOUT ME
DOWN IN THE DEPTHS, .. , . . . . . . . 384
CHAP. XXVI. CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE MONEY OFFERS REFUSED BENEFITS DECLINED
MAGNIFICENT OFFER OF PROMINENT NEW YORK CITIZENS WILLIAM E.
BURTON LAURA KEENE WILLIAM NIBLO GENERAL TOM THUMB EDITO
RIAL SYMPATHY "A WORD FOR BARNUM " IN BOSTON LETTER FROM
" MRS. PARTINGTON " CITIZENS MEETING IN BRIDGEPORT RESOLUTIONS
OF RESPECT AND CONDOLENCE MY LETTER ON THE SITUATION TENDER
OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS MAGNITUDE OF THE DECEPTION PRACTICED
UPON ME PROPOSITION OF COMPROMISE WITH MY CREDITORS A TRAP
LAID FOR ME IN PHILADELPHIA THE SILVER LINING TO THE CLOUD
THE BLOW A BENEFIT TO MY FAMILY THE REV. DR. E. II. CHAPIN MY
DAUGHTER HELEN A LETTER WORTH TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS OUR NEW
I OMK IN NEW YORK, 395
CHAP. XXVII. REST, BUT NOT RUST.
SALE OF THE MUSEUM COLLECTION SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEEDINGS OF MY
CREDITORS EXAMINATIONS IN COURT -BARNUM AS A BAR TENDER PER
SECUTION THE SUMMER SEASON ON LONG ISLAND THE MUSKUM MAN ON
SHOW CHARLES HOWELL A GREAT NATURAL CURIOSITY VALUE OF A
HONK PROPOSING TO BUY IT A BLACK WHALE PAYS MY SUMMER S
BOARD A TURN IN THE TIDE THE WHEELER AND WILSON SEWING MA
CHINE COMPANY THEIR REMOVAL TO EAST BRIDGEPORT THE TERRY
AND BARNUM CLOCK FACTORY OCCUPIED NEW CITY PROPERTY LOOKING
UP A LOAN OF 5,000 THE CALSK OF MY RUIN PROMISES TO BE MY RE-
DKMPTION SETTING SAIL FOR ENGLAND GENERAL TOM THUMB LITTLE
CORDELIA HOWARD, . j^j^.v! * >T; 406
CHAP. XXVIIL ABROAD AGAIN.
OLD FRIENDS IN OLD ENGLAND ALBERT SMITH AS A SHOWMAN HIS ASCENT
OF MONT BLANC POPULARITY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT THEGARKICK
CLUB "PHINEAS CUTECRAFT " THE ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS OF CO
LOGNE UTILIZING INCIDENTS SUBTERRANEAN TERRORS A PANIC EGYP
TIAN DARKNESS IN EGYPTIAN HALL WILLIAM M. THACKERAY" HIS TWO
VISITS TO AMERICA FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE NOVELIST I LOSE
HIS SYMPATHY HIS WARM REGARD FOR HIS AMERICAN FRIENDS OTTO
GOLDSCHMIDT AND JENNY LIND GOLDSCIIMIDT TENDER OF THEIR AID
THE FORGED LIND LETTER BENEDICT AND BELLETTI GEORGE AUGUSTUS
SALA CHARLES KEAN EDMUND YATES HORACE MAY1IKW GEORGE PEA-
V.ODY MR. BUCKSTONE MY EXHIBITIONS IN ENGLAND S. M. PETTINGILL
MR. LU3JLEY, ; ." . j/ * ; . ; (/ ; r ***; \ H -~{ */ . . . . . . . . 419
20 CONTENTS.
CHAP. XXIX. IN GERMANY.
FROM LONDON TO BADEN-BADEN TROUBLE IN PARIS STRASBOURG 8CENW
IN A GERMAN CUSTOM-HOUSE A TERRIBLE BILL SIX CENTS WORTH OF
AGONY GAMBLING AT BADEN-BADEN SUICIDES GOLDEN PRICES FOR
THE GENERAL A CALL FROM THE KING OF HOLLAND THE GERMAN SPAS
HAMBURG, EMS AND WETSBADEN THE BLACK FOREST ORCHESTRION
MAKER AN OFFERED SACRIFICE THE SEAT OF THE ROTHSCHILDS DIF
FICULTIES IN FRANKFORT A POMPOUS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE RED-
TAPE AN ALARM HENRY J. RAYMOND CALL ON THE COMMISSIONER
CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURES HALF OF AN ENTIRE FORTUNE IN AN AMERI
CAN RAILWAY ASTOUNDING REVELATIONS DOWN THE RHINE DEPARTURE
FOR HOLLAND, 430
CHAP. XXX. IN HOLLAND.
THE FINEST AND FLATTEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SUPER-CLEANLINESS
HABITS AND CUSTOMS " KREMIS " THE ALBINO FAMILY THE HAGUE
AUGUST BELMONT JAPANESE MUSEUM MANUFACTURED FABULOUS ANI
MALS A GENEROUS OFFER VALUABLE PICTURES AN ASTONISHED SUPER
INTENDENT BACK TO ENGLAND EXHIBITIONS IN MANCHESTER 1 RETURN
AGAIN TO AMERICA FUN ON THE VOYAGE MOCK TRIALS BARNUM AS A
PROSECUTOR AND AS A PRISONER COLD SHOULDERS IN NEW YORK PRE
PARING TO MOVE INTO MY OLD HOME CARELESS PAINTERS AND CARPEN
TERS IRANISTAN BURNED TO THE GROUND NEXT TO NO INSURANCE
SALE OF THE PROPERTY ELI AS HOWE, JR., 441
CHAP. XXXI. THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
BACK OXCE MORE TO ENGLAND TOUR THROUGH SCOTLAND AND WALES-
HOW I CAME TO LECTURE ADVICE OF MY FRIENDS MY LECTURE HOW
TO MAKE MONEY AND HOW TO KEEP IT WHAT THE PAPERS SAID ABOUT
ME PRAISE OF THE LONDON PRESS LECTURING IN THE PROVINCES-
PERFORMANCES AT CAMBRIDGE CALL FOR JOICE HETH EXTRAORDINARY
FUN AT OXFORD THE AUDIENCE AND LECTURER TAKING TURNS A UNI
VERSITY BREAKFAST MAGNIFICENT OFFER FOR A COPYRIGHT SUCCESS
OF MY ENTERPRISE MORE MONEY FOrt THE CLOCK CREDITORS, . . 456
CHAP. XXXIL AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.
AN ENGLISH YANKEE MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH HIM HIS PLANS BASED
ON BARNUM S BOOK ADVERTISING FOR PARTNERS HOW MY RULES MA.DE
HIM RICH METHOD IN MADNESS THE "BARNUM" OF BURY DINNER TO
TOM THUMB AND COMMODORE N UTT MY AGENT IN PARIS MEASURING A
MONSTER HO\V GIANTS AND DWARFS STRETCH AND CONTRACT AN UN
WILLING FRENCHMAN A PERSISTENT MEASURER A GIGANTIC HUMBUG
THE STEAM ENGINES "BARNUM" AND "CHARITY" WHAT "CHARITY" DID
FOR "BARNUM" SELLING THE SAME GOODS A THOUSAND TIMES THE
GREAT CAKES SIMNAL SUNDAY THE SANITARY COMMISSION FAIR, 506
CONTENTS. 21
CHAP. XXXIII. RICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIN.
AT HOME EXTINGUISHMENT OP THE CLOCK DEBTS A RASCALLY PROPOSI-
TION BARNUM ON HIS FEET AGAIN RE-PURCHASE OF THE MUSEUM
A GALA DAY MY RECEPTION BY MY FRIENDS THE STORY OF MY
TROUBLES HOW I WADED ASHORE PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC THE PUB-
LIC RESPONSE MUSEUM VISITORS THE RECEIPTS DOUBLED HOW THE
PRESS RECEIVED THE NEWS OF RESTORATION THE SYCOPHANTS OLD
AND FAST FRIENDS ROBERT BONNER CONSIDERATION AND COURTESY OF
CREDITORS THE BOSTON SATURDAY EVENING GAZETTE AGAIN ANOTHER
WORD FOR BARNUM, . .^ VJ ^ "^^ _ ^^ i ^ ^ f T> , * 516
CHAP. XXXIV. MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
A REMARKABLE CHARACTER OLD GRIZZLY ADAMS THE CALIFORNIA MENAGE
RIE TERRIBLY WOUNDED BY BEARS MY UP-TOWN SHOW EXTRAORDI
NARY WILL AND VIGOR A LESSON FOR MUNCHAUSEN THE CALIFORNIA
GOLDEN PIGEONS PIGEONS OF ALL COLORS PROCESS OF THEIR CREATION
M. GUILLADEU A NATURALIST DECEIVED THE MOST WONDERFUL BIRDS
IN THE WORLD THE CURIOSITIES TRANSFERRED TO THE MENAGERIE OLD
ADAMS TAKEN IN A CHANGE OF COLOR MOTLEY THE ONLY WEAR OLD
GRIZZLY UNDECEIVED TOUR OF THE BEAR-TAMER THROUGH THE COUNTRY
A BEAUTIFUL HUNTING SUIT A LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE FOR A
WAGER OLD ADAMS WINS HIS DEATH THE LAST JOKE ON BARNUM
THE PRINCE OF WALES VISITS THE MUSEUM I CALL ON THE PRINCE IN
BOSTON STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS "BEFORE AND AFTER" IN A BARBER SHOP
HOW TOM HIGGINSON "DID" BARNUM THE MUSEUM FLOURISHING, 529
CHAP. XXXV. EAST BRIDGEPORT.
ANOTHER NEW HOME LINDENCROFT PROGRESS OF MY PET CITY THE
CHESTNUT WOOD FIRE HOW IT BECAME OLD HICKORY INDUCEMENTS TO
SETTLERS MY OFFER EVERY MAN HIS OWN HOUSE-OWNER WHISKY
AND TOBACCO RISE IN REAL-ESTATE PEMBROKE LAKE WASHINGTON
PARK GREAT MANUFACTORIES WHEELER AND WILSON SCHUYLER, HART
LEY AND GRAHAM HOTCHKISS, SON AND COMPANY STREET NAMES
MANY THOUSAND SHADE TREES BUSINESS IN THE NEW CITY UNPARAL
LELED GROWTH AND PROSPERITY PROBABILITIES IN THE FUTURE SITUA
TION OF BRIDGEPORT ITS ADVANTAGES AND PROSPECTS THE SECOND, IF
NOT THE FOREMOST CITY IN CONNECTICUT, . . ^ Y" , , 549
CHAP. XXXVI. MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
ANOTHER RE-OPENING A CHERRY-COLORED CAT THE CAT LET OUT OF THE
BAG MY FIRST WHALING EXPEDITION PLANS FOR CAPTURE SUCCESS
OF THE SCHEME TRANSPORTING LIVING WHALES BY LAND PUBLIC EX
CITEMENT THE GREAT TANK SALT WATER PUMPED FROM THE BAY TO
THE MUSEUM MORE WHALES EXPEDITION TO LABRADOR THE FIRST
HIPPOPOTAMUS IN AMERICA TROPICAL FISH COMMODORE NUTT AND HIS
FIRST "ENGAGEMENT" THE TWO DROMIOS PRESIDENT LINCOLN SEES
COMMODORE NUTT WADING ASHORE A QUESTION OF LEGS SELF-DECEP
TION THE GOLDEH ANGEL FISH ANNA SWAN, THE NOVA SCOTIA GIANT
ESS THE TALLEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD INDIAN CHIEFS EXPEDITION
TO CYPRUS MY AGENT IN A PASHA S HAREM, 56Q
22 CONTENTS.
CHAP. XXXVIL MR. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
MISS LAVINIA WARREN A CHARMING LITTLE LADY SUPPOSED TO BE THE
$30,000 NUTT IN DISGUISE HER WARDROBE AND PRESENTS STORY OF A
RING THE LITTLE COMMODORE IN LOVE TOM THUMB SMITTEN RIVALRY
OF THE DWARFS JEALOUSY OF THE GENERAL VISIT AT BRIDGEPORT
THE GENERAL S STYLISH TURN-OUT MISS WARREN IMPRESSED CALL OF
THE GENERAL A LILLIPUTIAN LOVE SCENE TOM THUMB S INVENTORY OF
HIS PROPERTY HE PROPOSES AND IS ACCEPTED ARRIVAL OF THE COM
MODORE HIS GRIEF EXCITEMENT OVER THE ENGAGEMENT THE WED
DING IN GRACE CHURCH REVEREND JUNIUS WILLEY A SPICY LETTER
BY POCTOR TAYLOR GRAND RECEPTION OF MR. AND MRS. STRATTON
THE COMMODORE IN SEARCH OF A GREEN COUNTRY GIRL, .... 582
CHAP. XXXVIII. POLITICAL AND PERSONAL.
MY POLITICAL PRINCIPLES REASONS FOR MY CHANGE OF PARTIES KANSAS
AND SECESSION WIDE-AWAKES GRAND ILLUMINATION OF UNDENCROFT
JOKE ON A DEMOCRATIC NEIGHBOR PEACE MEETINGS THE STEPNEY EX
CITEMENT TEARING DOWN A PEACE FLAG A LOYAL MEETING RECEP
TION IN BRIDGEPORT DESTRUCTION OF THE " FARMER " OFFICE ELTAS
HOWE, JR. SAINT PETER AND SALTPETRE DRAFT RIOTS BURGLARS AT
LINDENCROFT MY ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE BEGINNING OF MY
WAR ON RAILROAD MONOPOLIES WIRE-PULLING THE XIV. AMENDMENT
TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION STRIKING THE WORD " WHITE "
FROM THE CONNECTICUT CONSTITUTION MY SPEECH, ...... 609
CHAP. XXXIX. THE AMERICAN MUSEUM IN RUINS.
A TERRIBLE LOSS HOW I RECEIVED THE NEWS BURNING OF THE AMERICAN
MUSEUM DETAILS OF THE DISASTER FAITH IN HERRING S SAFES BAKED
AND BOILED WHALES THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE ON THE DESTRUCTION OF
THE MUSEUM A PUBLIC CALAMITY SYMPATHY OF THE LEADING EDITORS
AMOUNT OF MY LOSS SMALL INSURANCE MY PROPERTY INTENTION TO
RETIRE TO PRIVATE LIFE HORACE GREELEY ADVISES ME TO GO A-FISHING
BENEFIT TO THE MUSEUM EMPLOYEES AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC MY
SPEECH WHAT THE NEW YORK SUN SAID ABOUT IT THE NEW UP-TOWN
MUSEUM OPENING THE ESTABLISHMENT TO THE PUBLIC, .... 638
CHAP. XL. MY WAR ON THE RAILROADS.
SCENES IN THE LEGISLATURE SHARP-SHOOTINGPROPOSITIONS FOR A NEW
CAPITAL OF CONNECTICUT THE RIVALRY OF CITIES CULMINATION OF
THE RAILROAD CONTROVERSY EXCITEMENT AMONG THE LOBBYISTS A
BILL FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMUTERS PEOPLE PROTECTED FROM THE
PLUNDERERS HOW SETTLERS ARE DRAWN INTO A STATE AND THEN
CHEATED BY THE RAILROAD COMPANIES EQUAL RIGHTS FOR COMMUTERS
AND TRANSIENT PASSENGERS WHAT COMMODORE VANDERBILT DID WHAT
THE NEW YORK AND NEW HAVEN RAILROAD COMPANY WANTED TO DO-
EXPOSURE OF THEIR PLOT CONSTERNATION OF THE CONSPIRATORS MY
VICTORY AGAIN ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE UNITED STATES SENATOR
FERRY EX-GOVERNOR W. A. BUCKINGHAM THEODORE TILTON GOVERNOR
HAWLEY FRIENDS AT LINDENCROFT NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS AND
DEFEATED, ,., . ,/ V ,V . V V; :* t , 49
CONTENTS.
CHAP. XLI. BENNETT AND THE HERALD.
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM LEASE ITS VALUE BENNETT OF THE HERALD BUYS
IT FOR $200,000 HE PURCHASES THE PROPERTY OVERESTIMATE OF ITS
WORTH MAX MARETZEK MISS CLARA LOUISE KELLOGG S ESTIMATE OF
CERTAIN PEOPLE THE POWER BEHIND THE HERALD THRONE THE HER-
ALD S INFI/UENCK AND HARD EXPERIENCE HIS LAWYER INSISTS
UPON MY TAKING BACK THE MUSEUM LEASE I DECLINE BENNETT RE
FUSES MY ADVERTISEMENTS INTERVIEW WITH MR. HUDSON WAR OF THE
MANAGERS UPON THE HERALD BENNETT HUMBLED LOSS OF THE HERALL> s
PRESTIGE MONEY DAMAGE TO BENNETT S ESTABLISHMENT THE EDITOR
SUED PEACE BETWEEN THE HERALD AND THE MANAGERS, .... 665
CHAP. XLIL PUBLIC LECTURING.
MY TOUR AT THE WEST THE CURIOSITY EXHIBITOR HIMSELF A CURIOSITY
BUYING A FARM IN WISCONSIN HELPING THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES
A RIDE ON A LOCOMOTIVE PUNCTUALITY IN MY ENGAGEMENTS TRICKS
TO SECURE SEATS IN THE LADIES CAR I SUDDENLY BECAME FATHER TO
A YOUNG MARRIED COUPLE - MY IDENTITY DENIED PITY AND CHARITY
REVEREND DOCTOR CHAPIN PULLS THE BELL TEMPERANCE HOW I BECAME
A TEETOTALER - MODERATE DRINKING AND ITS DANGERS DOCTOR CHA-
PIN S LECTURE IN BRIDGEPORT MY OWN EFFORTS IN THE TEMPERANCE
CAUSE LECTURING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
THE STORY OF VINELAND, IN NEW JERSEY, ......... ^?6
CHAP. XLIII. THE NEW MUSEUM.
.--;;, TflvTSiVlpTf; V. I - . .
A GIGANTIC AMUSEMENT COMPANY IMMENSE ADDITIONS TO THE NEW COL
LECTION CURIOSITIES FROM EVERYWHERE THE GORDON CUMMINGS* COL
LECTION FROM AFRICA - THE GORILLA WHAT THE PAPERS SAID ABOUT
THE MONSTER MY PRIVATE VIEW OF THE ANIMAL AMUSING- INTERVIEW
WITH PAUL DU CHAILLU A SUPERB MENAGERIE - THE NEW THEATRE -
PROJECT FOR A FREE NATIONAL INSTITUTION MESSRS. E. D. MORGAN,
WILLIAM C. BRYANT, HORACE GREELEY AND OTHERS FAVOR MY PLAN -
PRESIDENT JOHNSON INDORSES IT - DESTRUCTION OF MY SECOND MUSEUM
BY FIRE THE ICE-CLAD RUINS A SAD, YET SPLENDID SPECTACLE OUT
OF THE BUSINESS FOOT RACES AT THE WHITE MOUNTAINS HOW I WAS
NOT BEATEN OPENING OF WOOD S MUSEUM IN NEW YORK MY ONLY
INTEREST IN THE ENTERPRISE, .............. 692
CHAP, XLIV. CURIOUS COINCIDENCES. NUMBER THIRTEEN.
POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS UNLUCKY FRIDAY UNFORTUNATE SATURDAY-
RAINY SUNDAYS TERRIBLE THIRTEEN THE BRETTELLS OF LONDON IN
CIDENTS OF MY WESTERN TRIP SINGULAR FATALITY NUMBER THIRTEEN
IN EVERY HOTEL - NO ESCAPE FROM THE FRIGHTFUL FIGURE ADVICE OF
A CLERICAL FRIEND THE THIRTEEN COLONIES THE THIRTEENTH CHAP
TER OF CORINTHIANS THIRTEEN AT MY CHRISTMAS DINNER PARTY THIR-
TEBN DOLLARS AT A FAIR TWO DISASTROUS DAYS THE THIRTEENTH
DAY IN TWO MONTHS THIRTEEN PAGES OF MANUSCRIPT, ... 70S
24
CONTENTS.
CHAP. XLV. A STORY CHAPTER.
"EVERY MAN TO HIS VOCATION" AND "NATURE WILL ASSERT HERSELF"
REST BY THE WAYSIDE A HALF-SHAVED PARTY CONSTERNATION OF A
CLERGYMAN NATIVES IN NEW YORK DOCTORING A CORN-DOCTOR RELI
GIOUS RAILWAYS THE BRIGHTON BUGLE BUSINESS CASH AND CONSCIENCE
CASTLES IN THE AIR A DELUDED ANTIQUARIAN GAMBLING AND POLI
TICS IRISH WIT ABOUT CONDUCTORS DR. CHAPIN AS A PUNSTER FOWL
ATTEMPTS A PAIR o DUCKS CUTTING A SICK FRIEND REV. RICHARD
VARICK DEY HIS CRIME AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOREORDINATION
PRACTICAL JOKING BY MY FATHFR A VALUABLE RACE-HORSE HOW HE
WAS LET AND THEN KILLED AGONY OF THE HORSE-KILLER THE FINAL
"SELL" FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC FRENCH COCKNEYISM WICKED WORDS
IN EXETER HALL, 718
CHAP. XLVL SEA-SIDE PARK.
INTEREST IN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS OLD PARK PROJECTS OPPOSITION OF
OLD FOGIES THE SOUND SHORE AT BRIDGEPORT INACCESSIBLE PROP
ERTY THE EYE OF FAITH TALKING TO THE FARMERS REACHING THE
PUBLIC THROUGH THE PAPERS HOW THE LAND WAS SECURED FOR A
GREAT PLEASURE-GROUND GIFTS TO THE PEOPLE OPENING OF SEA-SIDE
PARK THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GROUND BETWEEN NEW YORK AND BOSTON
MAGNIFICENT DRIVES THE ADVANTAGES OF THE LOCATION MUSIC FOR
THE MILLION BY THE SEA-SIDE FUTURE OF THE PARK A PERPETUAL
BLESSING TO POSTERITY, 758
CHAP. XLVIL WALDEMERE.
MY PRIVATE LIFE PLANS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT IN BRIDGEPORT OPEN
ING AVENUES PLANTING SHADE-TREES OLD FOGIES CONSERVATISM A
CURSE TO CITIES BENEFITING BARNUM s PROPERTY SALE OF LINDEN-
CROFTLIVING IN A FARM-HOUSEBY THE SEA-SHORE ANOTHER NEW
HOME WALDEMERE HOW IT CAME TO BE BUILT MAGIC AND MONEY
WAVEWOOD AND THE PETREL S NEST MY FARM THE HOLLAND BLANKET
CATTLE MY CITY RESIDENCE COMFORTS OF CITY LIFE BEGGING LET
TERS MY FAMILY RELIGIOUS REFLECTIONS MY FIFTY-NINTH BIRTHDAY
THE END OF THE RECORD. 768
CHAPTER L
EARLY LIFE.
MY BIRTH FIRST PROPERTY FARMER-BOY LIFE GOING TO- SCHOOL EARLY
ACQUISITIVENESS A HOLIDAY PEDDLER FIRST VISIT TO NEW YORK LEARN
ING TO " SWAP " MISERIES FROM MOLASSES CANDY " IVY ISLAND"
ENTERING UPON MY ESTATE CLERKSHIP IN A COUNTRY STORE TRADING
ar ORALS THE BETHEL MEETING-HOUSE STOVE QUESTION SUNDAY SCHOOL
AND BIBLE CLASS MY COMPOSITION THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.
I WAS born in the town of Bethel, in the State of
Connecticut, July 5, 1810. My name, Phineas Taylor,
is derived from my maternal grandfather, who was a
great wag in his way, and who, as I was his first grand
child, gravely handed over to my mother at my christen
ing a gift-deed, in my behalf, of five acres of land
situated in that part of the parish of Bethel known as
the " Plum Trees." I was thus a real estate owner
almost at my very birth ; and of my property, " Ivy
Island," something shall be said anon.
My father, Philo Barnum, was the son of Ephraim
Barnum, of Bethel, who was a captain in the revolu
tionary war. My father was a tailor, a farmer, and
sometimes a tavern-keeper, and my advantages and dis
advantages were such as fall to the general run of
farmers boys. I drove cows to and from the pasture,
shelled corn, weeded the garden ; as I grew larger, I
rode horse for ploughing, turned and raked hay ; in due
tune I handled the shovel and the hoe, and when I
could do so I went to school.
26 EARLY LIFE.
I was six years old when I began to go to school, and
the first date I remember inscribing upon my writing-
book was 1818. The ferule, in those days, was the
assistant school-master; but in spite of it, I was a
willing, and, I think, a pretty apt scholar ; at least, I
was so considered by my teachers and schoolmates, and
as the years went on there were never more than two
or three in the school who were deemed my superiors.
In arithmetic I was unusually ready and accurate, and I
remember, at the age of twelve years, being called out
of bed one night by my teacher who had wagered with
a neighbor that I could calculate the correct number of
feet in a load of wood in five minutes. The dimensions
given, I figured out the result in less than two minutes,
to the great delight of my teacher and to the equal
astonishment of his neighbor.
My organ of " acquisitiveness " was manifest at an
early age. Before I was five years of age, I began to
accumulate pennies and " four-pences," and when I was
six years old my capital amounted to a sum sufficient to
exchange for a silver dollar, the possession of which
made me feel far richer and more independent than I
have ever since felt in the world.
Nor did my dollar long remain alone. As I grew
older I earned ten cents a day for riding the horse
which led the ox team in ploughing, and on holidays
and " training days," instead of spending money, I
earned it. I was a small peddler of molasses candy (of
home make), ginger-bread, cookies and cherry rum, -and
I generally found myself a dollar or two richer at the
end of a holiday than I was at the beginning. I was
always ready for a trade, and by the time I was twelve
years old, besides other property, I was the owner of
EARLY LIFE. 27
a sheep and a calf, and should soon, no doubt, have
become a small Croesus, had not my father kindly
permitted me to purchase my own clothing, which
somewhat reduced my little store.
When I was nearly twelve years old I made my first
visit to the metropolis. It happened in this wise : Late
one afternoon in January, 1822, Mr. Daniel Brown, of
Southbury, Connecticut, arrived at my father s tavern,
in Bethel, with some fat cattle he was driving to New
York to sell. The cattle were put into our large barn
yard, the horses were stabled, and Mr. Brown and his
assistant were provided with a warm supper and lodging
for the night. After supper I heard Mr. Brown say to
my father that he intended to buy more cattle , and that
he would be glad to hire a boy to assist in driving the
cattle. I immediately besought my father to secure the
situation for me, and he did so. My mother s consent
was also gained, and at daylight next morning, after a
slight breakfast, I started on foot in the midst of a
heavy snow storm to help drive the cattle. Before
reaching Ridgefield, I was sent on horseback after a
stray ox, and, in galloping, the horse fell and my ankle
was sprained. I suffered severely, but did not com
plain lest my employer should send me back. But he
considerately permitted me to ride behind him on his
horse ; and, indeed, did so most of the way to New
York, where we arrived in three or four days.
We put up at the Bull s Head Tavern, where we were
to stay a week while the drover was disposing of his cat
tle, and we were then to return home in a sleigh. It
was an eventful week for me. Before I left home my
mother had given me a dollar which I supposed would
supply every want that heart could wish. My first out-
28 EABLY LIFE.
lay was for oranges which I was told were four pence
apiece, and as "four-pence" in Connecticut was six
cents, I offered ten cents for two oranges which was of
course readily taken ; and thus, instead of saving two
cents, as I thought, I actually paid two cents more than
the price demanded. I then bought two more oranges,
reducing my capital to eighty cents. Thirty-one cents
was the " charge " for a small gun which would " go
off" and send a stick some little distance, and this gun
I bought. Amusing myself with this toy in the bar
room of the Bull s Head, the arrow happened to hit the
barkeeper, who forthwith came from behind the counter
and shook me and soundly boxed my ears, telling me to
put that gun out of the way or he would put it into the
fire. I sneaked to my room, put my treasure under
the pillow, and went out for another visit to the toy
shop.
There I invested six cents in " torpedoes," with
which I intended to astonish my schoolmates in Bethel.
I could not refrain, however, from experimenting upon
the guests of the hotel, which I did when they were
going in to dinner. I threw two of the torpedoes
against the wall of the hall through which the guests
were passing, and the immediate results were as fol
lows: two loud reports, astonished guests, irate
landlord, discovery of the culprit, and summary pun
ishment for the landlord immediately floored me with
a single blow with his open hand, and said :
" There, you little greenhorn, see if that will teach
you better than to explode your infernal fire crackers in
my house again." ^
The lesson was sufficient if not entirely satisfactory.
I deposited the balance of the torpedoes with my gun,
EARLY LIFE. 29
and as a solace for my wounded feelings I again visited
the toy shop, where I bought a watch, breastpin and
top, leaving but eleven cents of my original dollar.
The following morning found me again at the fasci
nating toy shop, where I saw a beautiful knife with two
blades, a gimlet, and a corkscrew, a whole carpenter
shop in miniature, and all for thirty-one cents. But,
alas ! I had only eleven cents. Have that knife I must,
however, and so I proposed to the shop woman to take
back the top and breastpin at a slight deduction, and
with my eleven cents to let me have the knife. The
kind creature consented, and this makes memorable my
first "swap." Some fine and nearly white molasses
candy then caught my eye, and I proposed to trade the
watch for its equivalent in candy. The transaction
was made and the candy was so delicious that before
night my gun was absorbed in the same way. The next
morning the torpedoes " went off" in the same direc
tion, and before night even my beloved knife was simi
larly exchanged. My money and my goods all gone I
traded two pocket handkerchiefs and an extra pair of
stockings I was sure I should not want for nine more
rolls of molasses candy, and then wandered about the
city disconsolate, sighing because there was no more
molasses candy to conquer.
I doubt not that in these first wanderings about the
city I often passed the corner of Broadway and Ann
Street never dreaming of the stir I was destined at a
future day to make in that locality as proprietor and
manager of the American Museum.
After wandering, gazing and wondering, for a week,
Mr. Brown took me in his sleigh and on the evening of
the following day we arrived in Bethel. I had a
30 EARLY LIFE.
thousand questions to answer, and then and for a long
time afterwards I was quite a lion among my mates
because I had seen the great metropolis. My brothers
and sisters, however, were much disappointed at my
not bringing them something from my dollar, and when
my mother examined my wardrobe .and found two
pocket handkerchiefs and one pair of stockings missing
she whipped me and sent me to bed. Thus inglori-
ously terminated mj first visit to New York.
Previous to my visit to New York, I think it was in
18*20, when I was ten years of age, I made my first
expedition to my landed property, " Ivy Island." This,
it will be remembered, was the gift of my grandfather,
from whom I derived my name. From the time when I
was four years old I was continually hearing of this
" property." My grandfather always spoke of me (in
my presence) to the neighbors and to strangers as
the richest child in town, since I owned the whole of
" Ivy Island," one of the most valuable farms in the
State. My father and mother frequently reminded
me of my wealth and hoped I would do something for
the family when I attained my majority. The neigh
bors professed to fear that I might refuse to play
with their children because I had inherited so large
a property.
These constant allusions, for several years, to "Ivy
Island" excited at once my pride and my curiosity
and stimulated me to implore my father s permission
to visit my property. At last, he promised I should
do so in a few days, as we should be getting
some hay near " Ivy Island." The wished for day at
length arrived and my father told me that as we
were to mow an adjoining meadow, I might visit my
EARLY LIFE. 31
property in company with the hired man during the
" nooning." My grandfather reminded me that it was
to his bounty I was indebted for this wealth, and
that had not my name been Phineas I might never have
been proprietor of " Ivy Island." To this my mother
added :
" Now, Taylor, do n t become so excited when you see
your property as to let your joy make you sick, for
remember, rich as you are, that it will be eleven years
before you can come into possession of your fortune."
She added much more good advice, to all of which I
promised to be calm and reasonable and not to allow
my pride to prevent me from speaking to my brothers
and sisters when I returned home.
When we arrived at the meadow, which was in that
part of the " Plum Trees " known as " East Swamp,"
I asked my father where " Ivy Island " was.
" Yonder, at the north end of this meadow, where
you see those beautiful tress rising in the distance."
All the forenoon I turned grass as fast as two men
could cut it, and after a hasty repast at noon, one of our
hired men, a good natured Irishman, named Edmund,
took an axe on his shoulder and announced that he was
ready to accompany me to " Ivy Island." We started,
and as we approached the north end of the meadow we
found the ground swampy and wet and were soon
obliged to leap from bog to bog on our route. A mis
step brought me up to my middle in water. To add to
the dilemma a swarm of hornets attacked me. Attain
ing .the altitude of another bog I was cheered by the
assurance that there was only a quarter of a mile of this
kind of travel to the edge of my property. I waded on.
In about fifteen minutes more, after floundering through
32 EARLY LIFE.
the morass, I found myself half-drowned, hornet-stung,
mud- covered, and out of breath, on comparatively dry
land.
" Never mind, my boy," said Edmund, " we have only
to cross this little creek, and ye ll be upon your own
valuable property."
We were on the margin of a stream, the banks of
which were thickly covered with alders. I now dis
covered the use of Edmund s axe, for he felled a small
oak to form a temporary bridge to my " Island " prop
erty. Crossing over, I proceeded to the centre of my
domain ; I saw nothing but a few stunted ivies and strag
gling trees. The truth flashed upon me. I had been
the laughing-stock of the family and neighborhood for
years. My valuable " Ivy Island " was an almost
inaccessible, worthless bit of barren land, and while I
stood deploring my sudden downfall, a huge black snake
(one of my tenants) approached me with upraised head.
I gave one shriek and rushed for the bridge.
This was my first, and, I need not say, my last visit to
" Ivy Island." My father asked me " how I liked my
property I " and I responded that I would sell it pretty
cheap. My grandfather congratulated me upon my
visit to my property as seriously as if it had been indeed
a valuable domain. My mother hoped its richness had
fully equalled my anticipations. The neighbors desired
to know if I was not now glad I was named Phindas,
and for five years forward I was frequently reminded
of my wealth in " Ivy Island."
As I grew older, my settled aversion to manual labor,
farm or other kind, was manifest in various ways, which
were set down to the general score of laziness. In
despair of doing better with me, my father concluded to
EARLY LIFE. 33
make a merchant of me. He erected a building in Bethel,
and with Mr. Hiram Weed as a partner, purchased a
stock of dry goods, hardware, groceries, and general
notions and installed me as clerk in this country store.
Of course I " felt my oats." It was condescension on
my part to talk with boys who did out-door work. I
stood behind the counter with a pen over my ear, was
polite to the ladies, and was wonderfully active in wait
ing upon customers. We kept a cash, credit and barter
store, and I drove some sharp bargains with women
who brought butter, eggs, beeswax and feathers to
exchange for dry goods, and with men who wanted to
trade oats, corn, buckwheat, axe-helves, hats, and other
commodities for tenpenny nails, molasses, or New
England rum. But it was a drawback upon my dignity
that I was obliged to take down the shutters, sweep the
store, and make the fire. I received a small salary for
my services and the perquisite of what profit I could
derive from purchasing candies on my own account to
sell to our younger customers, and, as usual, my father
stipulated that I should clothe myself.
There is a great deal to be learned in a country
store, and principally this that sharp trades, tricks,
dishonesty, and deception are by no means confined
to the city. More than once, in cutting open bundles
of rags, brought to be exchanged for goods, and
warranted to be all linen and cotton, I have discovered
in the interior worthless woolen trash and sometimes
stones, gravel or ashes. Sometimes, too, when measur
ing loads of oats, corn or rye, declared to contain
a specified number of bushels, say sixty, I have found
them four or five bushels short. In such cases, some
one else was always to blame, but these happenings
34: EAKLY LIFE.
were frequent enough to make us watchful of our
customers. In the evenings and on wet days trade was
always dull, and at such times the story-telling and
joke-playing wits and wags of the village used to
assemble in our store, and from them I derived con
siderable amusement, if not profit. - After the store was
closed at night, I frequently joined some of the village
boys at the houses of their parents, where, with story
telling and play, a couple of hours would soon pass by,
and then as late, perhaps, as eleven o clock, I went
home and slyly crept up stairs so as not to awaken my
brother with whom I slept, and who would be sure
to report my late hours. He made every attempt, and
laid all sorts of plans to catch me on my return,
but as sleep always overtook him, I managed easily to
elude his efforts.
Like most people in Connecticut in those days, I was
brought up to attend church regularly on Sunday, and
long before I could read I was a prominent scholar
in the Sunday school. My good mother taught me my
lessons in the New Testament and the Catechism,
and my every effort was directed to win one of those
" Rewards of Merit," which promised to pay the bearer
one mill, so that ten of these prizes amounted to
one cent, and one hundred of them, which might
be won by faithful assiduity every Sunday for two years,
would buy a Sunday school book worth ten cents.
Such were the magnificent rewards held out to the
religious ambition of youth.
There was but one church or " meeting-house " in
Bethel, which all attended, sinking all differences
of creed in the Presbyterian faith. The old meeting
house had neither steeple nor bell and was a plain
EAELY LIFE. 35
edifice, comfortable enough in summer, but my teeth,
chatter even now when I think of the dreary, cold,
freezing hours we passed in that place in winter. A
stove in a meeting-house in those days would have been
a sacrilegious innovation. The sermons were from
an hour and one half to two hours long, and through
these the congregation would sit and shiver till they
really merited the title the profane gave them of " blue
skins," Some of the women carried a " foot-stove "
consisting of a small square tin box in a wooden frame,
the sides perforated, and in the interior there was a small
square iron dish, which contained a few live coals
covered with ashes. These stoves were usually replen
ished just before meeting time at some neighbor s near
the meeting-house.
After many years of shivering and suffering, one of
the brethren had the temerity to propose that the
church should be warmed with a stove. His impious
proposition was voted down by an overwhelming
majority. . Another year came around, and in November
the stove question was again brought up. The excite
ment was immense. The subject was discussed in the
village stores and in the juvenile debating club ; it
was prayed over in conference ; and finally in general
" society s meeting," in December, the stove was carried
by a majority of one and was introduced into, the meet
ing-house. On the first Sunday thereafter, two ancient
maiden ladies were so oppressed by the dry and heated
atmosphere occasioned by the wicked innovation, that
they fainted away and were carried out into the cool air
where they speedily returned to consciousness, espe
cially when they were informed that owing to the lack
of two lengths of pipe, no fire had yet been made in the
2*
36 EARLY LIFE.
stove. The next Sunday was a bitter cold day, and the
stove, filled with well-seasoned hickory, was a great
gratification to the many, and displeased only a few.
After the benediction, an old deacon rose and requested
the congregation to remain, and called upon them to
witness that he had from the first raised his voice
against the introduction of a stove into the house of the
Lord ; but the majority had been against him and he
had submitted ; now, if they must have a stove, he
insisted upon having a large one, since the present one
did not heat the whole house, but drove the cold to the
back outside pews, making them three times as cold as
they were before ! In the course of the week, this
deacon was made to comprehend that, unless on
unusually severe days, the stove was sufficient to warm
the house, and, at any rate, it did not drive all the cold
in the house into one corner.
During the Rev. Mr. Lowe s ministrations at Bethel,
he formed a Bible class, of which I was a member. We
used to draw promiscuously from a hat a text of scrip
ture and write a composition on the text, which compo
sitions were read after service in the afternoon, to such
of the congregation as remained to hear the exercises
of the class. Once, I remember, I drew the text, Luke
x. 42 : " But one thing is needful ; and Mary hath
chosen that good part which shall not be taken away
from her." Question, " What is the one thing need
ful ? " My answer was nearly as follows :
" This question c what is the one thing needful I is
capable of receiving various answers, depending much
upon the" persons to whom it is addressed. The mer
chant might answer that the one thing needful is
plenty of customers, who buy liberally, without beating
EARLY LIFE. 37
down and pay cash, for all their purchases. The farmer
might reply, that the one thing needful is large har
vests and high prices. The physician might answer
that it is plenty of patients/ The lawyer might be
of opinion that it is an unruly community, always en
gaged in bickerings and litigations/ The clergyman
might reply, It is a fat salary with multitudes of sin
ners seeking salvation and paying large pew rents/
The bachelor might exclaim, It is a pretty wife who
loves her husband, and who knows how to sew on but
tons/ The maiden might answer, It is a good hus
band, who will love, cherish and protect me while life
shall last/ But the most proper answer, and doubtless
that which applied to the case of Mary, would be, The
one thing needful is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
follow in his footsteps, love God and obey His com
mandments, love our fellow-man, and embrace every
opportunity of administering to his necessities. In short,
the one thing needful is to live a life that we can
always look back upon with satisfaction, and be enabled
ever to contemplate its termination with trust in Him
who has so kindly vouchsafed it to us, surrounding us
with innumerable blessings, if we have but the heart
and wisdom to receive them in a proper manner."
The reading of a portion of this answer occasioned
some amusement in the congregation, in which the
clergyman himself joined, and the name of " Taylor
Barnum " was whispered in connection with the compo
sition ; but at the close of the reading I had the satisfac
tion of hearing Mr. Lowe say that it was a well written
and truthful answer to the question, " What is the one
thing needful?"
jrir r ;T
CHAPTER H.
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
DEATH OF MY GRANDMOTHER MT FATHER HIS CHARACTER HIS DEATH
BEGINNING THE WORLD BAREFOOTED GOING TO GRASSY PLAINS THE TIN
WARE AND GREEN BOTTLE LOTTERY " CHAIR Y " HALLETT OUR FIRST MEET
ING EVENING RIDE TO BETHEL A NOVEL FUR TRADE OLD " RUSHIA "
AND YOUNG "RUSHIA" THE BUYER SOLD COUNTRY STORE EXPERIENCES
OLD " UNCLE BIBBINS" A TERIBLE DUEL BETWEEN BENTON AND BIBBINS
FALL OF BENTON FLIGHT OF BIBBINS.
IN the month of August, 1825, my maternal grand
mother met with an accident in stepping on the point
of a rusty nail, and, though the matter was at first con
sidered trivial, it resulted in her death. Alarming
symptoms soon made her sensible that she was on her
death-bed ; and while she was in full possession of her
faculties, the day before she died she sent for her grand
children to take final leave of them. I shall never
forget the sensations I experienced when she took me
by the hand and besought me to lead a religious life,
and especially to remember that I could in no way so
effectually prove my love to God as by loving all my
fellow-beings. The impressions of that death-bed scene
have ever been among my most vivid recollections, and
I trust they have proved in some degree salutary. A
more exemplary woman, or a more sincere Christian
than my grandmother, I have never known.
My father, for his time and locality, was a man of
much enterprise. He could, and actually did, " keep a
hotel " ; he had a livery stable and ran, in a small way,
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES. 39
what in our day would be called a Norwalk Express ;
and he also kept a country store. With greater oppor
tunities and a larger field for his efforts and energies, he
might have been a man of mark and means. Not that
he was successful, for he never did a profitable busi
ness ; but I, who saw him in his various pursuits, and
acted as his clerk, caught something of his enterpris
ing spirit, and, perhaps without egotism, I may say
I inherited that characteristic. My business education
was as good as the limited field afforded, and I soon
put it to account and service.
On the 7th of September, 1825, my father, who had
been sick since the month of March, died at the age of
forty-eight years. My mother was left with five
children, of whom I, at fifteen years of age, w as the
eldest, while the youngest was but seven. It was soon
apparent that my father had provided nothing for the
support of his family ; his estate was insolvent, and it
did not pay fifty cents on the dollar. My mother,
by economy, industry, and perseverance, succeeded in a
few years afterwards in redeeming the homestead and
becoming its sole possessor ; but, at the date of the
death of my father, the world looked gloomy indeed;
the few dollars I had accumulated and loaned to my
father, holding his note therefor, were decided to be
the property of a minor, belonging to the father and so
to the estate, and my small claim was ruled out. I was
obliged to get trusted for the pair of shoes I wore to
my father s funeral. I literally began the world with
nothing, and was barefooted at that.
Leaving Mr. Weed, I went to Grassy Plain, a mile
northwest of Bethel, and secured a situation as clerk in
the store of James S. Keeler & Lewis Whitlock at
40 INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
six dollars a month and my board. I lived with Mrs.
Jerusha Wheeler and her daughters, Jerusha and Mary,
and found an excellent home. I chose my uncle,
Alanson Taylor, as my guardian. I did my best to
please my employers and soon gained their confidence
and esteem and was regarded by them as an active
clerk and a cute trader. They afforded me many
facilities for making money on my own account and
I soon entered upon sundry speculations and succeeded
in getting a small sum of money ahead.
I made a very remarkable trade at one time for
my employers by purchasing, in their absence, a whole
wagon load of green glass bottles of various sizes, for
which I paid in unsalable goods at very profitable
prices. How to dispose of the bottles was then the
problem, and as it was also desirable to get rid of a
large quantity of tin ware which had been in the shop
for years and was considerably " shop-worn," I con
ceived the idea of a lottery in which the highest prize
should be twenty-five dollars, payable in any goods the
winner desired, while there were to be fifty prizes
of five dollars each, payable in goods, to be designated
in the scheme. Then there were one hundred prizes
of one dollar each, one hundred prizes of fifty cents
each, and three hundred prizes of twenty-five cents
each. It is unnecessary to state that the minor prizes
consisted mainly of glass and tin ware ; the tickets
sold like wildfire, and the worn tin and glass bottles
were speedily turned into cash.
As my mother continued to keep the village tavern
at Bethel, I usually went home on Saturday night and
stayed till Monday morning, going to church with iny
mother on Sunday. This habit was the occasion of an
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES. 41
experience of momentous consequence to me. One
Saturday evening, during a violent thunder shower, Miss
Mary Wheeler, a milliner, sent me word that there was
a girl from Bethel at her house, who had come up on
horseback to get a new bonnet ; that she was afraid to
go back alone ; and if I was going to Bethel that even
ing she wished me to escort her customer. I assented,
and went over ta " Aunt Rushia s " where I was intro
duced to "Chairy" (Charity) Hallett, a fair, rosy-
cheeked, buxom girl, with beautiful white teeth. I
assisted her to her saddle, and mounting my own horse,
we trotted towards Bethel.
My first impressions of this girl as I saw her at the
house were exceedingly favorable. As soon as we
started I began a conversation with her and finding her
very affable I regretted that the distance to Bethel was
not five miles instead of one. A flash of lightning gave
me a distinct view of the face of my fair companion and
then I wished the distance was twenty miles. During
our ride I learned that she was a tailoress, working
with Mr. Zerah Benedict, of Bethel. We soon arrived
at our destination and I bid her good night and went
home. The next day I saw her at church, and, indeed,
many Sundays afterwards, but I had no opportunity to
renew the acquaintance that season.
Mrs. Jerusha Wheeler, with whom I boarded, and her
daughter Jerusha were familiarly known, the one as
" Aunt Rushia," and the other as " Rushia." Many of
our store customers were hatters, and among the many
kinds of furs we sold for the nap of hats was one known
to the trade as " Russia. 37 One day a hatter, Walter
Dibble, called to buy some furs. I sold him several
kinds, including "beaver" and " cony," and he then
42 INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
asked for some "Russia." We had none, and, as I
wanted to play a joke upon him, I told him that Mrs.
Wheeler had several hundred pounds of " Russia."
" What on earth is a woman doing with Russia"? "
said he.
I could not answer, but I assured him that there
were one hundred and thirty pounds of old Rushia and
one hundred and fifty pounds of young Rushia in Mrs.
Wheeler s house, and under her charge, but whether or
not it was for sale I could not say. Off he started to
make the purchase and knocked at the door. Mrs.
Wheeler, the elder, made her appearance.
" I want to get your Russia," said the hatter.
Mrs. Wheeler asked him to walk in and be seated.
She, of course, supposed that he had come for her
daughter " Rushia."
" What do you want of Rushia? " asked the old lady.
" To make hats," was the reply.
"To trim hats, I suppose you mean]" responded
Mrs. Wheeler.
" No, for the outside of hats," replied the hatter.
" Well, I do n t know much about hats," said the old
lady, ^but I will call my daughter."
Passing into another room where " Rushia " the
younger was at work, she informed her that a man
wanted her to make hats.
" Oh, he means sister Mary, probably. I suppose he
wants some ladies hats," replied Rushia, as she went
into the parlor.
" This is my daughter," said the old lady.
" I want to get your Russia," said he, addressing
the young lady.
" 1 suppose you wish to see my sister Mary ; she is
our milliner," said young Rushia.
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES 43
" I wish to see whoever owns the property," said
the hatter.
Sister Mary was sent for, and as she was introduced,
the hatter informed her that he wished to buy her
" Russia."
" Buy Rushia ! " exclaimed Mary in surprise ; " 1
do n t understand you."
" Your name is Miss Wheeler, I believe," said the
hatter, who was annoyed by the difficulty he met with
in being understood.
" It is, sir."
"Ah! very well. Is there old and young Russia
in the house I "
" I believe there is," said Mary, surprised at the
familiar manner in which he spoke of her mother and
sister, who were present.
" What is the price of old Russia per pound? " asked
the hatter.
" I believe, sir, that old Rushia is not for sale,"
replied Mary indignantly.
" Well, what do you ask for young Russia I " pur
sued the hatter.
"Sir," said Miss Rushia the younger, springing to
her feet, " do you come here to insult defenceless
females I If you do, sir, we will soon call our brother,
who is in the garden, and he will punish you as you
deserve."
" Ladies ! " exclaimed the hatter, in astonishment,
" what on earth have I done to offend you 1 I came
here on a business matter. I want to buy some Russia.
I was told you had old and young Russia in the house.
Indeed, this young lady just stated such to be the fact,
but she says the old Russia is not for sale. Now, if
4:4 INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
I can buy the young Eussia I want to do so but
if that can t be done, please to say so and I will trouble
you no further."
" Mother, open the door and let this man go out ; he
is undoubtedly crazy," said Miss Mary.
" By thunder ! I believe I shall be if I remain here
long," exclaimed the hatter, considerably excited. " I
wonder if folks never do business in these parts, that
you think a man is crazy if he attempts such a thing I "
" Business ! poor man ! " said Mary soothingly, ap
proaching the door.
" I am not a poor man, madam," replied the hatter.
" My name is Walter Dibble ; I carry on hatting exten
sively in D anbury ; I came to Grassy Plains to buy fur,
and have purchased some beaver and cony, and
now it seems I am to be called crazy and a poor
man/ because I want to buy a little Russia to make
up my assortment."
The ladies began to open their eyes ; they saw that
Mr. Dibble was quite in earnest, and his explanation
threw considerable light upon the subject.
" Who sent you here ? " asked sister Mary.
" The clerk at the opposite store," was the reply.
" He is a wicked young fellow for making all this
trouble," said the old lady ; "he has been doing this
for a joke."
" A joke ! " exclaimed Dibble, in surprise. " Have
you no Eussia, then ? "
" My name is Jerusha, and so is my daughter s," said
Mrs. Wheeler, " and that, I suppose, is what he meant
by telling you about old and young Eushia."
Mr. Dibble bolted through the door without another
word and made directly for our store. w You young
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES. 45
i
scamp ! " said he as he entered ; " what did you mean
by sending me over there to buy Russia 1 "
" I did not send you to buy Rushia ; I supposed you
were either a bachelor or widower and wanted to marry
Rushia," I replied, with a serious countenance.
" You lie, you young dog, and you know it ; but
never mind, I 11 pay you off some day" ; and taking his
furs, he departed with less ill-humor than could have
been expected under the circumstances.
Among our customers were three or four old Revolu
tionary pensioners, who traded out the amounts of their
pensions before they were due, leaving their papers as
security. One of these pensioners was old Be vans,
commonly known as " Uncle Bibbins," a man who loved
his glass and was very prone to relate romantic Revolu
tionary anecdotes and adventures, in which he, of
course, was conspicuous. At one time he was in our
debt, and though we held his pension papers, it
would be three months before the money could be
drawn. It was desirable to get him away for that
length of time, and we hinted to him that it would be
pleasant to make a visit to Guilford, where he had rela
tions, but he would not go. Finally, I hit upon a plan
which " moved " him.
A journeyman hatter, named Ben ton, who was fond
of a practical joke, was let into the secret, and was
persuaded to call " Uncle Bibbins " a coward, to tell
him that he had been wounded in the back, and thus to
provoke a duel, which he did, and at my suggestion
" Uncle Bibbins " challenged Benton to fight him with
musket and ball at a distance of twenty yards. The
challenge was accepted, I was chosen second by " Uncle
Bibbins," and the duel was to come off immediately.
46 INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.
*
My principal, taking me aside, begged me to put noth
ing in the guns but blank cartridges. I assured hitn it
should be so, and therefore that he. might feel perfectly
safe. This gave the old man extra courage ; he
declared that he had not been so long in bloody battles
" for nothing," and that he would put a bullet through
Benton s heart at the first shot.
The ground was measured in the lot at the rear
of our store, and the principals and seconds took their
places. At the word given both parties fired. " Uncle
Bibbins," of course, escaped unhurt, but Benton leaped
several feet into the air, and fell upon the ground with
a dreadful yell, as if he had been really shot. " Uncle
Bibbins" was frightened. As his second, I ran to
him, told him I had neglected to extract the bullet from
his gun (which was literally true, as there was no
bullet in it to extract), and he supposed, of course, he
had killed his adversary. I then whispered to him to
go immediately to Guilford, to keep quiet, and he should
hear from me as soon as it would be safe to do so. He
started up the street on a run, and immediately quit the
town for Guilford, where he kept himself quiet until it
was time for him to return and sign his papers. I then
wrote him that " he could return in safety ; that his
adversary had recovered from his wound, and now for
gave him all, as he felt himself much to blame for
having insulted a man of his known courage."
" Uncle Bibbins " returned, signed the papers, and
we obtained the pension money. A few days thereafter
he met Benton.
" My brave old friend," said Benton, " I forgive you
my terrible wound and long confinement on the brink
of the grave, and I beg you to forgive me also. I
insulted you without a cause."
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES. 47
" I forgive you freely," said " Uncle Bibbins " :
" but," he added, " you must be careful next time how
you insult a dead shot."
Benton promised to be more circumspect in future,
and " Uncle Bibbins " supposed to the day of his death
that the duel, wound, danger, and all, were matters of
fact.
dfj^Jjij $ift gjj jo
.asToaorifcA OTTA ww.ws
CHAPTEE III.
IN BUSINESS FOE MYSELF.
MY CLERKSHIP IN BROOKLYN UNEASINESS AND DISSATISFACTION THE SMALL
POX GOING HOME TO RECRUIT "CHAIRY" HALLETT AGAIN BACK TO
BROOKLYN OPENING A PORTER-HOUSE SELLING OUT MY CLERKSHIP IN
NEW YORK MY HABITS OBSERVANCE OF SUNDAY IN BETHEL ONCE
MORE BEGINNING BUSINESS ON MY OWN ACCOUNT OPENING DAY LARGE
SALES AND GREAT PROFITS THE LOTTERY BUSINESS VIEWS THEREON
ABOUT A POCKET-BOOK WITS AND WAGS SWEARING OUT A FINE FIRST
APPEARANCE AT THE BAR SECURING "ARABIAN" A MODEL LOVE-LETTER.
MR. OLIVER TAYLOR removed from Danbury to
Brooklyn, Long Island, where he kept a grocery store
and also had a large comb factory and a comb store in
New York. In the fall of 1826 he offered me a situa
tion as clerk in his Brooklyn store, and I accepted it. I
soon became conversant with the routine of my em
ployer s business and before long he entrusted to me the
purchasing of all goods for his store. I bought for cash
entirely, going into the lower part of New York City
in search of the cheapest market for groceries, often
attending auctions of teas, sugars, molasses, etc., watch
ing the sales, noting prices and buyers, and frequently
combining with other grocers to bid off large lots, which
we subsequently divided, giving each of us the quantity
wanted at a lower rate than if the goods had passed
into other hands, compelling us to pay another profit.
Situated as I was, and well treated as I was by my
employer, who manifested great interest in me, still I
was dissatisfied. A salary was not sufficient for me.
My disposition was of that speculative character which
EST BUSINESS FOR MYSELF. 49
refused to be satisfied unless I was engaged in some
business where my profits might be enhanced, or, at
least, made to depend upon my energy, perseverance,
attention to business, tact, and " calculation." Accord
ingly, as I had no opportunity to speculate on my own
account, I became uneasy, and, young as I was, I
began to talk of setting up for myself ; for, although I
had no capital, several men of means had offered to fur
nish the money and join me in business. I was in that
uneasy, transitory state between boyhood and manhood
when I had unbounded confidence in my own abilities,
and yet needed a discreet counsellor, adviser and friend.
In the following summer, 1827, I wa^ 1 taken down
with the small-pox and was confined to the house for
several months. This sickness made a sad inroad upon
my means. When I was sufficiently recovered, I started
for home to recruit, taking passage on board a sloop for
Norwalk, but the remaining passengers were so fright
ened at the appearance of my face, which still bore the
marks of the disease, that I was obliged to go ashore
again, which I did, stopping at Holt s, in Fulton Street,
going to Norwalk by steamboat next morning, and
arriving at Bethel in the afternoon.
During my convalescence at my mother s house, I
visited my old friends and neighbors and had the oppor
tunity to slightly renew my acquaintance with the
attractive tailoress, " Chairy " Hallett. A month after
wards, I returned to Brooklyn, where I gave Mr. Taylor
notice of my desire to leave his employment ; and I then
opened a porter-house on my own account. In a few
months I sold out to good advantage and accepted a
favorable offer to engage as clerk in a similar estab
lishment, kept by Mr. David Thorp, 29 Peck Slip,
50 IN BUSINESS FOB MYSELF.
New York. It was a great resort for Danbury and
Bethel comb makers and hatters and I thus had frequent
opportunities of seeing and hearing from my fellow-
townsmen. I lived in Mr. Thorp s family and was
kindly treated. I was often permitted to visit the
theatre with friends who came to New York, and, as I
had considerable taste for the drama, I soon became, in
my own opinion, a discriminating critic nor did I fail
to exhibit my powers to my Connecticut friends who
accompanied me to the play. Let me gratefully add
that my habits were not bad. Though I sold liquors to
others, I do not think I ever drank a pint of liquor,
wine, or cordials before I was twenty-two years of age.
I always had a Bible, which I frequently read, and I
attended church regularly. These habits, so far as they
go, are in the right direction, and I am thankful to-day
that they characterized my early youth. However
worthy or unworthy may have been my later years, I
know that I owe much of the better part of my nature
to my youthful regard for Sunday and its institutions
a regard, I trust, still strong in my character.
In February, 1828, I returned to Bethel and opened a
retail fruit and confectionery store in a part of my grand
father s carriage-house, which was situated on the main
street, and which was offered to me rent free if I would
return to my native village and establish some sort of
business. This beginning of business on my own
account was an eventful era in my life. My total capi
tal was one hundred and twenty dollars, fifty of which
I had expended in fitting up the store, and the remain
ing seventy dollars purchased my stock in trade. I had
arranged with fruit dealers whom I knew in New York,
to receive my orders, and I decided to open my estab-
IN BUSINESS FOB MYSELF. 51
lishment on the first Monday in May our " general
training " day.
It was a " red letter " day for me. The village was
crowded with people from the surrounding region and
the novelty of my little shop attracted attention. Long
before noon I was obliged to call in " one of. my old
schoolmates to assist in waiting upon my numerous cus
tomers and when I closed at night I had the satisfaction
of reckoning up sixty-three dollars as my day s receipts.
Nor, although I had received the entire cost of my
goods, less seven dollars, did the stock seem seriously
diminished ; showing that my profits had been large. I
need not say how much gratified I "was with the result
of this first day s experiment. The store was a fixed
fact. I went to New York and expended all my money
in a stock of fancy goods, such as pocket-books, combs,
beads, rings, pocket-knives, and a few toys. These,
with fruit, nuts, etc., made the business good through
the summer, and in the fall I added stewed oysters to
the inducements.
My grandfather, who was much interested in my suc
cess, advised me to take an agency for the sale of lottery
tickets, on commission. In those days, the lottery was
not deemed objectionable on the score of morality.
Very worthy people invested in such schemes without a
thought of evil, and then, as now, churches even got
up lotteries, with this difference that then they were
called lotteries, and now they go under some other
name. While I am very glad that an improved public
sentiment denounces the lottery in general as an illegit
imate means of getting money, and while I do not see
how any one, especially in or near a New England
State, can engage in a lottery without feeling a reproach
52 IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF.
which no pecuniary return can compensate ; yet I can
not now accuse myself for having been lured into a
business which was then sanctioned by good Christian
people, who now join with me in reprobating enter
prises they once encouraged. But as public senti
ment was forty years ago, I obtained an agency to sell
lottery tickets on a commission of ten per cent, and this
business, in connection with my little store, made my
profits quite satisfactory.
I used to have some curious customers. On one occa
sion a young man called on me and selected a pocket-
book which pleased him, asking me to give him credit
for a few weeks. I told him that if he wanted any
article of necessity in my line, I should not object to
trust him for a short time, but it struck me that a
pocket-book was a decided superfluity for a man who
had no money ; I therefore declined to trust him as I
did not see the necessity for his possessing such an
article till he had something to put into it. Later in
life I have been credited with the utterance of some
sagacious remarks, but this with regard to the pocket-
book, trivial as the matter is in itself, seems to me quite
as deserving of note as any of my ideas which have
created more sensation.
My store had much to do in giving shape to my
future character as well as career, in that it became a
favorite resort; the theatre of village talk, and the
scene of many practical jokes. For any excess of the
jocose element in my character, part of the blame
must attach to my early surroundings as a village clerk
and merchant. In that true resort of village wits
and wags, the country store, fun, pure and simple,
will be sure to find the surface. My Bethel store
IN BUSINESS FOK MYSELF. 53
was the "scene of many most amusing incidents, in
some of which I was an immediate participant,
though in many, of course, I was only a listener or
spectator.
The following scene makes a chapter in the history
of Connecticut, as the State was when " blue-laws "
were something more than a dead letter. To swear in
those days was according to custom, but contrary to
law. A person from New York State, whom I will call
Crofut, who was a frequent visitor at my store, was
a man of property, and equally noted for his self-will
and his really terrible profanity. One day he was
in my little establishment engaged in conversation,
when Nathan Seelye, Esq., one of our village justices
of the peace, and a man of strict religious principles,
came in, and hearing Crofut s profane language he told
him he considered it his duty to fine him one dollar for
swearing.
Crofut responded immediately with an oath, that he
did not care a d n for the Connecticut blue-laws.
" That will make two dollars," said Mr. Seelye.
This brought forth another oath.
46 Three dollars," said the sturdy justice.
Nothing but oaths were given in reply, until Esquire
Seelye declared the damage to the Connecticut laws to
amount to fifteen dollars.
Crofut took out a twenty-dollar bill, and handed it to
the justice of the peace, with an oath.
" Sixteen dollars," said Mr. Seelye, counting out four
dollars to hand to Mr. Crofut, as his change.
" Oh, keep it, keep it," said Crofut, " 1 do n t want
any change, I 11 d d soon swear out the balance." He
did so, after which he was more circumspect in his
54 IN BUSINESS FOK MYSELF.
conversation, remarking that twenty dollars a day for
swearing was about as much as he could stand.
On another . occasion, a man arrested for assault and
battery was to be tried before my grandfather, who was
a justice of the peace. A young medical student named
Newton, volunteered to defend the prisoner, and Mr.
Couch, the grand-juryman, came to me and said that
as the prisoner had engaged a pettifogger, the State
ought to have some one to represent its interests and
he would give me a dollar to present the case. I
accepted the fee and proposition. The fame of the
" eminent counsel " on both sides drew quite a crowd
to hear the case. As for the case itself, it was useless
to argue it, for the guilt of the prisoner was established
by evidence of half a dozen witnesses. However, New
ton was bound to display himself, and so, rising with
much dignity, he addressed my grandfather with, " May
it please the honorable court," etc., proceeding with a
mixture of poetry and invective against Couch, the
grand-juryman whom he assumed to ~be the vindictive
plaintiff in this case. After alluding to him as such
for the twentieth time, my grandfather stopped Newton
in the midst of his splendid peroration and informed
him that Mr. Couch was not the plaintiff in the case.
" Not the plaintiff! Then may it please your honor
I should like to know who is the plaintiff?" inquired
Newton.
He was quietly informed that the State of Connecti
cut was the plaintiff, whereupon Newton dropped into
his seat as if he had been shot. Thereupon, I rose
with great confidence, and speaking from my notes,
proceeded to show the guilt of the prisoner from the
evidence; that there was no discrepancy in the testi-
IK BUSINESS FOR MYSELF: 55
mony ; that none of the witnesses had been impeached;
that no defence had been offered ; that I was astonished
at the audacity of both counsel and prisoner in not
pleading guilty at once ; and then, soaring aloft on gen
eral principles, I began to look about for a safe place
to alight, when my grandfather interrupted me with
" Young man, will you have the kindness to inform
the court which side you are pleading for the plaintiff
or the defendant?"
It was my turn to drop, which I did amid a shout of
laughter from every corner of the court-room. Newton,
who had been very downcast, looked up with a broad
grin and the two " eminent counsel " sneaked out of
the room in company, while the prisoner was bound
over to the next County Court for trial.
While my business in Bethel continued to increase
beyond my expectations, I was also happy in believing
that my suit with the fair tailoress, Charity Hallett, was
duly progressing. Of all the young people with whom
I associated in oar parties, picnics, and sleigh-rides, she
stood highest in my estimation and continued to im
prove upon acquaintance.
How I managed at one of our sleigh rides is worth
narrating. My grandfather would, at any time, let me
have a horse and sleigh, always excepting his new
sleigh, the finest in the village, and a favorite horse
called " Arabian." I especially coveted this turnout for
one of our parties, knowing that I could eclipse all my
comrades, and so I asked grandfather if I could have
" Arabian " and the new sleigh.
" Yes, if you have twenty dollars in your pocket,"
was the reply, ai"
I immediately showed the money, and, putting it
56 IN BUSINESS FOR MYSELF.
back in my pocket, said with a laugh : " you see I have
the money. I am much obliged to you ; I suppose I
can have Arab and the new sleigh I "
Of course, he meant to deny me by making what he
thought to be an impossible condition, to wit: that I
should hire the team, at a good round price, if I had
it at all, but I had caught him so suddenly that he was
compelled to consent, and " Chairy " and I had the crack
team of the party.
There was a young apprentice to the tailoring trade
in Bethel, whom I will call John Mallett, whose educa
tion had been much neglected, and who had been pay
ing his addresses to a certain " Lucretia " for some six
months, with a strong probability of being jilted at last.
On a Sunday evening she had declined to take his arm,
accepting instead the arm of the next man who offered,
and Mallett determined to demand an explanation. He
accordingly came to me the Saturday evening following,
asking me, when I had closed my store, to write a strong
and remonstratory " love-letter " for him. I asked Bill
Shepard, who was present, to remain and assist, and, in
due time, the joint efforts of Shepard, Mallett, and
myself resulted in the following production. I give the
letter as an illustrative chapter in real life. In novels
such correspondence is usually presented in elaborate
rhetoric, with studied elegance of phrase. But the true
language of the heart is always nearly the same in all
time and in all tongues, and when the blood is up the
writer is far more intent upon the matter than the
manner, and aims to be forcible rather than elegant.
The subjoined letter is certainly not after the manner of
Chesterfield, but it is such a letter as a disappointed
lover, spurred by
The green-eyed monster, which doth mock
The meat it feeds on,
IK BUSINESS FOR MYSELF. 57
frequently indites. With a demand from Mallett that
we should begin in strong terms, and Shepard acting
as scribe, we concocted the following :
BETHEL, , 18 .
Miss LUCRETIA, I write this to ask an explanation of your conduct in giving
me the mitten on Sunday night last. If you think, madam, that you can trifle
with my affections, and turn me off for every little whipper-snapper that you can
pick up, you will find yourself considerably mistaken. [We read thus far to
Mallett, and it met his approval. He said he liked the idea of calling her
"madam," for he thought it sounded so "distant," it would hurt her feelings
very much. The term "little whipper-snapper" also delighted him. He said
he guessed that would make her feel cheap. Shepard and myself were not quite
so sure of its aptitude, since the chap who succeeded in capturing Lucretia, on
the occasion alluded to, was a head and shoulders taller than Mallett. However,
we did not intimate our thoughts to Mallett, and he desired us to "go ahead and
give her another dose."] You do n t know me, madam, if you think you can snap
me up in this way. I wish you to understand that I can have the company of
girls as much above you as the sun is above the earth, and I won t stand any
of your impudent nonsense no how. [This was duly read and approved. "Now,"
said Mallett, "try to touch her feelings. Remind her of the pleasant hours we
have spent together " ; and we continued as follows : ] My dear Lucretia, when I
think of the many pleasant hours we have spent together of the delightful walks
which we have had on moonlight evenings to Feuner s Rocks, Chestnut Ridge,
Grassy Plains, Wildcat, and Puppy-town of the strolls which we have taken
upon Shelter Rocks, Cedar Hill the visits we have made to Old Lane, Wolfpits,
Toad-hole and Plum-trees* when all these things come rushing on my mind,
and when, my dear girl, I remember how often you have told me that you loved
me better than anybody else, and I assured you my feelings were the same as
yours, it almost breaks my heart to think of last Sunday night. ["Can t you
stick in some affecting poetry here?" said Mallett. Shepard could not recollect
any to the point, nor could I, but as the exigency of the case seemed to require it,
we concluded to manufacture a verse or two, which we did as follows :]
Lucretia, dear, what have I done,
That you should use me thus and BO,
To take the arm of Tom Beers son,
And let your dearest true-love go ?
Miserable fate, to lose you now,
And tear this bleeding heart asunder I
\ Will you forget your tender vow ?
I can t believe it no, by thunder I
[Mallett did not like the word " thunder," but being informed that no other
word could be substituted without destroying both rhyme and reason, he
consented that it should remain, provided we added two more stanzas of a softer
nature ; something, he said, that would make the tears come, if possible. We then
ground out the following:]
Lucretia, dear, do write to Jack,
And say with Beers you are not smitten ;
And thus to me in love come back,
And give all other boys the mitten.
*_ These were the euphonious names of localities iu the vicinity of Bethel.
58 IK BUSINESS FOR MYSELF
Do this, Lucrotia, and till death
I 11 love yon to intense distractibn ;
I ll spend for you my every breath,
And we will live in satisfaction.
[" That will do very well," said Mallett. " Now I guess you had better blow
her up a little more." We obeyed orders as follows:] It makes me mad
to think what a fool I was to give you that finger-ring and bosom-pin, and spend
so much time in your company, just to be flirted and bamboozled as I was
on Sunday night last. If you continue this course of conduct, we part for ever,
and I will thank you to send back that jewelry. I would sooner see it crushed
under my feet than worn by a person who abused me as you have done. 1 shall
despise j r ou for ever if you don t change your conduct towards me, and send me a
letter of apology on Monday next. I shall not go to meeting to-morrow, for I
would scorn to sit in the same meeting-house with you until I have an explana
tion of your conduct. If you allow any young man to go home with you
to-morrow night, I shall know it, for you will be watched. ["There," said
Mallett, " that is pretty strong. Now I guess you had better touch her feelings
once more, and wind up the letter." We proceeded as follows:] My sweet girl, if
you only knew the sleepless nights which I have spent during the present week,
the torments and sufferings which I endure on your account; if you could but
realize that I regard the \vorld as less than nothing without you, I am certain
you would pity me. A homely cot and a crust of bread with my adorable
Lucretia would be a paradise, where a palace without you would be a hades.
["What in thunder is hades?" inquired Jack. We explained. He considered
the figure rather bold, and requested us to close as soon as possible.] Now, dear
est, in bidding you adieu, I implore you to reflect on our past enjoyments, look
forward with pleasiire to our future happy meetings, and rely upon your
affectionate Jack in storm or calm, in sickness, distress, or want, for all these
will be powerless to change my love. I hope to hear from you on Monday next,
and, if favorable, I shall be happy to call on you the same evening, when in
ecstatic joy wo will laugh at the past, hope for the future, and draw consolation
from the fact that "the coairse of true love never did run smooth." This from
your disconsolate but still hoping lover and admirer, JACK MALLETT,
P. S. On reflection I have concluded to go to meeting to-morrow. If all is
well, hold your pocket-handkerchief in your left hand as you stand up to sing
with the choir in which case I shall expect the pleasure of giving you my arm
to-morrow night. J. M.
The effect of this letter upon Lucretia, I regret to
say, was not as favorable as could have been desired or
expected. She declined to remove her handkerchief
from her right hand. and she returned the "ring and
bosom-pin " to her disconsolate admirer, while, not many
months after, Mallett s rival led Lucretia to the altar.
As for Mallett s agreement to pay Shepard and myself
five pounds of carpet rags and twelve yards of broad
cloth " lists," for our services, owing to his ill success,
we compromised for one-half the amount.
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CHAPTER IV. ,^.
J^ * rriii 5 : iiiil ^Mvit- /lrT^wT
STRUGGLES FOB A LIVELIHOOD.
Lrjiinoa // iiitf -mo n; b lbtffo/ri ^jiw^RWiioid mo gu I:i.rn
PLEASURE VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA LIVING IN GRAND STYLE THE BOTTOM
OF THE PILE BORROWING MONEY MY MARRIAGE RETURN TO BETHEL
EAKLY MARRIAGES MORE PRACTICAL JOKING SECOND APPEARANCE AS
COUNSEL GOING TO HOUSEKEEPING SELLING BOOKS AT AUCTION THE
"YELLOW STORE" A NEW FIELD "THE HERALD OF FREEDOM" MY
EDITORIAL CAREEU LIBKL SUITS FINED AND IMPRISONED LIFE IN THE
DANBURY JAIL CELEBRATION OF MY LIBERATION POOR BUSINESS AND
BAD DEBTS REMOVAL TO NEW YORK - SEEKING MY FORTUNE " WANTS ,
IN THE "SUN" WM. NIBLO KEEPING A BOARDING-HOUSE A WHOLE
SHIRT ON MY BACK.
-\ * f k *t r f f
DURING this season I made arrangements with Mr.
Samuel Sherwood, of Bridgeport, to go on an exploring
expedition to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where we under
stood there was a fine opening for a lottery office and
where we meant to try our fortunes, provided the pros
pects should equal our expectations. We went to New
York where I had an interview with Mr. Dudley S.
Gregory, the principal business man of Messrs. Yates
and Mclntyre, who dissuaded me from going to Pitts-
burg, and offered me the entire lottery agency for the
State of Tennessee, if I would go to Nashville and open
an office, The offer was tempting, but the distance
was too far from a certain tailoress in Bethel.
As the Pittsburg trip was given up, Sherwood and I
went to Philadelphia for a pleasure excursion and put
up at Congress Hall in Chestnut Street where we lived
in much grander style than we had been accustomed to.
The array of waiters and display of dishes were far
60 STRUGGLES FOR A LIVELIHOOD.
ahead of our former experiences and for a week we lived
in clover. At the end of that time, however, when we
concluded to start for home, the amount of our hotel
bill astounded us. After paying it and securing tickets
for New York, our combined purses showed a balance
of but twenty-seven cents.
Twenty-five cents of this sum went to the boot-black,
and as our breakfast was included in our bill we secured
from the table a few biscuits for our dinner on the way
to New York.
Arriving in New York we carried our own baggage
to Holt s Hotel. The next morning Sherwood obtained a
couple of dollars from a friend, and went to Newark and
borrowed fifty dollars from his cousin, Dr. Sherwood,
loaning me one-half the sum. After a few days sojourn
in the city we returned home.
During our stay in New York, I derived considerable
information from the city managers with regard to the
lottery business, and thereafter I bought my tickets
directly from the Connecticut lottery managers at what
was termed " the scheme price," and also established
agencies throughout the country, selling considerable
quantities of tickets at handsome profits. My uncle,
Alanson Taylor, joined me in the business, and, as we
sold several prizes, my office came to be considered
;t lucky," and I received orders from all parts of the
country.
During this time I kept a close eye upon the attract
ive tailoress, Charity Halle tt, and in the summer of
1829 I asked her hand in marriage. My suit was
accepted, and the wedding day was appointed ; I, mean
while, applying myself closely to business, and no one
but the parties immediately interested suspecting that
STRUGGLES FOE A LIVELIHOOD. 61
the event was so near at hand. Miss Hallett went to
New York in October, ostensibly to visit her uncle,
Nathan Beers, who resided at No. 3 Allen Street. I
followed in November, pressed by the necessity of pur
chasing goods for my store ; and the evening after my
arrival, November 8, 1829, the Rev. Dr. McAuley
married us in the presence of sundry friends and rela
tives of my wife, and I became the husband of one of
the best women in the world. In the course of the
week we went back to Bethel and took board in the
family where Charity Barnum as " Chairy" Hallett had
previously resided.
I do not approve or recommend early marriages.
The minds of men and women taking so important a
step in life should be somewhat matured, and hasty
marriages, especially marriages of boys and girls, have
been the cause of untold misery in many instances. But
although I was only little more than nineteen years old
when I was married, I have always felt assured that if I
had waited twenty years longer I could not have found
another woman so well suited to my disposition and so
admirable and valuable in every character as a wife, a
mother, and a friend.
My business occupations amply employed nearly all
my time, yet so strong was my love of fun that when
the opporunity for a practical joke presented itself, I
could not resist the temptation. On one occasion I ^
engaged in the character of counsel to conduct a case
for an Irish peddler whose complaint was that one of
our neighbors had turned him out of his house and
had otherwise abused him.
The court was just as "real" as the attorney, no
more, and consisted of three judges, one a mason,
62 STRUGGLES FOR A LIVELIHOOD.
the second a butcher, and the third an old gentleman of
leisure who was an ex-justice of the peace. The consta
ble was of my own appointment, and my "writ"
arrested the culprit who had turned my client out of
house and home. The court was convened, but as the
culprit did not appear, and as it seemed necessary that
my client should get testimonials as to his personal
character, the court adjourned nominally for one week,
the client consenting to " stand treat " to cover imme
diate expenses.
I supposed that this was the end of it. But at
the time named for the re-assembling of the " court,"
a real lawyer from Newtown put in an appearance.
He had been engaged by the Irishman to assist me in
conducting the case ! I saw at once that the joke was
likely to prove a sorry one, and immediately notified the
members of the " court," who were quite as much
alarmed as I was at the serious turn the thing had
taken. I need not say that while the danger threatened
we all took precious good care to keep out of the way.
However, the affair was explained to Mr. Belden, the
lawyer, who in turn set forth the matter to the client,
but not in such a manner as to soothe the anger so
natural under the circumstances in fact, he advised
the Irishman to get out of the place as soon as possible.
The Irishman threatened me and my " court " with
prosecution a threat I really feared he would carry
into execution, but which, to the great peace of mind
of myself and my companions, he concluded not to
follow up. Considering the vexation and annoyance of
this Irishman, it was a mitigation to know that he was
the party in the wrong and that he really deserved
a severer punishment than my practical joke had put
upon him.
STRUGGLES FOR A LIVELIHOOD. 63
In the winter of 1829-30, my lottery business had so
extended that I had branch offices in Danbury, Nor-
walk, Stamford and Middletown, as well as agencies
in the small villages for thirty miles around Bethel.
I had also purchased from my grandfather three
acres of land on which I built a house and went to
housekeeping. My lottery business, which was with
a few large customers, was so arranged that I could
safely entrust it to an agent, making it necessary
for me to find some other field for my individual
enterprise.
So I tried my hand as an auctioneer in the book
trade. I bought books at the auctions and from dealers
and publishers in New York, and took them into the
country, selling them at auction and doing tolerably
well ; only at Litchfield, Connecticut, where there was
then a law school. At Newburgh, New York, several
of my best books were stolen, and I quit the business
in disgust.
In July, 1831, my uncle, Alanson Taylor, and myself
opened a country store, in a building, which I had put
up in Bethel in the previous spring, and we stocked the
" yellow store," as it was called, with a full assortment
of groceries, hardware, crockery, and " notions " ; but
we were not successful in the enterprise, and in
October following, I bought out my uncle s interest and
we dissolved partnership.
About this time, circumstances partly religious and
partly political in their character led me into still
another field of enterprise which honorably opened to
me that notoriety of which in later life I surely have
had a surfeit. Considering my youth, this new enter
prise reflected credit upon my ability, as well as energy.
64 STRUGGLES FOB A LIVELIHOOD.
and so I may be excused if I now recur to it with some
thing like pride.
In a period of strong political excitement, I wrote
several communications for the Danbury weekly paper,
setting forth what I conceived to be the dangers of
a sectarian interference which was then apparent in
political affairs. The publication of these communica
tions was refused and I accordingly purchased a press
and types, and October 19, 1831, I issued the first
number of my own paper, The Herald of Freedom.
I entered upon the editorship of this journal with all
the vigor and vehemence of youth. The boldness
with which the paper was conducted soon excited wide
spread attention and commanded a circulation which
extended beyond the immediate locality into nearly
every State in the Union. But lacking that experience
which induces caution, and without the dread of conse
quences, I frequently laid myself open to the charge of
libel and three times in three years I was prosecuted.
A Danbury butcher, a zealous politician, brought a civil
suit against me for accusing him of being a spy in
a Democratic caucus. On the first trial the jury did
not agree, but after a second trial I was fined several
hundred dollars. Another libel suit against me was
withdrawn and need not be mentioned further. The
third was sufficiently important to warrant the follow
ing detail : v
A criminal prosecution was brought against me for
stating in my paper that a man in Bethel, prominent in
the church, had " been guilty of taking usury of an
orphan boy," and for severely commenting on the fact
in my editorial columns. When the case came to trial
the truth of my statement was substantially proved by
STRUGGLES FOB A LIVELIHOOD. 65
several witnesses and even by the prosecuting party.
But " the greater the truth, the greater the libel," and
then I had used the term " usury," instead of extortion,
or note-shaving, or some other expression which might
have softened the verdict. The result was that I was
sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred dollars and
to be imprisoned in the common jail for sixty days.
The most comfortable provision was made for me in
Danbury jail. My room was papered and carpeted ; I
lived well ; I was overwhelmed with the constant visits
of my friends ; I edited my paper as usual and received
large accessions to my subscription list ; and at the
end of my sixty days term the event was celebrated by a
large concourse of people from the surrounding country.
The court room in which I was convicted was the scene
of the celebration. An ode, written for the occasion,
was sung ; an eloquent oration on the freedom of the
press was delivered ; and several hundred gentlemen
afterwards partook of a sumptuous dinner followed
by appropriate toasts and speeches. Then came
the triumphant part of the ceremonial, which was
reported in my paper of December 12, 1832, as
follows :
"P. T. BARNUM and the band of music took their seats in a coach drawn t>y
six horses, which had been prepared for the occasion. The coach was preceded
by forty horsemen, and a marshal, bearing the national standard. Immediately
in the rear of the coach was the carriage of the Orator and the President of the
day, followed by the Committee of Arrangements and sixty .carriages of citizens,
which joined in escorting the editor to his home in Bethel.
"When the procession commenced its march amidst the roar of cannon, three
cheers were given by several hundred citizens who did not join in the procession.
The band of music continued to play a variety of national airs until their arrival
in Bethel, (a distance of three miles,) when they struck up the beautiful and
appropriate tune of Home, Sweet Home! After giving three hearty cheers, the
procession returned to Danbury. The utmost harmony and unanimity of feeling
prevailed throughout the day, and we are happy to add that no accident occurred
to mar the festivities of the occasion."
66 STRUGGLES FOR A LIVELIHOOD.
My editorial career was one of continual contest. I
however published the 160th number of The Herald of
Freedom in Danbury. November 5, 1834, after which my
brother-in-law, John W. Amerman, issued the paper for
me at Norwalk till the following year, when the
Herald was sold to Mr. George Taylor.
Meanwhile, I had taken Horace Fairchild into partner
ship in my mercantile business, in 1831, and I had sold
out to him and to a Mr. Toucey, in 1833, they forming a
partnership under the firm of Fairchild & Co. So far
as I was concerned my store was not a success. Ordi
nary trade was too slow for me. I bought largely and in
order to sell I was compelled to give extensive credits.
Hence I had an accumulation of bad debts ; and my old
ledger presents a long series of accounts balanced by
" death," by " running away," by " failing," and by
other similarly remunerative returns. I had expended
money as freely as I had gained it, for I had already
learned that I could make money rapidly and in large
sums, when I set about it with a will, and hence I did
not realize the worth of what I seemed to gain so
readily. I looked forward to a future of saving when I
should see the need of accumulation.
There was nothing more for me to do in Bethel ; and
in the winter of 1834-5, I removed my family to New
York, where I hired a house in Hudson Street. I had no
pecuniary resources, excepting such as might be derived
from debts left for collection with my agent at Bethel,
and I went to the metropolis literally to seek my for
tune. I hoped to secure a situation in some mercantile
house, not at a fixed salary, but so as to derive such
portion of the profits as might be due to my individual
tact, energy, and perseverance in the interests of the
STRUGGLES FOK A LIVELIHOOD. 67
business. But I could find no such position; my
resources began to fail ; my family were in ill health ; I
must do something for a living ; and so I acted as
" drummer " to several concerns which allowed me a
small commission on sales to customers of my introduc
tion.
Every morning I used to look at r the " wants " in the
Sun for something that would suit me ; and I had many
a wildgoose chase in following up those " wants." In
some instances success depended upon my advancing
from three hundred to five hundred dollars ; in other
cases a new patent life-pill, or a self-acting mouse trap
was to make my fortune. An advertisement announc
ing " An immense speculation on a small capital !
$10,000 easily made in one year ! " turned out to be an
offer of Professor Somebody at Scudder s American
Museum to sell a hydro-oxygen microscope, offered to
me at two thousand dollars one thousand in cash and
the balance in sixty and ninety days, on good security,
and warranted to secure an independence after a short
public exhibition through the country. If I had the
desire to undertake this exhibition and experiment, I
had not the capital. Other and many similar tempta
tions were extended, but none of them seemed to open
the door of fortune to me.
The advertisement in the Sun, of Mr. William Niblo,
of Niblo s Garden, for a barkeeper first brought me in
contact with that gentlemanly and justly-popular pro
prietor. He wanted a well-recommended, well-behaved,
trustworthy man to fill a vacant situation, but as he
wished him to bind himself to remain three years, I,
who was only seeking the means of temporary support,
was precluded from accepting the position.
68 STRUGGLES FOE A LIVELIHOOD.
Nor did all my efforts secure a situation for me
during the whole winter ; but, in the spring, I received
several hundred dollars from my agent in Bethel, and
finding no better business, May 1, 1835, I opened
a small private boarding-house at No. 52 Frankfort
Street. We soon had a very good run of custom from
our Connecticut acquaintances who had occasion to
visit New York, and as this business did not sufficiently
occupy my time, I bought an interest with Mr. John
Moody in a grocery store, No. 156 South Street.
Although the years of manhood brought cares,
anxieties, and struggles for a livelihood, they did not
change my nature and the jocose element was still
an essential ingredient of my being. I loved fun,
practical fun, for itself and for the enjoyment which it
brought. During the year, I occasionally visited
Bridgeport where I almost always found at the hotel a
noted joker, named Darrow, who spared neither friend
nor foe in his tricks. He was the life of the bar-room
and would always try to entrap some stranger in
a bet and so win a treat for the company. He made
several ineffectual attempts upon me, and at last, one
evening, Darrow, who stuttered, made a final trial
as follows : " Come, Barnum, I 11 make you another
proposition ; I ll bet you hain t got a whole shirt
on your back." The catch consists in the fact that
generally only one-half of that convenient garment is
on the back ; but I had anticipated the proposition
in fact I had induced a friend, Mr. Hough, to put
Darrow up to the trick, and had folded a shirt nicely
upon my back, securing it there with my suspenders.
The barroom was crowded with customers who thought
that if I made the bet I should be nicely caught, and I
STRUGGLES FOB A LIVELIHOOD. 69
made pretence of playing off and at the same time
stimulated Darrow to press the bet by saying :
" That is a foolish bet to make ; I am sure my shirt
is whole because it is nearly new ; but I do n t like to
bet on such a subject."
"A good reason why," said Darrow, in great glee;/
" it s ragged. Come, I ll bet you a treat for the whole
company you hain t got a whole shirt on your b-b-b-
back ! "
" I ll bet my shirt is cleaner than yours," I replied.
" That s nothing to do w-w-with the case ; it s ragged,
and y-y-you know it."
" I know it is not," I replied, with pretended anger,
which caused the crowd to laugh heartily.
"You poor ragged f-f-fellow, come down here from
D-D-Danbury, I m sorry for you," said Darrow tantaliz-
ingly.
" You would not pay if you lost," I remarked.
" Here s f-f-five dollars I ll put in Captain Hinman s
(the landlord s) hands. Now b-b-bet if you dare, you
ragged c-c-creature, you."
I put five dollars in Captain Hinman s hands, and
told him to treat the company from it if I lost the bet.
" E-e member," said Darrow, " I b-b-bet you hain t got
a whole shirt on your b-b-back ! "
" All right," said I, taking off my coat and com
mencing to unbutton my vest. The whole company,
feeling sure that I was caught, began to laugh heartily.
Old Darrow fairly danced with delight, and as I laid
my coat on a chair he came running up in front of me,
and slapping his hands together, exclaimed :
" You need n t t-t-take off any more c-c-c-clothes, for
if it ain t all on your b-b-back, you Ve lost it."
70 STRUGGLES FOE A LIVELIHOOD.
" If it is, I suppose you have ! " I replied, pulling
the whole shirt from off my back !
Such a shriek of laughter as burst forth from the
crowd I scarcely ever heard, and certainly such a blank
countenance as old D arrow exhibited it would be hard
to conceive. Seeing that he was most incontinently
" done for," and perceiving that his neighbor Hough
had helped to do it, he ran up to him in great anger,
and shaking his fist in his face, exclaimed :
" H-H-Hough, you infernal r-r-rascal, to go against
your own n-n-neighbor in favor of a D-D-Danbury man.
I ll pay you for that some time, you see if I d-d-do n t."
All hands went up to the bar and drank with a
hearty good will, for it was seldom that Darrow got
taken in, and he was such an inveterate joker they liked
to see him paid in his own coin. Never till the day
of his death did he hear the last of the " whole
shirt."
Hew a^nitq
) jHiw oa
C H A P T E R V.
j ;;, > ym?2 r j IW>)8 III SO JHU^a 10iI7(*>Josrte -. /*>
MY STABT AS A SHOWMAN.
THE AMUSEMENT BUSINESS DIFFERENT GRADES CATERING FOR THE PUBLIC
MY CLAIMS, AIMS AND EFFORTS JOICE HETH APPARENT GENUINENESS OF
HER VOUCHERS BEGINNING LIFE AS A SHOWMAN SUCCESS OF MY FIRST EX
HIBITION SECOND STEP IN THE SHOW LINE SIGNOR VI VALLA MY FIRST
APPEARANCE ON ANY STAGE AT WASHINGTON ANNE ROYALL STIMULAT
ING THE PUBLIC CONTESTS BETWEEN VIVALLA AND ROBERTS EXCITEMENT
AT FEVER HEAT CONNECTING MYSELF WITH A CIRCUS BREAD AND BUTTER
DINNER FOR THE WHOLE COMPANY NARROW ESCAPE FROM SUFFOCATION
LECTURING AN ABUSIVE CLERGYMAN AARON TURNER A TERRIBLE PRACTI
CAL JOKE I AM REPRESENTED TO BE A MURDERER RAILS AND LYNCH LAW
NOVEL MEANS FOR SECURING NOTORIETY.
BY this time it was clear to my mind that my proper
position in this busy world was not yet reached. I had
displayed the faculty of getting money, as well as get
ting rid of it ; but the business for which I was des
tined, and, I believe, made, had not yet come to me; or
rather, I had not found that I was to cater for that insa
tiate want of human nature the love of amusement ;
that I was to make a sensation on two continents ; and
that fame and fortune awaited me so soon as I should
appear before the public in the character of a showman.
These things I had not foreseen. I did not seek the
position or the character. The business finally came in
my way ; I fell into the occupation, and far beyond any
of my predecessors on this continent, I have succeeded.
The shoW business has all phases and grades of dig
nity, from the exhibition of a monkey to the exposition
of that highest art in music or the drama, which en
trances empires and secures for the gifted artist a
72 MY STAKT AS A SHOWMAN.
world- wide fame which princes well might envy. Such
art is merchantable, and so with the whole range of
amusements, from the highest to the lowest. The old
word "trade" as it applies to buying cheap and selling
at a profit, is as manifest here as it is in the dealings at
a street-corner stand or in Stewart s store covering a
whole square. This is a trading world, and men, women
and children, who cannot live on gravity alone, need
something to satisfy their gayer, lighter moods and
hours, and he who ministers to this want is in a busi
ness established by the Author of our nature. If he
worthily fulfils his mission, and amuses without corrupt
ing, he need never feel that he has lived in vain.
Whether I may claim a pre-eminence of grandeur in
my career as a dispenser of entertainment for mankind,
I may not say. I have sometimes been weak enough
to think so, but let others judge ; and whether I may
assume that on the whole, I have sought to make
amusement harmless, and have succeeded to a very
great degree, in eliminating from public entertainments
certain corruptions which have made so many theatrical
" sensations " positively shameful, may safely be left, I
think, to the thousands upon thousands who have known
me and the character of my amusement so long and so
well.
But I shall by no means claim entire faultlessness in
my history as a showman. I confess that I have not
always been strong enough to rise out of the exceptional
ways which characterize the art of amusing not more,
however, than any other art of trade. When, in begin
ning business under my own name in Bethel, in 1831,
I advertised that I would sell goods "25 per cent
cheaper " than any of my neighbors, I was guilty of a
MY START AS A SHOWMAN. 73
trick of trade, but so common a trick, that very few
who saw my promise were struck with a sense of any
particular enormity therein, while, doubtless, a good
many, who claim to be specially exemplary, thought they
were reading one of their own advertisements. And
in the show business I was never guilty of a greater sin
than this against truthfulness and fair dealing.
The least deserving of all my efforts in the show line
was the one which introduced me to the business ; a
scheme in no sense of my own devising ; one which
had been sometime before the public and which had so
many vouchers for its genuineness that at the time of
taking possession of it I honestly believed it to be
genuine ; something, too, which, as I have said, I did
not seek, but which by accident came in my way and
seemed almost to compel my agency such was the
" Joice Heth " exhibition which first brought me for
ward as a showman.
In the summer of 1835, Mr. Coley Bartram, of Read
ing, Connecticut, informed me that he had owned an
interest in a remarkable negro woman whom he believed
to be one hundred and sixty-one years old, and whom he
also believed to have been the nurse of General Wash
ington. He then showed me a copy of the following
advertisement in the Pennsylvania Inquirer , of July 15,
835 : ;ild"\ffo
r .. 4 r.- fV r f rtfifv i~3 jj* *! -
CFBIOSITY. The citizens of Philadelphia and its vicinity have an opportunity ot
witnessing at the Masonic Hall, one of the greatest natural curiosities ever wit
nessed, viz: JOICE HETH, a negress, aged 1G1 years, who formerly belonged to the
father of General Washington. She has been a member of the Baptist Church
one hundred and sixteen years, and can rehearse many hy~nns, and sing them
according to former custom. She was born near the old Potomac Kiver in
Virginia,. aivd has for ninety or one hundred j r ears lived in Paris, Kentucky, with
the Bowling family.
All who have seen this extraordinary woman are satisfied of the truth of the
account of her age. The evidence of the Bowling family, which is respectable, is
74 MY STABT AS A SHOWMAN.
strong, but the original bill of sale of Augustine Washington, in his own handv
writing, and other evidences which the proprietor has in his possession, will satisfy
even the most incredulous.
A lady will attend at the hall during the afternoon and evening for the accom
modation of those ladies who may call.
Mr. Bartram further stated that he had sold out his
interest to his partner, R. W. Lindsay, of Jefferson
County, Kentucky, who was then exhibiting Joice Heth
in Philadelphia, but was anxious to sell out and
go home the alleged reason being that he had very
little tact as a showman. As the New York papers had
also contained some account of Joice Heth, I went on
to Philadelphia to see Mr. Lindsay and his exhibition.
Joice Heth was certainly a remarkable curiosity, and
she looked as if she might have been far older than
her age as advertised. She was apparently in good
health and spirits, but from age or disease, or both,
was unable to change her position ; she could move
one arm at will, but her lower limbs could not be
straightened ; her left arm lay across her breast and she
could not remove it ; the fingers of her left hand were
drawn down so as nearly to close it, and were fixed ; the
nails on that hand were almost four inches long
and extended above her wrist ; the nails on her large
toes had grown to the thickness of a quarter of an
inch ; her head was covered with a thick bush of grey
hair; but she was toothless and totally blind and
her eyes had sunk so deeply in the sockets as to have
disappeared altogether.
Nevertheless she was pert and sociable, and would
talk as long as people would converse with her. She
was quite garrulous about her protege " dear little
George," at whose birth she declared she was present,
having been at the time a slave of Elizabeth Atwood, a
MY START AS A SHOWMAN. 75
half-sister of Augustine Washington, the father of
George Washington. As nurse she put the first
clothes on the infant and she claimed to have " raised
him." She professed to be a member of the Baptist
church, talking much in her way on religious subjects,
and she sang a variety of ancient hymns.
In proof of her extraordinary age and pretensions,
Mr. Lindsay exhibited a bill of sale, dated February 5,
1727, from Augustine Washington, County of West
moreland, Virginia, to Elizabeth Atwood, a half-sister
and neighbor of Mr. Washington, conveying " one
negro woman, named Joice Heth, aged fifty-four years,
for and in consideration of the sum of thirty- three
pounds lawful money of Virginia." It was further
claimed that as she had long been a nurse in the
Washington family she was called in at the birth of
George and clothed the new-born infant. The evi
dence seemed authentic and in answer to the inquiry
why so remarkable a discovery had not been made
before, a satisfactory explanation was given in the
statement that she had been carried from Virginia
to Kentucky, had been on the plantation of John
S. Bowling so long that no one knew or cared how old
she was, and only recently the accidental discovery
by Mr. Bowling s son of the old bill of sale in the
Record Office in Virginia had led to the identification
of this negro woman as " the nurse of Washington."
Everything seemed so straightforward that I was
anxious to become proprietor of this novel exhibition,
which was offered to me at one thousand dollars,
though the price first demanded was three thousand. I
had five hundred dollars, borrowed five hundred dollars
more, sold out my interest in the grocery business to my
76 MY START AS A SHOWMAN.
partner, and began life as a showman. At the outset
of my career I saw that everything depended upon
getting people to think, and talk, and become curious
and excited over and about the " rare spectacle."
Accordingly, posters, transparencies, advertisements,
newspaper paragraphs all calculated to extort atten
tion were employed, regardless of expense. My
exhibition rooms in New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Albany and in other large and small cities, were
continually thronged and much money was made. In
the following February, Joice Ileth died, literally of old
age, and her remains received a respectable burial in
the town of Bethel.
At a post-mortem examination of Joice Heth by Dr.
David L. Rogers, in the presence of some medical
students, it was thought that the absence of ossification
indicated considerably less age than had been assumed
for her; but the doctors disagreed, and this "dark
subject" will probably always continue to be shrouded in
mystery.
I had at last found my true vocation. Indeed,
soon after I began to exhibit Joice Heth, I had
entrusted her to an agent and had entered upon
my second step in the show line. The next venture,
whatever it may have been in other respects, had the
merit of being, in every essential, unmistakably
genuine. I engaged from the Albany Museum an
Italian who called himself " Signer Antonio " and who
performed ccitain remarkable feats of balancing, stilt-
walking, plate-spinning, etc. He had gone from
England to Canada, and thence to Albany, and
had performed in other American cities. I made terms
with him for one year to exhibit anywhere in the
. ! ) i/JOr.
MY STAKT AS A SHOWMAN. 77
United States at twelve dollars a week and expenses,
and induced him to change his stage name to " Signor
Vivalla." I then wrote a notice of his wonderful
qualities and performances, printed it in one of the
Albany papers as news, sent copies to the theatrical
managers in New York and in other cities, and went
with Vivalla to the metropolis.
Manager William Dinneford, of the Franklin Theatre,
had seen so many performances of the kind that he
declined to engage my " eminent Italian artist" ; but I
persuaded him to try Vivalla one night for nothing and
by the potent aid of printer s ink the house was crammed.
I appeared as a supernumerary to assist Vivalla in arrang
ing his plates and other " properties " ; and to hand him
his gun to fire while he was hopping on one stilt ten feet
high. This was " my first appearance on any stage."
The applause which followed Vivalla s feats was tremen
dous, and Manager Dinneford was so delighted that he
engaged him for the remainder of the week at fifty
dollars. At the close of the performance, in response
to a call from the house, I made a speech for Vivalla,
thanking the audience for their appreciation and an
nouncing a repetition of the exhibition every evening
during the week.
Vivalla remained a second week at the Franklin
Theatre, for which I received $150. I realized the
same sum for a week in Boston. We then went to
Washington to fulfil an engagement which was far from
successful, since my remuneration depended upon the
receipts, and it snowed continually during the week. I
was a loser to such an extent that I had not funds
enough to return to Philadelphia. I pawned my watch
and chain for thirty-five dollars, when fortunately
78 MY STABT AS A SHOWMAN.
Manager Wemyss arrived on Saturday morning and
loaned me the money to redeem my property.
As this was my first visit to Washington I was much
interested in visiting the capitol and other public build
ings. I also satisfied my curiosity in seeing Clay, Cal-
houn, Benton, John Quincy Adams, Eichard M. Johnson,
Polk, and other leading statesmen of the time. I was
also greatly gratified in calling upon Anne Roy all, author
of the Black Book, publisher of a little paper called
" Paul Pry," and quite a celebrated personage in her
day. I had exchanged The Herald of Freedom with her
journal and she strongly sympathized with me in my
persecutions. She was delighted to see me and although
she was the most garrulous old woman I ever saw, I
passed a very amusing and pleasant time with her.
Before leaving her, I manifested my showman propen
sity by trying to hire her to give a dozen or more lec
tures on " Government," in the Atlantic cities, but I
could not engage her at any price, although I am sure
the speculation would have been a very profitable one.
I never saw this eccentric woman again ; she died at a
very advanced age, October 1, 1854, at her residence in
Washington.
I went with Vivalla to Philadelphia and opened at
the Walnut Street Theatre. Though his performances
were very meritorious and were well received, theatri
cals were dull and houses were slim. It was evident
that something must be done to stimulate the public.
And now that instinct I think it must be which
can arouse a community and make it patronize, pro
vided the article offered is worthy of patronage an
instinct which served me strangely in later years, aston
ishing the public and surprising me, came to my relief,
* MY STAKE AS A SHOWMAN. 79
and the help, curiously enough, appeared in the shape
of an emphatic hiss from the pit !
This hiss, I discovered, came from one Eoberts, a cir
cus performer, and I had an interview with him. He
was a professional balancer and juggler, who boasted
that he could do all Vivalla had done and something more.
1 at once published a card in Vivalla s name, offering
$1000 to any one who would publicly perform Vi valla s
feats at such place as should be designated, and Roberts
issued a counter card, accepting the offer. I then con
tracted with Mr. Warren, treasurer of the Walnut St.
Theatre, for one-third of the proceeds, if I should
kring the receipts up to $400 a night an agree
ment he could well afford to make as his receipts the
night before had been but seventy-five dollars. From
him I went to Roberts, who seemed disposed to " back
down," but I told him I should not insist upon the
terms of his published card, and asked him if he was
under any engagement? Learning that he was not, I
offered him thirty dollars to perform under my direction
one night at the Walnut, and he accepted. A great trial
of skill between Roberts and Vivalla was duly announced
by posters and through the press. Meanwhile, they
rehearsed privately to see what tricks each could per
form, and the "business" was completely arranged.
Public excitement was at fever heat, and on the night
of the trial the pit and upper boxes were crowded to
the full ; indeed sales of tickets to these localities were
soon stopped, for there were no seats to sell. The
" contest" between the performers, was eager and each
had his party in the house. So far as I could learn,
no one complained that he did not get all he paid
for on that occasion. I engaged Roberts for a month
80 MY START AS A SHOWMAN.
and his subsequent " contests " with Vi valla amused the
public and put money in my purse.
Vivalla continued to perform for me in various places,
including Peale s Museum, in New York, and I took
him to different towns in Connecticut and in New
Jersey, with poor success sometimes, as frequently the
expenses exceeded the receipts.
In April, 1836, I connected myself with Aaron
Turner s travelling circus company as ticket-seller,
secretary and treasurer, at thirty dollars a month and
one-fifth of the entire profits, while Vivalla was to
receive a salary of fifty dollars. As I was already pay
ing him eighty dollars a month, our joint salaries
reimbursed me and left me the chance of twenty per
cent of the net receipts. We started from D anbury for
West Springfield, Massachusetts, April 26th, and on
the first day, instead of halting to dine, as I expected,
Mr. Turner regaled the whole company with three loaves
of rye bread and a pound of butter, bought at a farm
house at a cost of fifty cents, and, after watering the
horses, we went on our way.
We began our performances at West Springfield,
April 28th, and as our expected band of music had not
arrived from Providence, I made a prefatory speech
announcing our disappointment, and our intention
to please our patrons, nevertheless. The two Turner
boys, sons of the proprietor, rode finely. Joe Pent-
land, one of the wittiest, best, and most original of
clowns, with Vivalla s tricks and other performances in
the ring, more than made up for the lack of music. In
a day or two our band arrived arid our " houses"
improved. My diary is full of incidents of our sum
mer tour through numerous villages, towns, and cities
MY STAUT AS A SHOWMAN. 81
in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl
vania, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia,
Virginia, and North Carolina.
While we were at Cabotville, Massachusetts, on going
to bed one night one of my room-mates threw a lighted
stump of a cigar into a spit-box filled with sawdust
and the result was that about one o clock T. V. Turner,
who slept in the room, awoke in the midst of a dense
smoke and barely managed to crawl to the window to
open it, and to awaken us in time to save us from suf
focation
At Lenox, Massachusetts, one Sunday I attended
church as usual, and the preacher denounced our circus
and all connected with it as immoral, and was very
abusive; whereupon when he had read the closing
hymn I walked up the pulpit stairs and handed him a
written request, signed U P. T. Barnum, connected
with the circus, June 5, 1836," to be permitted to reply
to him. He declined to notice it, and after the benedic
tion I lectured him for not giving me an opportunity
to vindicate myself and those with whom I was con
nected. Tbe affair created considerable excitement
and some of the members of the church apologized to
me for their clergyman s ill-behavior. A similar affair
happened afterwards at Port Deposit, on the lower Sus-
quehanna; and in this instance I addressed the audience
for half an hour, defending the circus company against
the attacks of the clergyman, and the people listened,
though their pastor repeatedly implored them to go
home. Often have I collected our company on Sunday
and read to them the Bible or a printed sermon, and
one or more of the men frequently accompanied me to
church. We made no pretence of religion, but we
4*
82 MY STAET AS A SHOWMAN.
were not the worst people in the world, and we thought
ourselves entitled to at least decent treatment when we
went to hear the preaching of the gospel.
The proprietor of the circus, Aaron Turner, was a
self-made man, who had acquired a large fortune by his
industry. He believed that any man with health and
common sense could become rich if he only resolved to
be so, and he was very proud of the fact that he began
the world with no advantages, no education, and with
out a shilling. Withal, he was a practical joker, as I
more than once discovered to my cost. While we were
at Annapolis, Maryland, he played a trick upon me
which was fun to him, but was very nearly death to me.
We arrived on Saturday night and as I felt quite
" flush " I bought a fine suit of black clothes. On Sun
day morning I dressed myself in my new suit and started
out for a stroll. While passing through the bar-room
Turner called the attention of the company present to
me and said :
" I think it very singular you permit that rascal to
march your streets in open day. It would n t be
allowed in Rhode Island, and I suppose that is the rea
son the black-coated scoundrel has come down this
way." jrjg.
" Why, who is he ? " asked half a dozen at once.
"Do n t you know? Why that is the Kev. E. K.
Avery, the murderer of Miss Cornell ! "
" Is it possible ! " they exclaimed, all starting for the
door, eager to get a look at me, and swearing vengeance.
It was only recently that the Rev. Ephraim K.
Avery had been tried in Ehode Island for the murder of
Miss Cornell, whose body was discovered in a stack
yard, and though Avery was acquitted in court, the gen-
MY STABT AS A SHOWMAN. 83
eral sentiment of the country condemned him. It was
this Avery whom Turner made me represent. I had
not walked far in my fine clothes, before I was over
taken by a mob of a dozen, which rapidly increased to
at least a hundred, and my ears were suddenly saluted
with such observations as, " the lecherous old hypo
crite," " the sanctified murderer," " the black-coated
villain," " lynch the scoundrel," " let s tar and feather
him," and like remarks which I had no idea applied to
me till one man seized me by the collar, while five or
six more appeared on the scene with a rail.
" Come," said the man who collared me, " old chap,
you can t walk any further ; we know you, and as we
always make gentlemen ride in these parts, you may just
prepare to straddle that rail ! "
My surprise may be imagined. " Good heavens ! "
I exclaimed, as they all pressed around me, " gentlemen,
what have I done 1 "
" Oh, we know you," exclaimed half a dozen voices ;
" you need n t roll your sanctimonious eyes ; that game
do n t take in this country. Come, straddle the rail, and
remember the stack-yard ! "
I grew more and more bewildered ; I could not,
imagine what possible offence I was to suffer for, and I
continued to exclaim, " Gentlemen, what have I done? "
Don t kill me, gentlemen, but tell me what I have
done."
" Come, make him straddle the rail ; well show him
how to hang poor factory girls," shouted a man in the
crowd.
The man who had me by the collar then remarked,
< c Come, Mr. Avery, it s no use, you see, we know you,
and we ll give you a touch of Lynch law, and start you
for home again."
84 MY STAET AS A SHOWltfAK.
"My name is not Avery, gentlemen; you are mis
taken in your man," I exclaimed.
"Come, come, none of your gammon; straddle ! th ! e
rail, Ephrarmi"
The rail was brought and I was about to be placed on
it, when the truth flashed upon me.
" Gentlemen," I exclaimed, " I am not AVery ; I <Is-
pise that villain as much as you can ; ^ra^Xname is Bar-
num ; I belong to the circus which arrived j here last
night, and I am sure Old Turner, my partner, has
hoaxed you with this ridiculous story."
" If he has we ll lynch him," said ondbf the; rnbD.
44 Well, he has, I ll assure youj and if J you will walk
to the hotel with me, I ll convince ^you 1 of the fadf 11 ""
This they reluctantly as^nted to, keeping, h ; 6 We ver,
a close hand upon me. As we walked up the main
street, the mob received a re-enforcement of some fifty or
sixty, and I was marched like a malefactor up to trie
hotel. Old Turner stood on tile piazza ready to explode
with laughter. I appealed to him for heaven s sake fo
explain this matter, that I might be liberated. He con
tinued to laugh, but finally told them cc he believed there
was some mistake about it. The fact is," said he, u my
friend Barnitm has a new suit of black clothes on and
he looks so much like a priest that I thought he must
be Avery "
The crowd saw the joke and seemed satisfied. "My
new coat had been half torn from my back and I had
been very roughly handled. But some of the crowd
apologized for the outrage, declaring that Turner ought
to be served in the same way, while others advised me
to : get even with him." I was very much offended,
and when the mob dispersed I asked Turner what could
have induced him to play such a trick upon me.
MY STAKT AS A SHOWMAN. 85
My dear Mr. Barnum," h replied, " it was all for
our good. Remember, all we need to insure success
is notoriety. You will see that this will be noised all
about town as a trick played by one of the circus
managers upon the other, and our pavilion will be
crammed to-morrow night."
It was even so ; the trick was told all over town and
every one came to see the circus managers who were in
a habit of playing practical jokes upon each other.
We had fine audiences while we remained at Annapolis,
but it was a long time before I forgave Turner for
his rascally "joke."
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CHAPTER VI.
1IY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
/ offw 8-flfeuiijjin errTiio oiL* o^a ot orr
MEALS AND LODGING IN ONE, HOUR TURNING THE TABLES ON- 1 URNER
A SON AS OLD AS HIS FATHER LEAVING THE CIRCUS WITH TWELVE HUN
DRED DOLLARS MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY PREACHING TO THE
PEOPLE APPEARING AS A NEGRO MINSTREL THREATENED WITH ASSAS
SINATION ESCAPES FISOM DANGER TEMPERANCE REPORT OF MY ARREST
FOR MURDER RE -ENFORCING MY COMPANY "BARNUM S GRAND SCIENTIFIC
AND MUSICAL THEATRE" OUTWITTING A SHERIFF "l^ADY" HAYES s" MAN
SION AND PLANTATION A BRILLIANT AUDIENCE BASS DRUM SOLO CROSS
ING THE INDIAN NATION JQE PENTLAND AS A SAVAGE TERROR AND
FLIGHT OF VIVALLA A NONPLUSSED LEGERDEMAIN PERFORMER A MALE
EGG -LAYER DISBANDING MY COMPANY A NEW PARTNERSHIP PUBLIC
LECTURING DIFFICULTY WITH A DROVER THE STEAMBOAT " CERES "
SUDDEN MARRIAGE ON BOARD MOBBED IN LOUISIANA ARRIVAL AT NEW
ORLEANS.
AN amusing incident occurred when we were at
Hanover Court House, in Virginia. It rained so heavily
that we could not perform there and Turner decided to
start for Richmond immediately after dinner, when he
was informed by the landlord that as our agent had
engaged three meals and lodging for the whole
company, the entire hill must be paid whether we went
then, or next morning. No compromise could be
effected with the stubborn landlord and so Tunic i
proceeded to get the worth of his money as follows :
lie ordered dinner at twelve o clock, which was duly
prepared and eaten. The table was cleared and re-set
for supper at half-past twelve. At one o clock we all
went to bed, every man carrying a lighted candle to his
room. There were thirty-six of us and we all
undressed and tumbled into bed as if we were going to
MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 87
stay all night. In naif an hour we rose and went down
to the hot breakfast which Turner had demanded and
which we found smoking on the table. Turner was
very grave, the landlord was exceedingly angry, and the
rest of us were convulsed with laughter at the absurdity
of the whole proceeding. We disposed of our break
fast as if we had eaten nothing for ten hours and
then started for Richmond with the satisfaction that
we fairly settled with our unreasonable landlord.
At Richmond, after performances were over one
night, I managed to partially pay Turner for his Avery
trick. A dozen or more of us were enjoying ourselves
in the sitting room of the hotel, telling stories and
singing songs, when some of the company proposed
sundry amusing arithmetical questions, followed by one
from Turner, which was readily : solved. Hoping to
catch Turner I then proposed the following problem :
"Suppose a man is thirty years of age and he has
a child one year of age ; he is thirty times older than
his child. When the child is thirty years old, the
father, being ^sixty, is only twice as old as his child.
When the child is sixty the father is ninety, and there
fore only one-third older than the child. When the
child is ninety the father is one hundred and twenty,
and therefore only one- fourth older than the child.
Thus yoii see, the. child is gradually but surely gaining
on the parent, and as he certainly .continues to come
nearer and nearer, in time he must overtake him. The
question therefore is : , suppose it was possible for them to
livelong enough, how old ? would the father be when
the child overtook him and became of the same age?"
The company generally saw the catch; but Turner
was very much interested in the problem, and although
88 MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
he admitted he knew nothing about arithmetic he was
convinced that as the son was gradually gaining on the
father he must reach him if there was time enough
say, a thousand years, or so for the race. But an old
gentleman gravely remarked that the idea of a son be
coming as old as his father while both were living was
simply nonsense, and he offered to bet a dozen of cham
pagne that the thing was impossible, even " in figures."
Turner, who was a betting man, and who thought the
problem might be proved, accepted the wager ; but he
was soon convinced that however much the boy might
relatively gain upon his father, there would always be
thirty years difference in their ages. The champagne
cost him $25, and he failed to see the fun of my arith
metic, though at last he acknowledged that it was a fair
offset to the Avery trick.
We went from Richmond to Petersburg, and from
that place to Warrenton, North Carolina, where, Octo
ber 30th, my engagement expired with a profit to myself
of $1,200. I now separated from the circus company,
taking Vivalla, James Sanford, (a negro singer and
dancer,) several musicians, horses, wagons, and a small
canvas tent with which I intended to begin a travelling
exhibition of my own. My company started and Tur
ner took me on the way in his own carriage some twenty
miles. We parted reluctantly and my friend wished me
every success in my new venture.
On Saturday, November 12, 1836, we halted at Kocky
Mount Falls, North Carolina, and on my way to the
Baptist Church, Sunday morning, I noticed a stand and
benches in a grove near by, and determined to speak to
the people if I was permitted. The landlord who was
with me said that the congregation, coming from a dis-
MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 89
tance to attend a single service, would be very glad to
hear a stranger and I accordingly asked the venerable
clergyman to announce that after service I would speak
for half an hour in the grove. Learning that I was not
a clergyman, he declined to give the notice, but said
that he had no objection to my making the announce
ment, which I did, and the congregation, numbering
about three hundred, promptly came to hear me.
I told them I was not a preacher and had very littk
experience in public speaking ; but I felt a deep interest
in matters of morality and religion, and would attempt,
in a plain way, to set before them the duties and privi
leges of man. I appealed to every man s experience,
observation and reason, to confirm the Bible doctrine of
wretchedness in vice and happiness in virtue. We can
not violate the laws of God with impunity, and he will
not keep back the wages of well-doing. The outside
show of things is of very small account. We must
look to realities and not to appearances. " Diamonds
may glitter on a vicious breast," but " the soul s calm
sunshine and the heart-felt joy is virtue s prize." The
rogue, the passionate man, the drunkard, are not to be
envied even at the best, and a conscience hardened by
sin is the most sorrowful possession we can think of. I
went on in this way, with some scriptural quotations and
familiar illustrations, for three-quarters of an hour. At
the close of my address several persons took me by
the hand, expressing themselves as greatly pleased and
desiring to know my name ; and I went away with the
feeling that possibly I might have done some good in
the beautiful grove on that charming Sunday morning.
When we were at Camden, South Carolina, Sanford
suddenly left me, and as I had advertised negro songs
90 MY FIBST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
and none of my company was competent to fill Sanford s
place, not to disappoint my audience, I blacked myself
and sung the advertised songs, "Zip Coon," etc., and to
my surprise was much applauded, while two of the
songs were encored. One evening after singing my
songs I heard a disturbance outside the tent and going
to the spot found a person disputing with my men. I
took part on the side of the men, when the person who
was quarrelling with them drew a pistol and exclaiming,
" you black scoundrel ! how dare you use such language
to a white man," he proceeded to cock it. I saw that
he thought I was a negro and meant to blow my brains
out. Quick as thought I rolled my sleeve up, showed
my skin, and said, " I am as white as you are, sir." He
dropped his pistol in positive fright and begged my
pardon. My presence of mind saved me.
On four different occasions in my life I have had a
loaded pistol pointed at my head and each time I have
escaped death by what seemed a miracle. I have also
often been in deadly peril by accidents, and when I
think of these things I realize my indebtedness to an
all-protecting Providence. Reviewing my career, too,
and considering the kind of company I kept for years
and the associations with which I was surrounded and
connected, I am surprised as well as grateful that I was
not ruined. I honestly believe that I owe my preserva
tion from the degradation of living and dying a loafer
and a vagabond, to the single fact that I was never
addicted to strong drink. To be sure, I have in times
past drank liquor, but I have generally wholly abstained
from intoxicating beverages, and for more than twenty
years past, I am glad to say, I have been a strict " tee-
totaller. lp" <>^;fl
MY FIEST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 91
At Camden I lost one of my musicians, a Scotchman
named Cochran, who was arrested for advising the
negro barber who was shaving him to run away to the
Free States or to Canada. I made every effort to effect
Cochran s release, but he was imprisoned more than six
months.
While I was away from home I generally wrote twice
a week to my family and received letters nearly as often
from my wife. One of her letters, which I received in
Columbia, South Carolina, informed me it was currently
reported in Connecticut that I was under sentence of
death in Canada for murder ! The story grew out of a
rumor about a difficulty in Canada between some row
dies and a circus company not Turner s, for we met
his troupe at Columbia, December 5, 1836. That com
pany was then to be disbanded and I bought four horses
and two wagons and hired Joe .Pentland and Robert
White to join my company. White, as a negro-singer,
would relieve me from that roll, and Pentland, besides
being a capital clown, was celebrated as a ventriloquist,
comic singer, balancer, and legerdemain performer.
My re-enforced exhibition was called " Barnum s Grand
Scientific and Musical Theatre."
Some time previously, in Ealeigh, North Carolina, I
had sold one-half of my establishment to a man, whom
I will call Henry, who now acted as treasurer and
v ticket-taker. At Augusta, Georgia, the sheriff served a
writ upon this Henry for a debt of $500. As Henry
had $600 of the company s money in his possession, I
immediately procured a bill of sale of all his property in
the exhibition and returned to the theatre where Henry s
creditor and the creditor s lawyer were waiting for me.
They demanded the keys of the stable so as to levy on
92 MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
the horses and wagons. I begged delay till I could
see Henry, and they consented. Henry was anxious to
cheat his creditor and he at once signed the bill of sale.
I returned and informed the creditor that Henry refused
to pay or compromise the claim. The sheriff then de
manded the keys of the stable door to attach Henry s
interest in the property. " Not yet," said I, showing a
bill of sale, " you see I am in full possession of the
property as entire owner. You confess that you have
not yet levied on it, and if you touch my property, you
do it at your peril."
They were very much taken aback and the sheriff
immediately conveyed Henry to prison. The next day
I learned that Henry owed his creditors thirteen hun
dred dollars and that he had agreed when the Saturday
evening performance was ended to hand over five
hundred dollars ( company money ) and a bill of sale
of his interest, in consideration of which one of the
horses was to be ready for him to run away with,
leaving me in the lurch ! Learning this, I had very
little sympathy for Henry and my next step was
to secure the five hundred dollars he had secreted.
Vivalla had obtained it from him to keep it from
the sheriff ; I received it from Vivalla, on Henry s
order, as a supposed means of procuring bail for him
on Monday morning. I then paid the creditor the full
amount obtained from Henry as the price of his half
interest in the exhibition and received in return an
assignment of five hundred dollars of the creditor s
claims and a guaranty that I should not be troubled
by my late partner on that score. Thus, promptness of
action and good luck relieved me from one of the most
mpleasant positions in which I had ever been placed.
MY FIKST TEAVELLISTG COMPANY. 93
While travelling with our teams and show through a
desolate part of Georgia, our advertiser, who was in
advance of the party, finding the route, on one occasion,
too long for us to reach a town at night, arranged with
a poor widow woman named Hayes to furnish us with
meals and let us lodge in her hut and out-houses. It
was a beggarly place, belonging to one of the poorest of
" poor whites." Our horses were to stand out all night,
and a farmer, six miles distant, was to bring a load
of provender on the day of our arrival. Bills were
then posted announcing a performance under a canvas
tent near Widow Hayes s, for, as a show was a rarity
in that region, it was conjectured that a hundred
or more small farmers and " poor whites " might be
assembled and that the receipts would cover the
expenses.
Meanwhile, our advertiser, who was quite a wag,
wrote back informing us of the difficulties of reaching
a town on that part of our route and stating that he
had made arrangements for us to stay over night on the
plantation of " Lady Hayes," and that although the
country was sparsely settled, we could doubtless give
a profitable performance to a fair audience.
Anticipating a fine time on this noble " plantation,"
we started at four o clock in the morning so as
to arrive at one o clock, thus avoiding the heat of
the afternoon. Towards noon we came to a small river
where sqme men, whom we afterwards discovered to be
down-east Yankees, from Maine, were repairing a bridge.
Every flooring plank had been taken up and it was
impossible for our teams to cross. " Could the bridge
be fixed so that we could go over?" I inquired ; " No ;
it would take half a day, and meantime if we must
$4 MY FIEST TEA YELLING COMPANY.
cross, there was a place about sixte eii- thiles down the
river where we could get over." "But we can t go fee-far
as that ; we are under engagement to; perform on Lady
Hayes s place to-night and we must cross here.
Fix the bridge and we will pay you handsomely."
They wanted no money, but if we - would give them
some tickets to our show they thought they might do
something for us. I gladly consented and in fifteen
minutes we crossed that bridge. The cunning rascals
had seen our posters and knew we were coming ; so
they had taken up the planks of the bridge and had
hidden them till they had levied upon us for tickets,
when the floor was re-laid in a quarter of an hour. We
laughed heartily at the trick and were very glad to
cross so cheaply.
Towards dinner time, we began to look out for the
grand mansion of " Lady Hayes," and seeing nothing
but little huts we quietly puisued our journey. At one
o clock the time- \vhen we should have arrived at our
destination-! became impatient and riding up to a
poverty-stricken hovel and seeing a ragged, barefooted
old woman, with her sleeves rolled up to her shoulders,
who was washing clothes in front of the door, I in
quired
" Hallo ! can you tell me where Lady Hayes lives ? "
The old woman raised her head, which was covered
with tangled locks and matted hair, and exclaimed
"Hey?"
" No, Hayes, Lady Hayes ; where is her plantation ? "
" This is the place," she answered ;. " I m Widder
Hayes and you are all to stay here to-night."
We could not believe our ears or eyes ; but after put
ting the dirty old woman through a severe cross-exami-
MY FIEST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 95
nation she finally produced a contract, signed by our
advertiser, agreeing for board and lodging for" the com
pany and we found ourselves booked for the night. It
appeared that our advertiser could find no better quar
ters in that forlorn section and he had indulged in a
Joke at our expense by exciting our appetites and ima
ginations in anticipation of the luxuries we should find
in the magnificent mansion of "Lady Hayes."
Joe Pentland grumbled, Bob White indulged in
some very strong language, and Signor Vivalla laughed.
He had travelled with his monkey and organ in Italy
and could put up with any fare that offered. I took
the disappointment philosophically, simply remarking
that we must make the best of it and compensate our
selves when we reached a town next day.
When the old woman called us to dinner we crept
into her hut and found that she had improvised benches
at her table by placing boards upon the only four chairs
in her possession, and at that, some of us were obliged
to stand. The dinner consisted of a piece of boiled
smoked bacon, a large dish of " greens," and corn bread.
Three plates, two knives, and three forks made up the
entire table furniture and compelled a resort to our jack-
knives. " A short horse is soon curried," and dinner
was speedily despatched. It did not seem possible for an
audience to assemble in that forsaken quarter, and we
concluded not to take the canvas tent out of the wagon.
By three o clock, however, at least fifty persons had
arrived on the ground to attend the night show and
they reported " more a coming." Accordingly we put
up the tent and arranged our small stage and curtains,
preparing seats for two hundred people. Those who
had already arrived were mostly women, many of them
MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
sixteen to twenty years old poor,, thin, sallow-
%ced creatures, wretchedly clad, some of fliem engaged
in smoking pipes, while the rest were cliewing snuff.
This latter process was new to me ; each chewer was
provided with a short stick, softened at one end, by
chewing it, and this stick was occasionally dipped into a
snuff box and then stuck into the month., from whence
it protruded like a cigar. The technical term for the
ijEoceeding is " snuff- dipping."
Before night, stragglers had brought the number
0> people on Lady Hayes 7 plantation up to cne
Hundred, and soon after dark, we opened our exhibition
"o an audience of about two hundred. The men were
3, pale, haggard set of uncombed 3 uncouth creatures,
whose constantly-moving jaws and the streams of
colored saliva exuding from the corners of their mouths
indicated that they were confirmed tobacco chewers. I
never saw a more stupid and brutish assemblage of
human beings. The performance delighted them ;
Pentland s sleight-of-hand tricks astonished them and led
them to declare that he must be in league with the evil
one ; Signor Vivalla s ball-tossing and plate spinning
elicited their loudest applause ; and Bob White s negro
songs and break-downs made them fairly scream with
laughter.
At last, the performance terminated and Pentland
stepped forward and delivered the closing address, which
he had repeated, word for word, a hundred times, and
which was precisely as follows :
" Ladies and Gentlemen : The entertainments of the
evening have now come to a conclusion, and, we hope,
to your general satisfaction."
But now came a dilemma ; the meaning of this
MY FIKST TKAVELLING COMPANY. 97
announcement was quite above the comprehension of
the audience ; they had not the remotest idea that the
performance was finished, and they sat like statues.
With a hearty laugh at Pentland I told him that his
language was not understood in this locality and that
he must try again. He was chagrined, and declared
that he would not say another word. Little Vivalla
laughed, danced around like a monkey, and said, in his
broken English :
" Ah, ha ! Signer Pentland ; you no speak good Eeng-
lish, hah ! These educated peoples no understand you,
eh? By gar what d d fools. Ah, Signor Barnum,
let me speaks to them ; I will make them jump double
queek."
I quite enjoyed the fun and said, " Well, Signor, go
ahead."
The little Italian jumped upon the stage and with a
broad grimace and tremendous gesture exclaimed
" Eet is feenish !"
He then retired behind the curtain, but, of course,
the audience did not understand that he had told them
the performance was finished. No one would have
understood him. Hence, the spectators sat still, won
dering what would come next. " By gar," said Vivalla,
losing his temper, " I will give them a hint," and he
loosened the cord and down fell the curtain on one
side of the stage.
" Good, good," cried out an enthusiastic " poor
white," giving his quid a fresh roll to the other side of
his mouth, " now we are going to have something new."
" I reckon they s to tin that plunder off to get ready
for a dance," said a delicate " dipper," making a lunge
into her box for another mouthful of the dust.
98 MY FIRST TBAVELLIKO COMPANY.
Things were becoming serious, and I saw that in
order to get rid of these people they must be addressed
in plain language ; so, walking upon the stage, I simply
said, making at the same time a motion for them to
g>
"It is all over ; no more performance ; the show is
out."
This was understood, but they still stood upon the
order of their going and were loth to leave, especially
as the, to them, extraordinary announcements of Pent-
land and Vivalla had prepared them for something
fresh. Several days before, our band of musicians had
left us, reducing our orchestra to an organ and pipes,
ground and blown by an Italian whom we had picked
up on the road. We had, in addition, a large bass
drum, with no one to beat it, and this drum was espied
by some of the audience in going out. Very soon I
was waited upon by a masculine committee of three,
who informed me that " the young ladies were very
anxious to hear a tune on the big drum." Pentland
o
heard the request and replied, " I will accommodate the
young ladies," and strapping on the drum he took a
stick in each hand and began to pound tremendously.
Occasionally he would rap the sticks together, toss one
of them into the air, catching it as it came down, and
then pound away again like mad. In fact, he cut up
all sorts of pranks with that big drum and when he
was tired out and stopped, he was gratified at being told
by the " young ladies " that they had never heard a big
drum before, but he " played it splendid," and they
thought it was altogether the best part of the entire
performance !
The next forenoon we arrived at Macon, and congra-
MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 99
tulated ourselves that we had again reached the regions
of civilization.
In going from Columbus, Georgia, to Montgomery,
Alabama, we were obliged to cross a thinly-settled,
desolate tract, known as the "Indian Nation," and as
several persons had been murdered by hostile Indians
in that region, it was deemed dangerous to travel the
road without an escort. Only the day before we started,
the mail stage had been stopped and the passengers
murdered, the driver alone escaping. We were well
armed, however, and trusted that our numbers would
present too formidable a force to be attacked, though
we dreaded to incur the risk. Vivalla alone was fear
less and was ready to encounter fifty Indians and drive
them into the swamp.
Accordingly, when we had safely passed over the
entire route to within fourteen miles of Montgomery,
and were beyond the reach of danger, Joe Pentland
determined to test Vivalla s bravery. He had secretly
purchased at Mount Megs, on the way, an old Indian
dress with a fringed hunting shirt and moccasins and
these he put on, after coloring his face with Spanish
brown. Then, shouldering his musket he followed
Vivalla and the party and, approaching stealthily,
leaped into their midst with a tremendous whoop.
Vivalla s companions were in the secret, and they
instantly fled in all directions. Vivalla himself ran like
a deer and Pentland after him, gun in hand and yelling
horribly. After running a full mile the poor little
Italian, out of breath and frightened nearly to death,
dropped on his knees and begged for his life. The
"Indian" levelled his gun at his victim, but soon
seemed to relent and signified that Vivalla should turn
100 MY FIKST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
his pockets inside out which he did, producing and
handing over a purse, containing eleven dollars. The
savage then marched Vivalla to an oak and with a
handkerchief tied him in the most approved Indian
manner to the tree, leaving him half dead with
fright.
Pentland then joined us, and washing his face and
changing his dress, we all went to the relief of Vivalla.
He was overjoyed to see us, and when he was released
his courage returned ; he swore that after his compan
ions left him the Indian had been re-enforced by six
more to whom, in default of a gun or other means to
defend himself, Vivalla had been compelled to surren
der. We pretended to believe his story for a week and
then told him the joke, which he refused to credit,
and also declined to take the money which Pentland
offered to return, as it could not possibly be his since
seven Indians had taken his money. We had a great
deal of fun over Vivalla s courage, but the matter made
him so cross and surly that we were finally obliged to
drop it altogether. From that time forward, however,
Vivalla never boasted of his prowess.
We arrived at Montgomery, February 28th, 1837.
Here I met Henry Hawley a legerdemain performer,
about forty-five years of age, but as he was prematurely
gray he looked at least seventy, and I sold him one-half
of my exhibition. He had a ready wit, a happy way oi
localizing his tricks, was very popular in that part of the
country, where he had been performing for several years,
and I never saw him nonplussed but once. This was
when he was performing on one occasion the well-
known egg and bag trick, which he did with his usual
success, producing egg after egg from the bag and
MY FIRST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 101
finally breaking one to show that they were genuine,
" Now," said Hawley, " I will show you the old hen
that laid them." It happened, however, that the negro
boy to whom had been intrusted the duty of supplying
the bag had made a slight mistake which was manifest
when Hawley triumphantly produced, not " the old hen
that laid the eggs," but a rooster! The whole audience
was convulsed with laughter ,and the abashed Hawley
retreated to the dressing room cursing the stupidity of
the black boy who had been paid to put a hen in the
bag.
After performing in different places in Alabama,
Kentucky, and Tennessee, we disbanded at Nashville in
May, 1837, Vivalla going to New York, where he per
formed on his own account for a while previous to sail
ing for Cuba. Hawley staying in Tennessee to look after
our horses which had been turned out to grass, and I
returning home to spend a few weeks with my family.
Early in July, returning west with a new company of
performers, I rejoined Hawley and we began our cam
paign in Kentucky. We were not successful ; one of
our small company was incompetent ; another was in
temperate both were dismissed ; and our negro-singer
was drowned in the river at Frankfort. Funds were
low and I was obliged to leave pledges here and there,
in payment for bills, which I afterwards redeemed.
Hawley and I dissolved in August and making a new
partnership with Z. Graves, I left him in charge of the
establishment and went to Tiffin, Ohio, where I re-en
gaged Joe Pentland, buying his horses and wagons and
taking him, with several musicians, to Kentucky.
During my short stay at Tiffin, a religious conversa
tion at the hotel introduced me to several gentlemen
5*
102 MY FIKST TRAVELLING COMPANY.
who requested me to lecture on the subjects we had dis
cussed, and I did so to a crowded audience in the school-
house Sunday afternoon and evening. At the solicitation
of a gentleman from Republic, I also delivered two
lectures in that town on the evenings of September 4th
and 5th.
On our way to Kentucky, just before we reached
Cincinnati, we met a drove of hogs and one of the
drivers making an insolent remark because our wagons
interfered with his swine, I replied in the same vein,
when he dismounted and pointing a pistol at my breast
swore he would shoot nie if I did not apologize. I begged
him to permit me to consult with a friend in the next
wagon, and the misunderstanding should be satisfac
torily settled. My friend was a loaded double-barreled
gun which I pointed at him and said :
" Now, sir, you must apologize, for your brains are
in danger. You drew a weapon upon me for a trivial
remark. You seem to hold human life at a cheap
price; and now, sir, you have the choice between
a load of shot and an apology."
This led to an apology and a friendly conversation in
which we both agreed that many a life is sacrificed
in sudden anger because one or both of the contending
parties carry deadly weapons.
In our subsequent southern tour we exhibited
at Nashville ( where I visited General Jackson, at
the Hermitage), Huntsville, Tuscaloosa, Vicksburg and
intermediate places, doing tolerably well. At Vicks
burg we sold all our land conveyances, excepting
the band wagon and four horses, bought the steamboat
" Ceres " for six thousand dollars, hired the captain and
crew, and started down the river to exhibit at places on
MY FI11ST TRAVELLING COMPANY. 103
the way. At Natchez our cook left us and in the
search for another I found a white widow who would
go, only she expected to marry a painter. I called
on the painter who had not made up his mind whether
to marry the widow or not, but I told him if he would
marry her the next morning I would hire her at twenty-
five dollars a month as cook, employ him at the same
wages as painter, with board for both, and a cash bonus
of fifty dollars. There was a wedding on board the
next day and we had a good cook and a good dinner.
During one of our evening performances at Fran-
cisville, Louisiana, a man tried to pass me at the door
of the tent, claiming that he had paid for admittance. I
refused him entrance ; and as he was slightly intoxicated
he struck me with a slung shot, mashing my hat
and grazing what phrenologists call " the organ of
caution." He went away and soon returned with a
gang of armed and half-drunken companions who
ordered us to pack up our " traps and plunder " and to
get on board our steamboat within an hour. The
big tent speedily came down. No one was permitted to
help us, but the company worked with a will and
within five minutes of the expiration of the hour we
were on board and ready to leave. The scamps who had
caused our departure escorted us and our last load,
waving pine torches, and saluted us with a hurrah as we
swung into the stream.
The New Orleans papers of March 19, 1838,
announced the arrival of the " Steamer Ceres, Captain
13arnum, with a theatrical company." After a week s
performances, we started for the Attakapas country.
At Opelousas we exchanged the steamer for sugar and
molasses; our company was disbanded, and I started
for home, arriving in New York, June 4, 18S8.
CHAPTER VII.
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER
DISGUST AT THE TRAVELLED BUSINESS ADVERTISING FOB AN ASSOCIATE RUSH
OF THE MILLION-MAKERS COUNTERFEITERS, CHEATS AND QUACKS ANEW
BUSINESS SWINDLED BY MY PARTNER DIAMOND THE DANGER A NEW COM
PANY DESERTIONS SUCCESSES AT NEW ORLEANS TYRONE POWER AND
FANNY ELLSLER IN JAIL AGAIN BACK TO NEW YORK ACTING AS A BOOK
AGENT LEASING VAUXHALL FROM HAND TO MOUTH DETERMINATION TO
MAKE MONEY FORTUNE OPENING HER DOOR THE AMERICAN MUSEUM FOR
SALE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PURCHASE HOPES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS
THE TRAIN LAID SMASHING A RIVAL COMPANY.
I HAVE said that the show business has as many
grades of dignity as trade, which ranges all the way
from the mammoth wholesale establishment down to
the corner stand. The itinerant amusement business is
at the bottom of the ladder. I had begun there, but
I had no wish to stay there ; in fact, I was thoroughly
disgusted with the trade of a travelling showman, and
although I felt that I could succeed in that line, yet I
always regarded it, not as an end, but as a means to
something better.
Longing now for some permanent respectable busi
ness, I advertised for a partner, stating that I had
$ 2,500 to invest and would add my unremitting personal
attention to the capital and the business. This adver
tisement gave me an altogether new insight into human
nature. Whoever wishes to know how some people
live, or want to live, let him advertise for a partner,
at the same time stating that he has a large or small
capital to invest. I was flooded with answers to my
advertisements and received no less than ninety-three
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER. 105
different propositions for the use of my capital. Of
these, at least one-third were from porter-house keep
ers. Brokers, pawnbrokers, lottery-policy dealers, patent
medicine Tnen, inventors, and others also made applica
tion. Some of my correspondents declined to specif^
cally state the nature of their business, but they
promised to open the door to untold wealth.
I had interviews with some of these mysterious mil
lion-makers. One of them was a counterfeiter, who,
after much hesitation and pledges of secrecy showed
me some counterfeit coin and bank notes ; he wanted
$2,500 to purchase paper and ink and to prepare new
dies, and he actually proposed that I should join him in
the business which promised, he declared, a safe and
rich harvest. Another sedate individual, dressed in
Quaker costume, wanted me to join him in an oat specu
lation. By buying a horse and wagon and by selling
oats, bought at wholesale, in bags, he thought a good
business could be done, especially as people w^ould not
be particular to measure after a Quaker.
" Do you mean to cheat in measuring your oats T I
asked.
" O, I should probably make them hold out," he an
swered, with a leer.
One application came from a Pearl street wool mer
chant, who failed a month afterwards. Then came a
"perpetual motion" man who had a fortune-making
machine, in which I discovered a main-spring slyly hid
in a hollow post, the spring making perpetual motion
till it ran down. Finally, I went into partnership
with a German, named Proler, who was a manufacturer
of paste-blacking, water-proof paste for leather, Cologne
water and bear s grease. We took the store No.
106 AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER.
Bowery, at a rent (including the dwelling) of $600 per
annum, and opened a large manufactory of the above
articles. Proler manufactured and sold the goods at
wholesale in Boston, Charleston, Cleveland, and various
other parts of the country. I kept the accounts, and
attended to sales in the store, wholesale and retail. For
a while the business seemed to prosper at least till
my capital was absorbed and notes for stock began to
fall due, with nothing to meet them, since we had sold
our goods on long credits. In January, 1840, I dis
solved partnership with Proler, he buying the entire in
terest for $2,600 on credit, and then running away to
Eotterdam without paying his note, and leaving me
nothing but a few recipes. Proler was a good-looking,
plausible, promising scamp.
During my connection with Proler, I became ac
quainted with a remarkable young dancer named John
Diamond. He was one of the first and best of the
numerous negro and " break-down " dancers who have
since surprised and amused the public, and I entered
into an engagement with his father for his services, put
ting Diamond in the hands of an agent, as I did not
wish to appear in the transaction. In the spring of
1840, I hired and opened the Vauxhall Garden saloon,
in New York, and gave a variety of performances, in
cluding singing, dancing, Yankee stories, etc. In this
saloon Miss Mary Taylor, afterwards so celebrated as an
actress and singer, made her first appearance on the
stage. The enterprise, however, did not meet my ex
pectation and I relinquished it in August.
What was to be done next? I dreaded resuming the
life of an itinerant showman, but funds were low, I had
a family to care for, and as nothing better presented I
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER 107
made up my mind to endure the vexations and uncertain
ties of a tour in the West and South. I collected a
company, consisting of Mr. C. D. Jenkins, an excellent
singer and delineator of Yankee and other characters ;
Master John Diamond, the dancer; Francis Lynch, an
orphan vagabond, fourteen years old, whom I picked up
at Troy, and a fiddler. My brother-in-law, Mr. John
Hallett, preceded us /is agent and advertiser, and our
route passed through Buffalo, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago,
Ottawa, Springfield, the intermediate places, and St.
Louis, where I took the steamboat for New Orleans with
a company reduced by desertions to Master Diamond
and the fiddler.
Arriving in New Orleans, January 2, 1841, I had but
$100 in my purse, and I had started from New York
four months before with quite as much in my pocket.
Excepting some small remittances to my family I had
made nothing more than current expenses ; and, when I
had been in New Orleans a fortnight, funds were so low
that I was obliged to pledge my watch as security for
my board bill. But on the 16th, I received from the
St. Charles Theatre $500 as my half share of Diamond s
benefit; the next night I had $50; and the third night
$479 was my share of the proceeds of a grand dancing
match at the theatre between Diamond and a negro
dancer from Kentucky. Subsequent engagements at
Vicksburg and Jackson were not so successful, but
returning to New Orleans we again succeeded admira
bly and afterwards at Mobile. Diamond, however, after
extorting considerable sums of money from me, finally
ran away, and, March 12th, I started homeward by way
of the Mississippi and the Ohio.
While I was in New Orleans I made the acquaint-
108 AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER
ance of that genial man, Tyrone Power, who was just
concluding an engagement at the St. Charles Theatre.
In bidding me farewell, he wished me every success and
hoped we should meet again. Alas, poor Power ! All
the world knows how he set sail from our shores, and
he and his ship were never seen again. Fanny Ellsler
was also in New Orleans, and when I saw seats in the
dress circle sold at an average of v four dollars and one-
half, I gave her agent, Chevalier Henry Wyckoff, great
credit for exciting public enthusiasm to the highest
pitch and I thought the prices enormous. I did not
dream then that, within twelve years, I should be selling
tickets in the same city for full five times that sum.
At Pittsburg, where I arrived March 30th, I learned
that Jenkins, who had enticed Francis Lynch away
from me at St. Louis, was exhibiting him at the
Museum under the name of "Master Diamond," and
visiting the performance, the next day I wrote Jenkins
an ironical review for which he threatened suit and
he actually instigated R. W. Lindsay, from whom I
hired Joice Heth in Philadelphia in 1835, and whom I
had not seen since, though he was then residing in
Pittsburg, to sue me for a pipe of brandy which, it was
pretended, was promised in addition to the money paid
him. I was required to give bonds of $500, which,
as I was among strangers, I could not immediately
procure, and I was accordingly thrown into jail till four
o clock in the afternoon, when I was liberated. The
next day I caused the arrest of Jenkins for trespass in
assuming Master Diamond s name and reputation for
Master Lynch, and he was sent to jail till four o clock in
the afternoon. Each having had his turn at this amuse
ment, we adjourned our controversy to New York where
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER 109
I beat him. As for Lindsay, I heard nothing more of
his claim or him till twelve years afterwards when he
called on me in Boston with an apology. He was very
poor and I was highly prosperous, and I may add that
Lindsay did not lack a friend.
I arrived in New York, April 23rd, 1841, after an
absence of eight months ; finding my family in good
health, I resolved once more that I would never again
be an itinerant showman. Three days afterwards I
contracted with Kobert Sears, the publisher, for five
hundred copies of " Sears Pictorial Illustrations of the
Bible," at $500, and accepting the United States agency,
I opened an office, May 10th, at the corner of Beekman
and Nassau "Streets, the site of the present Nassau
Bank. I had had a limited experience with that book
in this way : When I was in Pittsburg, an acquaintance,
Mr. C. D. Harker, was complaining that he had nothing
to do, when I picked up a New York paper and saw the
advertisement of " Sears s Pictorial Illustrations of the
Bible, price $2 a copy." Mr. Harker thought he
could get subscribers, and I bought him a specimen
copy, agreeing to furnish him with as many as he
wanted at $l,37/ a copy, though I had never before
seen the work and did not know the wholesale price.
The result was that he obtained eighty subscribers in
two days, and made $50. My own venture in the work
was not so successful ; I advertised largely, had plenty
of agents, and, in six months, sold thousands of copies ;
but irresponsible agents used up all my profits and my
capital.
While engaged in this business I once more leased
Vauxhall saloon, opening it June 14th, 1841,
employing Mr. John Hallett, my brother-in-law, as
110 AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER.
manager under my direction, and at the close of the
season, September 25th, we had cleared about two
hundred dollars. This sum was soon exhausted, and
with my family on my hands and no employment I was
glad to do anything that would keep the wolf from the
door. I wrote advertisements and notices for the
Bowery Amphitheatre, receiving for the service four
dollars a week, which I was very glad to get, and I
also wrote articles for the Sunday papers, deriving a fair
remuneration and managing to get a living. But I was
at the bottom round of fortune s ladder, and it was
necessary to make an effort which would raise me above
want.
I was specially stimulated to this effort by a letter
which I received, about this time, from my esteemed
friend, Hon. Thomas T. Whittlesey, of Danbury. He
held a mortgage of five hundred dollars on a piece
of property I owned in that place, and, as he was
convinced that I would never lay up anything, he wrote
me that I might as well pay him then as ever. This
letter made me resolve to live no longer from hand
to mouth, but to concentrate my energies upon laying
up something for the future.
While I was forming this practical determination
I was much nearer to its realization than my most
sanguine hopes could have predicted. The road to
fortune was close by. Without suspecting it, 1 was
about to enter upon an enterprise, which, while giving
full scope for whatever tact, industry and pluck I might
possess, was to take me from the foot of the ladder and
place me many rounds above.
As outside clerk for the Bowery Amphitheatre I
J~ad casually learned that the collection of curiosities
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER. Ill
comprising Scudder s American Museum, at the corner
of Broadway and Ann Street, was for sale. It belonged
to the daughters of Mr. Scudder, and was conducted for
their benefit by John Furzman, under the authority
of Mr. John Heath, administrator. The price asked
for the entire collection was fifteen thousand dollars. It
had cost its founder, Mr. Scudder, probably fifty
thousand dollars, and from the profits of the establish
ment he had been able to leave a large competency
to his children. The Museum, however, had been
for several years a losing concern, and the heirs were
anxious to sell it. Looking at this property, I thought
I saw that energy, tact and liberality, were only needed
to make it a paying institution, and I determined to
purchase it if possible.
" You buy the American Museum ! " said a friend,
who knew the state of my funds, " what do you intend
buying it with ? "
" Brass," I replied, " for silver and gold have I none."
The Museum building belonged to Mr. Francis W.
Olmsted, a retired merchant, to whom I wrote stating
my desire to buy the collection, and that although I had
no means, if it could, be purchased upon reasonable
credit, I was confident that my tact and experience,
added to a determined devotion to business, would en
able me to make the payments when due. I therefore
asked him to purchase the collection in his own name ;
to give me a writing securing it to me provided I made
the payments punctually, including the rent of his build
ing ; to allow me twelve dollars and a half a week on
which to support my family ; and if at any time I failed
to meet the instalment due, I would vacate the premises
and forfeit all that might have been paid to that date.
112 AT THE FOOT QF THE LADDER
" In fact, Mr. Olmsted," I continued in my earnestness,
" you may bind me in any way, and as tightly as you
please only give me a chance to dig out, or scratch
out, and I will do so or forfeit all the labor and trouble
I may have incurred."
In reply to this letter, which I took to his house my
self, he named an hour when I could call on him, and
as I was there at the exact moment, he expressed him
self pleased with my punctuality. He inquired closely
as to my habits and antecedents, and I frankly narrated
my experiences as a caterer for the public, mentioning
my amusement ventures in Vauxhall Garden, the circus,
and in the exhibitions I had managed at the South and
West.
" Who are your references ?" he inquired.
" Any man in my line," I replied, " from Edmund
Simpson, manager of the Park Theatre, or William
Niblo, to Messrs. Welch, June, Titus, Turner, Angevine,
or other circus or menagerie proprietors ; also Moses Y.
Beach, of the New York Sun.
" Can you get any of them to call on me ? " he con
tinued.
I told him that I could, and the next day my friend
Niblo rode down and had an interview with Mr. Olm
sted, while Mr. Beach and several other gentlemen also
called, and the following morning I waited upon him
for his decision.
" I don t like your references, Mr. Barnum," said Mr.
Olmsted, abruptly, as soon as I entered the room.
I was confused, and said " I regretted to hear it."
" They all speak too well of you," he added, laugh
ing ; " in fact they all talk as if they were partners of
yours, and intended to share the profits."
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER. 113
Nothing could have pleased me better. He then
asked me what security I could offer in case he concluded
to make the purchase for me, and it was finally agreed
that, if he should do so, he should retain the property till
it was entirely paid for, and should also appoint a ticket-
taker and accountant (at my expense), who should ren
der him a weekly statement. I was further to take an
apartment hitherto used as a billiard room in an adjoin
ing building, allowing therefor, $500 a year, making a
total rent of $3,000 per annum, on a lease of ten years.
He then told me to see the administrator and heirs of
the estate, to get their best terms, and to meet him on
his return to town a week from that time.
I at once saw Mr. John Heath, the administrator, and
his price was $15,000. I offered $10,000, payable in
seven annual instalments, with good security. After
several interviews, it was finally agreed that I should
have it for $12,000, payable as above possession to
be given on the 15th November. Mr. Olmsted assented
to this, and a morning was appointed to draw and sign
the writings. Mr. Heath appeared, but said he must
decline proceeding any farther in my case, as he had
sold the collection to the directors of Peale s Museum
(an incorporated institution), for $15,000, and had re
ceived $1,000 in advance.
I was shocked, and appealed to Mr. Heath s honor.
He said that he had signed no writing with me ; was in
no way legally bound, and that it was his duty to do the
best he could for the heirs. Mr. Olmsted was sorry,
but could not help me ; the new tenants would not re
quire him to incur any risk, and my matter was at an
end.
Of course, I immediately informed myself as to the
114 AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER
character of Peale s Museum company. It proved to
be a band of speculators who had bought Peale s col
lection for a few thousand dollars, expecting to join the
American Museum with it, issue and sell stock to the
amount of $50,000, pocket $30,000 profits, and permit
the stockholders to look out for themselves.
I went immediately to several of the editors, including
Major M. M. Noah, M. Y. Beach, my good friends
West, Herrick and Ropes, of the Atlas, and others, and
stated my grievances. " Now," said I, " if you will
grant me the use of your columns, I ll blow that specu
lation sky-high." They all consented, and I wrote a
large number of squibs, cautioning the public against
buying the Museum stock, ridiculing the idea of a board
of broken-down bank directors engaging in the exhibi
tion of stuffed monkey and gander skins ; appealing to
the case of the Zoological Institute, which had failed
by adopting such a plan as the one now proposed ; and
finally I told the public that such a speculation would
be infinitely more ridiculous than JJickens s " Grand
United Metropolitan Hot Muffin and Crumpet-baking
and Punctual Delivery Company."
The stock was as " dead as a herring ! " I then went
to Mr. Heath and asked him when the directors were to
pay the other $14,000. " On the 26th day of Decem
ber, or forfeit the $1,000 already paid," was the reply.
I assured him that they would never pay it, that they
could not raise it, and that he would ultimately find him
self with the Museum collection on his hands, and if
once I started off with an exhibition for the South, I
would not touch the Museum at any price. " Now,"
said I, "if you will agree with me confidentially, that in
case these gentlemen do not pay you on the 26th tf
AT THE FOOT OF THE LADDER. 115
December, I may have it on the 27th for $12,000, I
will run the risk, and wait in this city until that date."
He readily agreed to the proposition, but said he was
sure they would not forfeit their $1,000.
" Very well," said I ; "all I ask of you is, that this
arrangement shall not be mentioned." He assented.
" On the 27th day of December, at ten o clock A. M., I
wish you to meet me in Mr. Olmsted s apartments, pre
pared to sign the writings, provided this incorporated
company do not pay you $14,000 on the 26th." He
agreed to this, and by my request put it in writing.
From that moment I felt that the Museum was mine.
I saw Mr. Olmsted, and told him so. He promised
secrecy, and agreed to sign the documents if the other
parties did not meet their engagement.
This was about November 15th, and I continued my
shower of newspaper squibs at the new company, which
could not sell a dollar s worth of its stock. Meanwhile,
if any one spoke to me about the Museum, I simply
replied that I had lost it.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.
A TRAP SET FOR ME I CATCH THE TRAPPERS I BECOME PROPRIETOR OB
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM HISTORY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT HARD WORK
AND COLD DINNERS ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM EXTRAORDINARY ADVER
TISING BARNUM S BRICK-MAN EXCITING PUBLIC CURIOSITY INCIDENTS
AND ANECDOTES A DRUNKEN ACTOR IMITATIONS OF THE ELDER BOOTH
PLEASING MY PATRONS SECURING TRANSIENT NOVELTIES LIVING CURIOSI
TIES MAKING PEOPLE TALK A WILDERNESS OF WONDERS NIAGARA FALLS
WITH REAL WATER THE CLUB THAT KILLED COOK SELLING LOUIS GAY-
LORD CLARK THE FISH WITH LEGS THE FEJEE MERMAID HOW IT CAME
INTO MY POSSESSION THE TRUE STORY OF THAT CURIOSITY JAPANESE
MANUFACTURE OF FABULOUS ANIMALS THE USE I MADE OF THE MERMAID
WHOLESALE ADVERTISING AGAIN THE BALCONY BAND DRUMMOND
LIGHTS.
MY newspaper squib war against the Peale combina
tion was vigorously kept up ; when one morning, about
the first of December, I received a letter from the Sec
retary of that company (now calling itself the " New
York Museum Company,") requesting me to meet the
directors at the Museum on the following Monday morn
ing. I went, and found the directors in session. The
venerable president of the board, who was also the ex-
president of a broken bank, blandly proposed to hire
me to manage the united museums, and though I saw
that he merely meant to buy my silence, I professed to
entertain the proposition, and in reply to an inquiry as
to what salary I should expect, I specified the sum of
$3,000 a year. This was at once acceded to, the salary
to begin January 1, 1842, and after complimenting me
on my ability, the president remarked : " Of course, Mr.
Burnum, we shall have no more of your squibs through
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM. 117
the newspapers " to which I replied that I should
" ever try to serve the interests of my employers," and
I took my leave.
It was as clear to me as noonday that after buying
my silence so as to appreciate their stock, these direct
ors meant to sell out to whom they could, leaving me
to look to future stockholders for my salary. They
thought, no doubt, that they had nicely entrapped
me, but I knew I had caught them.
For, supposing me to be out of the way, and having
no other rival purchaser, these directors postponed the
advertisement of their stock to give people time to
forget the attacks I had made on it, and they also
took their own time for paying the money promised
to Mr. Heath, December 26th indeed, they did not
even call on him at the appointed time. But on
the following morning, as agreed, I was promptly and
hopefully at Mr. Olmstead s apartments with my legal
adviser, at half-past nine o clock ; Mr. Heath came with
his lawyer at ten, and before two o clock that day I was
in formal possession of the American Museum. My
first managerial act was to write and despatch the
following complimentary note :
AMERICAN MUSEUM, NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 1841.
To the President and Directors of the New York Museum :
GENTLEMEN : It gives me great pleasure to inform you that you are placed
upon the Free List of this establishment until further notice.
P. T. BABNUM, Proprietor.
It is unnecessary to say that the " President of the
New York Museum" was astounded, and when he
called upon Mr. Heath, and learned that I had bought
and was really in possession of the American Museum,
lie was indignant. He talked of prosecution, and
6
118 THE AMEKICAN MUSEUM.
demanded the f L,000 paid on his agreement, but he did
not prosecute, and he justly forfeited his deposit money.
And now that I was proprietor and manager of the
American Museum I had reached a new epoch in my
career which I felt was the beginning of better days,
though the full significance of this important step I did
not see. I was still in the show business, but in a settled,
substantial phase of it, that invited industry and enter
prise, and called for ever earnest and ever heroic
endeavor. Whether I should sink or swim depended
wholly upon my own energy. I must pay for the
establishment within a stipulated time, or forfeit it with
whatever I had paid on account. I meant to make it
my own, and brains, hands and every effort were
devoted to the interests of the Museum.
The nucleus of this establishment, Scudder s Museum,
was formed in 1810, the year in which I was born. It
was begun in Chatham Street, and was afterwards
transferred to the old City Hall, and from small begin
nings, by purchases, and to a considerable degree by
presents, it had grown to be a large and valuable
collection. People in all parts of the country had sent
in relics and rare curiosities ; sea captains, for years,
had brought and deposited strange things from foreign
lands ; and besides all these gifts, I have no doubt that
the previous proprietor had actually expended, as was
stated, $50,000 in making the collection. No one
could go through the halls, as they were when they came
under my proprietorship, and see one-half there was
worth seeing in a single day; and then, as I always
justly boasted afterwards, no one could visit my Museum
and go away without feeling that he had received the
full worth of his money. In looking over the immense
.THE AMERICAN MUSEUM. 119
collection, the accumulation of so many years, I saw
that it was only necessary to properly present its merits
to the public, to make it the most attractive and
popular place of resort and entertainment in the United
States.
Valuable as the collection was when I bought it, it
was only the beginning of the American Museum as I
made it. In my long proprietorship I considerably
more than doubled the permanent attractions and
curiosities of the establishment. In 1842, 1 bought and
added to my collection the entire contents of Peale s
Museum ; in 1850, I purchased the large Peale collec
tion in Philadelphia ; and year after year, I bought
genuine curiosities, regardless of cost, wherever I could
find them, in Europe or America.
At the very outset, I was determined to deserve
success. My plan of economy included the intention
to support my family in New York on $600 a year, and
my treasure of a wife not only gladly assented, but
was willing to reduce the sum to $400, if necessary.
Some six months after I had bought the Museum, Mr.
Olmsted happened in at my ticket-office at noon and
found me eating a frugal dinner of cold corned beef and
bread, which I had brought from home.
" Is this the way you eat your dinner? " he asked.
" I have not eaten a warm dinner, except on Sun
days," I replied, "since I bought the Museum, and
I never intend to, on a week day, till I am out of
debt."
" Ah ! " said he, clapping me on the shoulder, " you
are safe, and will pay for the Museum before the year is
out."
And he was right, for within twelve months I was in
120 THE AMEEICAN MUSEUM.
full possession of the property as my own and it was
entirely paid for from the profits of the business.
In 1865, the space occupied for my Museum pur
poses was more than double what it was in 18i2. The
Lecture Room, originally narrow, ill-contrived and incon
venient, was so enlarged and improved that it became
one of the most commodious and beautiful amusement
halls in the City of New York. At first, my attractions
and inducements were merely the collection of curiosi
ties by day, and an evening entertainment, consisting of
such variety performances as were current in ordinary
shows. Then Saturday afternoons, and, soon after
wards, Wednesday afternoons were devoted to entertain
ments and the popularity of the Museum grew so rap
idly that I presently found it expedient and profitable to
open the great Lecture Room every afternoon, as well
as every evening, on every week-day in the year. The
first experiments in this direction, more than justified
my expectations, for the day exhibitions were always
more thronged than those of the evening. Of course I
made the most of the holidays, advertising extensively
and presenting extra inducements ; nor did attractions
elsewhere seem to keep the crowd from coming to the
Museum. On great holidays, I gave as many as twelve
performances to as many different audiences.
By degrees the character of the stage performances
was changed. The transient attractions of the Museum
were constantly diversified, and educated dogs, industri
ous fleas, automatons, jugglers , ventriloquists, living
statuary, tableaux, gipsies, Albinoes, fat boys, giants,
dwarfs, rope-dancers, live " Yankees," pantomime,
instrumental music, singing and dancing in great
variety, dioramas, panoramas, models of Niagara, Dub-
THE AMEEICAN MUSEUM. 121
lin, Paris, and Jerusalem ; Hannington s dioramas of
the Creation, the Deluge, Fairy Grotto, Storm at Sea ;
the first English Punch and Judy in this country, Italian
Fantoccini, mechanical figures, fancy glass-blowing,
knitting machines and other triumphs in the mechanical
arts ; dissolving views, American Indians, who enacted
their warlike and religious ceremonies on the stage,
these, among others, were all exceedingly successful.
I thoroughly understood the art of advertising^
not merely by means of printer s ink, which I have
always used freely, and to which I confess myself
so much indebted for my success, but by turning every
possible circumstance to my account. It was my mono
mania to make the Museum the town wonder and town
talk. I often seized upon an opportunity by instinct,
even before I had a very definite conception as to how
it should be used, and it seemed, somehow, to mature
itself and serve my purpose. As an illustration, one
morning a stout, hearty-looking man, came into my
ticket-office and begged some money. I asked him
why lie did not work and earn his living ? He replied
that he could get nothing to do and that he would
be glad of any job at a dollar a day. I handed him a
quarter of a dollar, told him to go and get his breakfast
and return, and I would employ him at light labor at a
dollar and a half a day. When he returned I gave him
five common bricks.
" Now," said I, "go and lay a brick on the sidewalk
at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street; another
close by the Museum ; a third diagonally across the
way at the corner of Broadway and Vesey Street, by
the As tor House : put down the fourth on the sidewalk
in front of St Paul s Church, opposite; then, with
122 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
the fifth brick in hand, take up a rapid march from one
point to the other, making the circuit, exchanging your
brick at every point, and say nothing to any one."
" What is the object of this ? " inquired the man.
" No matter," I replied ; "all you need to know is
that it brings you fifteen cents wages per hour. It is a
bit of my fun, and to assist me properly you must seem
to be as deaf as a post ; wear a serious countenance ;
answer no questions ; pay no attention to any one ; but
attend faithfully to the work and at the end of every
hour by St. Paul s clock show this ticket at the Museum
door ; enter, walking solemnly through every hall in
the building ; pass out, and resume your work."
With the remark that it was " all one to him, so long
as he could earn his living," the man placed his bricks
and began his round. Half an hour afterwards, at
least five hundred people were watching his mysterious
movements. He had assumed a military step and bear
ing, and looking as sober as a judge, he made no
response whatever to the constant inquiries as to the
object of his singular conduct. At the end of the first
hour, the sidewalks in the vicinity were packed with
people all anxious to solve the mystery. The man, as
directed, then went into the Museum, devoting fifteen
minutes to a solemn survey of the halls, and afterwards
returning to his round. This was repeated every hour
till sundown and whenever the man went into the
Museum a dozen or more persons would buy tickets and
follow him, hoping to gratify their curiosity in regard
to the purpose of his movements. This was continued
for several days the curious people who followed the
man into the Museum considerably more than paying
his wages till finally the policeman, to whom I had
THE AMEKICA3* MUSEUM. 123
imparted my object, complained that the obstruction of
the sidewalk by crowds had become so serious that I
must call in my " brick man." This trivial incident
excited considerable talk and amusement; it adver
tised me ; and it materially advanced my purpose of
making a lively corner near the Museum.
I am tempted to relate some of the incidents and
anecdotes which attended my career as owner and man
ager of the Museum. The stories illustrating merely my
introduction of novelties would more than fill this book,
but I must make room for a few of them.
An actor, named La Rue, presented himself as an
imitator of celebrated histrionic personages, including
Macready, Forrest, Kemble, the elder Booth, Kean,
Hamblin, and others. Taking him into the green-room
for a private rehearsal, and finding his imitations excel
lent, I engaged him. For three nights he gave great
satisfaction, but early in the fourth evening he staggered
into the Museum so drunk that he could hardly stand,
and in half an hour he must be on the stage ! Calling
an assistant, we took La Eue between us, and marched
him up Broadway as far as Chambers Street, and back
to the lower end of the Park, hoping to sober him. At
this point we put his head under a pump, and gave him
a good ducking, with visible beneficial effect, then a
walk around the Park, and another ducking, when he
assured me that he should be able to give his imitations
" to a charm."
" You drunken brute," said I, " if you fail, and disap
point my audience, I will throw you out of the window."
He declared that he was " all right," and I led him
behind the scenes, where I waited with considerable
trepidation to watch his movements on the stage. He
began by saying :
124 THE AMEEICAK MUSEUM.
" Ladies and gentlemen : I will now give you an imi
tation of Mr. Booth, the eminent tragedian."
His tongue was thick, his language somewhat incohe
rent, and I had great misgivings as he proceeded ; but
as no token of disapprobation came from the audience,
I began to hope he would go through with his parts
without exciting suspicion of his condition. But before
he had half finished his representation of Booth, in the
soliloquy in the opening act of Richard III., the house
discovered that he was very drunk, and began to hiss.
This only seemed to stimulate him to make an effort to
appear sober, which, as is usual in such cases, only made
matters worse, and the hissing increased. I lost all
patience, and going on the stage and taking the drunken
fellow by the collar, I apologized to the audience, as
suring them that he should not appear before them
again. I was about to march him off, when he stepped
to the front, and said :
" Ladies and gentlemen : Mr. Booth often appeared
on the stage in a state of inebriety, and I was simply
giving you a truthful representation of him on such
occasions. I beg to be permitted to proceed with my
imitations."
The audience at once supposed it was all right, and
cried out, " go on, go on" ; which he did, and at every
imitation of Booth, whether as Bi chard-, Shylock, or Sir
Giles Overreach, he received a hearty round of applause.
I was quite delighted with his success ; but when he
came to imitate Forrest and Hamblin, necessarily repre
senting them as drunk also, the audience could be no
longer deluded ; the hissing was almost deafening, and
I was forced to lead the actor off. It was his last ap
pearance on my stage.
THE AMEEICAK MUSEUM. 125
From the first, it was my study to give my patrons a
superfluity of novelties, and for this I make no special
claim to generosity, for it was strictly a business trans
action. To send away my visitors more than douhly
satisfied, was to induce them to come again and to bring
their friends. I meant to make -people talk about my
Museum ; to exclaim over its wonders ; to have men
and women all over the country say : " There is not
another place in the United States where so much can
be seen for twenty-five cents as in Barnum s American
Museum." It was the best advertisement I could possibly
have, and one for which I could afford to pay. I knew,
too, that it was an honorable advertisement, because
it was as deserved as it was spontaneous. And so, in
addition to the permanent collection and the ordinary
attractions of the stage, I labored to keep the Museum
well supplied with transient novelties ; I exhibited
such living curiosities as a rhinoceros, giraffes, grizzly
bears, ourang-outangs, great serpents, and whatever else
of the kind money would buy or enterprise secure.
Knowing that a visit to my varied attractions and gen
uine curiosities was w r ell worth to any one three times
the amount asked as an entrance fee, I confess that I
was not so scrupulous, as possibly I should have been,
about the methods used to call public attention to my
establishment. The one end aimed at was to make men
and women think and talk and wonder, and, as a practi
cal result, go to the Museum. This was my constant
study and occupation.
It was the world s way then, as it is now, to excite
the community with flaming posters, promising almost
everything for next to nothing. I confess that I took no
pains to set my enterprising fellow-citizens a better ex-
6*
126 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.
ample. I fell in with the world s way ; and if my " puff
ing" was more persistent, my advertising more audacious,
my posters more glaring, my pictures more exaggerated,
my flags more patriotic and my transparencies more
brilliant than they would have been under the manage
ment of my neighbors, it was not because I had less
scruple than they, but more energy, far more ingenuity,
and a better foundation for such promises. In all this,
if I cannot be justified, I at least find palliation in the
fact that I presented a wilderness of wonderful, instruct
ive and amusing realities of such evident and marked
merit that I have yet to learn of a single instance where
a visitor went away from the Museum complaining that
he had been defrauded of his money. Surely this is an
offset to any eccentricities to which I may have resorted
to make my establishment widely known.
Very soon after introducing my extra exhibitions, I
purchased for $200, a curiosity which had much merit
and some absurdity. It was a model of Niagara Falls,
in which the merit was that the proportions of the great
cataract, the trees, rocks, and buildings in the vicinity
were mathematically given, while the absurdity was in
introducing " real water " to represent the falls. Yet
the model served a purpose in making " a good line in
the bill " an end in view which was never neglected
and it helped to give the Museum notoriety. One
day I was summoned to appear before the Board of Cro-
ton Water Commissioners, and was informed that as
I paid only $25 per annum for water at the Museum,
I must pay a large extra compensation for the supply
for my Niagara Falls. I begged the board not to be
lieve all that appeared in the papers, nor to interpret
my show-bills too literally, and assured them that a
AMERICAN MUSEUM. 127
single barrel of water, if my pump was in good order,
would furnish my falls for a month.
It was even so, for the water flowed into a reservoir
behind the scenes, and was forced back with a pump
over the falls. On one occasion, Mr. Louis Gaylord
Clark, the editor * of the Knickerbocker , came to
view my museum, and introduced himself to me. As
I was quite anxious that my establishment should
receive a first-rate notice at his hands, I took pains to
show him everything of interest, except the Niagan
Falls, which I feared would prejudice him against mv
entire show. But as we passed the room the pump
was at work, warning, me that the great cataract was
in full operation, and Clark, to my dismay, insisted
upon seeing it.
" Well, Barnum, I declare, this is quite a new idea;
I never saw the like before."
" No I " I faintly inquired, with something like re
viving hope.
" No," said Clark, " and I hope, with all my heart ,
I never shall again."
But the Knickerbocker spoke kindly of me, and
refrained from all allusions to " the Cataract of Niagara,
with real water." Some months after, Clark came in
breathless one day, and asked me if I had the club with
which Captain Cook was killed? As I had a lot of
Indian war clubs in the collection of aboriginal curiosi
ties, and owing Clark something on the old Niagara
Falls account, I told him I had the veritable club with
documents which placed its identity beyond question,
and I showed him the warlike weapon.
" Poor Cook ! poor Cook ! " said Clark, musingly.
" Well, Mr. Barnum," he continued, with great gravity,
128 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.
at the same time extending his hand and giving mine a
hearty shake, " I am really very much obliged to you
for your kindness. I had an irrepressible desire to see
the club that killed Captain Cook, and I felt quite con
fident you could accommodate me. I have been in half
a dozen smaller museums, and as they all had it, I was
sure a large establishment like yours would not be with
out it."
A few weeks afterwards, I wrote to Clark that if he
would come to my office I was anxious to consult him
on a matter of great importance. He came, and I
said :
" Now, I do n t want any of your nonsense, but I want
your sober advice."
He assured me that he would serve me in any way in
his power, and I proceeded to tell him about a wonder
ful fish from the Nile, offered to me for exhibition at
$100 a week, the owner of which was willing to
forfeit $5.000, if, within six weeks, this fish did not
pass through a transformation in which the tail would
disappear and the fish would then have legs.
" Is it possible ! " asked the astonished Clark.
I assured him that there was no doubt of it.
Thereupon he advised me to engage the wonder
at any price ; that it would startle the naturalists, wake
up the whole scientific world, draw in the masses, and
make 20,000 for the Museum. I told him that I
thought well of the speculation, only I did not like the
name of the fish.
" That makes no difference whatever," said Clark ;
^ what is the name of the fish?"
" Tadpole," I replied with becoming gravity, " but it
is vulgarly called { polly wog. "
THE AMEEICAN MUSEUM. 129
" Sold, by thunder ! " exclaimed Clark, and he left.
A curiosity, which in an extraordinary degree served
my ever-present object of extending the notoriety of the
Museum was the so-called " Fejee Mermaid." It has
been supposed that this mermaid was manufactured by
my order, but such is not the fact. I was known as a
successful showman, and strange things of every sort
were brought to me from all quarters for sale or exhibi
tion. In the summer of 1842, Mr. Moses Kimball, of
the Boston Museum, came to New York and showed
me what purported to be a mermaid. He had bought
it from a sailor whose father, a sea captain, had pur
chased it in Calcutta, in 1822, from some Japanese
sailors. I may mention here that this identical pre
served specimen was exhibited in London in 1822, as I
fully verified in my visit to that city in 1858, for I found
an advertisement of it in an old file of the London
Times, and a friend gave me a copy of the Mirror, pub
lished by J. Limbird, 335*Strand, November 9, 1822,
containing a cut of this same creature and two pages of
letter-press describing it, together with an account of
other mermaids said to have been captured in different
parts of the world. The Mirror stated that this
specimen was " the great source of attraction in the
British metropolis, and three to four hundred people
every day pay their shilling to see it."
This was the curiosity which had fallen into Mr.
Kimb all s hands. I requested my naturalist s opinion of
the genuineness of the animal and he said he could not
conceive how it could have been manufactured, for he
never saw a monkey with such peculiar teeth, arms,
hands, etc., and he never saw a fish with such peculiar
fins; but he did not believe in mermaids. Neverthe-
130 THE AMERICAN MUS^YM.
less, I concluded to hire this curiosity and to modify the
general incredulity as to the possibility of the existence
of mermaids, and to awaken curiosity to see and
examine the specimen, I invoked the potent power of
printer s ink.
Since Japan has been opened to the outer world
it has been discovered that certain " artists " in that
country manufacture a great variety of fabulous animals,
with an ingenuity and mechanical perfection well
calculated to deceive. No doubt my mermaid was a
specimen of this curious manufacture. I used it mainly
to advertise the regular business of the Museum,
and this effective indirect advertising is the only feature
I can commend, in a special show of which, I confess, I
am not proud. I might have published columns in the
newspapers, presenting and praising the great collection
of genuine specimens of natural history in my exhi
bition, and they would not have attracted nearly so
much attention as did a few paragraphs about the mer
maid which was only a small part of my show. News
papers throughout the country copied the mermaid
notices, for they were novel and caught the attention of
readers. Thus was the fame of the Museum, as well
as the mermaid, wafted from one end of the land to the
other. I was careful to keep up the excitement, for
I knew that every dollar sown in advertising would
return in tens, and perhaps hundreds, in a future
harvest, and after obtaining all the notoriety possible by
advertising and by exhibiting the mermaid at the
Museum, I sent the curiosity throughout the country,
directing my agent to everywhere advertise it as
"From Barnum s Great American Museum, New
York." The effect was immediately felt ; money flowed
THE AMEEICAN MUSEUM. 131
in rapidly and was readily expended in more adver
tising.
While I expended money liberally for attractions for
the inside of my Museum, and bought or hired every
thing curious or rare which was offered or could be
found, I was prodigal in my outlays to arrest or arouse
public attention. When I became proprietor of the
establishment, there were only the words : " American
Museum," to indicate the character of the concern ;
there was no bustle or activity about the place ; no
posters to announce what was to be seen ; the whole
exterior was as dead as the skeletons and stuffed skins
within. My experiences had taught me the advantages
of advertising. I printed whole columns in the papers,
setting forth the wonders of my establishment. Old
" fogies" opened their eyes in amazement at a man who
could expend hundreds of dollars in announcing a show
of " stuffed monkey skins"; but these same old fogies
paid their quarters, nevertheless, and when they saw
the curiosities and novelties in the Museum halls, they,
like all other visitors, were astonished as well as pleased,
and went home and told their friends and neighbors and
thus assisted in advertising my business.
For other and not less effective advertising, flags
and banners, began to adorn the exterior of the build
ing. I kept a band of music on the front balcony and
announced " Free Music for the Million." People said.
" Well, that Barnum is a liberal fellow to give us music
for nothing," and they flocked down to hear my out
door free concerts. But I took pains to select and
maintain the poorest band I could find one whose
discordant notes would drive the crowd into the Museum,
out of earshot of my outside orchestra. Of course,
132 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM.
the music was poor. When people expect to get
" something for nothing they are sure to be cheated,
and generally deserve to be, and so, no doubt, some of
my out-door patrons were sorely disappointed ; but
when they came inside and paid to be amused and
instructed, I took care to see that they not only received
the full worth of their money, but were more than sat
isfied. Powerful Drummond lights were placed at the
top of the Museum, which, in the darkest night, threw a
flood of light up and down Broadway, from the Battery
to Niblo s, that would enable one to read a newspaper
in the street. These were the first Drummond lights
ever seen in New York, and they made people talk,
and so advertise my Museum.
CHAPTER IX.
THE ROAD TO EICHES.
THE MOST POPULAR PLACE OF AMUSEMENT EN THE WORLD THE MORAL
JYRAMA REFORMING THE ABUSES OF THE STAGE FAMOUS ACTOKS AND
ACTRESSES AT THE MUSEUM ADDING TO THE SALOONS AFTERNOON AND
HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES FOURTH OF JULY FLAGS THE MUSEUM CONNECT
ED WITH 8T PAUL S VICTORY OVER THE VESTRYMEN THE EGRESS ST.
PATRICK S DAY EN THE MORNING A WONDERFUL ANIMAL, THE
"AIGRZSS" INPOURING OF MONEY ZOOLOGICAL ERUPTION THE CITY
ASTOUNDED BABY SHOWS, AND THEER OBJECT FLOWER, BIRD, DOG AND
POULTRY SHOWS GRAND FREE BUFFALO HUNT EN HOBOKEN N. P.
WILLIS ~- THE WOOLLY HORSE WHERE HE CAME FROM COLONEL BENTON
BRATEN PURPOSE OF THE EXHTBmON AMERICAN INDIANS P. T. BARNUM
EXHIBITED A CURIOUS SPINSTER THE TOUCHING STORY OF CHARLOTTE
TEMPLE SERVICES EN THE LECTURE ROOM A FINANCIAL VIEW OF TUB
MUSEUM AX "AWFUL RICH MAN."
THE American Museum was the ladder by which I
rose to fortune. Whenever I cross Broadway at the
head of Vesey Street, and see the Herald building and
that gorgeous pile, the Park Bank, my mind s eye
recalls that less solid, more showy edifice which once
occupied the site and was covered with pictures of all
manner of beasts, birds and creeping things, and in
which were treasures that brought treasures and
notoriety and pleasant hours to me. The Jenny Lind
enterprise was more audacious, more immediately
remunerative, and I remember it with a pride which I
do not attempt to conceal : but instinctively I often go
back and live over again the old days of my struggles
and triumphs in the American Museum.
The Museum was always open at sunrise, and this
was so well known throughout the country that stran-
134 THE ROAD TO RICHES.
gers coming to the city would often take e> tour through
my halls before going to breakfast or to their hotels. I
do not believe there was ever a more truly popular
place of amusement. I frequently compared the
annual number of visitors with the number officially
reported as visiting (free of charge), the British
Museum in London, and my list was invariably the
larger. Nor do I believe that any man or manager
ever labored more industriously to please his patrons.
I furnished the most attractive exhibitions which money
could procure ; I abolished all vulgarity and profanity
from the stage, and I prided myself upon the fact that
parents and children could attend the dramatic perform
ances in the so-called Lecture Room, and not be
shocked or offended by anything they might see or hear ;
I introduced the " Moral Drama," producing such
plays as "The Drunkard," "Uncle Tom s Cabin."
" Moses in Egypt," " Joseph and His Brethren," and
occasional spectacular melodramas produced with great
care and at considerable outlay.
Mr. Sothern, who has since attained such wide-spread
celebrity at home and abroad as a character actor, was
a member of my dramatic company for one or two sea
sons. Mr. Barney Williams also began his theatrical
career at the Museum, occupying, at first, quite a sub
ordinate position, at a salary of ten dollars a week.
During the past twelve or fifteen years, I presume his
weekly receipts, when he has acted, have been nearly
$3,000. The late Miss Mary Gannon also commenced
at the Museum, and many more actors and actresses of
celebrity have been, from time to time, engaged there.
What was once the small Lecture Room was converted
into a spacious and beautiful theatre, extending over
THE HO AD TO ETCHES. 135
the lots adjoining the Museum, and capable of holding
about three thousand persons. The saloons were greatly
multiplied and enlarged, and the " egress " having been
made to work to perfection, on holidays I advertised
Lecture Room performances every hour through the
afternoon and evening, and consequently the actors and
actresses were dressed for the stage as early as eleven
o clock in the morning, and did not resume their ordi
nary clothes till ten o clock at night. In these busy days
the meals for the company were brought in and served
in the dressing-rooms and green-rooms, and the com
pany always received extra pay.
Leaving nothing undone that would bring Barnum
and his Museum before the public, I often engaged
some exhibition, knowing that it would directly bring
no extra dollars to the treasury, but hoping that it would
incite a newspaper paragraph which would float through
the columns of the American press and be copied, per
haps, abroad, and my hopes in this respect were often
gratified.
I confess that I liked the Museum mainly for the
opportunities it afforded for rapidly making money.
Before I bought it, I weighed the matter well in my
mind, and was convinced that I could present to the
American public such a variety, quantity and quality of
amusement, blended with instruction, " all for twenty-
five cents, children half price," that my attractions
would be irresistible, and my fortune certain. I myself
relished a higher grade of amusement, and I was a fre
quent attendant at the opera, first-class concerts, lectures,
and the like ; but I worked for the million, and I knew
the only way to make a million from my patrons was to
give them abundant and wholesome attractions for a
small sum of money.
136 THE EOAD TO BICHES.
About the first of July, 1842, I began to make
arrangements for extra novelties, additional perform
ances, a large amount of extra advertising, and an out
door display for the " Glorious Fourth." Large parti
colored bills were ordered, transparencies were prepared,
the free band of music was augmented by a trumpeter,
and columns of advertisements, headed with large capi
tals, were written and put on file.
I wanted to run out a string of American flags across
the street on that day, for I knew there would be thou
sands of people passing the Museum with leisure and
pocket-money, and I felt confident that an unusual
display of national flags would arrest their patriotic
attention, and bring many of them within my walls.
Unfortunately for my purpose, St. Paul s Church stood
directly opposite, and there was nothing to which I
could attach my flag-rope, unless it might be one of the
trees in the church-yard. I went to the vestrymen for
permission to so attach my flag rope on the Fourth of
July, and they were indignant at what they called my
" insulting proposition " ; such a concession would be
" sacrilege." I plied them with arguments, and ap
pealed to their patriotism, but in vain.
Returning to the Museum I gave orders to have the
string of flags made ready, with directions at daylight
on the Fourth of July to attach one end of the rope to
one of tbe third story windows of the Museum, and the
other end to a tree in St. Paul s churchyard. The great
day arrived, and my orders were strictly followed. The
flags attracted great attention, and before nine o clock I
have no doubt that hundreds of additional visitors were
drawn by this display into the Museum. By half-past
nine Broadway was thronged, and about that time two
THE BO AD TO RICHES. 137
gentlemen in a high state of excitement rushed into my
office, announcing themselves as injured and insulted
vestrymen of St. Paul s Church.
"Keep cool, gentlemen," said I; "I guess it is all
right."
"Eight!" indignantly exclaimed one of them, "do
you think it is right to attach your Museum to our
Church ? We will show you what is right and what
is law, if we live till to-morrow ; those flags must come
down instantly."
" Thank you," I said, " but let us not be in a hurry.
I will go out with you and look at them, and I guess
we can make it all right."
Going into the street I remarked : " Really, gentle
men, these flags look very beautiful ; they do not injure
your tree ; I always stop my balcony music for your ac
commodation whenever you hold week-day services, and
it is but fair that you should return the favor."
" We could indict your music, as you call it, as a
nuisance, if we chose," answered one vestryman, " and
now I tell you that if these flags are not taken down
in ten minutes, I will cut them down."
His indignation was at the boiling point. The crowd
in the street was dense, and the angry gesticulation of
the vestryman attracted their attention. I saw there
was no use in trying to parley with him or coax him,
arid so, assuming an angry air, I rolled up my sleeves,
i and exclaimed, in a loud tone,
" Well, Mister, I should just like to see you dare
to cut down the American flag on the Fourth of July ;
you must be a Britisher to make such a threat as
that ; but I ll show you a thousand pairs of Yankee
hands in two minutes, if you dare to attempt to take
138 THE BO AD TO RICHES.
down the stars and stripes on this great birth-day
of American freedom ! "
" What s that John Bull a-saying," asked a brawny
fellow, placing himself in front of the irate vestryman ;
" Look here, old fellow," he continued, " if you want to
save a whole bone in your body, you had better slope,
and never dare to talk again about hauling down
the American flag in the city "of New York."
Throngs of excited, exasperated men crowded around,
and the vestryman, seeing the effect of my ruse,
smiled faintly and said, " Oh, of course it is all right,"
and he and his companion quietly edged out of the
crowd. The flags remained up all day and all night.
The next morning I sought the vanquished vestrymen
and obtained formal permission to make this use of the
tree on following holidays, in consideration of my
willingness to arrest the doleful strains of my discord
ant balcony band whenever services were held on week
days in the church.
On that Fourth of July, at one o clock, P. M., my
LIuseum was so densely crowded that we could admit
no more visitors, and we were compelled to stop the sale
of tickets. I pushed through the throng until I reached
the roof of the building, hoping to find room for a few
more, but it was in vain. Looking down into the street
it was a sad sight to see the thousands of people
who stood ready with their money to enter the Museum,
but who were actually turned away. It was exceed
ingly harrowing to my feelings. Eushing down stairs,
I told my carpenter and his assistants to cut through
the partition and floor in the rear and to put in a
temporary flight of stairs so as to let out people by that
egress into Ann Street. By three o clock the egress
THE BO AD TO RICHES. 139
was opened and a few people were passed down the
new stairs, while a corresponding number came in
at the front. But I lost a large amount of money that
day by not having sufficiently estimated the value of
my own advertising, and consequently not having pro
vided for the thousands who had read my announce
ments and seen my outside show, and had taken the
first leisure day to visit the Museum. I had learned
one lesson, however, and that was to have the egress
ready on future holidays.
Early in the following March, I received notice from
some of the Irish population that they meant to visit
me in great numbers on " St. Patrick s day in the morn
ing." " All right," said I to my carpenter, " get your
egress ready for March 17 "; and I added, to my assistant
manager: "If there is much of a crowd, don t let a
single person pass out at the front, even if it were St.
Patrick himself; put every man out through the egress
in the rear." The day came, and before noon we were
caught in the same dilemma as we were on the Fourth of
July ; the Museum was jammed and the sale of tickets was
stopped. I went to the egress and asked the sentinel
how many hundreds had passed out]
" Hundreds," he replied, " why only three persons
have gone out by this way and they came back, saying
that it was a mistake and begging to be let in again."
"What does this mean?" I inquired ; " surely thou
sands of people have been all over the Museum since
they came in."
" Certainly," was the reply, " but after they have
gone from one saloon to another and have been on
every floor, even to the roof, they come down and
travel the same route over again."
i.
110 THE KOAD TO RICHES.
At this time I espied a tall Irish woman with two
good-sized children whom I had happened to notice
when they came in early in the morning."
" Step this way, madam," said I politely, "yon will
never be able to get into the street by the front door
without crushing these dear children. We have opened
a large egress here and yon can pass by these rear stairs
into Ann Street and thus avoid all danger;"
" Sure," replied tl^e woman> indignantly, " an I m not
going out at all, at all, nor the children aither, for we ve
brought our dinners and we are going to stay all day."
Further investigation showed that pretty much all
<*f my visitors had brought their dinners with the
evident intention of literally " making a day of it." No
one expected to go home till night ; the building was
overcrowded, and meanwhile hundreds were waiting at
/he front entrance to get in when, they could. In
despair I sauntered upon the- stage behind the scenes,
biting my lips with vexation, when I happened to see
the scene-painter at work -and a happy thought struck
me : " Here," I exclaimed, " take a piece of canvas four
feet square, and paint on it, as soon as you can, in large
letters
SSF-TO THE EGRESS."
Seizing his brush he finished the sign in fifteen minutes,
and I directed the carpenter to nail it ov.er the door
leading to the back stairs.. .He did so, and as the
crowd, after making the entire tour of the establish^
ment, came pouring down the main stairs from the
third story, -.they stopped and looked at the new sign,
while some of them read audibly: " To the Aigress."
" The Aigress," said others, " sure: that s an animal
we have n t seen, and the throng began to pour down
THE KOAD TO RICHES.
the back stairs only to find that the " Aigress " was the
elephant, and that the elephant was all out o doors, or
so much of it as began with Ann Street. Meanwhile,
I began to accommodate those who had long been
waiting with their money at the Broadway entrance.
Notwithstanding my continual outlays for additional
novelties and attractions, or rather I might say, because
of these outlays, money poured in upon me so rapidly
that I was sometimes actually embarrassed to devise
means to carry out my original plan for laying out the
entire profits of the first year in advertising. I meant
to sow first and reap afterwards. I finally hit upon a
plan which cost a large sum, and that was to prepare
large oval oil paintings to be placed between the windows
of the entire building, representing nearly every impor
tant animal known in zoology. These paintings were
put on the building in a single night, and so complete
a transformation in the appearance of an edifice is
seldom witnessed. When the living stream rolled
down Broadway the next morning and reached the
Astor House corner, opposite the Museum, it seemed
to meet with a sudden check. I . never before saw
so many open mouths and astonished eyes. .Some
people were puzzled to know what it all meant ; some
looked as if they thought it was an enchanted palace
that had suddenly sprung up ; others exclaimed,
"Well, the animals all seem to have broken out last
night," and hundreds came in to see how the establish
ment suryived the sudden eruption. At all events,
from that morning the Museum receipts took a jump
forward of nearly a hundred dollars a day, and they
never fell back again. Strangers would .look at this
great pictorial magazine and argue that an establish-
THE ROAD TO RICHES.
ment with so many animals on the outside must have
something on the inside, and in they would go to see.
Inside, I took particular pains to please and astonish
these strangers, and when they went back to the
country, they carried plenty of pictorial bills and
lithographs, which I always lavishly furnished, and thus
the fame of Barnum s Museum became so widespread,
that people scarcely thought of visiting the city
without going to my establishment.
In fact, the Museum had become an established insti
tution in the land. Now and then some one would cry
out " humbug" and " charlatan," but so much the bet
ter for me. It helped to advertise me, and I was
willing to bear the reputation and I engaged queer
curiosities, and even monstrosities, simply to add to the
notoriety of the Museum.
Dr. Valentine will be remembered by many as a man
who gave imitations and delineations of eccentric charac
ters. He was quite a card at the Museum when I first
purchased that establishment, and before I introduced
dramatic representations into the " Lecture Room."
His representations were usually given as follows : A
small table was placed in about the centre of the stage ;
a curtain reaching to the floor covered the front and two
ends of the table ; under this table, on little shelves and
hooks, were placed caps, hats, coats, wigs, moustaches,
curls, cravats, and shirt collars, and all sorts of gear for
changing the appearance of the upper portion of the
person. Dr. Valentine would seat himself in a chair
behind the table, and addressing his audience, would
state his intention to represent different peculiar char
acters, male and female, including the Yankee tin
peddler ; " Tabitha Twist," a maiden lady ; " Sam Slick,
THE ROAD TO EICHES. 143
Jr.," the precocious author ; " Solomon Jenkins," a crusty
old bachelor, with a song ; the down-east school-teacher
with his refractory pupils, with many other characters ;
and he simply asked the indulgence of the audience for
a few seconds between each imitation, to enable him to
stoop down behind the table and " dress " each character
appropriately.
The Doctor himself was a most eccentric character.
He was very nervous, and was always fretting lest
his audience should be composed of persons who
would not appreciate his " imitations." During one of
his engagements the Lecture Room performances con
sisted of negro minstrelsy and Dr. Valentine s imita
tions. As the minstrels gave the entire first half of
the entertainment, the Doctor would post himself at the
entrance to the Museum to study the character of the
visitors from their appearance. He fancied that he was
a great reader of character in this way, and as most
of my visitors were from the country, the Doctor, after
closely perusing their faces, would decide that they
were not the kind of persons who would appreciate
his efforts, and this made him extremely nervous.
When this idea was once in his head, it took complete
possession of the poor Doctor, and worked him up into
a nervous excitement which it was often painful to
behold. Every country-looking face was a dagger to
the Doctor, for he had a perfect horror of exhibiting to
an unappreciative audience. When so much excited
that he could stand at the door no longer, the disgusted
Doctor would come into my office and pour out his
lamentations in this wise :
" There, Barnum, I never saw such a stupid lot of
country bumpkins in my life. I shan t be able to get a
144 THE EOAD TO INCHES.
smile out of them. I had rather be horse-whipped
than attempt to satisfy an audience who have not
got the brains to appreciate me. Sir, mine is a highly
intellectual entertainment, and none but refined and
educated persons can comprehend it."
" Oh, I think you will make them laugh some,
Doctor," I replied.
" Laugh, sir, laugh ! why, sir, they have no laugh in
them, sir ; and if they had, your devilish nigger min
strels would get it all out of them before I com
menced."
" Do n t get excited, Doctor," I said ; " you will please
the people."
"Impossible, sir! I was a fool to ever permit my
entertainment to be mixed up with that of nigger sing
ers."
" But you could not give an ,entire entertainment sat
isfactorily to the public ; they want more, variety."
" Then you should have got something , more refined,
sir. Why, one of those cursed nigger breakdowns
excites your audience so they don t want to hear a word
from me. At all events, I ought to commence the enter
tainment and let the niggers finish up. I tell you, Mr.
Barnum, I won t stand it ! I would rather go to the
poor-house. I won t stay here over a fortnight longer !
It is killing me ! "
} In this excited state the Doctor would go upon the
stage, dressed very neatly in a suit of black. Address
ing a few pleasant words to the audience, he would
then take a seat behind his little table, and with abroad
smile covering his countenance would ask the audience
to excuse him a few seconds, and he would appear as
"Tabitha Twist," a literary spinster of . fifty-five. On
THE BO AD TO RICHES. 145
these occasions I was usually behind the scenes, stand
ing at one of the wings opposite the Doctor s table,
where I could see and hear all that occurred "behind
the curtain." The moment the Doctor was down behind
the table, a wonderful change came over that smiling
countenance.
" Blast this infernal, stupid audience! they would
not laugh to save the city of New York ! " said the
Doctor, while he rapidly slipped on a lady s cap and a
pair of long curls. Then, while arranging a lace
handkerchief around his shoulders, he would grate
his teeth and curse the Museum, its manager, the
audience and everybody else. The instant the hand
kerchief was pinned, the broad smile would come upon
his face, and up would go his head and shoulders show
ing to the audience a rollicking specimen of a good-
natured old maid.
" How do you do, ladies and gentlemen ? You all know
me, Tabitha Twist, the happiest maiden in the village ;
always laughing. Now, I ll sing you one of my pret
tiest songs."
The mock maiden would then sing a lively, funny
ditty, followed by faint applause, and down would bob
the head behind the table to prepare for a presentation ,
of " Sam Slick, junior."
^ " Curse such a set of fools" (off goes the cap, fol
lowed by the curls). " They think it s a country Sunday
school " (taking off the lace handkerchief). " I expect
they will hiss me next, the donkeys " (on goes a light
wig of long, flowing hair). " I wish the old Museum
was sunk in the Atlantic " (puts on a Yankee round-
jacket, and broadbrimmed hat). " I never will be caught
in this infernal place, curse it;" up jump head and
14:6 t CCHE ROAD TO RICHES,
shoulders of the Yankee, and Sam Slick, junior, sings
out a merry
"Ha! ha! why, folks, how de dew. Darn glad to
&ee you, by hokey ; I came down here to have lots of
fun, for you know I always believe we must laugh and
grow fat."
After five minutes of similar rollicking nonsense,
down would bob the head again, and the cursing,
swearing, tearing, and teeth-grating would commence,
and continue till the next character appeared to the
audience, bedecked with smiles and good-humor.
On several occasions I got up " Baby shows," at
which I paid liberal prizes for the finest baby, the
fattest baby, the handsomest twins, for triplets, and so
on. I always gave several months notice of these
intended shows and limited the number of babies at
each exhibition to one hundred. Long before the
appointed time, the list would be full and I have known
many a fond mother to weep bitterly because the time
for application was closed and she could not have the
opportunity to exhibit her beautiful baby. These shows
were as popular as they were unique, and while they
paid in a financial point of view, my chief object in
getting them up was to set the newspapers to talking
about me, thus giving another blast on the trumpet
which I always tried to keep blowing for the Museum.
Flower shows, dog shows, poultry shows and bird shows,
were held at intervals in my establishment and in each
instance the same end was attained as by the baby
shows. I gave prizes in the shape of medals, money
and diplomas and the whole came back to me four-fold
in the shape of advertising.
There was great difficulty, however, in awarding the
THE BO AD TO BICHE&, 147
principal prize of $100 at the baby shows. Every
mother thought her own baby the brightest and best, and
confidently expected the capital prize.
For where was ever seen the mother
Would give her baby for another?
Not foreseeing this when I first stepped into the
expectant circle and announced in a matter of fact way
that a committee of ladies had decided upon the baby of
Mrs. So and So as entitled to the leading prize, I was
ill-prepared for the storm of indignation that arose on
every side. Ninety-nine disappointed, and as they
thought, deeply injured, mothers made common cause
and pronounced the successful little one the meanest,
homeliest baby in the lot, and roundly abused me and my
committee for our stupidity and partiality. "Very
well, ladies," said I in the first instance, " select a com
mittee of your own and I will give another $100 prize
to the baby you shall pronounce to be the best specimen."
This was only throwing oil upon flame ; the ninety-nine
confederates were deadly enemies from the moment and
no new babies were presented in competition for the
second prize. Thereafter, I took good care to send in
a written report and did not attempt to announce the
prize in person.
At the first exhibition of the kind, there was a vague,
yet very current rumor, that in the haste of departure
from the Museum several young mothers had exchanged
babies (for the babies Avere nearly all of the same age
and were generally dressed alike) and did not discover
the mistake till they arrived home and some such con
versation as this occurred between husband and wife :
" Did our baby take the prize ? "
" No ! the darling was cheated out of it."
148 THE KO AD TO RICHES.
" Well, why did n t you bring home the same baby you
carried to the Museum ] "
I am glad to say that I could not trace this cruel
rumor to an authentic source.
In June 1843, a herd of yearling buffaloes was on
exhibition in Boston. I bought the lot, brought them
to New Jersey, hired the race course at Hoboken, char
tered the ferry-boats for one day, and advertised that a
hunter had arrived with a herd of buffaloes I was
careful not to state their age and that August 3 1st
there would be a " Grand Buffalo Hunt " on the Hobo-
ken race course all persons to be admitted free of
charge.
The appointed day was warm and delightful, and no
less than twenty-four thousand people crossed the North
River in tl;e ferry-boats to enjoy the cooling breeze and
to see the " Grand Buffalo Hunt." The hunter was
dressed as an Indian, and mounted on horseback ; he
proceeded to show how the wild buffalo is captured
w T ith a lasso, but unfortunately the yearlings would not
run till the crowd gave a great shout, expressive at once
of derision and delight at the harmless humbug. This
shout started the young animals into a weak gallop and
the lasso was duly thrown over the head of the largest
calf. The crowd roared with laughter, listened to my
balcony band, which I also furnished " free," and then
started for New York, little dreaming who was the
author of this sensation, or what was its object.
Mr. N. P. Willis, then editor of the Home Journal,
wrote an article illustrating the perfect good nature with
which the American public submit to a clever humbug.
He said that he went to Hoboken to witness the Buffalo
Hunt. It was nearly four o clock when the boat left
THE ROAD TO KICHES.
the foot of Barclay Street, and it was so densely
crowded that many persons were obliged to stand on the
railings and hold on to the awning posts. When they
reached the Hoboken side a boat equally crowded was
coming out of the slip. The passengers just arriving
cried out to those who were coming away, " Is the
Buffalo Hunt over 1 ?" To which came the reply, "Yes,
and it was the biggest humbug you ever heard of!"
Willis added that passengers on the boat with him
instantly gave three cheers for the author of the
humbug, whoever he might be.
After the public had enjoyed a laugh for several days
over the Hoboken " Free Grand Buffalo Hunt," I per
mitted it to be announced that the proprietor of the
American Museum was responsible for the joke, thus
using the buffalo hunt as a sky-rocket to attract public
attention to my Museum. The object was accomplished
and although some people cried out " humbug," I had
added to the notoriety which I so much wanted and I
was satisfied. As for the cry of " humbug," it never
harmed me, and I was in the position of the actor who
had much rather be roundly abused than not to be
noticed at all. I ought to add, that the forty-eight
thousand sixpences the usual fare received for
ferry fares, less what I paid for the charter of the
boats on that one day, more than remunerated me for
the cost of the buffaloes and the expenses of the
" hunt," and the enormous gratuitous advertising of the
Museum must also be placed to my credit.
With the same object that is, advertising my Mu
seum, I purchased, for $500, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a
" Woolly Horse " I found on exhibition in that city. It
was a well formed, small sized horse, with no mane.
150 THE ROAD TO RICHES.
and not a particle of hair on his tail, while his entire
body and legs were covered with thick, fine hair or
wool, which curled tight to his skin. This horse was
foaled in Indiana, and was a remarkable freak of nature,
and certainly a very curious looking animal.
I had not the remotest idea, when I bought this horse,
what I should do with him ; but when the news came
that Colonel John C. Fremont (who was supposed to
have been lost in the snows of the Rocky Mountains)
was in safety, the " Woolly Horse " was exhibited in
New York, and was widely advertised as a most re
markable animal that had been captured by the great
explorer s party in the passes of ike Eocky Mountains.
The exhibition met with only moderate success in New
York, ,and in several Northern provincial towns, and
the show would have -fallen -flat in Washington, had it
not been for the over-zeal of Colonel Thomas H. Ben-
ton, then a United States Senator from Missouri. He
went to the show, and then caused the arrest of my
agent for obtaining twenty-five cents from him under
" false pretences." No mention had been made of this
curious animal in any letter he had received from his
son-in-law, Colonel John C. Fremont, and therefore the
Woolly Horse had not been captured by any of Fre
mont s party. The reasoning was hardly as sound as
were most of the arguments of " Old Bullion," and the
case was dismissed. After a few days of merriment,
public curiosity no longer turned in that direction, and
the old horse was permitted to retire to private life.
My object in the exhibition, however, was fully attained.
When it was generally known that the proprietor of the
American Museum was also the owner of the famous
" Woolly Horse," it caused yet more talk about me
THE KO AD TO EICHES. 151
and my establishment, and visitors began to say that
they would give more to see the proprietor of the Mu
seum than to view the entire collection of curiosities.
As for my ruse in advertising the " Woolly Horse " as
having been captured by Fremont s exploring party, of
course the announcement neither added to nor took
from the interest, of the exhibition ; but it arrested pub
lic attention, and it was the only feature of the show
that I now care to forget.
It will be seen that very much of the success which
attended my many years proprietorship of the Amer
ican Museum was due to advertising, and especially
to my odd methods of advertising. Always claiming
that I had curiosities worth sho.wing and worth seeing,
and exhibited " dog cheap" at cc twenty-five cents admis
sion, children half price "-T- I studied ways to arrest
public attention .; to startle, to make people talk and
wonder ; in short,, to let the world know that I had a;
Museum.
About this time, I engaged a band of Indians from
Iowa. They had never seen a railroad or steamboat
until they saw them on the route from Iowa to New
York. Of course they were wild and had but faint
ideas of civilization. The party comprised large and
noble specimens of the untutored savage, as well as
several very beautiful squaws, with two or three inter
esting " papooses." They lived and lodged in a large
room on the top floor of the Museum, and cooked their
own victuals in their own way. They gave their war-
dances on the stage in the Lecture Room with great
vigor and enthusiasm, much to the satisfaction of the
audiences. But these wild Indians seemed to consider
their dances as realities. Hence when they gave a real
152 THE EOAD TO EICHES.
War Dance, it was dangerous for any parties,
except their manager and interpreter, to be on the
stage, for the moment they had finished their war
dance, they began to leap and peer about behind the
scenes in search of victims for their tomahawks and
scalping knives ! Indeed, lest in these frenzied
moments they might make a dash at the orchestra or
the audience, we had a high rope barrier placed
between them and the savages on the front of the stage.
After they had been a week in the Museum, I pro
posed a change of performance for the week following,
by introducing new dances. Among these was
the Indian Wedding Dance. At that time I printed but
one set of posters (large bills) per week, so that what
ever was announced for Monday, was repeated every
day and evening during that week. Before the
Wedding Dance came off on Monday afternoon, I was
informed that I was to provide a large new red woollen
blanket, at a cost of ten dollars, for the bridegroom
to present to the father of the bride. I ordered the
purchase to be made ; but was considerably taken
aback, when I was informed that I must have another
new blanket for the evening, inasmuch as the savage
old Indian Chief, father-in-law to the bridegroom,
would not consent to his daughter s being approached
with the Wedding Dance unless he had his blanket
present.
I undertook to explain to the chief, through the inter
preter, that this was only a " make believe " wedding ;
but the old savage shrugged his shoulders, and gave such
a terrific " Ugh ! " that I was glad to make my peace
by ordering another blanket. As we gave two perform
ances per day, I was out of pocket $120 for twelve
* wedding blankets," that week,
THE EOAt) TO BICHES. 153
One of the beautiful squaws named Do-humme died in
the Museum. She had been a great favorite with many
ladies, among whom I can especially name Mrs. C. M.
Sawyer, wife of the Eev. Dr. T. J. Sawyer. Do-humme
was buried on the border of Sylvan Water, at Greenwood
Cemetery, where a small monument, erected by her
friends, designates her last resting place.
The poor Indians were very sorrowful for many days,
and desired to get back again to their western wilds.
The father and the betrothed of Do-humme cooked
various dishes of food and placed them upon the roof
of the Museum, where they believed the spirit of their
departed friend came daily for its supply ; and these
dishes were renewed every morning during the stay of
the Indians at the Museum.
It was sometimes very amusing to hear the remarks
of strangers who came to visit my Museum. One after
noon a prim maiden lady from Portland, Maine, walked
into my private office, where I was busily engaged in
writing, and taking a seat on the sofa she asked:
" Is this Mr. Barnum ? "
" It is," I replied.
" Is this Mr. P. T. Barnum, the proprietor of the
Museum I " she asked.
" The same," was my answer.
" Why, really, Mr. Barnum," she continued, " you
look much like other common folks, after all."
I remarked that I presumed I did ; but I could not help
it, and I hoped she was not disappointed at my appear
ance.
" Oh, no," she said ; " I suppose I have no right to
be disappointed, but I have read and heard so much
about you and your Museum that I was quite prepared
to be astonished."
154 THE ROAD TO ETCHES,
I asked her if she had been through the establish
ment.
" I have," she replied ; " I came in immediately after
breakfast ; I have been here ever since, and, I can say I
think with the Queen of Sheba, that the half had not
been told me. But, Mr. Barnum," she: continued, " I have
long felt a desire to see you ; I wanted to attend when
you lectured on temperance in Portland, but I had a
severe cold and could not go out."
" Do you like my collection as well as you do the one
in the Boston Museum ? " I asked.
" Dear me ! Mr. Barnum," said she, " I never went
to any Museum before, nor to any place of amusement
or public entertainment, excepting our school exhibi
tions ; and I have sometimes felt that they even may be
wicked, /or some parts of the dialogues seemed frivo
lous ; but I have heard so much of your moral drama
and the great good you are doing for the rising genera
tion that I thought I must corne here and see for
myself."
" We represent the pathetic story of Charlotte Tem
ple in the Lecture Room to-day," I remarked, with an
inward chuckle at the peculiarities of my singular visi
tor, who, although she was nearly fifty years of age>
had probably never been in an audience of a hundred
persons, unless it might be at a school exhibition, or in
Sunday school, or in church.
, " Indeed ! I am quite familiar with the sad history of
Miss Temple, and I think I can derive, great consolation
from witnessing the representation of the touching
story."
At this moment the gong sounded to announce the
opening of the Lecture Room, and the crowd passed on
THE BO AD TO EICHES. 155
in haste to secure seats. My spinster visitor sprang to
her feet and anxiously inquired :
" Are the services about to commence "? "
"Yes," I replied, "the congregation is now going
up."
She marched along with the crowd as demurely as if
she was going to a funeral. After she was seated, I
watched her, and in the course of the play I noticed
that she was several times so much overcome as to be
moved to tears. She was very much affected, and when
the " services " were over, without seeking another in
terview with me, she went silently and tearfully away.
One day, two city boys who had thoroughly explored
the wonders of the Museum, on .their way out passed
the open door of my private office, and seeing me sitting
there, one of them exclaimed to his companion :
" There ! That s Mr. Barnum."
" No ! is it ? " asked the other, and then with his mind
full of the glories of the stuifed gander-skins, and other
wealth which had been displayed to his wondering eyes
in the establishment, he summed up his views of the
vastness and value of the whole collection, and its fortu
nate proprietor in a single sentence :
" Well, he s an awful rich old cuss, ain t he ! "
Those boys evidently took a strictly financial view of
the establishment.
CHAPTER X.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
?E ALE S MUSEUM MYSTERIOUS MESMERISM YANKEE HILL HENRY BENNETT
THE RIVAL MUSEUMS THE ORPHEAN AND ORPHAN FAMILIES THE FUDG-
EE MERMAID BUYING OUT MY RIVAL RUNNING OPPOSITION TO MYSELF
ABOLISHING THEATRICAL NUISANCES NO CHECKS AND NO BAR THE
MUSEUM MY MANIA MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES S. STRATTON
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN NEW YORK RE-ENGAGEMENT AN APT PUPIL-
FREE FROM DEBT THE PROFITS OF TWO YEARS IN SEARCH OF A NEW
FIELD STARTING FOR LIVERPOOL THE GOOD SHIP "YORKSHIRE" MY
PARTY ESCORT TO SANDY HOOK THE VOYAGE A TOBACCO TRICK A
BRAGGING JOHN BULL OUTWITTED ARRIVAL AT LIVERPOOL A GENTLEMAN
BEGGAR MADAME CELESTE CHEAP DWARFS TWO-PENNY SHOWS EXHI
BITION OF GENERAL TOM THUMB IN LIVERPOOL FIRST-CLASS ENGAGEMENT
FOR LONDON.
THE president and directors of the " New York
Museum Company " not only failed to buy the American
Museum as they confidently expected to do, but, after
my newspaper squib war and my purchase of the
Museum, they found it utterly impossible to sell their
stock. By some arrangement, the particulars of which
I do not remember, if, indeed, I ever cared to know
them, Mr. Peale was conducting Peale s Museum which
he claimed was a more " scientific " establishment than
mine, and he pretended to appeal to a higher class of
patrons. Mesmerism was one of his scientific attrac
tions, and he had a subject upon whom he operated at
times with the greatest seeming success, and fairly
astonished his audiences. But there were times when
the subject was wholly unimpressible and then those
who had paid their money to see the woman put into
the mesmeric state cried out" humbug," and the reputa
tion of the establishment seriously suffered.
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 157
j
It devolved upon me to open a rival mesmeric per
formance, and accordingly I engaged a bright little girl
who was exceedingly susceptible to such mesmeric influ
ences as I could induce. That is, she learned her
lesson thoroughly, and when I had apparently put her
to sleep with a few passes and stood behind her, she
seemed to be duly " impressed " as I desired ; raised
her hands as I willed ; fell from her chair to the floor ;
and if I put candy or tobacco into my mouth, she was
duly delighted or disgusted. She never failed in these
routine performances. Strange to say, believers in
mesmerism used to witness her performances with the
greatest pleasure and adduce them as positive proofs
that there was something in mesmerism, and they
applauded tremendously up to a certain point.
That point was reached, when leaving the girl
"asleep," I called up some one in the audience, promis
ing to put him " in the same state " within five minutes,
or forfeit fifty dollars. Of course, all my "passes"
would not put any man in the mesmeric state ; at the (
end of three minutes he was as wide awake as ever.
"Never mind," I would say, looking at my watch;
" I have two minutes more, and meantime, to show that
a person in this state is utterly insensible to pain, I pro
pose to cut off one of the fingers of the little girl who is
still asleep." I would then take out my knife and feel
of the edge, and when I turned around to the girl whom
I left on the chair she had fled behind the scenes to the
intense amusement of the greater part of the audience
and to the amazement of the mesmerists who were
present.
Why ! where s my little girl 1" I asked with feigned
astonishment.
158 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
" Oh ! she ran away when you began to talk about
cutting off fingers."
" Then she was wide awake, was she I "
" Of course she was, all the time."
" I suppose so ; and, my dear sir, I promised that you
should be in the same state at the end of five min
utes, and as I believe you are so, I do not forfeit fifty
dollars."
I kept up this performance for several weeks, till I
quite killed Peale s " genuine " mesmerism in the rival
establishment. After Peale, " Yankee " Hill undertook
the management of that Museum, but in a little while
he failed. It was then let to Henry Bennett, who
reduced the entrance price to one shilling, - a half
price which led me to characterize his concern as
"cheap and nasty," and he began a serious rivalry
with my Museum. His main reliances were burlesques
and caricatures of whatever novelties I was exhibiting ;
thus, when I advertised an able company of vocalists,
well-known as the Orphean Family, Bennett announced
the " Orphan Family ; " my Fejee Mermaid he offset
with a figure made of a monkey and codfish joined
together and called the " Fudg-ee Mermaid." These
things created some laughter at my expense, but they
also served to advertise my Museum.
When the novelty of this opposition died away,
Bennett did a decidedly losing business. I used to send
a man with a shilling to his place every night and I
knew exactly how much he was doing and what were
his receipts. The holidays were coming and might tide
him over a day or two, but he was at the very bottom
and I said to him, one day:
" Bennett, if you can keep open one. week after
New Year s I will give you a hundred dollars."
.ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 159
He made every effort to win the money, and even
went to the landlord and offered him the entire
receipts for a week if he would only let him stay
there ; but he would not do it, and the day after New
Year s, January 2, 1843, Bennett shut up shop, hav
ing lost his last dollar and even failing to secure
the handsome premium I offered him.
The entire collection fell into the hands of the land
lord for arrearages of rent, and I privately purchased
it for $7,000 cash, hired the building, and secretly
engaged Bennett as my agent. We ran a very spirited
opposition for a long time and abused each other ter
ribly in public. It was very amusing when actors
and performers failed to make terms with one of us
and went to the other, carrying from one to the other
the price each was willing to pay for an engagement.
We thus used to hear extraordinary stories about each
other s "liberal terms," but between 1 the two we man
aged to secure such persons as we wanted at about
the rates at which their services were really worth.
While these people were thus running from one man
ager to the other, supposing we were rivals, Bennett said
to me one day :
" You and I are like a pair of shears; we seem to
cut each other, but we only cut what comes between."
I ran my opposition long enough to beat myself. It
answered every purpose, however, in awakening pub
lic attention to my Museum, and was an advantage in
preventing others from starting a genuine opposition.
At the end of six months, the whole establishment,
including the splendid gallery of American portraits, was
removed to the American Museum and I immediately
advertised the great card of a " Double attraction " and
" Two Museums in One," without extra charge.
160 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
A Museum proper obviously depends for patronage
largely upon country people who visit the city with
a worthy curiosity to see the novelties of the town. As
I had opened a dramatic entertainment in connection
with my curiosities, it was clear that I must adapt
my stage to the wants of my country customers.
While I was disposed to amuse my provincial patrons, I
was determined that there should be nothing in my estab
lishment, where many of my visitors would derive their
first impressions of city life, that could contaminate
or corrupt them. At this period, it was customary
to tolerate very considerable license on the stage.
Things were said and done and permitted in theatres
that elsewhere would have been pronounced highly
improper. The public seemed to demand these things,
and it is an axiom in political economy, that the demand
must regulate the supply. But I determined, at the
start, that, let the demand be what it might, the Museum
dramatic entertainments should be unexceptionable on
the score of morality.
i nave already mentioned some of the immediate
reforms 1 made in the abuses of the stage. I went
farther, and, at the risk of some pecuniary sacrifice,
I abolished what was common enough in other theatres,
even the most " respectable," and was generally known
as the " third tier." Nor was a bar permitted on my
premises. To be sure, I had no power to prevent my
patrons from going out between the acts and getting
liquor if they chose to do so, and I gave checks, as
is done in other theatres, and some of my city customers
availed themselves of the opportunity to go out for
drinks and return again. Practically, then, it was much
the same as if I had kept a bar in the Museum, and so
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 161
I abolished the check business. There was great
reason to apprehend that such a course would rob me
of the patronage of a considerable class of play-goers,
but I rigidly adhered to the new rule, and what I may
have lost in money, I more than gained in the greater
decorum which characterized my audiences.
The Museum became a mania with me and I made
everything possible subservient to it. On the eve of
elections, rival politicians would ask me for whom I
was going to vote, and my answer invariably was,
" I vote for the American Museum." In fact, at that
time, I cared very little about politics, and a great
deal about my business. Meanwhile the Museum
prospered wonderfully, and everything I attempted
or engaged in seemed at the outset an assured suc
cess.
The giants whom I exhibited from time to time
were always literally great features in my establish
ment, and they oftentimes afforded me, as well as my
patrons, food for much amusement as well as wonder.
The Quaker giant, Hales, was quite a wag in his way.
He went once to see the new house of an acquaint
ance who had suddenly become rich, but who was a
very ignorant man. When he came back he described
the wonders of the mansion and said that the proud
proprietor showed him everything from basement to
attic ; parlors, bed-rooms, dining room, and," said Hales,
" what he called his c study meaning, I suppose, the
place where he intends to study his spelling-book ! "
I had at one time two famous men, the French giant,
M. Bihin, a very slim man, and the Arabian giant,
Colonel Goshen. These men generally got on together
very well, though, of course, each was jealous of the
8
162 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
other, and of the attention the rival received, or the
notice he attracted. One day they quarrelled, and a
lively interchange of compliments ensued, the Ara
bian calling the Frenchman a " Shanghai," and receiving
in return the epithet of " Nigger." From words both
were eager to proceed to blows, and both ran to my
collection of arms, one seizing the club with which
Captain Cook or any other man might have been killed,
if it were judiciously wielded, and the other laying hands
on a sword of the terrific size which is supposed to have
been conventional in the days of the Crusades. The
preparations for a deadly encounter, and the high words
of the contending parties brought a dozen of the
Museum attaches to the spot, and these men threw
themselves between the gigantic combatants. Hearing
the disturbance, I ran from my private office to the
duelling ground, and said :
" Look here ! This is all right ; if you want to fight
each other, maiming and perhaps killing one or both of
you, that is your affair; but my interest lies here you
are both under engagement to me, and if this duel is to
come off, I and the public have a right to participate.
It must be duly advertised, and must take place on the
stage of the Lecture Room. No performance of yours
would be a greater attraction, and if you kill each
other, our engagement can end with your duel."
This proposition, made in apparent earnest, so de
lighted the giants that they at once burst into a laugh,
shook hands, and quarrelled no more.
I now come to the details of one of the most interest
ing, as well as successful, of all the show enterprises in
which I have engaged one which not only taxecj. all
my ingenuity and industry, but which gave unqualified
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 163
delight to thousands of people on two continents and
put enormous sums of money into many pockets besides
my own.
In November, 1842, 1 was in Albany on business, and
as the Hudson River was frozen over, I returned to
New York by the Housatonic Railroad, stopping one
night at Bridgeport, Connecticut, with my brother,
Philo F. Barnum, who at that time kept the Franklin
Hotel. I had heard of a remarkably small child in
Bridgeport, and, at my request, my brother brought him
to the hotel. He was not two feet high ; he weighed
less than sixteen pounds, and was the smallest child I
ever saw that could walk alone ; but he was a perfectly
formed, bright-eyed little fellow, with light hair and
ruddy cheeks and he enjoyed the best of health. He was
exceedingly bashful, but after some coaxing he was
induced to talk with me, and he told me that he was the
son of Sherwood E. Stratton, and that his own name
was Charles S. Stratton. After seeing him and talking
with him, I at once determined to secure his services
from his parents and to exhibit him in public.
But as he was only five years of age, to exhibit him
as a "dwarf" might provoke the inquiry " How do you
know he is a dwarf? " Some liberty might be taken
with the facts, but even with this license, I felt that
the venture was only an experiment, and I engaged
him for four weeks at three dollars a week, with all
travelling and boarding charges for himself and his mother
at my expense. They came to New York, Thanks
giving day, December 8, 1842, and Mrs. Stratton was
greatly surprised to see her son announced on my
Museum bills as " General Tom Thumb."
I took the greatest pains to educate and train my
164 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
diminutive prodigy, devoting many hours to the task by
day and by night, and I was very successful, for he
was an apt pupil with a great deal of native talent, and
a keen sense of the ludicrous. He made rapid progress
in preparing himself for such performances as I wished
him to undertake and he became very much attached to
his teacher.
When the four weeks expired, I re-engaged him for
one year at seven dollars a week, with a gratuity of fifty
dollars at the end of the engagement, and the privilege
of exhibiting him anywhere in the United States, in
which event his parents were to accompany him and
I was to pay all travelling expenses. He speedily
became a public favorite, and, long before the year was
out, I voluntarily increased his weekly salary to twenty-
five dollars, and he fairly earned it. Sometimes I
exhibited him for several weeks in succession at the
Museum, and when I wished to introduce other
novelties I sent him to different towns and cities,
accompanied by my friend, Mr. Fordyce Hitchcock,
and the fame of General Tom Thumb soon spread
throughout the country.
Two years had now elapsed since I bought the
Museum and I had long since paid for the entire
establishment from the profits ; I had bought out my
only rival ; I was free from debt, and had a handsome
surplus in the treasury. The business had long ceased
to be an experiment ; it was an established success and
was in such perfect running order, that it could safely
be committed to the management of trustworthy and tried
agents.
Accordingly, looking for a new field for my individ
ual efforts, I entered into an agreement for General
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 165
Tom Thumb s services for another year, at fifty dollars a
week and all expenses, with the privilege of exhibiting
him in Europe. I proposed to test the curiosity of men
and women on the other side of the Atlantic. Much
as I hoped for success, in my most sanguine moods, I
could not anticipate the half of what was in store for
me ; I did not foresee nor dream that I was shortly to
be brought in close contact with kings, queens, lords
and illustrious commoners, and that such association,
by means of my exhibition, would afterwards introduce
me to the great public and the public s money, which
was to fill my coffers. Or, if I saw some such future,
it was dreamily, dimly ; and with half-opened eyes,
as the man saw the " trees walking."
After arranging my business affairs for a long absence,
and making every preparation for an extended foreign
tour, on Thursday, January 18, 1844, I went on board
the new and fine sailing ship " Yorkshire," Captain D.
G. Bailey, bound for Liverpool. Our party included
General Tom Thumb, his parents, his tutor, and Profes
sor Guillaudeu, the French naturalist. We were accom
panied by several personal friends, and the City Brass
Band kindly volunteered to escort us to Sandy Hook.
My name has been so long associated with mirthful
incidents that I presume many persons do not suppose
I am susceptible of sorrowful, or even sentimental emo
tions ; but when the bell of the steamer that towed our
ship down the bay announced the hour of separation,
and then followed the hastily-spoken words of farewell,
tind the parting grasp of friendly hands, I confess that
I was very much in the "melting mood," and when the
band played " Home, Sweet Home," I was moved to
tears.
166 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
A voyage to Liverpool is now an old, familiar story,
and I abstain from entering into details, though I have
abundant material respecting my own experiences of
my first sea-voyage in the first two of a series of one
hundred letters which I wrote in Europe as correspon
dent of the New York Atlas. But some of the incidents
and adventures of my voyage on the u Yorkshire" are
worth transcribing in these pages of my personal his
tory.
Occasional calms and adverse winds protracted our
passage to nineteen days, but a better ship and a more
competent captain never sailed. I was entirely exempt
from sea-sickness, and enjoyed the voyage very much.
Good fellowship prevailed among the passengers, the
time passed rapidly, and we had a good deal of fun on
board.
Several of the passengers were English merchants
from Canada and one of the number, who reckoned
himself "A, No. l,"and often hinted that he was too
cute for any Yankee, boasted so much of his shrewd
ness that a Yankee friend of mine confederated with
me to test it. I thought of an old trick and arranged
with my friend to try it on the boastful John Bull.
Coming out of my state-room, with my hand to my face,
and apparently in great pain, I asked my fellow passen
gers what was good for the tooth-ache My friend and
confederate recommended heating tobacco, and holding
it to my face. I therefore borrowed a little tobacco,
and putting it in a paper of a peculiar color, placed it
on the stove to warm. I then retired for a few
minutes, during which time the Yankee proposed play
ing a trick on me by emptying the tobacco, and filling
the paper with ashes, which our smart Englishman
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
thought would be a very fine joke, and he himself
made the substitution, putting ashes into the paper and
throwing the tobacco into the fire.
I soon reappeared and gravely placed the paper to
my face to the great amusement of the passengers and
walked up and down the cabin as if I was suffering
terribly. At the further end of the cabin I slyly ex
changed the paper for another in my pocket of the
same color and containing tobacco and then walked back
again a picture of misery. Whereupon, the Merry
Englishman cried out :
" Mr. Barnum, what have you got in that paper \ "
" Tobacco," I replied.
" What will you bet it is tobacco I " said the English
man.
" Oh, don t bother me," said I ; " my tooth pains me
sadly ; I know it is tobacco, for I put it there myself."
" 111 bet you a dozen of champagne that it is not
tobacco," said the Englishman.
" Nonsense," I replied, " I will not bet, for it would
not be fair ; I know it is tobacco."
"I ll bet you fifty dollars it is not," said John Bull,
and he counted ten sovereigns upon the table.
" I ll not bet the money," I replied, for I tell you I
know it is tobacco ; I placed it there myself."
" You dare not bet ! " he rejoined.
At last, merely to accommodate him, I bet a dozen of
champagne. The Englishman fairly jumped with
delight, and roared out :
" Open the paper ! open the paper ! "
The passengers crowded round the table in great glee
to see me open the paper, for all but the Yankee
thought I was taken in. I quietly opened the paper,
and remarked :
168 A^OTHEB SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
" There, I told you it was tobacco how foolish you
were to suppose it was not for, as I told you, I put
it there myself."
The passengers, my confederate excepted, were
amazed and the Englishman was absolutely astounded.
It was the biter bitten. But he told the steward to
bring the champagne, and turning to my confederate
who had so effectually assisted in " selling " him, he
pronounced the affair " a contemptible Yankee trick."
It was several days before he recovered his good
humor, but he joined at last with the rest of us in
laughing at the joke, and we heard no more about his
extraordinary shrewdness.
On our arrival at Liverpool, quite a crowd had assem
bled at the dock to see Tom Thumb, for it had been
previously announced that he would arrive in the
" Yorkshire," but his mother managed to smuggle him
ashore- unnoticed, for she carried him, as if he was
an infant, in her arms. We went to the Waterloo
Hotel, and, after an excellent dinner, walked out to take
a look at the town. While I was viewing the Nelson
monument a venerable looking, well-dressed old gentle
man volunteered to explain to- me the different devices
and inscriptions. I looked upon him as a disinterested
and attentive man of means who was anxious to assist a
stranger and to show his courtesy ; but when I gave him
a parting bow of thanks, half ashamed that I had so tres
passed on his kindness, he put out the hand of a beg
gar and said that he would be thankful for any remu
neration I saw fit to bestow upon him for his trouble. 1
was certainly astonished, and I thrust a shilling into his
hand and walked rapidly away.
In the evening of the same day, a tall, raw-boned
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 169
man came to the hotel and introduced himself to me as
a brother Yankee, who would be happy in pointing out
the many wonders in Liverpool that a stranger would
be pleased to see.
I asked him how long he had been in Liverpool, and
he replied, " Nearly a week." I declined his proffered
services abruptly, remarking that if he had been there
only a week, 1 probably knew as much about England
as he did.
" Oh," said he, " you are mistaken. I have been in
England before, thougb never till recently in Liver
pool."
" What part of England?" I inquired.
" Opposite Niagara Falls," he replied ; " I spent
several days there with the British soldiers."
I laughed in his face, and reminded him that England
did not lie opposite Niagara Falls. The impudent
fellow was confused for a moment, and then triumph
antly exclaimed:
"I didn t mean England. I know what country
it is as well as you do."
" Well, what country is it ? " I asked, quite assured
that he did not know.
" Great Britain, of course," he replied.
It is needless to add that the honor of his company
as a guide in Liverpool was declined, and he went
off apparently in a huff because his abilities were not
appreciated.
Later in the evening, the proprietor of a cheap wax
works show, at three ha pence admission, called upon
me. He had heard of the arrival of the great American
curiosity, and he seized the earliest opportunity to
make the General and myself the magnificent offer of
170 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
ten dollars a week if we would join ourselves to his
already remarkable and attractive exhibition. I could
not but think, that dwarfs must be literally at a " low
figure " in England, and my prospects were gloomy
indeed. I was a stranger in the land ; my letters of
introduction had not been delivered ; beyond my own
little circle, I had not seen a friendly face, nor heard
a familiar voice. I was "blue," homesick, almost in
despair. Next morning, there came a ray of sunshine
in the following note :
" Madame CELESTE presents her compliments to Mr. Barmim, and begs to say
that her private box is quite at his service, any night, for himself and friends.
"Theatre Royal, Williamson Square."
jfjsqy I ; * ; f)ou(|-.n oil >iLs r i wj>M/L v:&v<.[*\t)
This polite invitation was thankfully accepted, and
we went to the theatre that evening. Our party, in
cluding the General, who was partly concealed by his
tutor s cloak, occupied Celeste s box, and in the box
adjoining sat an English lady and gentleman whose
appearance indicated respectability, intelligence and
wealth. The General s interest in the performance
attracted their attention, and the lady remarked to me :
" What an intelligent-looking child you have ! He
appears to take quite an interest in the stage."
"Pardon me, madam," said I, "this is not a child.
This is General Tom Thumb."
"Indeed!" they exclaimed. They had seen the
announcements of our visit and were greatly gratified
at an interview with the pigmy prodigy. They at once
advised me in the most complimentary and urgent man
ner to take the General to Manchester, where they
resided, assuring me that an exhibition in that place
would be highly remunerative. I thanked my new
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION. 171
friends for their counsel and encouragement, and
ventured to ask them what price they would recommend
me to charge for admission.
" The General is so decidedly a curiosity," said the
lady, " that I think you might put it as high as tup-
-pence ! " (two-pence.)
She was, however, promptly interrupted by her hus
band, who was evidently the economist of the family :
"I am sure you would not succeed at that price," said
he ; " you should put admission at one penny, for that
is the usual price for seeing giants and dwarfs in
England."
This was worse than the ten dollars a week offer of
the wax-works proprietor, but I promptly answered
" Never shall the price be less than one shilling ster
ling and some of the nobility and gentry of England
will yet pay gold to see General Tom Thumb."
My letters of introduction speedily brought me into
friendly relations with many excellent families and I
was induced to hire a hall and present the General to
the public, for a short season, in Liverpool. I had
intended to proceed directly to London and begin
operations at " head-quarters," that is, in Buckingham
Palace, if possible ; but I had been advised that the
royal family was in mourning for the death of Prince
Albert s father, and would not permit the approach of
any entertainments.
Meanwhile confidential letters from London informed
me that Mr. Maddox, Manager of Princess s Theatre,
was coming down to witness my exhibition, with a
view to making an engagement. He came privately,
but I was fully informed as to his presence and object.
A friend pointed him out to me in the hall, and when
172 ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SPECULATION.
I stepped up to him, and called him by name, he
was " taken all aback," and avowed his purpose in
visiting Liverpool. An interview resulted in an engage
ment of the General for three nights at Princess s
Theatre. I was unwilling to contract for a longer
period, and even this short engagement, though on lib
eral terms, was acceded to only as a means of adver
tisement. So soon, therefore, as I could bring my short,
but highly successful season in Liverpool to a close, we
went to London.
%> J.JL j.*. .L -L .LJ JA. .A. 1.
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
ARRIVAL IN LONDON THE GENERAL S DEBUT IN THE PRINCESS* S THEATRE
ENORMOUS SUCCESS MY MANSION AT THE WEST END DAILY LEVEES
FOR THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY HON. EDWARD EVERETT HIS INTER
EST IN THE GENERAL VISIT TO THE BARONESS ROTHSCHILD OPENING
IN EGYPTIAN HALL, PICCADILLY MR. CHARLES MURRAY, MASTER OF THE
QUEEN S HOUSEHOLD AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE BY COMMAND OF HER
MAJESTY A ROYAL RECEPTION THE FAVORABLE IMPRESSION MADE BY
THE GENERAL AMUSING INCIDENTS OF THE VISIT BACKING OUT FIGHT
WITH A POODLE COURT JOURNAL NOTICE SECOND VISIT TO THE QUEEN
THE PRINCE OF WALES AND PRINCESS ROYAL THE QUEEN OF THE
BELGIANS THIRD VISIT TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE KING LEOPOLD, OF
BELGIUM ASSURED SUCCESS THE BRITISH PUBLIC EXCITED EGYPTIAN
HALL CROWDED QUEEN DOWAGER ADELAIDE THE GENERAL S WATCH
NAPOLEON AND THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON DISTINGUISHED FRIENDS.
IMMEDIATELY after our arrival in London, the General
came out at the Princess s Theatre, and made so decided
a " hit " that it was difficult to decide who was best
pleased, the spectators, the manager, or myself. The
spectators were delighted because they could not well
help it ; the manager was satisfied because he had
coined money by the engagement; and I was greatly
pleased because I now had a visible guaranty of success
in London. I was offered far higher terms for a re-en-
gagement, but my purpose had been already answered ;
the news was spread everywhere that General Tom
Thumb, an unparalleled curiosity, was in the city ; and
it only remained for me to bring him before the public,
on my own account and in my own time and way.
I took a furnished mansion in Grafton Street, Bond
Street, West End, in the very centre of the most fash-
174 GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
ionable locality. The house had previously been occu
pied for several years by Lord Talbot, and Lord
Brougham and half a dozen families of the aristocracy
and many of the gentry were my neighbors. From this
magnificent mansion, I sent letters of invitation to the
editors and several of the nobility, to visit the General.
Most of them called, and were highly gratified. The
word of approval was indeed so passed around in high
circles, that uninvited parties drove to my door in crested
carriages, and were not admitted.
This procedure, though in some measure a stroke of
policy, was neither singular nor hazardous, under the
circumstances. I had not yet announced a public exhi
bition, and as a private American gentleman, it became
me to maintain the dignity of my position. I therefore
instructed my liveried servant to deny admission to see
my " ward," excepting to persons Avho brought cards of
invitation. He did it in a proper manner, and no offence
could be taken, though I was always particular to send
an invitation immediately to such as had not been
admitted.
During our first week in London, the Hon. Edward
Everett, the American Minister, to whom I had letters
of introduction, called and was highly pleased with his
diminutive though renowned countryman. We dined
with him the next day, by invitation, and his family
loaded the young American with presents. Mr. Everett
kindly promised to use influence at the Palace in person,
with a view to having Tom Thumb introduced to Her
Majesty Queen Victoria.
A few evenings afterwards the Baroness Rothschild
sent her carriage for us. Her mansion is a noble struc-
ture in Piccadilly, surrounded by a high wall, through
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND. 175
the gate of which our carriage was driven, and brought
up in front of the main entrance. Here we were
received by half a dozen servants, and were ushered up
the broad flight of marble stairs to the drawing-room,
where we met the Baroness and a party of twenty or
more ladies and gentlemen. In this sumptuous mansion
of the richest banker in the world, we spent about two
hours, and when we took our leave a well-filled purse
was quietly slipped into my hand. The golden shower
had begun to fall, and that it was no dream was mani
fest from the fact that, very shortly afterwards, a visit
to the mansion of Mr. Drummond, another eminent
banker, came to the same golden conclusion.
I now engaged the " Egyptian Hall," in Piccadilly,
and the announcement of my unique exhibition was
promptly answered by a rush of visitors, in which the
wealth and fashion of London were liberally repre
sented. I made these arrangements because I had little
hope of being soon brought to the Queen s presence,
(for the reason before mentioned,) but Mr. Everett s
generous influence secured my object. I breakfasted
at his house one morning, by invitation, in company with
Mr. Charles Murray, an author of creditable repute, who
held the office of Master of the Queen s Household. In
the course of conversation, Mr. Murray inquired
as to my plans, and I informed him that I intended
going to the Continent shortly, though I should be
glad to remain if the General could have an inter
view with the Queen adding that such an event
would be of great consequence to me.
Mr. Murray kindly offered his good offices in the
case, and the next day one of the Life Guards, a
tall, noble-looking fellow, bedecked as became his sta-
176 GENEBAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
tion, brought me a note, conveying the Queen s invita
tion to General Tom Thumb and his guardian, Mr. Bar-
num, to appear at Buckingham Palace on an evening
specified. Special instructions were the same day orally
given me by Mr. Murray, by Her Majesty s command,
to suffer the General to appear before her, as he would
appear anywhere else, without any training in the use
of the titles of royalty, as the Queen desired to see him
act naturally and without restraint.
Determined to make the most of the occasion, I put
a placard on the door of the Egyptian Hall: " Closed
this evening, General Tom Thumb being at Bucking
ham Palace by command of Her Majesty."
On arriving at the Palace, the Lord in Waiting put
me " under drill" as to the manner and form in which
I should conduct myself in the presence of royalty. I
was to answer all questions by Her Majesty through
him, and in no event to speak directly to the Queen.
In leaving the royal presence I was to " back out,"
keeping my face always towards Her Majesty, and the
illustrious lord kindly gave me a specimen of that sort
of backward locomotion. How far I profited by his
instructions and example, will presently appear.
We were conducted through a long corridor to a
broad flight of marble steps, which led to the Queen s
magnificent picture gallery, where Her Majesty and
Prince , Albert, the Duchess of Kent, and twenty or
thirty of the nobility were awaiting our arrival. They
were standing at the farther end of the room when the
doors were thrown open, and the General walked in,
looking like a wax doll gifted with the power of
locomotion. Surprise and pleasure were depicted on
the countenances of the royal circle at beholding this
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND. 177
remarkable specimen of humanity so much smaller
than they had evidently expected to find him.
The General advanced with a firm step, and as he
came within hailing distance made a very graceful bow,
and exclaimed, " Good evening, Ladies and Gentle
men ! "
A burst of laughter followed this salutation. The
Queen then took him by the hand, led him about the
gallery, and asked him many questions, the answers to
which kept the party in an uninterrupted strain of
merriment. The General familiarly informed the
Queen that her picture gallery was " first- rate," and
told her he should like to see the Prince of Wales.
The Queen replied that the Prince had retired to rest,
but that he should see him on some future occasion.
The General then gave his songs, dances, and imita
tions, and after a conversation with Prince Albert and
all present, which continued for more than an hour, we
were permitted to depart.
Before describing the process and incidents of " back
ing out," I must acknowledge how sadly I broke through
the counsel of the Lord in Waiting. While Prince
Albert and others were engaged with the General, the
Queen was gathering information from me in regard to
his history, etc. Two or three questions were put ancl
answered through the process indicated in my drill. It
was a round-about way of doing business not at all to
my liking, and I suppose the Lord in Waiting was
seriously shocked, if not outraged, when I entered
directly into conversation with Her Majesty. She,
however, seemed not disposed to check my boldness,
for she immediately spoke directly to me in obtaining
the information which she sought. I felt entirely at-
J.78 GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
ease in her presence, and could not avoid contrasting
her sensible and amiable manners with the stiffness and
formality of upstart gentility at home or abroad.
The Queen was modestly attired in plain black, and
wore no ornaments. Indeed, surrounded as she was by
ladies arrayed in the highest style of magnificence, their
dresses sparkling with diamonds, she was the last per
son whom a stranger would have pointed out in that
circle as the Queen of England.
The Lord in Waiting was perhaps mollified toward
me when he saw me following his illustrious example
in retiring from the royal presence. He was accustomed
to the process, and therefore was able to keep somewhat
ahead (or rather aback) of me, but even /stepped rather
fast for the other member of the retiring party. We had a
considerable distance to travel in that long gallery before
reaching the door, and whenever the General found he
was losing ground, he turned around and ran a few steps,
then resumed the position of " backing out," then turned
around and ran, and so continued to alternate
his methods of getting to the door, until the gallery
fairly rang with the merriment of the royal spectators.
It was really one of the richest scenes I ever saw ; run
ning, under the circumstances, was an offence sufficiently
heinous to excite the indignation of the Queen s favorite
poodle-dog, and he vented his displeasure by barking
so sharply as to startle the General from his propriety.
He, however, recovered immediately, and with his little
cane commenced an attack on the poodle, and a funny
fight ensued, which renewed and increased the merri
ment of the royal party.
This was near the door of exit. We had scarcely
passed into the ante-room, when one of the Queen s
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND. 179
attendants came to us with the expressed hope of Her
Majesty that the General had sustained no damage
to which the Lord in Waiting playfully added, that in
case of injury to so renowned a personage, he should
fear a declaration of war by the United States !
The courtesies of the Palace were not yet exhausted,
for we were escorted to an apartment in which refresh
ments had been provided for us. We did ample justice
to the viands, though my mind was rather looking into
the future than enjoying the present. I was anxious
that the " Court Journal " of the ensuing day should
contain more than a mere line in relation to the Gener
al s interview with the Queen, and, on inquiry, I
learned that the gentleman who had charge of that fea
ture in the daily papers was then in the Palace. He
was sent for by my solicitation, and promptly acceded
to my request for such a notice as would attract atten
tion. He even generously desired me to give him an
outline of what I sought, and I was pleased to see after
wards, that he had inserted my notice verbatim.
This notice of my visit to the Queen wonderfully
increased the attraction of my exhibition and compelled
me to obtain a more commodious hall for my exhibition.
I accordingly removed to the larger room in the same
building, for some time previously occupied by our coun
tryman, Mr. Catlin, for his great Gallery of Portraits
of American Indians and Indian Curiosities, all of
which remained as an adornment.
On our second visit to the Queen, we were received
in what is called the " Yellow Drawing-Room," a mag
nificent apartment, surpassing in splendor and gorgeous-
ness anything of the kind I had ever seen. It is on the
north side of the gallery, and is entered from that
180 GENEBAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
apartment. It was hung with drapery of rich yellow
satin damask, the couches, sofas and chairs being coh
ered with the same material. The vases, urns and
ornaments were all of modern patterns, and the most
exquisite workmanship. The room was panelled in gold,
and the heavy cornices beautifully carved and gilt.
The tables, pianos, etc., were mounted with gold, inlaid
with pearl of various hues, and of the most elegant
designs.
We were ushered into this gorgeous drawing-room
before the Queen and royal circle had left the dining-
room, and, as they approached, the General bowed
respectfully, and remarked to Her Majesty " that he had
seen her before," adding, " I think this is a prettier room
than the picture gallery ; that chandelier is very fine."
The Queen smilingly took him by the hand, and said
she hoped he was very well.
44 Yes, ma am," he replied, " I am first rate."
" General," continued the Queen, " this is the Prince
of Wales."
" How are you, Prince ? " said the General, shaking
him by the hand ; and then standing beside the Prince,
he remarked, " the Prince is taller than I am, but I feel
as big as anybody" upon which he strutted up and
down the room as proud as a peacock, amid shouts of
laughter from all present.
The Queen then introduced the Princess Royal, and
the General immediately led her to his elegant little
sofa, which we took with us, and with much politeness
sat himself down beside her. Then, rising from his
seat, he went through his various performances, and the
Queen handed him an elegant and costly souvenir,
which had been expressly made for him by her order
GENERAL TOM THUMB IK BNGLAtfD.
for which, he told her, "he was very much obliged,
and would keep it as long as he lived." The Queen of
the Belgians, (daughter of Louis Philippe) was present
on this occasion. She asked the General where he was
going when he left London ]
66 To Paris," he replied.
" Whom do you expect to see there ? " she continued.
Of course all expected he would answer, "the King
of the French," but the little fellow replied :
i4 1 shall see Monsieur Guillaudeu in Paris."
The two Queens looked inquiringly to me, and when
I informed them that M. Guillaudeu was my French
naturalist, who had preceded me to Paris, they laughed
most heartily.
On our third visit to Buckingham Palace, Leopold,
King of the Belgians, was also present. He was
highly pleased, and asked a multitude of questions.
Queen Victoria desired the General to sing a song, and
asked him what song he preferred to sing.
" Yankee Doodle," was the prompt reply.
This answer was as unexpected to me as it was
to the royal party. When the merriment it occasioned
somewhat subsided, the Queen good-humoredly re
marked, c: That is a very pretty song, General. Sing it
if you please." The General complied, and soon after
wards we retired. I ought to add, that after each ot
our three visits to Buckingham Palace, a very handsome
sum was sent to me, of course by the Queen s com
mand. This, however, was the smallest part of the
advantage derived from these interviews, as will be
at once apparent to all who consider the force of Court
example in England.
The British public were now fairly excited. Not
182 GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND.
to have seen General Tom Thumb was decidedly
unfashionable, and from March 20th until July 20th, the
levees of the little General at Egyptian Hall were con
tinually crowded, the receipts averaging during the
whole period about five hundred dollars per day, and
sometimes going considerably beyond that sum. At
the fashionable hour, between fifty and sixty carriages
of the nobility have been counted at one time standing
in front of our exhibition rooms in Piccadilly.
Portraits of the little General were published in all
the pictorial papers of the time. Polkas and quadrilles
were named after him, and songs were sung in his
praise. He was an almost constant theme for the
London Punch, which served up the General and
myself so daintily that it no doubt added vastly to our
receipts.
Besides his three public performances per day, the
little General attended from three to four private parties
per week, for which we were paid eight to ten guineas
each. Frequently we would visit two parties in the
same evening, and the demand in that line was much
greater than the supply. The Queen Dowager Adelaide
requested the General s attendance at Marlborough
House one afternoon. He went in his court dress, con
sisting of a richly embroidered brown silk-velvet coat
and short breeches, white satin vest with fancy-colored
embroidery, white silk stockings and pumps, wig, bag-
wig, cocked hat, and a dress sword.
" Why, General," said the Queen Dowager, " I think
you look very smart to-day."
" I guess I do," said the General complacently.
A large party of the nobility were present. The old
Duke of Cambridge offered the little General a pinch of
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND. 183
snuff, which, he declined. The General sang his songs,
performed his dances, and cracked his jokes, to the great
amusement and delight of the distinguished circle of
visitors.
" Dear little General," said the kind-hearted Queen,
taking him upon her lap, " I see you have got no watch.
Will you permit me to present you with a watch and
chain?"
" I would like them very much," replied the General,
his eyes glistening with joy as he spoke.
" I will have them made expressly for you," responded
the Queen Dowager; and at the same moment she
called a friend and desired him to see that the proper
order was executed. A few weeks thereafter we were
called again to Marlborough House. A number of the
children of the nobility were present, as well as some
of their parents. After passing a few compliments with
the General, Queen Adelaide presented him with a
beautiful little gold watch, placing the chain around his
neck with her own hands. The little fellow was
delighted, and scarcely knew how sufficiently to express
his thanks. The good Queen gave him some excellent
advice in regard to his morals, which he strictly prom
ised to obey.
After giving his performances, we withdrew from the
royal presence, and the elegant little watch presented
by the hands of Her Majesty the Queen Dowager was
not only duly heralded, but was also placed upon a
pedestal in the hall of exhibition, together with the
presents from Queen Victoria, and covered with a
glass vase. These presents, to which were soon added
an elegant gold snuff-box mounted with turquoise, pre
sented by his Grace the Duke of Devonshire, and many
9
184 GENEilAL TOM THUMB, IN ENGLAND.
other costly gifts of the nobility and gentry, added
greatly to the attractions of the exhibition. The Duke
of Wellington called frequently to see the little
General at his public levees. The first time he called,
the General was personating Napoleon Bonaparte,
marching up and down the platform, and apparently
taking snuff in deep meditation, lie was dressed in
the well-known uniform of the Emperor. I introduced
him to the " Iron Duke," who inquired jthe subject of
his meditations. "I was thinking of fhe Jpss of the
battle of. Waterloo," was the little General s immediate
reply. This display of wit was . chronicled throughout
the country, and was of itself worth thousands of pounds
to the exhibition.
While we were in London the Emperor Nicholas, of
Russia, visited Queen Victoria, and I saw him on sev
eral public occasions. I was present at the grand
review of troops in Windsor Park in honor of and
before the Emperor of Russia and the King of Saxony.
.General Tom Thumb had visited the. King of, Saxony
and also Ibrahim Pacha who was then in London.-, -At
the different parties >ve attended, we. met,- in the course
of the season, nearly all of the nobility.. I do not
believe that a single nobleman in England failed to see
General Tom Thumb at his own. house, at the.hpuse of
a friend, or at the public levees at Egyptian Hall. , The
General was a decided pet with, some of the first per
sonages in the land, among whom may be mentioned
Sir Robert and Lady Peel, the Duke and, Duchess of
Buckingham, Duke of Bedford, Duke of .Devonshire,
Count d Orsay, Lady Blessington, Daniel O Connell,
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence, Lord Chesterfield, Mr. and
.Mrs. Joshua Bates, of the firm of Baring Brothers &
. . -. v " .,. L ; * -K> I v* c 1 r lj J f -
GENERAL TOM THUMB IN ENGLAND. 185
Co., and many other persons of distinction. We had
the free entree to all the theatres, public gardens, and
places of entertainment, and frequently met the princi
pal artists, editors, poets, and authors of the country.
Albert Smith was a particular friend of mine. He wrote
a play for the General entitled " Hop o my Thumb,"
which was presented with great success at the Lyceum
Theatre, London, and in several of the provincial
theatres. Our visit in London and tour through the
provinces were enormously successful, and after a
brilliant season in Great Britain I made preparations
to take the General to Paris
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.rfiiu/ii i yra \) qoli " fiubitno iiriOiCJr ) -Jiil V>!
;,P,.H4PT5B XII.
9lfj "ic^ i-i ; J3^ feAi^CEl^ :is
QOmG OVEll TO ARRANGE PRELIMIKARIES PREVIOUS VISIT TO PARIS ROBERT
HOIliblX WO^DEltF Ut MECHANICAL TOYS THE AUTOMATON LETTER- WRITEli
DION BOUCICAULT-TT-.TA|C ON NATURAL CURIOSITIES HOW i COMPROMISER
THE GENERAL AND PARTY IN PARIS FIRST VIS^T TO KING LOUIS PHILIPPE
A SPLENDID PRESENT DIPLOMACY-"- 1 ASK A FAVOR* AND^ KiET IT LONG
CHAMPS THE GENERAL S EQUIPAGE THE FINEST ADVERTISEMENT EVER
KNOWN ALL PARIS IN A FUROR OPENING OF THE LEVEES " TOM POUCE "
EVERYWHERE THE GENERAL AS AN ACTOR " PETIT POUCET" SECOND
AND THIRD VISITS AT THE TUILERIES INVITATION TO ST. CLOUD THE
GENERAL PERSONATING NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ST. DENIS THE INVALIDES
REGNIER ANECDOTE OF FRANKLIN LEAVING PARIS TOUR THROUGH
FRANCE DEPARTURE FOR BRUSSELS.
BEFORE taking the little General and party to Paris,
I went over alone to arrange the preliminaries for our
campaign in that city. Paris was not altogether a
strange place to me. Months before, when I had suc
cessfully established my exhibition in London, I ran
over to Paris to see what I could pick up in the way of
curiosities for my Museum in New York, for during my
whole sojourn abroad, and amid all the excitements of
my new career, I never forgot the interests of my many
and generous patrons at home. The occasion which
first called me to France was the " quinquennial exposi
tion " in Paris. At that time, there was an assemblage,
every five years, of inventors and manufacturers who
exhibited specimens of their skill, especially in articles
of curious and ingenious mechanism, and I went from
London mainly to attend this exposition.
IN FKANCE. 187
There I met and became well acquainted with Robert
Houdin, the celebrated conjurer. He was a watch-
maker by trade, but very soon displayed a wonderful
ability and ingenuity which he devoted with so much
assiduity to the construction of a complicated machine,
that he lost all mental power for a considerable period.
When he recovered, he employed himself with great
success in the manufacture of mechanical toys and
automata which attracted much attention, and afterwards
he visited Great Britain and other countries, giving a
series of juggling exhibitions which were famous
throughout Europe.
At this quinquennial exposition which I attended, he
received a gold medal for his automata, and the best
figure which he had on exhibition I purchased at a good
round price. It was an automaton writer and artist, a
most ingenious little figure, which sat at a table, and
readily answered with the pencil certain questions.
For instance : if asked for an emblem of fidelity, the
figure instantly drew a correct picture of a handsome
dog ; the emblem of love was shown in an exquisite
drawing of a little Cupid ; the automaton would also
answer many questions in writing. I carried this curi
ous figure to London and exhibited it for some time in
the Royal Adelaide Gallery, and then sent it across the
Atlantic to the American Museum.
During my very brief visit to Paris, Houdin was giv
ing evening performances in the Palais Roy ale, in leger
demain, and I was frequently present by invitation.
Houdin also took pains to introduce me to other in
ventors of moving figures which I purchased freely,
and made a prominent feature in my Museum attrac
tions. I managed, too, during my short stay, to see
188 IN FRANCE.
something of the surface of the finest city in the
world.
And now, going to Paris the second time, I was very
fortunate in making the acquaintance of Mr. Dion
Boucicault, who was then temporarily sojourning in
that city, and who at once kindly volunteered to advise
and assist me in regard to numerous matters of impor
tance relating to the approaching visit of the General.
He spent a day with me in the search for suitable
accommodations for my company, and by giving me the
benefit of his experience, he saved me much trouble
and expense. I have never forgotten the courtesy
extended to me by this gentleman.
I stopped at the Hotel Bedford, and securing an
interpreter, began to make my arrangements. The first
difficulty in the way was the government tax for exhibit
ing natural curiosities, which was no less than one-
fourth of the gross receipts, while theatres paid only
eleven per cent. This tax was appropriated to the
benefit of the city hospitals. Now, I knew from my
experience in London, that my receipts would be so
large as to make twenty-five per cent of them a far
more serious tax than I thought I ought to pay to the
French government, even for the benefit of the admi
rable hospitals of Paris. Accordingly, I went to the
license bureau and had an interview with the chief. I
told him I was anxious to bring a " dwarf" to Paris, but
that the percentage to be paid for a license was so large
as to deter me from bringing him ; but letting the usual
rule go, what should I give him in advance for a two
months license ?
" My dear sir," he answered, " you had better not
come at all ; these things never draw, and you will do
IN FRANCE. 189
nothing, or so little that the percentage need not trouble
you."
T expressed my willingness to try the experiment and
offered one thousand francs in advance for a license.
The chief would not consent and I then offered two
thousand francs. This opened his eyes to a chance for
a speculation and he jumped at my offer; he would do
it on his own account, he said, and pay the amount of
one-quarter of my receipts to the hospitals ; he was
perfectly safe in making such a contract, he thought,
for he had 15,000 francs in bank. ?jfc /
But I declined to arrange this with him individually,
so he called his associates together and presented the
matter in such a way that the board took my offer on
behalf of the government. I paid down the 2,000
francs and received a good, strong contract and license.
The chief was quite elated and handed me the license
with the remark :
" Now we have made an agreement, and if you do not
exhibit, or if your dwarf dies during the two months
you shall not get back your money."
" All right," thought I ; "if you are satisfied I am
sure I have every reason to be so." I then hired at a
large rent, the Salle Musard, Hue Vivienne, in a central
and fashionable quarter close by the boulevards, and
engaged an interpreter, ticket-seller, and a small but
excellent orchestra. In fact, I made the most complete
arrangements, even to starting the preliminary para
graphs in the Paris papers ; and after calling on the
Honorable William Rufus King, the United States Min
ister at the Court of France who assured me that
after my success in London there would be no difficulty
whatever in my presentation to King Louis Philippe
and family I returned to England.
9*
190 IN FRANCE.
I went back to Paris with General Tom Thumb and
party some time before I intended to begin my exhibi
tions, and on the very day after my arrival I received a
special command to appear at the- Tuileries on the fol
lowing Sunday evening. It will be remembered that
Louis : Philipp ! e*s daughter, the wife of- King Leopold,
of Belgium, had seen the General at Buckingham
Palace & fact that had been duly chronicled in the
French : as well as English panel s, and I hav6 ho doubt
that she : had privately expressed her gratification at See
ing him. With this advantage, and with- ; the prestige
of ! 6tir receptions by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,
we went to the Tuileries with full confidence that -our
visit and deception would be entirely satisfactory.
- A-i the^ppftinted hou^ the General and I, arrayed in
the conventional court costume, -were ushered into a
grand saloon of the ; palace where we ^were introduced
to the King, the Queen, Princess Adelaide, the Duchess
d Orleans and her son the Count !) de ! Pansy Prince de
Joinville, Duke and Duchess de Nemours, -the Dirchess
d Aumale, and a dozen or more , distinguished persons,
among whom was the editor of* the- official Joifi ttat des
Debats. The coirt circle entered into conversation with
us without restraint, and were greatly "delighted with
the little General. King -Louis * Phflippfc was minute in
his inquiries about "my conn try and talked freely about
his experiences \th6i*<iit wandered as an ! exile in
America. He playfully Alluded to the time when- he
earned his living as a tutor, and said he had rotighed it
generally nd >h ; ad "even $le\ri in Indian wigWams. Gen
eral Toni ! Thumb then went tHrottgh tvith his varioirs
performances to the manifest pleasure of all who Were
present, and at the close the ffing presented to him a
IN FRANCE. 191
large emerald brooch set with diamonds. The General
expressed his gratitude, arid the King, turning to me,
said : " you may put it on the General, if you please,"
which I did, to the evident gratification of 1 the King as
well as the General.
King Louis Philippe was so condescending and courte
ous, that I felt quite at home in the royal presence, and
ventured upon a bit of diplomacy. The Longchamps
celebration was coming a day 1 once devoted to relig
ious ceremony, but now conspicuous for the display of
court and fashidnable equipages in the Champs Elysees
and the Bois de Boulogne, and as the King was famil
iarly conversing with me, I ventured to say that I had
hurried over to Paris to take part in the Longchamps dis
play and I asked him if the General s carriage could
not be permitted to appear in the avenue reserved for
the court and the diplomatic corps, representing that
th 6 General s small but elegant establishment, with its
ponies and little coachman and footman, would be in
danger of damage in the general throng unless the
special privilege I asked was accorded.
The King smilingly turned to one of the officers of
his household and after conversing with him for a few
moments he said to me :
" Call on the Prefect of Police to-morrow afternoon
and you will find a permit ready for you." :
Our visit occupied two hours, and when we went
away the General was loaded with fine presents. The
next morning all the newspapers noticed the visit, and
the Journal des Debats gave a minute account of the
interview and of the General s performances, taking
occasion to say, in speaking of the character parts, that
" there was one costume which the General wisely kept
192 IN FRANCE.
at the bottom of his box." That costume, however,
the uniform of Bonaparte was once exhibited, by
particular request, as will be seen anon.
Longchamps day arrived, and among the many
splendid equipages on the grand avenue, none attracted
more attention than the superb little carriage with four
ponies and liveried and powdered coachman and foot
man, belonging to the General, and conspicuous in the
line of carriages containing the Ambassadors to the
Court of France. Thousands upon thousands rent the
air with cheers for " General Tom Pouce." There
never was such an advertisement ; the journals next
clay made elaborate notices of the u turnout," and there
after whenever the General s carriage appeared on the
boulevards, as it did daily, the people flocked to the
doors of the cafes and shops to see it pass.
Thus, before I opened the exhibition all Paris knew
that General Tom Thumb was in the city. The French
are exceedingly impressible ; and what in London is only
excitement, in Paris becomes furor. Under this pressure,
with the prestige of my first visit to the Tuileries and the
numberless paragraphs in the papers, I opened my doors
to an eager throng. The elite of the city came to the
exhibition ; the first day s receipts were 5,500 francs,
which would have been doubled if I could have made
room for more patrons. There were afternoon and
evening performances and from that day secured seats
at an extra price were engaged in advance for the entire
two months. The season was more than a success, it
was a triumph.
It seemed, too, as if the whole city was advertising
me. The papers were profuse in their praises of the
General and his performances. Figaro, the Punch of
IN FRANCE. 193
Paris, gave a picture of an immense mastiff running
away with the General s carriage and horses in his
mouth. Statuettes of " Tom Poutfe " "appeared in all
the windows, in plaster, Parian, sugar and chocolate ;
songs were written about him and his lithograph was
seen everywhere. : A fine cafe* on one of the boulevards
took the 7 name of " Tom Pouce " and displayed over the
door a life-size statue of the General. In Paris, as in
London, several eminent ^aititers expressed their desire
to ]baint- : hii portrait, but the General s engagements
were so pressing that he found little time to sit to artists.
All the leading actors and actresses came to the Gen
eral s levees and petted him and made him many pre
sents. Meanwhile, the daily receipts continued to swell,
and I was compelled to take a cab to cdrry my bag of
silver home at night.
The official, Tvho had compromised with me for a two
months license at 2,000 francs, was amazed as well as
annoyed at the success of my " dwarf." He came, or
sent a man, to the levees to take account of the receipts
and every additional thousand francs gave him an addi
tional twinge. He seriously appealed to me to give him
more money, but when I reminded him of the excellent
bargain he supposed he was making, especially when
he added the conditional clause that I should forfeit the
2,000 francs if I did not exhibit or if the General died, he
smiled faintly and said something about a " Yankee
trick." I asked him if he would renew our agreement
for two months more on the same terms ; and he shrug
ged his shoulders and said :
"No, Monsieur Barnum ; you will pay me twenty-
five per cent of your receipts when the two months of
our contract expires.
194: IN FRANCE.
But I did not ; for I appealed to the authorities,
claiming that I should pay only the ordinary theatrical
tax, since the General s exhibition consisted chiefly of
character imitations in various costumes, and he was
more attractive as an actor than as a natural curiosity.
My view of the case was decided to be correct, and
thereafter, in Paris and throughout France, with few
exceptions, I paid only the eleven per cent theatrical tax.
Indeed, in Paris, the General made a great hit as an
actor and was elected a member of the French Dra
matic Society. Besides holding his levees, he appeared
every night at the Vaudeville Theatre in a French play,
entitled " Petit Poucet," and written expressly for him,
and he afterwards repeated the part with great success in
other cities. The demands upon our time were inces
sant. We were invited everywhere to dinners and
entertainments, and as many of these were understood
to be private performances of the General, we were
most liberally remunerated therefor. M. Galignani
invited us to a soiree and introduced us to some of the
most prominent personages, including artists, actors
and editors, in Paris. The General was frequently
engaged at a large price to show himself for a quarter
of an hour at some fancy or charitable fair, and much
money was made in this way. On Sundays, he was
employed at one or another of the great gardens in
the outskirts, and thus was seen by thousands of
working people who could not attend his levees All
classes became acquainted with " Tom Pouce."
We were commanded to appear twice more at the
Tuileries, and we were also invited to the palace on the
King s birthday to witness the display of fireworks in
hon r of the anniversary. Our fourth and last visit to
IN FRANCE. 195
the royal family was by special invitation at St. Cloud.
On each occasion we met nearly the same persons, but
the visit to St. Cloud was by far the most interesting of
our interviews. On this one occasion, and by the
special request of the King, the General personated
Napoleon Bonaparte in full costume. Louis Philippe
had heard of the General in this character, and particu
larly desired to see him ; but the affair was quite " on
the sly," and no mention was made of it in the papers,
particularly in the Journal des Debats, which thought,
no doubt, that costume was still " at the bottom of the
General s box." We remained an hour, and at parting,
each of the royal company gave the General a splendid
present, almost smothered him with kisses, wished him
a safe journey through France, and a long and happy
life. After bidding them adieu, we retired to another
portion of the palace to make a change of the General s
costume, and to partake of some refreshments which
were prepared for us. Half an hour afterwards, as we
were about leaving the palace, we went through a hall
leading to the front door, and in doing so passed the
fitting-room in which the royal family were spending
the evening. The door was open, and some of them
happening to espy the General, called out for him to
come in and shake hands with them once more. We
entered the apartment, and there found the ladies sitting
around a square table, each provided with two candles,
and every one of them, including the Queen, was en
gaged in working at embroidery, while a young lady
was reading aloud for their edification. I am sorry to
say, I believe this is a sight seldom seen in families of
the aristocracy on either side of the water. At the
church fairs in Paris, I had frequently seen pieces of
196 Eff FRANCE.
embroidery for sale, which were labelled as having been
presented and worked by the Duchess d Orleans, Prin
cess Adelaide, Duchess de Nemours, and other titled
ladies.
We also visited, by invitation, the Napoleon School
for young ladies, established by the First Napoleon, at
St. Denis, five miles north of Paris, and the General
greatly delighted the old pensioners at the Invalides by
calling upon them, and shaking many of them by the
hand. If the General could have been permitted to
present to these survivors of Waterloo his representa
tion of their chief and Emperor, he would have aroused
their enthusiasm as well as admiration.
Ori the Fourth of July, 1844, 1 was in Grenelle, out
side the barriers of Paris, when I remembered that I
had the address of Monsieur Kegnier, an eminent
mechanician, who lived in the vicinity. Wishing to
purchase a variety of instruments such as he manufac
tured, I called at his residence. He rtfceived me Very
politely, and I soon was deeply interested in this intelli
gent and learned man. He was a member of many
scientific institutions, was " Chevalier of the Legion of
Honor" etc
While he was busy in making out my bill, I was
taking a cursory view of the various plates, drawings,
etc., which adorned his walls, when my eyes fell on a
portrait which wag familiar to me. I was certain that I
could not be mistaken, and on approaching nearer it proved
to be, as I expected, the engraved portrait of Benjamin
Franklin. It was placed in a glazed frame, and on the
outside of the glass were arranged thirteen stars made of
metal, forming a half circle round his head.
" Ah ! " I exclaimed, " I see you have here a portrait
of my fellow-countryman, Dr. Franklin. "
IN FRANCE. 197
" Yes," replied M. Eegnier, " and he was a great and
an excellent man. When he was in Paris in 98, he
was honored and respected by all who knew him, and
by none more so than by the scientific portion of the
community; At that time, Dr. Franklin was invited by
the President of the Society of Emulation to decide upon
the merits of Various works of art submitted for inspec
tion, and he awarded my father,- for a complicated lock,
the prize of a gold medal.
" While my father was with him at his hotel, a young
Quaker called upon the Doctor. He was a total
stranger to Franklin, but at once proceeded to inform
him that he had come to Paris on business, had unfortu
nately lost all his money, ? and Wished to borrow six
hundred francs to enable him to return to his family in
Philadelphia. Franklin inquired his family name, and
upon hearing it immediately counted but the money,
gave the young stranger some excellent advice, and bade
him adieu. My father Was struck by the generosity of
Dr. Franklin, and as soon as the young man had
departed, he told the Doctor that he was astonished to
see him so free with his money to a stranger ; that
people did not do business . in that way in Paris ; and
what he considered very careless was, that Franklin
took no receipt, not even a scratch of a pen from the
young man. Franklin replied that he always felt a duty
and pleasure in relieving his fellow-men, and especially
in this case, aS he knew the family, and they were
honest and worthy persons. My father, himself a gen
erous man," continued M. Regnier, "was affected
nearly to tears, and begged the Doctor to present
him with his portrait. He did so, and this is it. My
father has been dead some years. He bequeathed the
198 IN FRANCE.
portrait to me, and there is not mqney enough in Paris
to buy it."
I need not say that I was delighted with this recital.
I remarked to M. Regnier that he should double the
number of stars, as we now (in 1844) had twenty-six
States instead of thirteen, the original number.
" I am aware of that," he replied ; " but I do not like
to touch the work which was left by my father. I hold
it sacred ; and," added he, " I suppose you are not
aware of the uses we make of these stars ? " Assuring
him in the negative " Those stars," said he, " are made
of steel, and on the night of every anniversary of Amer
ican Independence (which is this night), it was always
the practice of my father, and will always be mine, to
collect our family and children together, darken the
room, and by means of electricity, these stars, which are
connected, are lighted up, and the portrait illuminated
by electricity, Franklin s favorite science thus form
ing a halo of glory about his head, and doing honor to
the name of a man whose fame should be perpetuated
to eternity."
In continuing the conversation, I found that this good
old gentleman was perfectly acquainted with the history
of America, and he spoke feelingly of what he believed
to be the high and proud destiny of our republic. He
insisted on my remaining to supper, and witnessing his
electrical illumination. Need I say that I accepted the
invitation ? Could an American refuse ?
We partook of a substantial supper, upon which the
good old gentleman invoked the blessing of our Father
in Heaven, and at the conclusion he returned hearty
thanks. At nine o clock the children and family of M.
llegnier and his son-in-law were called in, the room wtis
IN FRANCE. 199
darkened, the electrical battery was charged, and the
wire touched to one of the outer stars. The whole thir
teen became instantly bright as fire, and a beautiful
effect was produced. What more simple and yet beau
tiful and appropriate manner could be chosen to honor
the memory of Franklin 1 And what an extraordinary
coincidence it was that I, a total stranger in Paris, should
meet such a singular man as M. Regnier at all, and more
especially on that day of days, the anniversary of our
Independence ! At ten o clock I took my leave of this
worthy family, but not till we had all joined in the fol
lowing toast proposed by M. Regnier :
" Washington, Franklin, and Lafayette heroes,
philosophers, patriots, and honest men: May their
names stand brightest on the list of earthly glory, when,
in after ages, this whole world shall be one universal
republic, and every individual under Heaven shall
acknowledge the truth that man is capable of self-gov
ernment."
It will not be considered surprising that I should feel
at home with Monsieur llegnier. Both the day and the
man conspired to excite and gratify my patriotism ; and
the presence of Franklin, my love of my native land.
During my stay in Paris, a Russian Prince, who had
been living in great splendor in that city, suddenly died,
and his household and personal effects were sold at
auction. I attended the sale for several days in succes
sion, buying many articles of vertu, and, among others,
a magnificent gold tea-set, and a silver dining-service,
and many rare specimens of Sevres china. These arti
cles bore the initials of the family name of the Prince,
and his own, " P. T.," thus damaging the articles, so that
the silver and gold were sold for their weight value
200 IN 1WANCK
only. 1 bought them, and, adding " B." to the P.. T.,"
had a very line table service, still in my possession, and
..bearing my own initials, " P. T. B."
While dining one day with my friend, Dr. Bre.vvster,
,jijL Paris, all the company present were in raptures over
.. k ,pme very fine " Laiitte " wine on the table, and the
usual exclamations, " delicious ! " and " fruity ! " were
heard on all sides. When I went to the. south of
France, the Doctor gave me p letter of introduction to
Lafittc s agent, Mr. Good, at Bordeaux, and I was shown
through the extensive cellars of the establishment. The
agent talked learnedly, almost, affectionately, about the
choice and exclusive vineyards of the establishing^ and
how t)^/ stones .in the ground retained, the warmth de
rived from the sun during the day throughout the night,
thus mellowing and maturing the grapes, and resulting
in the production of a pen i liar , win.e, which was possibje
to no other plot of ground in .the.pntire, grape country.
I afterwards learned, however, that this exclusive
establishment bought up the entire wine product of all the
vineyards in the region round about ify was. like the cqje-
brated " Cabana" cigars in Havana., ,.pn,eday a friend
was dining with me in Bordeaux and I called for a bottle
of u Lafitte," which, purchased on the very, ground of its
manufacture, was of course genuine and delicionsly
" fruity." It was very old wine of some famous year,
and .the bottle us brought up from the bin was covered
with cobwebo and dust. But while we were sipping tin,
wine and exclaiming " fruity." at proper intervals, I hap
pened to take out my knife and quite inadvertently cut
oif a. bit of the label. The next day when my friend
was again dining with me I called for another bottle of
the peculiar Lahtte which had so delighted us, yesterday-
IN FRANCE. 201
It came cobwebbed and dust-covered and was duly dis
cussed and pronounced deliciously " fruity." But hor
rors ! all at once, something caught my attention and I
exclaimed :
" Do you see that cut label ? That is the very bottle
which held the rare old wine of yesterday ; there is the
4 ear-mark which I left with my knife on. the bottle "
and I summoned the landlord and thus addressed him :
" What do you mean, you scoundrel, by putting your
infernal vin ordinaire into old bottles, and passing it off
upon us as genuine Lafltte?" 5
He protested that such a thing was impossible ; we
were at the very fountain head of the wine, and no one
would dare to attempt such a fraud, especially upon
experienced wine-tasters like ourselves. But I showed
him my careless but remembered mark on the bottle,
and proved by my friend that we had the same bottle
for our wine of, the day before. This was shown so con
clusively and emphatically that the landlord finally
confessed his fraud, and said that though he had sold
thousands of bottles of so-called "Lafitte" to. his guests,
he never had, two dozen bottles of the genuine article
in his possession in his life !
Every one who has been in the wine district knows
that the wine is troddejn from the grapes by the bare
feet of the peasants, and while I was there, desiring a
new experience, I myself trod out a half barrel or so
with my own naked feet, dancing vigorously the while
to the sound of a fiddle.
In spite of tl^e extraordinary attention and unbounded
petting the little ^General received at the hands of
all classes, he was in no sense a " spoiled child," but
retained throughout that natural simplicity of character
202 IN FRANCE.
and demeanor which added so much to the charm of
his exhibitions. He was literally the pet of Paris, and
after a protracted and most profitable season we started
on a tour through France. The little General s small
Shetland ponies arrd miniature carriage would be sure
to arouse the enthusiasm of the " Provincials," so I de
termined to take them along with us. We went first to
Rouen, and from thence to Toulon, visiting all the inter
mediate towns, including Orleans, Nantes, Brest, Bor
deaux, where I witnessed a review by the Dukes de
Nemours and d Aumale, of 20,000 soldiers who were
encamped near the city. From Bordeaux we went to
Toulouse, Montpellier, Nismes, Marseilles, and many
other less important places, holding levees for a longer
or shorter time. While at Nantes, Bordeaux and Mar
seilles the General also appeared in the theatres in his
French part of " Petit Poucet."
Very soon after leaving Paris for our tour through
France, I found that there were many places where it
would be impossible to proceed otherwise than by post.
General Tom Thumb s party numbered twelve persons,
and these, with all their luggage, four little ponies, and
a small carriage, must be transported in posting vehicles
of some description. I therefore resolved that as post
ing in France was as cheap, and more independent than
any other method of travel, a purchase of posting
vehicles should be made for the sole use of the renowned
General Tom Thumb and suite. One vehicle, however
large, would have been insufficient for the whole com
pany and " effects," and, moreover, would have been
against the regulations. These regulations required
that each person should pay for the use of one horse,
whether using it or not, and I therefore made the fol-
IN FRANCE. 203
lowing arrangements : I purchased a post-chaise to carry
six persons, to be drawn by six horses ; a vehicle on
springs, with seats for four persons, and room for the
General s four ponies and carriage, to be drawn by four
horses ; and lastly, a third vehicle for conveying the
baggage of the company, including the elegant little
house and furniture set on the stage in the General s
performances of "Petit Poucet" at the theatres, the
whole drawn by two horses.
With such a retinue the General "cut quite a swell"
in journeying through the country, travelling, indeed,
in grander style than a Field Marshal would have
thought of doing in posting through France. All this
folly and expense, the uninitiated would say, of employ
ing twelve horses and twelve persons, to say nothing of
the General s four ponies, in exhibiting a person weigh
ing only fifteen pounds ! But when this retinue passed
along the roads, and especially when it came into a
town, people naturally and eagerly inquired what great
personage was on his travels, and when told that it
was " the celebrated General Tom Thumb and suite,"
everybody desired to go and see him, It was thus the
best advertising we could have had, and was really, in
many places, our cheapest and in some places, our only
mode of getting from point to point where our exhibi
tions were to be given.
During most of the tour I was a week or two ahead of
the company, making arrangements for the forthcoming
exhibitions, and doing my entire business without the
aid of an interpreter, for I soon "picked up" French
enough to get along very well indeed. I did not forget
that Franklin learned to speak French when he was sev
enty years of age, and I did not consider myself too old
10
204 IN FRANCE.
to learn, what, indeed, I was obliged to learn in the
interests of my business. As for the little General, who
was accompanied by a preceptor and translator, he very
soon began to give his entire speaking performances in
French, and his piece "Petit Poucet" was spoken as if
he were a native.
In fact, I soon became the General s avant courier,
though not doing the duties of an avant courier to an
ordinary exhibition, since these duties generally consist
in largely puffing the " coming man" and expected show,
thus endeavoring to create a public appetite and to
excite curiosity. My duties were quite different; after
engaging the largest theatre or saloon to be found in the
town, I put out a simple placard, announcing that the
General would appear on such a day. Thereafter, my
whole energies were directed, apparently, to keeping
the people quiet ; I begged them not to get excited ; I
assured them through the public journals, that every
opportunity should be afforded to permit every person to
see " the distinguished little General, who had delighted
the principal monarchs of Europe, and more than a mil
lion of their subjects," and that if one exhibition in the
largest audience room in the town would not suffice, two
or even three would be given.
This was done quietly, and yet, as an advertisement,
effectively, for, strange as it may seem, people who
\vere told to keep quiet, would get terribly excited, and
when the General arrived and opened his exhibitions,
excitement would be at fever heat, the levees would be
thronged, and the treasury filled !
Numerous were the word battles 1 had with mayors,
managers of theatres, directors of hospitals, and others,
relative to what I considered justly, I think the out-
IN FRANCE. 205
rageous imposition which the laws permitted in the way
of taxes upon " exhibitions." Thus the laws required,
for the sake of charity, twenty-five per cent of my gross
receipts for the hospitals ; while to encourage a local
theatre, or theatres, which might suffer from an outside
show, twenty per cent more must be given to the local
managers.
Of course this law was nearly a dead letter ; for, to
have taken forty-five per cent of my gross receipts at
every exhibition would soon have driven me from the
provinces, so the hospitals were generally content with
ten per cent, and five or ten francs a day satisfied the
manager of a provincial theatre. But at Bordeaux the
manager of the theatre wished to engage the General
to appear in his establishment, and as I declined his
offer, he threatened to debar me from exhibiting any
where in town, by demanding for himself the full twenty
per cent the law allowed, besides inducing the directors
of the hospitals to compel me to pay them twenty-five
per cent more.
Here was a dilemma ! I must yield and take half 1
thought myself entitled to and permit the General to play
for the manager, or submit to legal extortion, or forego
my exhibitions. I offered the manager six per cent of
my receipts and he laughed at me. I talked with the
hospital directors and they told me that as the manager
favored them, they felt bound to stand by him. I
announced in the public journals that the General could
not appear in Bordeaux on account of the cupidity and
extortionate demands of the theatre manager and the
hospital directors. The people talked and the papers
denounced ; but manager and directors remained as firm
as rocks in their positions. Tom Thumb was to arrive
206 IN FEANCE.
in two days and I was in a decided scrape. The mayor
interceded for me, but to no avail ; the manager had
determined to enforce an almost obsolete law unless I
would permit the General to play in his theatre every
night. My Yankee " dander " was up and I declared
that I would exhibit the General gratis rather than sub
mit to the demand. Whereupon, the manager only
laughed at me the more to think how snugly he had
got me.
Now it happened that, once upon a time, Bordeaux,
like most cities, was a little village, and the little village
of Vincennes lay one mile east of it. Bordeaux had
grown and stretched itself and thickly settled far
beyond Vincennes, bringing the latter nearly in the
centre of Bordeaux ; yet, strange to say, Vincennes
maintained its own identity, and had its own Mayor and
municipal rights quite independent of Bordeaux, i
could scarcely believe my informant who told me this,
but I speedily sought out the Mayor of Vincennes,
found such a personage, and cautiously inquired if there
was a theatre or a hospital within his limits ? He
assured me there was not. I told him my story, and
asked :
" If I open an exhibition within your limits will there
be any percentages to pay from my receipts ? "
" Not a sou," replied the Mayor.
" Will you give rue a writing to that effect?"
" With the greatest pleasure," replied the Mayor, and
he did so at once.
I put this precious paper in my pocket, and in a few
moments I hired the largest dancing saloon in the place,
a room capable of holding over 2,000 people. I then
announced, especially to the delighted citizens of Bor-
IN FRANCE. 207
deaux, that the General would open his exhibitions in
Vineennes, which he soon did to an overflowing house.
For thirteen days we exhibited to houses averaging
more than 3,000 francs per day, and for ten days more
at largely increased receipts, not one sou of which went
for taxes or percentages. The manager and directors,
theatre and hospital, got nothing, instead of the fail-
allowance I would willingly have given them. Oh,
yes! they got something, that is, a lesson, not to
attempt to offset French Shylockism against Yankee
shrewdness.
We were in the South of France in the vintage
season. Nothing can surpass the richness of the
country at that time of the year. We travelled for
many miles where the eye could see nothing but
vineyards loaded with luscious grapes and groves of
olive trees in full bearing. It is literally a country of
wine and oil. Our remunerative and gratifying round
of mingled pleasure and profit, brought us at last to
Lille, capital of the department of Nord, and fifteen
miles from the Belgian frontier, and from thcu.ce we prc -
ceeded to Brussels.
fvy nl iihwo id
*r miff
CHAPTER XIII.
IN BELGIUM.
CROSSING THE FRONTIER PROFESSOR PINTE QUALIFICATIONS OF A GOOD
SHOWMAN "SOFT SUP" GENEROUS DISTRIBUTION OF MEDALS PRINCE
CHARLES STRATTON AT BRUSSELS PRESENTATION TO KING LEOPOLD
AND HIS QUEEN THE GENERAL S JEWELS STOLEN THE THIEF CAUGHT
RECOVERY OF THE PROPERTY THE FIELD OF WATERLOO MIRACU-
LOUSLY MULTIPLIED RELICS CAPTAIN TIPPITIWITCHET OF THE CONNECTICU1
FUSILEERS AN ACCIDENT GETTING BACK TO BRUSSELS IN A CART
STRATTON SWINDLED LOSING AN EXHIBITION TWO HOURS IN THE.
RAIN ON THE ROAD THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY A STRICT CON
STRUCTIONIST STRATTON s HEAD SHAVED " BRUMMAGEM " RELICS
HOW THEY ARE PLANTED AT WATERLOO WHAT LYONS SAUSAGES ARE
MADE OF FROM BRUSSELS TO LONDON.
IN crossing the border from France into Belgium,
Professor Pinte, our interpreter and General Ton\
Thumb s preceptor, discovered that he had left his
passport behind him at Lille, at Marseilles, or else
where in France, he could not tell where, for it was a
long time since he had been called upon to present it.
I was much annoyed and indignantly told him that he
" would never make a good showman, because a good
showman never forgot anything." I could see that my
allusion to him as a " showman " was by no means
pleasant, which leads me to recount the circumstances
under which I was first brought in contact with the
Professor.
He was really a "Professor" and teacher of English
in one of the best educational establishments in Paris.
Very soon after opening my exhibitions in that city, I
saw the necessity of having a translator who was quali
fied to act as a medium between the General and the
IN BELGIUM. 209
highly cultivated audiences that daily favored us at our
levees. I had begun with a not over-cultivated inter
preter, who, when the General personated Cupid, for
instance, would cry out " Coopeed," to which some one
would be sure to respond " Stoopeed," to the annoyance
of myself and the amusement of the audience. 1
accordingly determined to procure the best interpreter
I could find and I was directed to call upon Professor
-Pinte. I saw him and briefly stated what I wanted,
in what capacity I proposed to employ him, and what
salary I would pay him. He was highly indignant and
informed me that he was " no showman," and had no
desire to learn or engage in the business.
" But, my dear sir," said I, "it is not as a showman
that I wish to employ your valuable services, but as a
preceptor to my young and interesting ward, General
Tom Thumb, whom I desire to have instructed in the
French language and in other accomplishments you are
so competent to impart. At the same time, I should
expect that you would be willing to accompany my ward
and your pupil and attend his public exhibitions for the
purpose of translating, as may be necessary, to the culti
vated people of your own class who are the principal
patrons of our entertainments."
This seemed to put an entirely new face upon the
matter, especially as I had offered the Professor a salary
five times larger, probably, than he was then receiving.
So he rapidly revolved the subject in his rriind and said :
"Ah! while I could not possibly accept a situation
as a showman, I should be most happy to accept the
terms and the position as preceptor to your ward."
He was engaged, and at once entered upon his duties,
not only as preceptor to the General, but as the efficient
210 IN BELGIUM.
and always excellent interpreter at our exhibitions, and
wherever we needed his services on the route. As he
had lost his passport, when we came to Courtrai on the
Belgian frontier, I managed to procure a permit for him
which enabled him to proceed with the party. This was
but the beginning of difficulties, for I had all our prop
erty, including the General s ponies and equipage, to
pass through the Custom-house, and among other things
there was a large box of medals, with a likeness of the
General on one side and of Queen Victoria and Prince
Albert on the other side, which were sold in large
numbers as souvenirs at our exhibitions. They were
struck off at a considerable expense in England, and
commanded a ready sale.
The Custom-house officers were informed, however,
that these medals were mere advertising cards-, as they
really were, of our exhibitions, and I begged their
acceptance of as many as they pleased to put in their
pockets. They were beautiful medals, and a few dozen
were speedily distributed among the delighted officials,
who forthwith passed our show-bills, lithographs and
other property with very little trouble. They wanted,
however, to charge a duty upon the General s ponies
and carriage, but when I produped a document showing
that the French government had admitted them duty-
free, they did the same. This superb establishment led
these officials to think he must be a very distinguished
man, and they asked what rank he held in his own
country.
" He is Prince Charles Stratton, of the Dukedom of
Bridgeport, in the Kingdom of Connecticut," said Sher
man.
Whereupon they all reverently raised their hats when
IN BELGIUM. 211
the General entered the car. Some of the railway men
who had seen the distribution of medals among the
Custom-house officers came to me and begged similar
" souvenirs " of their distinguished passenger, and I
gave the medals very freely, till the applications became
so persistent as to threaten a serious pecuniary loss.
At last I handed out a final dozen in one package, and
said : " There, that is the last of them ; the rest are in
the box, and beyond my reach."
All this while Professor Pinte was brooding over my
remark to him about the loss of his passport ; the word
"showman" rankled, and he asked me:
"Mr. Barnum, do you consider me a showman?"
I laughingly replied, " Why, I consider you the emi
nent Professor Pinte, preceptor to General Tom Thumb ;
but, after all, we are all showmen."
Finding himself so classed with the rest of us, he
ventured to inquire " what were the qualifications of a
good showman," to which I replied :
" He must have a decided taste for catering for the
public; prominent perceptive faculties ; tact; a thorough
knowledge of human nature ; great suavity ; and plenty
of soft soap.
" Soft sup ! " exclaimed the interested Professor, Ci what
is ; soft sup.
I explained, as best I could, how the literal meaning of
the words had come to convey the idea of getting into the
good graces of people and pleasing those with whom
we are brought in contact. Pinte laughed, and as he
thought of the generous medal distribution, an idea
struck him:
" I think those railway officials must have very dirty
hands you are compelled to use so much soft sup. "
10*
212 IN BELGIUM.
Brussels is Paris in miniature and is one of the most
charming cities I ever visited. We found elegant quar
ters, and the day after our arrival by command we vis
ited King Leopold and the Queen at their palace. The
King and Queen had already seen the General in Lon
don, but they wished to present him to their children and
to the distinguished persons whom we found assembled.
After a most agreeable hour we came away the Gen
eral, as usual, receiving many fine presents.
The following day, I opened the exhibition in a beau
tiful hall, which on that day and on every afternoon and
evening while we remained there, was crowded by throngs
of the first people in the city. On the second or third
day, in the midst of the exhibition, I suddenly missed
the case containing the valuable presents the General
had received from kings, queens, noblemen and gen
tlemen, and instantly gave the alarm ; some thief had
intruded for the express purpose of stealing these jew
els, and, in the crowd, had been entirely successful in
his object.
The police were notified, and I offered 2,000 francs
reward for the recovery of the property. A day or two
afterwards a man went into a jeweller s shop and offered
for sale, among other things, a gold snuff-box, mounted
with turquoises, and presented by the Duke of Devon
shire to the General. The jeweller, seeing the Gen
eral s initials on the box, sharply questioned the man,
who became alarmed and ran out of the shop. An
alarm was raised, and the man was caught. Pie made
a clean breast of it, and in the course of a few hours the
entire property was returned, to the great delight of the
General and myself. Wherever we exhibited after
wards, no matter how respectable the audience, the case
of presents was always carefully watched.
IN BELGIUM, 213
While I was in Brussels I could do no less than visit
the battle-field of Waterloo, and I proposed that our
party should be composed of Professor Pinte, Mr. Strat-
ton, father of General Tom Thumb, Mr. H. G. Sherman,
and myself. Going sight-seeing was a new sensation to
Stratton, and as it was necessary to start by four o clock
in the morning, in order to accomplish the distance
(sixteen miles) and return in time for our afternoon
performance, he demurred.
" I do n t want to get up before daylight and go off on
a journey for the sake of seeing a darned old field of
wheat," said Stratton.
" Sherwood, do try to be like somebody, once in your
life, and go," said his wife.
The appeal was irresistible, and he consented. We
engaged a coach and horses the night previous, and
started punctually at the hour appointed. We stopped at
the neat little church in the village of Waterloo, for the
purpose of examining the tablets erected to the memory
of some of the English who fell in the contest. Thence
we passed to the house in which the leg of Lord Uxbridge
(Marquis of Anglesey) was amputated. A neat little
monument in the garden designates the spot where the
shattered member had been interred. In the house is
shown a part of the boot which is said to have once
covered the unlucky leg. The visitor feel s it but con
siderate to hand a franc or two to the female who exhib
its the monument and limb. I did so, and Stratton,
though he felt that he had not received the worth of
his money, still did not like to be considered penurious,
so he handed over a piece of silver coin to the attend
ant. I expressed a desire to have a small piece of the
boot to exhibit in my Museum ; the lady cut off, without
214 IN BELGIUM.
hesitation, a slip three inches long by one in width. I
handed her a couple more francs, and Stratton desiring,
as he said, to " show a piece of the boot in old Bridge
port," received a similar slip, and paid a similar amount
I could not help thinking that if the lady was thus libe
ral in dispensing pieces of the "identical boot" to all
visitors, this must have been about the ninety-nine
thousandth boot that had been cut as the " Simon pure "
since 1815.
With the consoling reflection that the female pur
chased all the cast-off boots in "Brussels and its vicinity,
and rejoicing that somebody was making a trifle out of
that accident besides the inventor of the celebrated
" Anglesey leg," we passed on towards the battle-field,
lying about a mile distant.
Arriving at Mont Saint Jean, a quarter of a mile from
the ground, we were beset by some eighteen or twenty
persons, who offered their services as guides, to indicate
the most important localities. Each applicant professed
to know the exact spot where every man had been
placed who had taken part in the battle, and each, of
course, claimed to have been engaged in that sangui
nary contest, although it had occurred thirty years before,
and some of these fellows were only, it seemed, from
twenty-five to twenty-eight years of age! We accepted
an old man, who, at first declared that he was killed in
the battle, but perceiving our looks of incredulity, con
sented to modify his statement so far as to assert that he
was horribly wounded, and lay upon the ground three
days before receiving assistance.
Once upon the ground, our guide, with much gravity,
pointed out the place where the Duke of Wellington
took his station during a great part of the action ; the
IN BELGIUM. 215
locality inhere the reserve of the British army was sta
tioned ; the spot where Napoleon placed his favorite
guard ; the little mound on which was erected a tempo
rary observatory for his use during the battle ; the por
tion of the field at which Blucher entered with the
Prussian army ; the precise location of the Scotch
Greys; the spot where fell Sir Alexander Gordon,
Lieut. Col. Canning, and many others of celebrity. I
asked him if he could tell me where Captain Tippiti-
wichet, of the Connecticut Fusileers, was killed. " Oui,
Monsieur," he replied, with perfect confidence, for he
felt bound to know, or to pretend to know, every par
ticular. He then proceeded to point out exactly the
spot where my unfortunate Connecticut friend had
breathed his last. A fter indicating the locations where
some twenty more fictitious friends from Coney Island,
New Jersey, Cape Cod and Saratoga Springs, had given
up the ghost, we handed him his commission and de
clined to give him further trouble. Stratton grumbled
at the imposition as he handed out a couple of francs
for the information received.
Upon quitting the battle-field we were accosted by a
dozen persons of both sexes with baskets on their arms
or bags in their hands, containing relics of the battle
for sale. These consisted of a great variety of imple
ments of war, pistols, bullets, etc., besides brass French
eagles, buttons, etc. I purchased a number of them for
the Museum, and Stratton was equally liberal in obtain
ing a supply for his friends in " Old Bridgeport." We
also purchased maps of the battle-ground, pictures of
the triumphal mound surmounted by the colossal Belgic
Lion in bronze, etc., etc. These frequent and renewed
taxations annoyed Stratton very much, and as he handed
216 IN BELGIUM.
out a five franc piece for a " complete guide-book," he
remarked, that " he guessed the battle of Waterloo had
cost a darned sight more since it was fought than it did
before ! "
But his misfortunes did not terminate here. When
we had proceeded four or five miles upon our road home,
crash went the carriage. We alighted, and found that
the axle-tree was broken. It was now a quarter past
one o clock. The little General s exhibition was adver
tised to commence in Brussels at two o clock, and could
not take place without us. We were unable to walk
the distance in double the time at our disposal, and as
no cairi age was to be got in that part of the country, I
concluded to take the matter easy, and forego all idea of
exhibiting before evening. Strattbn, however, could not
bear the thought of losing the chance of taking in six
or eight hundred francs, and he determined to take
matters in hand, in order,- if possible, to get our party
into Brussels in/ time/to save the afternoon exhibi
tion. He hastjped /o a farm-house, accompanied by
the interprets, Professor Pinte, Sherman and myself
leisurely bringing up the rear. Stratton asked the old
farmer if he had a carriage. He had not. " Have
you no vehicle 1 " he inquired.
" Yes, I have that vehicle," he replied, pointing to an
old cart filled with manure, and standing in his barn
yard.
" Thunder ! is that all the conveyance you have got ] "
asked Stratton. Being assured that it was, Stratton
concluded that it was better to ride in a manure cart
than not get to Brussels in time.
" What will you ask to drive us to Brussels in three-
quarters of an hour 1 " demanded Stratton.
IN .BELGIUM. 217
"It is impossible," replied the farmer ; "I should
want two hours for my horse to do it in."
fi But ours is a very pressing case, and if we are not
there in time we lose more than five hundred francs,*
said Stratton.
The old farmer pricked up his ears at this, and agreed
to get us to Brussels in an hour, for eighty francs.
Stratton tried to beat him down, but it was of no use.
" Oh, go it, Stratton," said Sherman ; " eighty francs
you know is only sixteen dollars, and you will probably
save a hundred by it, for I expect a full house at our
afternoon exhibition to-day."
" But I have already spent about ten dollars for non
sense," said Stratton, " and we shall have to pay for the
broken carriage besides."
" But what can you do better?" chimed in Professor
Pinte.
46 It is an outrageous extortion to charge sixteen dol
lars for an old horse and cart to go ten miles. Why, in old
Bridgeport I could get it done for three dollars," replied
Stratton, in a tone of vexation.
* c It is the custom of the country," said Professor Pinte,
" and we must submit to it."
By the way, this was a favorite expression of the
Professor s. Whenever we were imposed upon, or felt
that we were not used right, Pinte would always
endeavor to smooth it over by informing us it was " the
custom of the country."
" Well, it s a thundering mean custom, any how," said
Stratton, " and I wont stand such an imposition."
" But what shall we do ? " earnestly inquired Mr.
Pinte. " It may be a high price, but it is better to pay
that than to lose our afternoon performance and five or
six huitdred francs."
213 IN BELGIUM.
This appeal to the pocket touched Stratton s feelings ;
so submitting to the extortion, he replied to our inter
preter, "Well, tell the old robber to dump his dung-cart
as soon as possible, or we shall lose half an hour in
starting."
The cart was dumped" and a large, lazy-looking
Flemish horse was attached to it with a rope harness.
Some boards were laid across the cart for seats, the
party tumbled into the rustic vehicle, a red-haired boy,
son of the old farmer, mounted the horse, and Stratton
gave orders to " get along." " Wait a moment," said
the farmer, " you have not paid me yet," " I ll pay
your boy when we get to Brussels, provided he gets
there within the hour," replied Stratton.
" Oh, he is sure to get there in an hour, said the
farmer, " but I can t let him go unless you pay in
advance." The minutes were flying rapidly, the antici
pated loss of the day exhibition of General Tom Thumb
flitted before his eyes, and Stratton, in very desperation,
thrust his hand into his pocket and drew forth sixteen
five-franc pieces, which he dropped, one at a time, into
the hand of the farmer, and then called out to the boy,
" There now, do try to see if you can go ahead."
The boy did go ahead, but it was with such a snail s
pace that it would have puzzled a man of tolerable eye
sight to have determined whether the horse was moving
or standing still. To make it still more interesting, it
commenced raining furiously. As we had left Brussels
in a coach, and the morning had promised us a pleasant
day, we had omitted our umbrellas. We were soon
soaked to the skin. We " grinned and bore it " awhile
without grumbling. At length Stratton, who was almost
too angry to speak, desired Mr. Pinte to ask the red-
IN BELGIUM. 219
haired boy if he expected to walk his horse all the way
to Brussels.
" Certainly," replied the boy; "he is too big and fat
to do any thing but walk. We never trot him."
Stratton was terrified as he thought of the loss of the
day exhibition ; and he cursed the boy, the cart, the
rain, the luck, and even the battle of Waterloo itself.
But it was all of no use, the horse would not run, but
the rain did down our backs.
At two o clock, the time appointed for our exhibition,
we were yet some seven miles from Brussels. The
horse walked slowly and philosophically through the
pitiless storm, the steam majestically rising from the old
manure-cart, to the no small disturbance of our unfortu
nate olfactories. " It will take two hours to get to
Brussels at this rate," growled Stratton. " Oh, no,"
replied the boy, " it will only take about two hours from
the time we started."
" But your father agreed to get us there in an hour,"
answered Stratton.
" I know it," responded the boy, " but he knew it
would take more than two."
" I ll sue him for damage, by thunder," said Stratton.
" Oh, there would be no use in that," chimed in Mr.
Pinte, " for you could get no satisfaction in this country."
" But I shall lose more than a hundred dollars by
being two hours instead of one," said Stratton.
" They care nothing about that ; all they care for is
your eighty francs," remarked Pinte.
" But they have lied and swindled me," replied Strat
ton.
" Oh, you must not mind that, it is the custom of the
country."
220 IN BELGIUM.
Stratton gave "the country," and its "customs,"
another cursing.
All things will finally have an end, and our party did
at length actually arrive in Brussels, cart and all, in
precisely two hours and a half from the time we left the
farmer s house. Of course we were too late to exhibit
the little General. Hundreds of visitors had gone away
disappointed.
With feelings of utter desperation, Stratton started
for a barber s shop. He had a fine, black, bushy head
of hair, of which he was a little proud, and every morn
ing he submitted it to the curling-tongs of the barber.
His hair had not been cut for several weeks, and after
being shaved, he desired the barber to trim his flowing
locks a little. The barber clipped oif the ends of the
hair, and asked Stratton if that was sufficient. " No,"
he replied, " I want it trimmed a little shorter ; cut away,
and I will tell you when to stop."
Stratton had risen from bed at an unusual hour, and
after having passed through the troubles and excitements
of the unlucky morning, he began to feel a little drowsy.
This feeling was augmented by the soothing sensations
of the tonsorial process, and while the barber quietly
pursued his avocation, Stratton as quietly fell asleep.
The barber went entirely over his head, cutting off a
couple of inches of hair with every clip of his scissors.
He then rested for a moment, expecting his customer
would tell him that it was sufficient ; but the unconscious
Stratton uttered not a word, and the barber, thinking he
had not cut the hair close enough, went over the head
again. Again did he wait for an answer, little thinking
that his patron was asleep. Remembering that Strat
ton had told him to " cut away, and he would tell him
IN BELGIUM, 221
when to stop," the innocent barber went over the head
the third time, cutting the hair nearly as close as if he
had shaved it with a razor ! Having finished, he again
waited for orders from his customer, but he uttered not
a word. The barber was surprised, and that surprise
was increased when he heard a noise which seemed very
like a snore coming from the nasal organ of his uncon
scious victim.
The poor barber saw the error that he had committed,
and in dismay, as if by mistake, he hit Stratton on the
side of the head with his scissors, and woke him. He
started to his feet, looked in the glass, and to his utter
horror saw that he was unfit to appear in public with
out a wig! He swore like a trooper, but he could not
swear the hair back on to his head, and putting on his
hat, which dropped loosely over his eyes, he started for
the hotel. His despair and indignation were so great
that it was some time before he could give utterance to
words of explanation. His feelings were not allayed
by the deafening burst of laughter which ensued. He
said it was the first time that he ever went a sight-see
ing, and he guessed it would be the last !
Several months subsequent to our visit to Waterloo, I
was in Birmingham, and there made the acquaintance
of a firm who manufactured to order, and sent to Water
loo, barrels of "relics" every year. At Waterloo these
" relics " are planted, and in due time dug up, and sold
at large prices as precious remembrances of the great
battle. Our Waterloo purchases looked rather cheap
after this discovery.
While we were in Brussels, Mrs. Stratton. the mother
of the General, tasted some sausages which she declared
the best things she had eaten in France or Belgium ; in
222 IN BELGIUM.
fact, she said " she had found little that was fit to eat
in this country, for every thing was so Frenchified and
covered in gravy, she dared not eat it ; but there was
something that tasted natural about these sausages ; she
had never eaten any as good, even in America." She
sent to the landlady to inquire the name of them, for
she meant to buy some to take along with her. The
answer came that they were called " saucisse de Lyon, "
(Lyons sausages,) and straightway Mrs. Stratton went
out and purchased half a dozen pounds. Mr. Sherman
soon came in, and, on learning what she had in her
package, he remarked : " Mrs. Stratton, do you know
what Lyons sausages are made of ? "
" No," she replied ; " but I know that they are first-
rate ! "
" Well," replied Sherman, " they may be good, but
they are made from donkeys ! " which is said to be the
fact. Mrs. Stratton said she was not to be fooled so
easily that she knew better, and that she should stick
to the sausages.
Presently Professor Finte entered the room. " Mr.
Pinte," said Sherman, " you are a Frenchman, and
know every thing about edibles ; pray tell me what
Lyons sausages are made of."
" Of asses," replied the inoffensive professor.
Mrs. Stratton seized the package, the street window
was open, and, in less than a minute, a large brindle
dog was bearing the " Lyons sausages " triumphantly
away.
There were many other amusing incidents during our
brief stay at Brussels, but I have no space to record
them. After a very pleasant and successful week, we
returned to London.
CHAPTER XIV.
IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
LEVEES IN EGYPTIAN HALL UNDIMINISHED SUCCESS OTHER ENGAGEMENTS
" UP IN A BALLOON" PROVINCIAL TOUR TRAVELLING BY POST GOING
TO AMERICA A. T. STEWART SAMUEL ROGERS AN EXTRA TRAIN AN
ASTONISHED RAILWAY SUPERINTENDENT LEFT BEHIND AND LOCKED UP
SUNDAYS IN LONDON BUSINESS AND PLEASURE ALBERT SMITH A DAY
WITH HIM AT WARWICK STRATFORD ON AVON A POETICAL BARBER
WARWICK CASTLE OLD GUY S TRAPS OFFER TO BUY THE LOT THREAT
TO BURST THE SHOW ALBERT SMITH AS A SHOWMAN LEARNING THE BUSI
NESS FROM BARNUM THE WARWICK RACES RIVAL DWARFS MANUFAC
TURED GIANTESSES THE HAPPY FAMILY THE ROAD FROM WARWICK TO
COVENTRY PEEPING TOM THE YANKEE GO-AHEAD PRINCIPLE ALBERT
SMITH S ACCOUNT OF A DAY WITH BARNUM.
IN London the General again opened his levees in
Egyptian Hall with undiminished success. His un*
bounded popularity on the Continent and his receptions
by King Louis Philippe, of France, and King Leopold,
of Belgium, had added greatly to his prestige and fame.
Those who had seen him when he was in London
months before came to see him again, and new visitors
crowded by thousands to the General s levees.
Besides giving these daily entertainments, the General
appeared occasionally for an hour, during the intermis
sions, at some place in the suburbs ; and for a long time
he appeared every day at the Surrey Zoological Gardens,
under the direction of the proprietor, my particular
friend Mr. W. Tyler. This place subsequently became
celebrated for its great music hall, in which Spurgeon,
the sensational preacher, first attained his notoriety.
The place was always crowded, and when the General
224 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
had gone through with his performances on the little
stage, in order that all might see him he was put into a
"balloon which, secured by ropes, was then passed around
the ground just above the people s heads. Some forty
men managed the ropes and prevented the balloon from
rising ; but, one day, a sudden gust of wind took the bal
loon fairly out of the hands of half the men who had
hold of the ropes, while others were lifted from the
ground, and had not an alarm been instantly given which
called at least two hundred to the rescue the little Gen
eral would have been lost.
In addition to other engagements, the General fre
quently performed in Douglass s Standard Theatre, in the
city, in the play " Hop o my Thumb," which was written
for him by my friend, Albert Smith, whom I met soon
after my first arrival in London and with whom I became
very intimate. After my arrival in Paris, seeing the
decided success of "Petit Poucet," it occurred to me that
I should want such a play when I returned to England
and the United States. So I wrote to Mr. Albert Smith,
inviting him to make me a visit in Paris, intending to have
him see this play and either translate or adapt it, or
write a new one in English. He came and stayed with
me a week, visiting the Vaudeville Theatre to see t; Petit
Poucet" nearly every night, and we compared notes and
settled upon a plan for " Hop o my Thumb." He went
back to London and wrote the play and it was very pop
ular indeed.
During our stay of three months, at this time, in
Egyptian Hall, we made occasional excursions and gave
exhibitions at Brighton, Bath, Cheltenham, Leamington
and other watering places and fashionable resorts.
It wap at the height of the season in these places.
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 225
and our houses were very large and our profits in
proportion.
In October, 1844, I made my first return visit to the
United States, leaving General Tom Thumb in England,
in the hands of an accomplished and faithful agent, who
continued the exhibitions during my absence. One of
the principal reasons for my return at this time, was my
anxiety to renew the Museum building lease, although
my first lease of five years had still three years longer to
run. I told Mr. Olmsted that if he would not renew my
lease on the same terms, for at least five years more, I
would immediately put up a new building, remove my
Museum, close his building during the last year of my
lease, and cover it from top to bottom with placards,
stating where my new Museum was to be found. Pend
ing an arrangement, I went to Mr. A. T. Stewart, who
had just purchased the Washington Hall property, at
the corner of Broadway and Chambers Street, intending
to erect a store on the site, and proposed to join him in
building, he to take the lower floor of the new store for
his business, and I to own and occupy the upper stories
for my Museum. He said he would give me an answer in
the course of a week. Meanwhile, Mr. Olmsted gave
me the additional five years lease I asked, and I so noti
fied Mr. Stewart. Seeing the kind of building that Mr.
Stewart erected on his lots, I do not know if he seriously
entertained my proposition to join him in the enterprise ;
but he was by no means the great merchant then he after
wards became, and neither of us then thought, probably,
of the gigantic enterprises we were subsequently to
undertake, and the great things we were to accomplish.
Having completed my business arrangements in New
York, I returned to England with my wife and daugh
11
226 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
ters, and hired a house in London. My house was the
scene of constant hospitality which I extended to my
numerous friends in return for the many attentions
shown to me. It seemed then as if I had more and
stronger friends in London than in New York. I had
met and had been introduced to " almost everybody who
was anybody," and among them all, some of the best
soon became to me much more than mere acquaintances.
Among the distinguished people whom I met, I was
introduced to the poet-banker, Samuel Rogers. I saw
him at a dinner party at the residence of the American
Minister, the Honorable Edward Everett. The old
banker was very feeble, but careful nursing and all the
appliances that unbounded wealth could bring, still
kept the life in him and he managed, not only to con
tinue to give his own celebrated breakfasts, but to go
out frequently to enjoy the hospitality of others. As
we were going in to dinner, I stepped aside, so that Mr.
Eogers who was tottering along leaning on the arm of
a friend, could go in before me, when Mr. Rogers said :
" Pass in, Mr. Barnum, pass in ; I always consider it
an honor to follow an American."
When our three months engagement at Egyptian
Hall had expired, I arranged for a protracted provin
cial tour through Great Britain. I had made a flying
visit to Scotland before we went to Paris mainly to
procure the beautiful Scotch costumes, daggers, etc.,
which were carefully made for the General at Edinburgh,
and to teach the General the Scotch dances, with a bit
of the Scotch dialect, which added so much to the inter
est of his exhibitions in Paris and elsewhere. My
second visit to Scotland, for the purpose of giving exhi
bitions, extended as far as Aberdeen.
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 227
In England we went to Manchester, Birmingham, and
to almost every city, town, and even village of import
ance. We travelled by post much of the time that
is, I had a suitable carnage made for my party, and a
van which conveyed the General s carriage, ponies, and
such other "property" as was needed for our levees,
and we never had the slightest difficulty in finding good
post horses at every station where we wanted them.
This mode of travelling was not only very comfortable
and independent, but it enabled us to visit many out of
the way places, off from the great lines of travel, and in
such places we gave some of our most successful exhi
bitions. We also used the railway lines freely, leaving
our carriages at any station, and taking them up again
when we returned.
I remember once making an extraordinary effort to
reach a branch-line station, where I meant to leave my
teams and take the rail for Rugby. I had a time-table,
and knew at what hour exactly I could hit the train ;
but unfortunately the axle to my carriage broke, and as
an hour was lost in repairing it, I lost exactly an hour
in reaching the station. The train had long been gone,
and I must be in Rugby, where we had advertised a
performance. I stormed around till I found the super
intendent, and told him "I must instantly have an extra
train to Rugby."
" Extra train !" said he, with surprise and a half
sneer, " extra train ! " why you can t have an extra train
to Rugby for less than sixty pounds."
" Is that all? " I asked ; " well, get up your train imme
diately and here are your sixty pounds. What in the
world are sixty pounds to me, when I wish to go to
Rugby, or elsewhere, in a hurry ! "
IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
The astonished superintendent took the money, bustled
about, and the train was soon ready. He was greatly
puzzled to know what distinguished person he thought
he must be dealing with some prince, or, at least, a
duke was willing to give so much money to save a
few hours of time, and he hesitatingly asked whom he
had the honor of serving.
" General Tom Thumb."
We reached Rugby in time to ^^ our performance,
as announced, and our receipts Were 160, which quite
covered the expense of our extra train and left a hand
some margin for profit.
When we were in Oxford, a dozen or more of the
students came to the conclusion that as the General was a
little fellow, the admission fee to his entertainments
should be paid in the smallest kind of money. They
accordingly provided themselves with farthings, and as
each man entered, instead of handing in a shilling for
his ticket, he laid down forty-eight farthings. The
counting of these small coins was a great annoyance to
Mr. Stratton, the General s father, who was ticket
seller, and after counting two or three handsful, vexed at
the delav which was preventing a crowd of ladies and
gentlemen from buying tickets, Mr. Stratton lost his
L eniper and cried out :
- Plast your quarter pennies ! I am not going to
^< lilt v ,hem! you chaps who haven t bigger money can
-vmiek your copper into my hat and walk in."
it Cambridge, some of the under-graduates pretended
;o take offence because our check-taker would not
pe/mit them to smoke in the exhibition hall, and one of
them managed to involve him in a quarrel which ended with
a challenge from the student to the check-taker, who was
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 229
sure he must fight a duel at sunrise the next morning,
and as he expected to-be shot, he suffered the greatest
mental agony. About midnight, however, after he had
been sufficiently scared, I brought him the gratifying
intelligence that I had succeeded in settling the dispute.
His gratitude at the relief thus afforded, knew no bounds.
Mr. Stratton was a genuine Yankee, and thoroughly
conversant with the Yankee vernacular, which he used
freely. In exhibit : ^g the General, I often said to
visitors, that Tom Thumb s parents and the rest of the
family were persons of the ordinary size, and that the
gentleman who presided in the ticket-office was the Gen
eral s father. This made poor Stratton an object of no
little curiosity, and he was pestered with all sorts of
questions ; on one occasion an old dowager said to him :
" Are you really the father of General Tom Thumb I "
" Wa al," replied Stratton, " I have to support him ! "
This evasive method of answering is common enough
in New England, but the literal dowager had her doubts,
and promptly rejoined :
" I rather think he supports you ! "
In my journeyings through England, I always tried
to get back to London Saturday night, so as to pass
Sunday with my family, and to meet the friends whom
ve invited to dine with us on the only day in the week
viien I could be at home. The railway facilities are so
Excellent in England, that, no matter how far I might
be from London, I could generally reach that city by
Sunday morning, and yet do a full week s work in the
provinces. This, however, necessitated travel Saturday
night, and while I travelled I must sleep. Sleeping cars
were, and, I believe, still are unknown in that country ;
but I travelled so much, and was, by this time, so well
230 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
known to the guards on the leading lines, that I could
generally secure one of the compartments in a first-class
" coach" to myself, and my method for obtaining a good
night s sleep, was to lay the seat-cushions on the floor
of the car, thus, with my blanket to cover me, making a
tolerable bed.
On one of these Saturday night excursions, I lay down
011 my extemporized couch, with the expectation of
arriving at London at five o clock in the morning.
When I awoke the car was standing still, and the sun
was well up in the heavens. Thinking we were very
much behind time, and wondering why the train did not
go on, at last I got up and looked out of the window,
and, to my utter amazement, I found my car locked up
in a yard, surrounded by a high fence. Espying a man
who seemed to have charge of the premises, I shouted
to him to come and let me out of the car, which was
also locked. It instantly flashed across my mind that at
this station, the guard, seeing no person sitting on the
seats in the car, and concluding that it was empty, had
detached it from the train, and switched it o ff into the
yard. The astonished man whom I summoned to my
assistance, informed me that I was sixty miles from
London, and that there would not be another train to
the city till evening. It was ten o clock, and I was to
have been home at five. I raised a great row 7 , and de
manded as my right an extra train to carry me to Lon
don, to meet the friends whom it was all-important I
should see that day. I had to wait, however, till evening,
and I arrived home at seven or eight o clock, long after
my friends had gone, though to the great gratification
of my family, who thought some serious accident must
have happened to me.
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 231
It must not be supposed that during my protracted
stay abroad I confined myself wholly to business or
limited my circle of observation with a golden rim. To
be sure, I ever had " an eye to business," but I had also
two eyes for observation and these were busily employed
in leisure hours. I made the most of my opportunities
and saw, hurriedly, it is true, nearly everything worth
seeing in the various places which I visited. All Europe
was a great curiosity shop to me and I willingly paid
my money for the show.
While in London, my friend Albert Smith, a jolly
companion, as well as a witty and sensible author, prom
ised that when I reached Birmingham he would come
and spend a day with me in " sight-seeing," including a
visit to the house in which Shakespeare was born. >
Early one morning in the autumn of 1844, my friend
Smith and myself took the box-seat of an English mail-
coach, and were soon whirling at the rate of twelve
miles an hour over the magnificent road leading from
Birmingham to Stratford. The distance is thirty miles.
At a little village four miles from Stratford, we found
that the fame of the bard of Avon had travelled thus
far, for we noticed a sign over a miserable barber s
shop, " Shakespeare hair-dressing a good shave for a
penny." In twenty minutes more we were set down at
the door of the Red Horse Hotel, in Stratford. The
coachman and guard were each paid half a crown as
their perquisites.
While breakfast was preparing, we called for a guide
book to the town, and the waiter brought in a book,
saying that we should find in it the best description
extant of the birth and burial place of Shakespeare. I
was not a little proud to find this volume to be no other
232 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
than the " Sketch-Book " of our illustrious countryman,
Washington Irving ; and in glancing over his humor
ous description of the place, I discovered that he had
stopped at the same hotel where we were then await
ing breakfast.
After examining the Shakespeare House, as well as
the tomb and the church in which all that is mortal
of the great poet rests, we ordered a post-chaise for
Warwick Castle. While the horses were harnessing,
a stage-coach stopped at the hotel, and two gentlemen
alighted. One was a sedate, sensible-looking man ; the
other an addle-headed fop. The former was mild and
unassuming in his manners ; the latter was all talk,
without sense or meaning in fact, a regular Charles
Chatterbox. He evidently had a high opinion of him
self, and was determined that all within hearing should
understand that he was somebody. Presently the
sedate gentleman said :
" Edward, this is Stratford. Let us go and see the
house where Shakespeare was born."
" Who the devil is Shakespeare ? " asked the sensible
young gentleman.
Our post-chaise was at the door ; we leaped into it,
and were off, leaving the " nice young man " to enjoy a
visit to the birth-place of an individual of whom he had
never before heard. The distance to Warwick is four
teen miles. We went to the Castle, and approaching
the door of the Great Hall, were informed by a well-
dressed porter that the Earl of Warwick and family
were absent, and that he was permitted to show the
apartments to visitors. He introduced us successively
into the " Red Drawing-Room," " The Cedar Drawing-
Room," "The Gilt Room," "The State Bed-Room,"
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 233
"Lady Warwick s Boudoir," "The Compass Room,"
"The Chapel," and "The Great Dining-Room." As
we passed out of the Castle, the polite porter touched
bis head (he of course had no hat on it) in a style which
spoke plainer than words, " Half a crown each, if you
please, gentlemen." We responded to the call, and
were then placed in charge of another guide, who took
us to the top of " Guy s Tower," at the bottom of which
he touched his hat a shilling s worth ; and placing our
selves in charge of a third conductor, an old man of
seventy, we proceeded to the Greenhouse to see the
Warwick Vase each guide announcing at the end of
his short tour : " Gentlemen, I go no farther," and
indicating that the bill for his services was to be paid.
The old gentleman mounted a rostrum at the side of the
vase, and commenced a set speech, which we began to
fear was interminable ; so tossing him the usual fee, we
left him in the middle of his oration.
Passing through the porter s lodge on our way out,
under the impression that we had seen all that was inter
esting, the old porter informed us that the most curious
things connected with the Castle were to be seen in his
lodge. Feeling for our coin, we bade him produce his
relics, and he showed us a lot of trumpery, which, he
gravely informed us, belonged to that hero of antiquity,
Guy, Earl of Warwick. Among these were his sword,
shield, helmet, breast-plate, walking-staff, and tilting-
pole, each of enormous size the horse armor nearly
large enough for an elephant, a large pot which would
hold seventy gallons, called " Guy s Porridge Pot," his
flesh-fork, the size of a farmer s hay-fork, his lady s
stirrups, the rib of a mastodon which the porter pre
tended belonged to the great " Dun Cow," which,,
H*
234 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
according to tradition, haunted a ditch near Coventry,
and after doing injury to many persons, was slain by the
valiant Guy. The sword weighed nearly 200 pounds,
and the armor 400 pounds.
I told the old porter he was entitled to great credit
for having concentrated more lies than I had ever before
heard in so small a compass. He smiled, and evidently
felt gratified by the compliment.
" I suppose," I continued, " that you have told these
marvellous stories so often, that you believe them your
self? "
" Almost!" replied the porter, with a grin of satisfac
tion that showed he was "up to snuff," and had really
earned two shillings.
" Come now, old fellow," said I, " what will you take
for the entire lot of those traps ? I want them for my
Museum in America."
" No money would buy these valuable historical
mementos of a by-gone age," replied the old porter
with a leer.
"Never mind," I exclaimed ; " I ll have them dupli
cated for my Museum, so that Americans can see them
and avoid the necessity of coming here, and in that way
I ll burst up your show."
Albert Smith laughed immoderately at the astonish
ment of the porter when I made this threat, and I was
greatly amused, some years afterwards, when Albert
Smith became a successful showman and was exhibiting
his " Mont Blanc " to delighted audiences in London, to
discover that he had introduced this very incident into
his lecture, of course, changing the names and locality.
He often confessed that he derived his very first idea
of becoming a showman from my talk about the business
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 235
and my doings, on this charming day when we visited
Warwick.
The " Warwick races " were coming off that day,
within half a mile of the village, and we therefore went
down and spent an hour with the multitude. There
was very little excitement regarding the races, and we
concluded to take a tour through the " penny shows,"
the vans of which lined one side of the course for the
distance of a quarter of a mile. On applying to enter
one van, which had a large pictorial sign of giantesses,
white negro, Albino girls, learned pig, hig snakes, etc.,
the keeper exclaimed:
" Come, Mister, you is the man what hired Randall,
the giant, for Merika, and you shows Tom Thumb ; now
can you think of paying less than sixpence for going in
here ? "
The appeal was irresistible ; so, satisfying his
demands, we entered. Upon coming out, a whole bevy
of showmen from that and neighboring vans surrounded
me, and began descanting on the merits and demerits of
General Tom Thumb.
" Oh," says one, " I knows two dwarfs what is better
ten times as Tom Thumb."
46 Yes," says another, " there s no use to talk about
Tom Thumb while Melia Patton is above tlie ground."
" Now, I ve seen Tom Thumb," added a third, " and
he is a fine little squab, but the only vantage he s got is
he can chaff so well. He chaffs like a man ; but I can
learn Dick Swift in two months, so that he can chaff
Tom Thumb crazy."
" Never mind," added a fourth, " I ve got a chap
training what you none on you knows, what 11 beat all
the thumbs on your grapplers."
236 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
" No, he can t," exclaimed a fifth, " for Tom Thumb
has got the name, and you all know the name s every
thing. Tom Thumb could n t never shine, even in my
van, long side of a dozen dwarfs I knows, if this Yan
kee had n t bamboozled our Queen, God bless her
by getting him afore her half a dozen times."
"Yes, yes, that s the ticket," exclaimed another;
" our Queen patronizes everything foreign, and yet she
would n t visit my beautiful wax-works to save the crown
of Hingland."
" Your beautiful wax-works ! " they all exclaimed,
with a hearty laugh.
" Yes, and who says they haint beautiful ? " retorted
the other ; " they was made by the best Hitalian hartist
in this country."
" They was made by Jim Caul, and showed all over
the country twenty years ago," rejoined another ; " and
arter that they laid five years in pawn in old Moll Wig-
gin s cellar, covered with mould and dust."
" Well, that s a good un, that is ! " replied the proprie
tor of the beautiful wax- works, with a look of disdain.
I made a move to depart, when one of the head
showmen exclaimed, " Come, Mister, do n t be shabby ;
can you think of going without standing treat al]
round r
" Why should I stand treat? " I asked.
" Cause t ain t every day you can meet such a bloody
lot of jolly brother-showmen," replied Mr. Wax-works.
I handed out a crown, and left them to drink bad luck
to the " foreign wagabonds what would bamboozle their
Queen with inferior dwarfs, possessing no advantage
over the natyves but the power of chaffing."
While in the showmen s vans seeking for acquisitions
IN ENGLAND AGAIN. 237
to my Museum in America, I was struck with the tall
appearance of a couple of females who exhibited as the
" Canadian giantesses, each seven feet in height." Sus
pecting that a cheat was hidden under their unfashion-
ably long dresses, which reached to the floor and thus
rendered their feet invisible, I attempted to solve the
mystery by raising a foot or two of the superfluous cover
ing. The strapping young lady, not relishing such
liberties from a stranger, laid me flat upon the floor with
a blow from her brawny hand. I was on my feet again in
tolerably quick time, but not until I had discovered that
she stood upon a pedestal at least eighteen inches high.
We returned to the hotel, took a post-chaise, and
drove through decidedly the most lovely country I ever
beheld. Since taking that tour, I have heard that two
gentlemen once made a bet, each, that he could name
the most delightful drive in England. Many persons
were present, and the two gentlemen wrote on separate
slips of paper the scene which he most admired. One
gentleman wrote, " The road from Warwick to Coven
try ; " the other had written, " The road from Coventry
to Warwick."
In less than an hour we were set down at the outer
walls of Kenil worth Castle, which Scott has greatly
aided to immortalize in his celebrated novel of that
name. This once noble and magnificent castle is now a
stupendous ruin, which has been so often described
that I think it unnecessary to say anything about it
here. We spent half an hour in examining the inter
esting ruins, and then proceeded by post-chaise to Cov
entry, a distance of six or eight miles. Here we
remained four hours, during which time we visited
St. Mary s Hall, which has attracted the notice of many
238 IN ENGLAND AGAIN.
antiquaries. We also took our own " peep " at the
effigy of the celebrated " Peeping Tom," after which
we visited an exhibition called the " Happy Family,"
consisting of about two hundred birds and animals
of opposite natures and propensities, all living in
harmony together in one cage. This exhibition was so
remarkable that I bought it and hired the proprietor to
accompany it to New York, and it became an attractive
feature in my Museum.
We took the cars the same evening for Birmingham,
where we arrived at ten o clock, Albert Smith remark
ing, that never before in his life had he accomplished
a day s journey on the Yankee go-ahead principle. He
afterwards published a chapter in Bentleys Maga
zine entitled " A Day with Barnum," in which he said
we accomplished business with such rapidity, that
when he attempted to write out the accounts of the
day, he found the whole thing so confused in his brain
that he came near locating " Peeping Tom " in the
house of Shakespeare, while Guy of Warwick would
stick his head above the ruins of Kenilworth, and the
Warwick Vase appeared in Coventry.
CHAPT_ER XV.
EETUEN TO AMERICA.
V .- v Wr -10 Yluii
THE WIZARD OF THE NORTH A JUGGLER BEATEN AT HIS OWN TRICKS SECOND
VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES REVEREND DOCTOR ROBERT BAIRD CAPTAIN
JUDKINS THREATENS TO PUT ME IN IRONS VIEWS WITH REGARD TO SECTS
A WICKED WOMAN THE SIMPSONS IN EUROPE REMINISCENCES OF TRAVEL.
SAUCE AND "SASS" TEA TOO SWEET A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE ROAST
DUCK SNOW IN AUGUST TALES OF TRAVELLERS SIMPSON NOT TO BE
TAKEN IN HOLLANDERS IN BRUSSELS WHERE ALL THE DUTCHMEN COMB
FROM THREE YEARS IN EUROPE WARM PERSONAL FRIENDS DOCTOR
C. S. BREWSTER HENRY SUMNER GEORGE SAND LORENZO DRAPER
GEORGE P. PUTNAM OUR LAST PERFORMANCE IN DUBLIN DANIEL o CON-
NELL END OF OUR TOUR DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA ARRIVAL IN NEW
YORK.
WHILE I was at Aberdeen, in Scotland, I met Ander
son, the " Wizard of the North." I had known him for
a long time, and we were on familiar terms. The Gen
eral s exhibitions were to close on Saturday night, and
Anderson was to open in the same hall on Monday even
ing. He came to our exhibition, and at the close we
went to the hotel together to get a little supper. After
supper we were having some fun and jokes together,
when it occurred to Anderson to introduce me to sev
eral persons who were sitting in the room, as the
" Wizard of the North," at the same time asking me
about my tricks and my forthcoming exhibition. He
kept this up so persistently that some of our friends who
were present, declared that Anderson was " too much
for me," and, meanwhile, fresh introductions to stran
gers who came in, had made me pretty generally
240 EETUEN TO AMERICA.
known in that circle as the " Wizard of the North,"
who was to astonish the town in the following week. I
accepted the situation at last, and said :
" Well, gentlemen, as I perform here for the first
time, on Monday evening, I like to be liberal, and I
should be very happy to give orders of admission to
those of you who will attend my exhibition."
The applications for orders were quite general, and
I had written thirty or forty, when Anderson, who saw
that I was in a fair way of filling his house with " dead
heads," cried out
" Hold on ! " I am the < Wizard of the North. 7 I ll
stand the orders already given, but not another one."
Our friends, including the " Wizard " himself, began
to think that I had rather the best of the joke.
During our three years stay abroad, I made a second
hasty visit to America, leaving the General in England
in the hands of my agents. I took passage from Liver
pool on board a Cunard steamer, commanded by Captain
Judkins. One of my fellow passengers was the cele
brated divine, Robert Baird. I had known him as the
author of an octavo volume, "Religion in America";
and while that work had impressed me as exhibiting
great ability and an outspoken honesty of purpose, it
had also given me the notion that its author must be
very rigid and intolerant as a sectarian. Still I was
happy to make his acquaintance on board the steamship,
and soon regarded with favor the venerable Presbyterian
divine.
Dr. Baird had been for some time a missionary in
Sweden. He was now paying a visit to his native land.
I found him a shrewd, well-informed Christian gentle
man, and I took much pleasure in hearing him con-
RETURN TO AMERICA.
verse. One night it was storming furiously. The
waves, rolling high, afforded a sight of awful grandeur,
to witness which I was tempted to put on a pea-jacket,
go upon the deck, and lash myself to the side of the
ship. After I had been there nearly an hour, wrapt in
meditation and wonder, not unmixed with awe, Dr.
Baird came up in the darkness, feeling his way cau
tiously along the deck. As he came where I was, I
hailed him ; and he asked what I was doing so long up
there.
" Listening to the preaching, Doctor," I replied ; " and
I think it heats even yours, although I have never had
the pleasure of hearing you."
" Ah ! " he replied, " none of us can preach like this.
How humble and insignificant we all feel in the pres
ence of such a display of the Almighty power ; and how
grateful we should be to remember that infinite love
guides this power."
The Sunday following, divine service was held as
usual in the large after cabin. Of course it was the
Episcopal form of worship. The captain conducted the
services, assisted by the clerk and the ship s surgeon.
A dozen or two of the sailors, shaved, washed, and
neatly dressed, were marched into the cabin by the
mate ; most of the passengers were also present.
Those who have witnessed this service, as conducted
by Captain Judkins, need not be reminded that he does
it much as he performs his duties on deck. He speaks
as one having authority ; and a listener could hardly
help feeling that there would be some danger of a
" row " if the petitions (made as a sort of command)
were not speedily answered.
After dinner I asked Dr. Baird if he would be will-
24:2 RETURN TO AMERICA.
ing to preach to the passengers in the forward cabin.
He said he would cheerfully do so if it was desired. I
mentioned it to the passengers, and there was a gen
erally-expressed wish among them that he should
preach. I went into the forward cabin, and requested
the steward to arrange the chairs and tables properly
for religious service. He replied that I must first get
the captain s consent. Of course, I thought this was a
mere matter of form ; so I went to the captain s office,
and said :
" Captain, the passengers desire to have Dr. Baird
conduct a religious service in the forward cabin. I
suppose there is no objection."
" Decidedly there is," replied the captain, gruffly ;
" and it will not be permitted."
" Why not 1 ? " I asked, in astonishment.
"It is against the rules of the ship."
" What ! to have religious services on board ? "
" There have been religious services once to-day, and
that is enough. If the passengers do not think that is
good enough, let them go without," was the captain s
hasty and austere reply.
" Captain," I replied, "do you pretend to say you will
not allow a respectable and well-known clergyman to
offer a prayer and hold religious services on board your
ship at the request of your passengers ? "
" That, sir, is exactly what I say. So, now, let me
hear no more about it."
By this time a dozen passengers were crowding around
his door, and expressing their surprise at his conduct.
I was indignant, and used sharp language.
" Well," said I, " this is the most contemptible thing
I ever heard of on the part of the owners of a public
EETURN TO AMERICA. 243
passenger ship. Their meanness ought to be published
far and wide."
" You had better shut up/ " said Captain Judkins,
with great sternness.
" I will not c shut up, " I replied ; " for this thing is
perfectly outrageous. In that out-of-the-way forward
cabin, you allow, on week days, gambling, swearing,
smoking and singing, till late at night ; and yet on Sun
day you have the impudence to deny the privilege of a
prayer-meeting, conducted by a gray-haired and respected
minister of the gospel. It is simply infamous ! "
Captain Judkins turned red in the face ; and, no doubt
feeling that he was " monarch of all he surveyed,"
exclaimed, in a loud voice :
" If you repeat such language, I will put you in
irons."
" Do it, if you dare," said I, feeling my indignation
rising rapidly. " I dare and defy you to put your finger
on me. I would like to sail into New York Harbor in
handcuffs, on board a British ship, for the terrible crime
of asking that religious worship may be permitted on
board. So you may try it as soon as you please ; and,
when we get to New York, I ll show you a touch of
Yankee ideas of religious intolerance."
The captain made no reply ; and, at the request of
friends, I walked to another part of the ship. I told
the Doctor how the matter stood, and then, laughingly,
said to him :
" Doctor, it may be dangerous for you to tell of this
incident when you get on shore ; for it would be a pretty
strong draught upon the credulity of many of my country
men if they were told that my zeal to hear an Orthodox
minister preach was so great that it came near getting
244 RETURN TO AMERICA.
me into solitary confinement. But I am not prejudiced,
and I like fair play."
The old Doctor replied : " Well, you have not lost
much ; and, if the rules of this ship are so stringent, I
suppose we must submit."
The captain and myself had no further intercourse for
five or six days ; not until a few hours before our
arrival in New York. Being at dinner, he sent his
champagne bottle to me, and asked to " drink my
health," at the same time stating that he hoped no ill
feeling would be carried ashore. I was not then, as I
am now, a teetotaler ; so I accepted the proffered truce,
and I regret that I must add I " washed down" my
wrath in a bottle of Heidsick a poor example, which
I hope never to repeat. We have frequently met since,
and always with friendly greetings ; but I have ever felt
that his manners were unnecessarily coarse and offensive
in carrying out an arbitrary and bigoted rule of the
steamship company.
Though I have never lacked definite opinions, or
hesitated to exhibit decided preferences in regard to the
different religious creeds, I have never been so sectarian
as to imagine that any one of the denominations is with
out any truth, or exists for no good purpose. On the
contrary, I hold that every faith has somewhat of truth ;
and that each sect, in its way, does a work which per
haps no one of the other sects can do as well. I was
strongly confirmed in this general belief by an im
promptu utterance of Dr. Baird, during one of ouj
conversations, which, under the circumstances, was not
a little amusing, as it certainly evinced a good deal of
insight into human nature. It is well known that the
old Doctor was very rigid in his theological views, and
RETURN TO AMERICA. 245
in his career never spared either the Methodists or the
people of the so-called liberal opinions. During our
passage across the Atlantic, we very naturally had con
siderable tilting in regard to opinions which divided us,
though in a thoroughly good-natured way. At last I
recalled the case of a woman, somewhat noted among
her neighbors for coarseness of speech, including pro
fanity, making her altogether such a person as needed
the refining influence of religious teaching. Describing
the very unpromising condition of this woman, I said :
u Well, Doctor, if you can do anything with your
creed to improve that woman, I should be glad to see
you undertake the job."
I was at once struck with the business air in which
he considered the exigencies of what was undoubtedly a
hard case. It was clear that he had dropped the
character of the sectarian, and was taking a common-
sense view of the problem. The problem was soon
solved, and he replied :
" Mr. Barnum, it is of no use for you, with your
opinions, to attempt to do anything for that sort of a per
son ; and it is equally useless for me, with my views, to
attempt it either. But, if you could contrive a way to
set some fiery, rousing Methodist to work upon her,
why, he is just the man to do it ! "
There were a number of pretty wild young men among
our passengers, and on several occasions they tried their
wits upon Dr, Baird. But he was a man of sterling
common sense, and with that, very quick at repartee ;
and they never made anything out of him. On one
occasion, at dinner, they were in great glee, and, for a
" lark," they sent him their champagne bottle to drink
a glass of wine with them. They, of course, supposed
245 ABTUEN TO AMERICA.
he was a teetotaler, as, indeed, I believe he was ; but
when the waiter handed him the bottle, he quietly poured
a spoonful or two into his glass, and, gracefully bowing
to the young gentlemen, placed it to his lips, but not
tasting it. Of course, they could say nothing.
Early one morning, several of these youths came
upon deck, and, meeting the Doctor there, one of them
exclaimed :
* It is cold as hell this morning, ain t it, Doctor? "
" I am unable to state the exact height of the ther
mometer in that locality," said he, gravely ; " but I am
afraid you will know all about it some time, if you
are not careful."
The laugh was decidedly against the young man ;
but one of his companions, who thought considerably
of himself, seemed anxious to take up the cudgel, and
he remarked :
" Dr. Baird, your brother clergymen are making a
great ado in New York about the state of crime there ;
and they have got a smelling-committee, who go about
and smell out all filthy places there, and report them to
the public. Indeed, they do say that several of the clergy,
and some laymen of the Arthur Tappan stripe, have got
a book in which they have written down a list of all the
bad houses in New York. I should like to see that
book. Ha ! ha ! I wonder if they have really got one T
" I do n t know how that is," replied Doctor Baird ;
" but," casting his eyes heavenward, " I can assure you
there is a book in which all such places are recorded, as
well as the names of those who occupy or visit them ;
and in due time it will be opened to public gaze."
The young man looked cowed, and extending his
hand to Doctor Baird, said :
RETURN TO AMERICA. 247
" Sir, I confess I have made too light of a serious
matter. I sincerely beg your pardon, if I have offended
you."
" You have not offended me," said the Doctor, with
a benignant smile ; " but I am rejoiced to perceive that
you have offended your own sense of propriety and
morality. I trust you will not forget it."
This was the last attempt on board that ship to try a
Jance with Doctor Baird.
Several years later, when I was engaged in the Jenny
Lind enterprise, Doctor Baird called upon me. Having
been so long a missionary in Sweden, the native land of
the great songstress, he had a special desire to make her
acquaintance and listen to her singing. I introduced
him to her, and gave him the entree to her concerts. He
improved the opportunity, and he also made frequent
calls upon her. She became much interested in him.
Indeed, on several occasions she contributed liberally to
the charitable institutions he had recommended to her
favorable notice.
During my residence in London I made the acquaint
ance of an American, whom I will call Simpson, and
his wife. They had originally been poor, and accus
tomed to pretty low society. Their opportunities for
education had been limited, and they were what we
should term vulgar, ignorant, common people. But by
a turn of Fortune s wheel they became suddenly rich,
and like some other fools who know nothing of their
own country, they must rush to make the tour of
Europe.
Mr. Simpson was an ignorant, good-natured fellow,
fond of sporting large amounts of jewelry ; was very
social with Englishmen ; always bragging of our " glo-
12
248 (RETURN TO AMERICA.
rious country " ; and was particularly given to boasting
that he was once poor and now he was rich. When
ever he met Americans he was delighted, and insisted
on the privilege of " standing treats " to all around,
familiarly slapping on the back, and treating as an old
chum, any American gentleman, however refined, whom
he might come in contact with.
Mrs. Simpson was a coarse woman, yet always study
ing politeness, and particularly the proper pronuncia
tion of words. She was ever trying to appear refined ;
and she prided herself upon understanding all the rules
of etiquette and fashion. She was continually purchas
ing new dresses and fashionable articles of apparel.
She loaded herself down with diamonds and tawdry
jewelry, and would frequently appear in the streets
with six or eight different dresses in a day. But,
strange to say, with all her pride and vanity with regard
to being considered the perfection of refinement, she
had an awful habit of using profane language ! She
really seemed to think this an evidence of good breed
ing. Perhaps she thought it a luxury which rich peo
ple were entitled to enjoy. This peculiarity occasion
ally led to most ludicrous scenes.
The Simpsons were from New England ; and in their
conversation they had the nasal Yankee twang, and the
peculiar pronunciation of the illiterate class of the New
England people.
Those who have heard John E. Owens in Ci Solon
Shingle," are aware that preserved fruits are in New
England called " sauce," by the vulgar pronounced
" sass." But when Mrs.. Simpson heard the word in
England pronounced sauce, she was very anxious tlmt
John, her husband, should adopt the new pronuncia?
RETURN TO AMERICA. 249
tion. He tried hard to learn, but would frequently
forget himself and say " sass." Mrs. Simpson would
lose ker patience on such occasions, and reprove her
husband sharply. Indeed, if he escaped without re
ceiving some profane epithet from the lips of his
would-be fashionable wife, it was a wonder.
On one occasion I happened to meet them at dinner
with an English family in London, to whom I had, in
the way of business, introduced them a few weeks pre
viously. We had scarcely taken our seats at the table
before Simpson happened to discover a dish of sweet
meats at the further corner of the table. Turning to
the servant he said :
" Please pass me that sass."
Mrs. Simpson s eyes flashed indignantly, and she
angrily exclaimed, almost in a scream :
" Say sauce ; don t say sass. I d rather hear you
say h 1 a d d sight !"
That our English hostess was amazed and shocked it
is needless to say, although she preserved her equa
nimity better than could be expected. As for myself,
I confess I could not refrain from laughing, which, of
course, served only to increase the wrath of Mrs.
Simpson.
Fourteen years subsequent to this event, I called on
this English lady in company with an American friend.
In the course of conversation, I happened to ask her ,*if
she remembered about Mrs. Simpson s " sass." She
took from a drawer her memorandum book, and showed
us the above expression verbatim, which, she said, she
wrote down the same day it was uttered ; and she added
she had never been able to think of it since without
^aughing.
250 RETURN TO AMERICA.
I met Simpson and his wife at a hotel in Marseilles,
France, in the summer of 1845. Mrs. Simpson said
she and Simpson had almost determined not to go to
France at all when they " heard it was necessary to
hire an interpreter to tell what folks said." Said she,
"I told Simpson I did n t want to go among a set of
folks who were such cussed fools they couldn t speak
English ! But of course we must go to France just
for the speech of the people when we get home, so
here we are. For my part," she continued, " I speak
English to these Frenchmen anyhow, and if they can t
understand me they can go without understanding.
The other morning, I told the waiter my tea w r as too
sweet. I found afterwards that too sweet (toule de
suite) was French for very quick.
" Oui, madame, he replied, < oui, oui, que voulez
vous ] (what will you have ?) "
ci Too sweet, too sweet, I repeated, 4 too sweet, too
sweet. Then I pointed to my tea, and said again,
Too sweet, d n your stupid head, can t you under
stand too sweet? The fool jumped around like a hen
with her head cut off, and kept saying, c Oui, oui,
madame, too sweet, qu est ceque c est ? (What is it ?)
Finally an English gentleman asked me what was the
matter, and when I told him, he explained by telling
me that too sweet (toute de suite) in French meant
quick, very quick, and that was what made the stupid
waiter jump around so."
B ut d n the French waiters," she continued, " I
have got quit of them finally, for I have found out a
language we both understand.
" The same day my tea was too sweet, Simpson was
out at dinner time ; and I went to the table alone. I
RETURN TO AMERICA. 251
called for soup, and the sap-heads brought me some
sort of preserves. I then called for fish, and the fools
could not understand me. Then I said, Bring me
some chicken/ and d n em, they danced about in
a quandary till I thought I should starve to death. But
finally I thought of roast duck. I am dreadfully fond
of duck, and I knew they always had stuffed ducks
at dinner time. So I called to the waiter once more,
and pointed to my plate and said, c quack, quack, quack,
now do you understand V and the fool began to laugh,
and said, Oui, rnadame, oui, oui, and off he ran, and
soon brought me the nicest piece of duck you ever saw.
So now every day at dinner, I say ; quack, quack, and
I always get some first-rate duck."
I congratulated her on having discovered a universal
language.
The same day, I met a young Englishman in the
hotel, who had been travelling in Spain. During our
conversation we were summoned to dinner. At the
table d hote, Simpson happened to be seated exactly
opposite us. As we continued our conversation, Simp
son heard it, and his attention was particularly arrested
it being something of a novelty to meet a stranger in
these parts, who spoke our native tongue. The Eng
lish gentleman mentioned that he ascended the Pyrenees
the week previous.
" I should like to have been with you," I remarked,
" but I am almost too fat and lazy to climb high moun
tains. I suppose you found it pretty hard work."
" Yes, we had to rough it some ; we encountered
considerable snow," he replied.
" Snow ! " exclaimed Simpson, in astonishment.
The Englishman looked with surprise at this inter-
252 RETURN TO AMERICA.
ruption ; for he did not know Simpson, nor had he ever
heard him speak before. However, he quietly replied,
" Yes, sir, snow."
" Not by a d d sight, you didn t," replied Simp
son, emphatically. " That wont go down. Snow in
August wont do. I have seen snow myself in Connec
ticut, the last of September, but it wont do in August,
by a thundering sight."
The Englishman sprang to his feet, but I hit him a
nudge, and said, u It is all right. Excuse me; let me
introduce my friend, Mr. Simpson, from America. He
has travelled some, and it is pretty hard to take him in
with big stories."
He comprehended the matter instantly and sat down.
" Yes, sir," remarked Simpson, " I have heard travel
lers before, but August is a leetle too early for snow."
" But suppose I should say it was not this year s
snow ? " said the Englishman, who was ready now to
carry on the joke.
" Worse and worse," exclaimed Simpson, with a tri
umphant laugh ; " if it would not melt in August, when
in thunder would it melt ! You might as well say it
would lay all the year round."
" I give it up," said the Englishman, " you are too
sharp for me."
Simpson was delighted, and took special pains for
several days to inform the interpreters in the neighbor
ing hotels and billiard saloons, that he had " took
down" an impudent John Bull, who had tried to stuff
him with the idea that he had seen snow in August.
I met the Simpsons afterwards in Brussels, and the
head of the family, who had heard nothing but French
spoken, outside of his own circle, for a long time, called
HETUKN TO AMERICA. 253
me in great glee to the door, to see and hear some
Dutchmen, who were conversing together in the street.
" There ! " exclaimed Simpson, " those fellows are
Dutchmen ; I know by their talk."
" Very well," said I, " how far do you suppose those
Dutchmen are from their native place ? "
" Why," replied Simpson, "I suppose they came from
Western Pennsylvania ; that s where I have always seen
em."
With the exception of the brief time passed in mak
ing two short visits to America, I had now passed three
years with General Tom Thumb in Great Britain and
on the Continent The entire period had been a season
of unbroken pleasure and profit. I had immensely
enlarged my business experiences and had made money
and many friends. Among those to whom I am
indebted for special courtesies while I was abroad are
Dr. C. S. Brewster, whose prosperous professional
career in Russia and France is well known, and Henry
Sumner, Esq., who occupied a high position in the
social and literary circles of Paris and who introduced
me to George Sand and to many other distinguished
persons. To both these gentlemen, as well as to Mr.
John Nimmo, an English gentleman connected with
Galignanis Messenger, Mr. Lorenzo Draper, the Ameri
can Consul, and Mr. Dion Boucicault, I was largely
indebted for attention. In London, two gentlemen
especially merit my .warm acknowledgments for many
valuable favors. I refer to the late Thomas Brettell,
publisher, Hay market ; and Mr. E. Fillingham, Jr.,
Fenchurch Street. I was also indebted to Mr. G. P.
Putnam, at that time a London publisher, for much
useful information.
254 RETURN TO AMERICA.
We had visited nearly every city and town in France
and Belgium, all the principal places in England and
Scotland, besides going to Belfast and Dublin, in Ireland.
I had several times met Daniel O Connell in private
life and in the Irish capital I heard him make an
eloquent and powerful public Repeal speech in Con
ciliation HalL In Dublin, after exhibiting a week in
Rotunda Hall, our receipts on the last day were 261,
or $1,305, and the General also received 50, or
$250, for playing the same evening at the Theatre
Eoyal. Thus closing a truly triumphant tour, we set
sail for New York, arriving in February 1847.
CHAPTER XVI.
AT HOME.
RENEWING THE LEASE OF THE MUSEUM BUILDING TOM THUMB IN AMERICA
TOUR THROUGH THE COUNTRY JOURNEY TO CUBA BARNUM A CURIOSITY
RAISING TURKEYS CEASING TO BE A TRAVELLING SHOWMAN RETURN TO
BRIDGEPORT ADVANTAGES AND CAPABILITIES OF THAT CITY SEARCH FOR A
HOME THE FINDING BUILDING AND COMPLETION OF IRANISTAN GRAND
HOUSE-WARMING BUYING THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OPENING THE PHIL
ADELPHIA MUSEUM CATERING FOR QUAKERS THE TEMPERANCE PLEDGE
AT THE THEATRE PURCHASING PEALE s PHILADELPHIA COLLECTION MY
AGRICULTURAL AND ARBORICULTURAL DOINGS " GERSY BLEW " CHICKENS
HOW I SOLD MY POTATOES HOW I BOUGHT OTHER PEOPLE S POTATOES
CUTTING OFF GRAFTS MY DEER PARK MY GAME-KEEPER FRANK
LESLIE PLEASURES OF HOME.
ONE of my main objects in returning home at this
time, was to obtain a longer lease of the premises occu
pied by the American Museum. My lease had still three
years to run, but Mr. Olmsted, the proprietor of the
building, was dead, and I was anxious to make provision
in time for the perpetuity of my establishment, for I
meant to make the Museum a permanent institution in
the city, and if I could riot renew my lease, I intended
to build an appropriate edifice on Broadway. I finally
succeeded, however, in getting the lease of the entire
building, covering fifty-six feet by one hundred, for
twenty-five years, at an annual rent of $10,000 and the
ordinary taxes and assessments. I had already hired in
addition the upper stories of three adjoining buildings.
My Museum receipts were more in one day, than they
formerly were in an entire week, and the establishment
12*
AT HOME.
had become so popular that it was thronged at all hours
from early morning to closing time at night.
On my return, I promptly made use of General Tom
Thumb s European reputation. He immediately ap
peared in the American Museum, and for four weeks
drew such crowds of visitors as had never been seen
there before. He afterwards spent a month in Bridge
port, with his kindred. To prevent being annoyed by
the curious, who would be sure to throng the houses of
his relatives, he exhibited two days at Bridgeport. The
receipts, amounting to several hundred dollars, were
presented to the Bridgeport Charitable Society. The
Bridgeporters were much delighted to see their old
friend, "little Charlie," again. They little thought,
when they saw him playing about the streets a few
years previously, that he was destined to create such
sensation among the crowned heads of the old world ;
and now, returning with his European reputation, he
was, of course, a great curiosity to his former acquaint
ances, as well as to the public generally. His Bridge
port friends found that he had not increased in size dur
ing the four and a half years of his absence, but they
discovered that he had become sharp and witty,
" abounding in foreign airs and native graces " ; in fact,
that he was quite unlike the little, diffident country fel
low whom they had formerly known.
" We never thought Charlie much of a phenomenon
when he lived among us," said one of the first citizens
of the place, " but now that he has become Barnum-
ized, he is a rare curiosity."
But there was really no mystery about it ; the whole
change made by training and travel, had appeared to
me by degrees, and it came to the citizens of Bridgeport
AT HOME. 257
suddenly. The terms upon which I first engaged the
lad showed that I had no over-sanguine expectations of
his success as a " speculation." When I saw, however,
that he was wonderfully popular, I took the greatest
pains to engraft upon his native talent all the instruction
he was capable of receiving. He was an apt pupil, and
I provided for him the best of teachers. Travel and
attrition with so many people in so many lands did the
rest. The General left America three years before, a
diffident, uncultivated little boy ; he came back an edu
cated, accomplished little man. He had seen much,
and had profited much. He went abroad poor, and he
came home rich.
On January 1, 1845, my engagement with the
General at a salary ceased, and we made a new
arrangement by which we were equal partners, the
General, or his father for him, taking one-half of
the profits. A reservation, however, was made of the
first four weeks after our arrival in New York, during
which he was to exhibit at my Museum for two
hundred dollars. When we returned to America, the
General s father had acquired a handsome fortune, and
settling a large sum upon the little General personally,
he placed the balance at interest, secured by bond
and mortgage, excepting thirty thousand dollars, with
which he purchased land near the city limits of Bridge
port, and erected a large and substantial mansion,
where he resided till the day of his death, and
in which his only two daughters were married, one
in 1850, the other in 1853. His only son, besides the
General, was born in 1851. All the family, except
" little Charlie," are of the usual size.
After spending a month in visiting his friends, it was
258 AT HOME.
determined that the General and his parents should
travel through the United States. I agreed to accom
pany them, with occasional intervals of rest at home,
for one year, sharing the profits equally, as in England.
We proceeded to Washington city, where the General
held his levees in April, 1847, visiting President Polk
and lady at the White House thence to Rich
mond, returning to Baltimore and Philadelphia. Our
receipts in Philadelphia in twelve days were $5,594.91.
The tour for the entire year realized about the same
average. The expenses were from twenty-five dollars
to thirty dollars per day. From Philadelphia we went
to Boston, Lowell, and Providence. Our receipts on
one day in the latter city were $976.97. We then
visited New Bedford, Fall River, Salem, Worcester,
Springfield, Albany, Troy, Niagara Falls, Buffalo, and
intermediate places, and in returning to New York we
stopped at the principal towns on the Hudson River,
After this we visited New Haven, Hartford, Portland,
Me., and intermediate towns.
I was surprised to find that, during my long absence
abroad, I had become almost as much of a curiosity to my
patrons as I was to the spinster from Maine who once
came to see me and to attend the " services " in my
Lecture Room. If I showed myself about the Museum
or wherever else I was known, I found eyes peering
and fingers pointing at me, and could frequently over
hear the remark, " There s Barnum." On one occasion
soon after my return, I was sitting in the ticket-office
reading a newspaper. A man came and purchased a.
ticket of admission. " Is Mr. Barnum in the Museum ?"
he asked. The ticket-seller, pointing *to me, answered,
" This is Mr. Barnum." Supposing th^ gentleman had
AT HOME. 259
business with me, I looked up from the paper. "Is
this Mr. Barnum I " he asked. " It is," I replied. He
stared at me for a moment, and then, throwing down
his ticket, exclaimed, " It s all right ; I have got the
worth of my money " ; and away he went, without
going into the Museum at all !
In November, 1847, we started for Havana, taking
the steamer from New York to Charleston, where the
General exhibited, as well as at Columbia, Augusta,
Savannah, Milledgeville, Macon, Columbus, Montgom
ery, Mobile and New Orleans. At this latter city we
remained three weeks, including Christmas and New
Year s. We arrived in Havana by the schooner Adams
Gray, in January, 1848, and were introduced to the Cap
tain-General and the Spanish nobility. We remained a
month in Havana and Matanzas, the General proving
an immense favorite. In Havana he was the especial
pet of Count Santovania. In Matanzas we were very
much indebted to the kindness of a princely American
merchant, Mr. Brinckerhoff. Mr. J. S. Thrasher, the
American patriot and gentleman, was also of great assist
ance to us, and placed me under deep obligations.
The hotels in Havana are not good. An American
who is accustomed to substantial living, finds it difficult
to get enough to eat. We stopped at the Washington
House, which at that time was " first-rate bad." It was
filthy, and kept by a woman who was drunk most of
^ the time. Several Americans boarded there who were
"tegular gormandizers. One of them, seeing a live tur
key on a New Orleans vessel, purchased and presented
it to the landlady. It was a small one, and when it
was carved, there was not enough of it to " go round."
An American, (a large six-footer and a tremendous
260 AT HOME.
eater,) who resided on a sugar plantation near Havana,
happened to sit near the carver, and seeing an Amer
ican turkey so near him, and feeling that it was a rare
dish for that latitude, kept helping himself, so that
when the carving was finished, he had eaten about one
half of the turkey. Unfortunately the man who bought
it was sitting at the further end of the table, and did
not get a taste of the coveted bird. He was indig
nant, especially against the innocent gormandizer from
the sugar plantation, who, of course, was not acquainted
with the history of the turkey. When they arose from
the table, the planter smacked his lips, and patting
his stomach, remarked, " That was a glorious turkey.
I have not tasted one before these two years. I am very
fond of them, and when I go back to my plantation I
mean to commence raising turkeys."
" If you do n t raise one before you leave town, you ll
be a dead man," said the disappointed poultry pur
chaser.
From Havana we went to New Orleans, wnere we
remained several days, and from New Orleans we pro
ceeded to St. Louis, stopping at the principal towns on
me Mississippi river, and returning via Louisville, Cin
cinnati, and Pittsburgh. We reached the latter city
<^arly in May, Ib48. From this point it was agreed
between Mr. Stratum and myself, that I should go
home and henceforth travel no more with the little Gen
eral. I had competent agents who could exhibit him
without my personal assistance, and I preferred to
relinquish a portion of the profits, rather than continue
to be a travelling showman. I had now been a strag
gler from home most of the time for thirteen years, and
I cannot describe the feelings of gratitude with which I
AT HOME. 261
reflected, that having by the most arduous toil and depri
vations succeeded in securing a satisfactory compe
tence, I should henceforth spend my days in the bosom
of my family. I was fully determined that no pecu
niary temptation should again induce me to forego the
enjoyments to be secured only in the circle of home. I
reached my residence in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the
latter part of May, rejoiced to find my family and friends
in good health, and delighted to find myself once more
at home.
My new home, which was then nearly ready for occu
pancy, was the well-known Iranistan. More than two
years had been employed in building this beautiful
residence. In 1846, finding that fortune was con
tinuing to favor me, I began to look forward eagerly to
the time when I could withdraw from the whirlpool of
business excitement and settle down permanently with
my family, to pass the remainder of my days in compar
ative rest.
I wished to reside within a few hours of New York.
I had never seen more delightful locations than there
are upon the borders of Long Island Sound, between
New Rochelle, New York, and New Haven, Connecti
cut; and my attention was therefore turned in that
direction. Bridgeport seemed to be about the proper
distance from the great metropolis. It is pleasantly sit
uated at the terminus of two railroads, which trav
erse the fertile valleys of the Naugatuck and Hou-
satonic rivers. The New York and New Haven Railroad
runs through the city, and there is also daily steamboat
communication with New York. The enterprise which
characterized the city, seemed to mark it as destined to
become the first in the State in size and opulence ; and
262 AT HOME.
I was not long in deciding, with the concurrence of mv
wife, to fix our future residence in that vicinity.
I accordingly purchased seventeen acres of land, less
than a mile west of the city, and fronting with a good
view upon the Sound. Although nominally in Bridge
port, my property was really in Fairfield, a few rods
west of the Bridgeport line. In deciding upon the kind
of house to be erected, I determined, first and foremost,
to consult convenience and comfort. I cared little for
style, and my wife cared still less ; but as we meant to
have a good house, it might as well, at the same time,
be unique. In this, I confess, I had " an eye to
business," for I thought that a pile of buildings of a
novel order might indirectly serve as an advertisement
of my Museum.
In visiting Brighton, in England, I had been greatly
pleased with the Pavilion erected by George IV. It
was the only specimen of Oriental architecture in
England, and the style had not been introduced into
America. I concluded to adopt it, and engaged a Lon
don architect to furnish me a set of drawings after the
general plan of the Pavilion, differing sufficiently to be
adapted to the spot of ground selected for my home
stead. On my second return visit to the United States,
I brought these drawings with me and engaged a com
petent architect and builder, giving him instructions to
proceed with the work, not " by the job " but " by the
day," and to spare neither time nor expense in erecting
a comfortable, convenient, and tasteful residence. The
work was thus begun and continued while I was still
abroad, and during the time when I was making my
tour with General Tom Thumb through the United
States and Cuba. New and magnificent avenues
m&m
AT HOME. 263
opened in the vicinity of my property. The building
progressed slowly, but surely and substantially. Ele
gant and appropriate furniture was made expressly for
every room in the house. I erected expensive water
works to supply the premises. The stables, conserva
tories and out-buildings were perfect in their kind.
There was a profusion of trees set out on the grounds.
The whole was built and established literally " regard
less of expense," for I had no desire even to ascertain
the entire cost. All I cared to know was that it suited
me, and that would have been a small consideration
with me if it had not also suited my family.
The whole was finally completed to my satisfaction.
My family removed into the premises, and, on the four
teenth of November, 1848, nearly one thousand invited
guests, including the poor and the rich, helped us in the
old-fashioned custom of " house-warming."
When the name " Iranistan " was announced, a wag
gish New York editor syllabled it, I-ran-i-stan, and gave
as the interpretation, that " I ran a long time before I
could stan ! " Literally, however, the name signifies,
" Eastern Country Place," or, more poetically, "Ori
ental Villa."
The plot of ground upon which Iranistan was erected,
was at the date of my purchase, in March 1846, a bare
field. But I transplanted many hundreds of fruit and
forest trees, some of the latter of very large growth
when they were moved, and thus in a few years iny
premises were adorned with what, in the ordinary pro
cess of growth, would have required a whole generation.
I have never waited for my trees to grow, if money
would transplant them of nearly full growth at the start.
The years 1848 and 184:9 were mainly spent with
264 AT HOME.
my family, though I went every week to New York to
look after the interests of the American Museum.
While I was in Europe, in 1845, my agent, Mr. Fordyce
Hitchcock, had bought out for me the Baltimore
Museum, a fully-supplied establishment, in full opera
tion, and I placed it under the charge of my uncle,
Alanson Taylor. He died in 1846, and I then sold
the Baltimore Museum to the " Orphean Family," by
whom it was subsequently transferred to Mr. John E.
Owens, the celebrated comedian. After my return
from Europe, I opened, in 1849, a Museum in Dr.
Swain s fine building, at the corner of Chestnut and
Seventh streets, in Philadelphia.
This was in all respects a first-class establishment.
It was elegantly fitted up, and contained, among other
things, a dozen fine large paintings, such as " The Del
uge," " Cain and his Family," and other similar subjects
which I had ordered copied, when I was in Paris, from
paintings in the gallery of the Louvre. There was also
a complete and valuable collection of curiosities and I
sent from New York, from time to time, my transient
novelties in the way of giants, dwarfs, fat boys, animals
and other attractions. There was a lecture room and
stage for dramatic entertainments ; but I was catering
for a Quaker population, and was careful to introduce
or permit nothing which could possibly be objectionable.
While the Museum contained such wax-works as " The
Temperate Family," " The Intemperate Family," and
Mrs. Pelby s representation of " The Last Supper," the
theatre presented " The Drunkard " and other moral
dramas. The most respectable people in the city patron
ized the Museum and attended the theatre. " The
Drunkard" was exceedingly well played and it made a
AT HOME. 265
great impression. There was a temperance pledge in
the box-office, which was signed by thousands during
the run of the piece. Almost every hour during the
day and evening, women could be seen bringing their
husbands to the Museum to sign the pledge.
I stayed in Philadelphia long enough to identify my
self with this Museum and to successfully start the
enterprise and then left it in the hands of different
managers who profitably conducted it till 1851, when,
finding that it occupied too much of my time and attention,
I sold it to Mr. Clapp Spooner for $40,000. At the end
of that year, the building and contents were destroyed
by fire. The loss was a serious one to Philadelphia,
and the people were very desirous that Mr. Spooner
should rebuild the establishment ; but a highly profita
ble business connection with the Adams Express Com
pany prevented him from doing so.
While my Philadelphia Museum was in full opera
tion, Peale s Museum ran me a strong opposition at the
Masonic Hall. That enterprise proved disastrous, and
I purchased the collection at sheriff s sale, for five or
six thousand dollars, on joint account of my friend
Moses Kimball and myself. The curiosities were
equally divided, one-half going to his Boston Museum
and the other half to my American Museum in New
York.
In 1848 I was elected President of the Fairfield
County Agricultural Society in Connecticut. Although
not practically a farmer, I had purchased about one
hundred acres of land in the vicinity of my residence,
and felt and still feel a deep interest in the cause of
agriculture. I had begun by importing some blood
stock for Iranistan, and, as I was at one time attacked
266 AT HOME.
by the " hen fever," I erected several splendid poultry-
houses on my grounds. These were built for me by
a carpenter who wrote an application for a situation,
sending me a frightfully mis-spelled letter, in which he
said that he was " youste " to hard work. I thought if
his work was as strong as his spelling, he was the man
I wanted, and I employed him. When the time came
to prepare for our agricultural fair in the fall, he
made a series of gorgeous cages in which to exhibit my
shanghaes, bantams, and other fancy fowls. I went
out to see them before they were sent away, and was
horrified to find that he had marked the cages in his
own peculiar style, describing my " Jersey Blues," for
instance, in startling capitals as " Gersy Blews." I
called for a jack-plane to remove every mark on the
cages and told the astonished carpenter that he might
do anything in the world for me, except to spell.
In 1849 it was determined by the Society that I
should deliver the annual address. I begged to be ex
cused on the ground of incompetency, but my excuses
were of no avail, and as I could not instruct my auditors
in farming, I gave them the benefit of several mistakes
which I had committed. Among other things, I told
them that in the fall of 1848 my head gardener reported
that I had fifty bushels of potatoes to spare. I there
upon directed him to barrel them up and ship them to
New York for sale. He did so, and received two dol
lars per barrel, or about sixty-seven cents per bushel.
But, unfortunately, after the potatoes had been shipped,
I found that my gardener had selected all the largest for
market, and left my family nothing but " small potatoes "
to live on during the winter. But the worst is still to
come. My potatoes were all gone before March, and I
AT HOME. 267
was obliged to buy, during the spring, over fifty bushels
of potatoes, at f 1.25 per bushel ! I also related my first
experiment in the arboricultural line, when I cut from
two thrifty rows of young cherry-trees any quantity of
what I supposed to be " suckers," or " sprouts," and
was thereafter informed by my gardener that I had cut
off all his grafts !
A friend of mine, Mr. James D. Johnson, lived in a
fine house a quarter of a mile west of Iranistan, and as
I owned several acres of land at the corner of two streets
directly adjoining his homestead, I surrounded the ground
with high pickets, and introducing a number of Rocky
Mountain elk, reindeer, and American deer, I converted
it into a deer park. Strangers passing by would natu
rally suppose that it belonged to Johnson s estate, and
to render the illusion more complete, his son-in-law,
Mr. S. H. Wales, of the Scientific American, placed a
sign in the park, fronting on the street, and reading :
" ALL PERSONS ARE FORBID TRESPASSING ON THESE
GROUNDS, OR DISTURBING THE DEER. J. D. JoHNSON."
I " acknowledged the corn," and was much pleased
with the joke. Johnson was delighted, and bragged
considerably of having got ahead of Barnum, and the
sign remained undisturbed for several days. It happened
at length that a party of friends came to visit him from
New York, arriving in the evening. Johnson told them
he had got a capital joke on Barnum ; he would not ex
plain, but said they should see it for themselves the next
morning. Bright and early he led them into the street,
and after conducting them a proper distance, wheeled
them around in front of the sign. To his dismay he
discovered that I had added directly under his name the
268 AT HOME.
words, " Game-keeper to P. T. Barnum" His friends,
as soon as they understood the joke, enjoyed it mightily,
but it was said that neighbor Johnson laughed out of
" the wrong side of his mouth."
Thereafter, Mr. Johnson was known among his
friends and acquaintances as " Barnum s game-keeper."
Sometime afterwards when I was President of the
Pequonnock Bank, it was my custom every year to give
a grand dinner at Iranistan to the directors, and in
making preparations I used to send to certain friends
in the West for prairie chickens and other game. On
one occasion a large box, marked " P. T. Barnum,
Bridgeport ; Game," was lying in the express office, when
Johnson seeing it, and espying the word " game," said :
" Look here ! I am Barnum s game-keeper, and I ll
take charge of this box."
And " take charge " of it he did, carrying it home
and notifying me that it was in his possession, and that
as he was my game-keeper he would " keep " this,
unless I sent him an order for a new hat. He knew
very well that I would give fifty dollars rather than be
deprived of the box, and as he also threatened to give
a game dinner at his own house, I speedily sent the
order for the hat, acknowledged the good joke, and my
own guests enjoyed the double " game."
During the year 1848, Mr. Frank Leslie, since so
widely known as the publisher of several illustrated
journals, came to me with letters of introduction from
London, and I employed him to get up for me an illus
trated catalogue of my Museum. This he did in a
splendid manner, and hundreds of thousands of copies
were sold and distributed far and near, thus adding
greatly to the renown of the establishment.
AT HOME. 269
I count these two years 1848 and 1849 among
the happiest of my life. I had enough to do in the
management of my business, and yet I seemed to have
plenty of leisure hours to pass with my family and
friends in my beautiful home of Iranistan.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE.
GRAND SCHEME CONGRESS OF ALL NATIONS A BOLD AND BRILLIANT ENTER
PRISE THE JENNY LIND ENGAGEMENT MY AGENT IN EUROPE HIS
INSTRUCTIONS .CORRESPONDENCE WITH MISS LIND BENEDICT AND BEL-
LETTI JOSHUA BATES CHEVALIER WYCKOFF THE CONTRACT SIGNED
MY RECEPTION OF THE NEWS THE ENTIRE SUM OF MONEY FOR THE
ENGAGEMENT SENT TO LONDON MY FIRST LIND LETTER TO THE PUBLIC
A POOR PORTRAIT MUSICAL NOTES IN WALL STREET A FRIEND IN
NEED.
MANY of my most fortunate enterprises have fairly
startled me by the magnitude of their success. When
my sanguine hopes predicted a steady flow of fortune,
I have been inundated ; when I calculated upon mak
ing a curious public pay me liberally for a meritorious
article, I have often found the same public eager to
deluge me with compensation. Yet, I never believed
in mere luck and I always pitied the simpleton who
relies on luck for his success. Luck is in no sense the
foundation of my fortune ; from the beginning of my
career I planned and worked for my success. To be
sure, my schemes often amazed me with the affluence
of their results, and, arriving at the very best, I some
times " builded better than" I " knew."
For a long time I had been incubating a plan for an
extraordinary exhibition which I was sure would be a
success and would excite universal attention and com
mendation in America and abroad. This was nothing
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE. 271
less than a " Congress of Nations " an assemblage of
representatives of all the nations that could be reached
by land or sea. I meant to secure a man and woman,
as perfect as could be procured, from every accessible
people, civilized and barbarous, on the face of the
globe. I had actually contracted with an agent to go
to Europe to make arrangements to secure " specimens "
for such a show. Even now, I can conceive of no
exhibition which would be more interesting and which
would appeal more generally to all classes of patrons.
As it was, and while positively preparing for such a
congress, it occurred to me that another great enterprise
could be undertaken at less risk, with far less real
trouble, and with more remunerative results.
And now I come to speak of an undertaking which
my worst enemy will admit was bold in its conception,
complete in its development, and astounding in its suc
cess. It was an enterprise never before or since
equalled in managerial annals. As I recall it now, I
almost tremble at the seeming temerity of the attempt.
That I am proud of it I freely confess. It placed me
before the world in a new light ; it gained me many
warm friends in new circles ; it was in itself a fortune
to me I risked much but I made more.
It was in October 1849, that I conceived the idea of
bringing Jenny Lind to this country. I had never heard
her sing, inasmuch as she arrived in London a few weeks
after I left that city with General Tom Thumb. Her
reputation, however, was sufficient for me. I usually
jump at conclusions, and almost invariably find that my
first impressions are correct. It struck me, when I first
thought of this speculation, that if properly managed it
must prove immensely profitable, provided I could
272 THE JENNY LIND ENTEEPEISE.
engage the " Swedish Nightingale" on any terms within
the range of reason. As it was a great undertaking, I
considered the matter seriously for several days, and all
my " cipherings " and calculations gave but one result
immense success.
Reflecting that very much would depend upon the
manner in which she should be brought before the
public, I saw that my task would be an exceedingly
arduous one. It was possible, I knew, that circum
stances might occur which would make the enterprise
disastrous. " The public " is a very strange animal, and
although a good knowledge of human nature will gen
erally lead a caterer of amusements to hit the people,
*hey are fickle, and ofttimes perverse. A slight misstep
in the management of a public entertainment, frequently
wrecks the most promising enterprise. But I had
marked the " divine Jenny " as a sure card, and to
secure the prize I began to cast about for a competent
ngent.
I found in Mr. John Hall Wilton, an Englishman
who had visited this country with the Sax-Horn Players,
^he best man whom I knew for that purpose. A few
minutes sufficed to make the arrangement with him, by
which I was to pay but little more than his expenses if
he failed in his mission, but by which also he was to be
paid a large sum if he succeeded in bringing Jenny
Lind to our shores, on any terms within a liberal
schedule which I set forth to him in writing.
On the 6th of November, 1849, I furnished Wilton
ivith the necessary documents, including a letter of
general instructions which he was at liberty to exhibit
to Jenny Lind and to any other musical notables whom
he thought proper, and a private letter, containing hints
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE. 273
and suggestions not embodied in the former. I also
gave him letters of introduction to my bankers, Messrs.
Baring Brothers & Co., of London, as well as to many
friends in England and France.
The sum of all my instructions, public and private,
to Wilton amounted to this : He was to engage her on
shares, if possible. I, however, authorized him to
engage her at any rate, not exceeding one thousand
dollars a night, for any number of nights up to one
hundred and fifty, with all her expenses, including
servants, carriages, secretary, etc., besides also engaging
such musical assistants, not exceeding three in number,
as she should select, let the terms be what they might.
If necessary, I should place the entire amount of money
named in the engagement in the hands of London
bankers before she sailed. Wilton s compensation was
arranged on a kind of sliding scale, to be governed by
the terms which he made for me so that the farther
he kept below my utmost limits, the better he should be
paid for making the engagements. He proceeded to
London, and opened a correspondence with Miss Lind,
who was then on the Continent. He learned from the
tenor of her letters, that if she could be induced to
visit America at all, she must be accompanied by
Mr. Julius Benedict, the accomplished composer, pianist,
and musical director, and also she was impressed with
the belief that Signor Belletti, the fine baritone, would
be of essential service. Wilton therefore at once called
upon Mr. Benedict and also Signor Belletti, who were
both then in London, and in numerous interviews was
enabled to learn the terms on which they would consent
to engage to visit this country with Miss Lind. Having
obtained the information desired, he proceeded to
274 . THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE.
Lubeck, in Germany, to seek an interview with Miss
Lind herself. Upon arriving at her hotel, he sent his
card, requesting her to specify an hour for an interview.
She named the following morning, and he was punctual
to the appointment.
In the course of the first conversation, she frankly
told him that during the time occupied by their cor
respondence, she had written to friends in London,
including my friend Mr. Joshua Bates, of the house
of Baring Brothers, and had informed herself respect
ing my character, capacity, and responsibility, which she
assured him were quite satisfactory. She informed
him, however, that at that time there were four per
sons anxious to negotiate with her for an American tour.
One of these gentlemen was a well-known opera man
ager in London ; another, a theatrical manager in Man
chester ; a third, a musical composer and conductor of the
orchestra of Her Majesty s Opera in London ; and the
fourth, Chevalier Wyckoff, a person who had conducted
a successful speculation some years previously by visit
ing America in charge of the celebrated danseuse,
Fanny Ellsler. Several of these parties had called upon
her personally, and Wyckoff upon hearing my name,
attempted to deter her from making any engagement
with me, by assuring her that I was a mere showman,
and that, for the sake of making money by the spec
ulation, I would not scruple to put her into a box
and exhibit her through the country at twenty-five
cents a head.
This, she confessed, somewhat alarmed her, and she
wrote to Mr. Bates on the subject. He entirely dis
abused her mind, by assuring her that he knew me
personally, and that in treating with me she was not
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE. 275
dealing with an " adventurer " who might make her
remuneration depend entirely upon the success of the
enterprise, but I was able to carry out all my engage
ments, let them prove never so unprofitable, and she
could place the fullest reliance upon my honor and
integrity.
"Now," said she to Mr. Wilton, "I am perfectly
satisfied on that point, for I know the world pretty well,
and am aware how far jealousy and envy will some
times carry persons ; and as those who are trying to
treat with me are all anxious that I should participate
in the profits or losses of the enterprise, I much pre
fer treating with you , since your principal is willing to
assume all the responsibility, and take the entire man
agement and chances of the result upon himself."
Several interviews ensued, during which she learned
from Wilton that he had settled with Messrs. Benedict
and Belletti, in regard to the amount of their salaries,
provided the, engagement was concluded, and in the
course of a week, Mr. Wilton and Miss Lind had
arranged the terms and conditions on which she was
ready to conclude the negotiations. As these terms
Avere within the limits fixed in my private letter of
instructions, the following agreement was duly drawn in
triplicate, and signed by herself and Wilton, at Lubeck,
January 9, 1850 ; and the signatures of Messrs. Bene
dict and Belletti were affixed in London a few days
afterwards :
MEMORANDUM of an agreement entered into this ninth day of January, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, between John Hall
Wilton, as agent for PHINEAS T. BARNUM, of New York, in the United States of
North America, of the one part, and Mademoiselle JENNY LIND, Vocalist, of
Stockholm in Sweden, of the other part, wherein the said Jenny Lind doth agree:
1st. To sing for the said Phineas T. Barnum in one
hundred and fifty concerts, including oratorios, within
276 THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE,
(if possible) one year, or eighteen months from the date
of her arrival in the City of New York the said con
certs to be given in the United States of North America
and Havana. She, the said Jenny Lind, having full
control as to the number of nights or concerts in each
week, and the number of pieces in which she will sing
in each concert, to be regulated conditionally with her
health and safety of voice, but the foitmer never less
than one or two, nor the latter less than four ; but in no
case to appear in operas.
2d. In consideration of said services, the said John
Hall Wilton, as agent for the said Phineas T. Barnum,
of New York, agrees to furnish the said Jenny Lind
with a servant as waiting-maid, and a male servant to
and for the sole service of her and her party ; to pay the
travelling and hotel expenses of a friend to accompany
her as a companion ; to pay also a secretary to superin
tend her finances ; to pay all her and her party s travel
ling expenses from Europe, and during the tour in the
United States of North America and Havana ; to pay
all hotel expenses for board and lodging during the
same period ; to place at her disposal in each city a car
riage and horses with their necessary attendants, and to
give her in addition, the sum of two hundred pounds
sterling, dr one thousand dollars, for each concert or
oratorio in which the said Jenny Lind shall sing.
3d. And the said John Hall Wilton, as agent for the
said Phineas T. Barnum, doth further agree to give the
said Jenny Lind the most satisfactory security and assur
ance for the full amount of her engagement, which shall
be placed in the hands of Messrs. Baring Brothers, of
London, previous to the departure and subject to the
order of the said Jenny Lind, with its interest due on
fliiniw t ottOj/3io pfljDWfMfi <8ji!K>flOT x^i
THE JENNY LIND ENTEKPKISE. 277
its current reduction, by her services in the concerts or
oratorios.
4th. And the said John Hall Wilton, on the part of
the said Phineas T. Barnum, further agrees, that should
the said Phineas T. Barnum, after seventy-five concerts,
have realized so much as shall, after paying all current
expenses, have returned to him all the sums disbursed,
either as deposits at interest, for securities of salaries,
preliminary outlay, or moneys in any way expended
consequent on this engagement, and in addition, have
gained a clear profit of at least fifteen thousand pounds
sterling, then the said Phineas T. Barnum will give the
said Jenny Lind, in addition to the former sum of one
thousand dollars current money of the United States of
North America, nightly, one fifth part of the profits
.arising from the remaining seventy -five concerts or ora
torios, after deducting every expense current and
appertaining thereto ; or the said Jenny Lind agrees to
try with the said Phineas T. Barnum fifty concerts or
oratorios on the aforesaid and first-named terms, and if
then found to fall short of the expectations of the said
Phineas T. Barnum, then the said Jenny Lind agrees to
reorganize this agreement, on terms quoted in his first
proposal, as set forth in the annexed copy of his letter ;
but should such be found unnecessary, then the engage
ment continues up to seventy-five concerts or oratorios,
at the end of which, should the aforesaid profit of fifteen
thousand pounds sterling have not been realized, then
the engagement shall continue as at first the sums
herein, after expenses for Julius Benedict and Giovanni
Belletti, to remain unaltered except for advancement.
5th. And the said John Hall Wilton, agent for the
said Phineas T. Barnum, at the request of the said
13*
278 THE JENNY LIND ENTEBPRISE.
Jenny Lind, agrees to pay to Julius Benedict, of Lon
don, to accompany the said Jenny Lind as musical di
rector, pianist, and superintendent of the musical depart
ment, also to assist the said Jenny Lind in one hundred
and fifty concerts or oratorios, to be given in the United
States of North America and Havana, the sum of five
thousand pounds (5,000) sterling, to be satisfactorily
secured to him with Messrs. Baring Brothers, of Lon
don, previous to his departure from Europe ; and the
said John Hall Wilton agrees further, for the said Phin-
eas T. Barnum, to pay all his travelling expenses from
Europe, together with his hotel .and travelling expenses
during the time occupied in giving the aforesaid one
hundred and fifty concerts or oratorios he, the said
Julius Benedict, to superintend the organization of ora
torios, if required.
6th. And the said John Hall Wilton, at the request,
selection, and for the aid of the said Jenny Lind, agrees
to pay to Giovanni Belletti, baritone vocalist, to accom
pany the said Jenny Lind during her tour and in one
hundred and fifty concerts or oratorios in the United
States of North America and Havana, and in conjunc
tion with the aforesaid Julius Benedict, the sum of two
thousand five hundred pounds (2,500) sterling, to be
satisfactorily secured to him previous to his departure
from Europe, in addition to all his hotel and travelling
expenses.
7th. And it is further agreed that the said Jenny
Lind shall be at full liberty to sing at any time she may
think fit for charitable institutions or purposes indepen
dent of the engagement with the said Phineas T.
Barnum, she, the said Jenny Lind, consulting with the
said Phineas T. Barnum with a view to mutually agree-
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE. 279
ing as to the time and its propriety, it being understood
that in no case shall the first or second concert in any
city selected for the tour be for such purpose, or where-
ever it shall appear against the interests of the said
Phineas T. Barnum.
8th. It is further agreed that should the said Jenny
Lind by any act of God be incapacitated to fulfil the
entire engagement before mentioned, that an equal pro
portion of the terms agreed upon shall be given to the
said Jenny Lind, Julius Benedict, and Giovanni Belletti,
for services rendered to that time.
9th. It is further agreed and understood, that the said
Phineas T. Barnum shall pay every expense appertaining
to the concerts or oratorios before mentioned, excepting
those for charitable purposes, and that all accounts shall
be settled and rendered by all parties weekly.
10th. And the said Jenny Lind further agrees that
she will not engage to sing for any other person during
the progress of this said engagement with the said
Phineas T. Barnum, of New York, for one hundred and
fifty concerts or oratorios, excepting for charitable
purposes as before mentioned ; and all travelling to be
first and best class.
In witness hereof to the within written memorandum
of agreement we set hereunto our hand and seal.
[L. S.] JOHN HALL WILTON, Agent for PHINEAS T,
BARNUM, of New York, U. S.
[L. S.] JENNY LIND.
[L. S.] JULIUS BENEDICT.
[L. S.] GIOVANNI BELLETTI.
In the presence of C. ACHILLING, Consul of His
Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway-
280 THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE.
Extract from a Letter addressed to John Hall Wilton by
PHINEAS T. BARNUM, and referred to in paragraph No.
4 of the annexed agreement
Lies oil* 10 aJao ioJni pilj janu^fj iuo<]q-fi iij .-:
NEW YORK, November 6, 1849.
MR. J. HALL WILTON :
SIR : In reply to your proposal to attempt a nego
tiation with Mile. Jenny Lind to visit the United States
professionally, I propose to enter into an arrangement
with her to the following effect: I will engage to pay
all her expenses from Europe, provide for and pay for
one principal tenor and one pianist, their salaries
not exceeding together one hundred and fifty dollars
per night ; to support for her a carriage, two servants,
and a friend to accompany her and superintend her
finances. I will furthermore pay all and every expense
appertaining to her appearance before the public, and
give her half of the gross receipts arising from
concerts or operas. I will engage to travel with her
personally and attend to the arrangements, provided she
will undertake to give not less than eighty nor more
than one hundred and fifty concerts, or nights perform
ances.
PHINEAS T. BARNUM.
I certify the above to be a true extract from the letter.
J H. WILTON.
I was at my Museum in Philadelphia when Wilton
arrived in New York, February 19, 1850. He imme
diately telegraphed to me, in the cipher we had agreed
upon, that he had signed an engagement with Jenny
Lind, by which she was to commence her concerts in
America in the following September. I was somewhat
/liV/ lOirl UfTfi f t f )*) // I to "JIH/i Hlj VJS^M
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE. 281
startled by this sudden announcement ; and feeling that
the time to elapse before her arrival was so long that it
would be policy to keep the engagement private for a
faw months, I immediately telegraphed him not to men
tion it to any person, and that I would meet him the
next day in New York.
When we reflect how thoroughly Jenny Lind, her
musical poweis, her character, and wonderful successes,
were subsequently known by all classes in this country
as well as throughout the civilized world, it is difficult
to realize that, at the time this engagement was made,
she was comparatively unknown on this side the water.
We can hardly credit the fact, that millions of persons
in America had never heard of her, that other millions
had merely read her name, but had no distinct idea of
who or what she was. Only a small portion of the
public were really aware of her great musical triumphs
in the Old World, and this portion was confined almost
entirely to musical people, travellers who had visited
the Old World, and the conductors of the press.
The next morning I started for New York. On arriv
ing at Princeton we met the New York cars, and purchas
ing the morning papers, I was surprised to find in them
a full account of my engagement with Jenny Lind.
However, this premature announcement could not be
recalled, and I put the best face on the matter. Anxious
to learn how this communication would strike the pub
lic mind, I informed the conductor, whom I well knew,
that I had made an engagement with Jenny Lind, and
that she would surely visit this country in the following
August.
" Jenny Lind ! Is she a dancer ? " asked the con
ductor.
282 THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE.
I informed him who and what she was, but his ques
tion had chilled me as if his words were ice. Really,
thought I, if this is all that a man in the capacity of a
railroad conductor between Philadelphia and New York
knows of the greatest songstress in the world, I am not
sure that six months will be too long a time for me to
occupy in enlightening the public in regard to her
merits.
I had an interview with Wilton, and learned from
him that, in accordance with the agreement, it would be
requisite for me to place the entire amount stipulated,
$187,500, in the hands of the London bankers. I at
once resolved to ratify the agreement, and immediately
sent the necessary documents to Miss Lind and Messrs.
Benedict and Belletti.
I then began to prepare the public mind, through the
newspapers, for the reception of the great songstress.
How effectually this was done, is still within the remem
brance of the American public. As a sample of the
manner in which I accomplished my purpose, I present
the following extract from my first letter, which ap
peared in the New York papers of February 22, 1850 :
" Perhaps I may not make any money by this enter
prise ; but I assure you that if I knew I should not
make a farthing profit, I would ratify the engage
ment, so anxious am I that the United States should
be visited by a lady whose vocal powers have never
been approached by any other human being, and
whose character is charity, simplicity, and goodness
personified.
" Miss Lind has great anxiety to visit America. She
speaks of this country and its institutions in the highest
terms of praise. In her engagement with me (which
THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE. 283
includes Havana), she expressly reserves the right to
give charitable concerts whenever she thinks proper.
" Since her debut in England, she has given to the
poor from her own private purse more than the whole
amount which I have engaged to pay her, and the pro
ceeds of concerts for charitable purposes in Great Brit
ain, where she has sung gratuitously, have realized more
than ten times that amount."
The people soon began to talk about Jenny Lind, and
I was particularly anxious to obtain a good portrait
of her. Fortunately, a fine opportunity occurred. One
day, while I was sitting in the office of the Museum,
a foreigner approached me with a small package under
his arm. He informed me in broken English that
he was a Swede, and said he was an artist, who had
just arrived from Stockholm, where Jenny Lind had
kindly given him a number of sittings, and he now
had with him the portrait of her which he had painted
upon copper. He unwrapped the package, and
showed me a beautiful picture of the Swedish Night
ingale, inclosed in an elegant gilt frame, about fourteen
by twenty inches. It was just the thing I wanted ;
the price was fifty dollars, and I purchased it at once.
Upon showing it to an artist friend the same day, he
quietly assured me that it was a cheap lithograph
pasted on a tin back, neatly varnished, and made to
appear like a fine oil painting. The intrinsic value
of the picture did not exceed thirty-seven and one
half cents !
After getting together all my available funds for the
purpose of transmitting them to London in the shape
of United States bonds, I found a considerable sum still
lacking to make up the amount. I had some second
284 THE JENNY LIND ENTERPRISE.
mortgages which were perfectly good, but I could not
negotiate them in Wall Street. Nothing would answer
there short of first mortgages on New York or Brook
lyn city property.
I went to the president of the bank where I had
done all my business for eight years. I offered him, as
security for a loan, my second mortgages, and as an
additional inducement, I proposed to make over to him
my contract with Jenny Lind, with a written guaranty
that he should appoint a receiver, who, at my expense,
should take charge of all the receipts over and above
three thousand dollars per night, and appropriate them
towards the payment of my loan. He laughed in my
face, and said : " Mr. Barnum, it is generally believed in
Wall Street, that your engagement with Jenny Lind
will ruin you. I do not think you will ever receive
so much as three thousand dollars at a single concert."
I was indignant at his want of appreciation, and
answered him that I would not at that moment take
$150,000 for my contract; nor would I. I found,
upon further inquiry, that it was useless in Wall Street
to offer the "Nightingale " in exchange for Goldfinches.
I finally was introduced to Mr. John L. Aspinwall, of
the firm of Messrs. Howland & Aspinwall, and he gave
me a letter of credit from his firm on Baring Brothers,
for a large sum on collateral securities, which a spirit
of genuine respect for my enterprise induced him to
accept.
After disposing of several pieces of property for
cash, I footed up the various amounts, and still discov
ered myself five thousand dollars short. I felt that
it was indeed " the last feather that breaks the camel s
back." Happening casually to state my desperate case
THE JENNY L1ND ENTERPRISE.
to the Rev. Abel C. Thomas, of Philadelphia, for many
years a friend of mine, he promptly placed the requisite
amount at my disposal. I gladly accepted his proffered
friendship, and felt that he had removed a mountain-
weight from my shoulders.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK.
FINAL CONCERTS IN LIVERPOOL DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA ARRIVAL OF*
STATEN ISLAND MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH JENNY LIND THE TREMEN
DOUS THRONG AT THE WHARF TRIUMPHAL ARCHES "WELCOME TO AMER
ICA" EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY SERENADE AT THE IRVING HOUSE THE
PRIZE ODE BAYARD TAYLOR THE PRIZEMAN " BARNUM S PARNASSUS "-
"BARNUMOPSIS" FIRST CONCERT IN CASTLE GARDEN A NEW AGREEMENT
RECEPTION OF JENNY LIND UNBOUNDED ENTHUSIASM BARNUM CALLED
OUT JULIUS BENEDICT THE SUCCESS OF THE ENTERPRISE ESTABLISHED
TWO GRAND CHARITY CONCERTS IN NEW YORK DATE OF THE FIRST REGULAR
CONCERT.
AFTER the engagement with Miss Lind was consum
mated, she declined several liberal offers to sing in
London, but, at my solicitation, gave two concerts in
Liverpool, on the eve of her departure for America.
My object in making this request was, to add the eclat
of that side to the excitement on this side of the Atlan
tic, which was already nearly up to fever heat.
The first of the two Liverpool concerts was given the
night previous to the departure of the Saturday steamer
for America. My agent had procured the services of a
musical critic from London, who finished his account of
this concert at half past one o clock the following morn
ing, and at two o clock my agent was overseeing its
insertion in a Liverpool morning paper, numbers of
which he forwarded to me by the steamer of the same
day. The republication of the criticism in the Ameri
can papers, including an account of the enthusiasm
which attended and followed this concert, her trans-
Atlantic, had the desired effect.
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 287
On Wednesday morning, August 21, 1850, Jenny
Lind and Messrs. Benedict and Belletti, set sail from
Liverpool in the steamship Atlantic, in which I had
long before engaged the necessary accommodations, and
on board of which I had shipped a piano for their use.
They were accompanied by my agent, Mr. Wilton, and
also by Miss Ahmansen and Mr. Max Hjortzberg, cous
ins of Miss Lind, the latter being her Secretary ; also by
her two servants, and the valet of Messrs. Benedict and
Belletti.
It was expected that the steamer would arrive on
Sunday, September 1, but, determined to meet the song
stress on her arrival whenever it might be, I went to
Staten Island on Saturday, and slept at the hospitable
residence of my friend, Dr. A. Sidney Doane, who was
at that time the Health Officer of the Port of New York.
A few minutes before twelve o clock, on Sunday morn
ing, the Atlantic hove in sight, and immediately after
wards, through the kindness of my friend Doane, I was
on board the ship, and had taken Jenny Lind by the
hand.
After a few moments conversation, she asked me
when and where I had heard her sing.
" I never had the pleasure of seeing you before in my
life," I replied.
" How is it possible that you dared risk so much
money on a person whom you never heard sing \ " she
asked in surprise.
" I risked it on your reputation, which in musical
matters I would much rather trust than my own judg
ment," I replied.
I may as well state, that although I relied promi
nently upon Jenny Lind s reputation as a great musical
288 THE Nl&HTINGALE IN NEW YOEK.
artiste, I also took largely into my estimate of liei
success with all classes of the American public, her
character for extraordinary benevolence and generosity.
Without this peculiarity in her disposition, I never
would have dared make the engagement which I did,
as I felt sure that there were multitudes of individuals
in America who would be prompted to attend her con
certs by this feeling alone.
Thousands of persons covered the shipping and piers,
and other thousands had congregated on the wharf at
Canal Street, to see her. The wildest enthusiasm pre
vailed as the steamer approached the dock. So great
was the rush on a sloop near the steamer s berth, that
one man, in his zeal to obtain a good view, accidentally
tumbled overboard, amid the shouts of those neai
him. Miss Lind witnessed this incident, and was much
alarmed. He was, however, soon rescued, after taking to
himself a cold duck instead of securing a view of the
Nightingale. A bower of green trees, decorated with
beautiful flags, was discovered on the wharf, together
with two triumphal arches, on one of which was in
scribed, " Welcome, Jenny Lind ! " The second was
surmounted by the American eagle, and bore the inscrip
tion, " Welcome to America ! " These decorations were
not produced by magic, and I do not know that I can Tea-
sonably find fault with those who suspected I had a hand
in their erection. My private carriage was in waiting, and
Jenny Lind was escorted to it by Captain West. The
rest of the musical party entered the carriage, and
mounting the box at the driver s side, I directed him to
the Irving House. I took that seat as a legitimate
advertisement, and my presence on the outside of the
carriage aided those who filled the windows and side-
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 289
walks along the whole route, in coming to the conclu
sion that Jenny Lind had arrived.
A reference to the journals of that day will show, that
never before had there been such enthusiasm in the City
of New York, or indeed in America. Within ten min
utes after our arrival at the Irving House, not less than
twenty thousand persons had congregated around the
entrance in Broadway, nor was the number diminished
before nine o clock in the evening. At her request, I
dined with her that afternoon, and when, according to
European custom, she prepared to pledge me in a glass
of wine, she was somewhat surprised at my saying,
" Miss Lind, I do not think you can ask any other favor
on earth which I would not gladly grant ; but I am a
teetotaler, and must beg to be permitted to drink your
health and happiness in a glass of cold water."
At twelve o clock that night, she was serenaded by
the New York Musical Fund Society, numbering, on
that occasion, two hundred musicians. They were
escorted to the Irving House by about three hundred
firemen, in their red shirts, bearing torches. There was
a far greater throng in the streets than there was even
during the day. The calls for Jenny Lind were so
vehement that I led her through a window to the
balcony. The loud cheers from the crowds lasteS for
several minutes, before the serenade was permitted to
proceed again.
I have given the merest sketch of but a portion of the
incidents of Jenny Lind s first day in America. For
weeks afterwards the excitement was unabated. Her
rooms were thronged by visitors, including the magnates
of the land in both Church and State. The carnages
of the wealthiest citizens could be seen in front of her
290 THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YOEK.
hotel at nearly all hours of the day, and it was with
some difficulty that I prevented the " fashionables " from
monopolizing her altogether, and thus, as I believed,
sadly marring my interests by cutting her off from the
warm sympathies she had awakened among the masses.
Presents of all sorts were showered upon her. Milli
ners, mantua-makers, and shopkeepers vied with each
other in calling her attention to their wares, of which
they sent her many valuable specimens, delighted if, in
return, they could receive her autograph acknowledg
ment. Songs, quadrilles and polkas Were dedicated to
her, and poets sung in her praise. We had Jenny Lind
gloves, Jenny Lind bonnets, Jenny Lind riding hats,
Jenny Lind shawls, mantillas, robes, chairs, sofas, pi
anos in fact, every thing was Jenny Lind. Her
movements were constantly watched, and the moment
her carriage appeared at the door, it was surrounded by
multitudes, eager to catch a glimpse of the Swedish
Nightingale.
In looking over my " scrap-books " of extracts from
the New York papers of that day, in which all accessi
ble details concerning her were duly chronicled, it seems
almost incredible that such a degree of enthusiasm
should have existed. An abstract of the "sayings and
doings " in regard to the Jenny Lind mania for the first
ten days after her arrival, appeared in the London Times
of Sept. 23, 1850, and although it was an ironical " show
ing up " of the American enthusiasm, filling several col
umns, it was nevertheless a faithful condensation of facts
which at this late day seem even to myself more like a
dream than reality.
Before her arrival I had offered $200 for a prize ode,
jr rooting to America," to be sung by Jenny Lind at
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 291
her first concert. Several hundred " poems" were sent
in from all parts of the United States and the Canadas.
The duties of the Prize Committee, in reading these
effusions and making choice of the one most worthy the
prize, were truly arduous, The " offerings," with per
haps a dozen exceptions, were the merest doggerel trash.
The prize was awarded to Bayard Taylor for the follow
ing ode :
GREETING TO AMERICA.
WORDS BY BAYARD TAYLOK MUSIC BY JULIUS BENEDICT.
I GREET with a full heart the Laud of the West,
Whose Banner of Stars o er a world is unrolled ;
Whose empire o ershadows Atlantic s wide breast,
And opens to sunset its gateway of gold !
The land of the mountain, the land of the lake,
And rivers that roll in magnificent tide
Where the souls of the mighty from slumber awake,
And hallow the soil for whose freedom they died!
Thou Cradle of Empire ! though wide be the foam
That severs the land of my fathers and thee,
I hear, from thy bosom, the welcome of home,
For Song has a home in the hearts of the Free !
And long as thy waters shall gleam in the sun,
And long as thy heroes remember their scars,
Be the hands of thy children united as one,
And Peace shed her light on thy Banner of Stars!
This award, although it gave general satisfaction, yet
was met with disfavor by several disappointed poets,
who, notwithstanding the decision of the committee,
persisted in believing and declaring their own produc
tions to be the best. This state of feeling was doubt
less, in part, the cause which led to the publication,
about this time, of a witty pamphlet entitled " Bar-
num s Parnassus ; being Confidential Disclosures of the
Prize Committee on the Jenny Lind song."
It gave some capital hits in which the committee, the
enthusiastic public, the Nightingale, and myself, wexe
H
292 THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK.
roundly ridiculed. The following is a fair specimen
from the work in question :
BARNUMOPSIS.
A RECITATIVE.
WHEN to the common rest that crowns his days,
Dusty and worn the tired pedestrian goes,
What light is that whose wide o erlooking blaze
A sudden glory on his pathway throws?
Tis not the setting sun, whose drooping lid
Closed on the weary world at half-past six;
Tis not the rising moon, whose rays are hid
Behind the city s sombre piles of bricks.
It is the Drummond Light, that from the top
Of Barnum s massive pile, sky-mingling there,
Darts its quick gleam o er every shadowed shop,
And gilds Broadway with unaccustomed glare.
There o er the sordid gloom, whose deep ning tracks
Furrow the city s brow, the front of ages,
Thy loftier light descends on cabs and hacks,
And on two dozen different lines of stages !
O twilight Sun, with thy far darting ray,
Thou art a type of him whose tireless hands
Hung thee on high to guide the stranger s way,
Where, in its pride, his vast Museum stands.
Him, who in search of wonders new and strange,
Grasps the wide skirts of Nature s mystic robe
Explores the circles of eternal change,
And the dark chambers of the central globe.
He, from the reedy shores of fabled Nile,
Has brought, thick- ribbed and ancient as old iron,
That venerable beast the crocodile,
And many a skin of many a famous lion.
GO lose thyself in those continuous halls,
Where strays the fond papa with son and daughter
And all that charms or startles or appals,
Thou shalt behold, and for a single quarter !
Far from the Barcan deserts now withdrawn,
There huge constrictors coil their scaly backs;
There, cased in glass, malignant and unshorn,
Old murderers glare in sullennoss and wax.
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 293
There many a varied form the sight beguiles,
In rusty broadcloth decked and shocking hat,
And there the unwieldy Lambert sits and smiles,
In the majestic plenitude of fat.
Or for thy gayer hours, the orang-outang
Or ape salutes thee with his strange grimace,
And in their shapes, stuffed as on earth they sprang,
Thine individual being thou canst trace !
And joys the youth in life s green spring, who goes
With the sweet babe and the gray-headed nurse,
To see those Cosmoramic orbs disclose
The varied beauties of the universe.
And last, not least, the marvellous Ethiope,
Changing his skin by preternatural skill,
Whom every setting sun s diurnal slope
Leaves whiter than the last, and whitening still.
All that of monstrous, scaly, strange and queer,
Has come from out the womb of earliest time,
Thou hast, O Barnum, in thy keeping here,
Nor is this all for triumphs more sublime
Await thee yet! I, Jenny Lind, who reigned
Sublimely throned, the imperial queen of song,
Wooed by thy golden harmonies, have deigned
Captive to join the heterogeneous throng.
Sustained by an unfaltering trust in coin,
Dealt from thy hand, O thou illustrious man,
Gladly I heard the summons come to join
Myself the innumerable caravan.
Besides the foregoing, this pamphlet contained eleven
poems, most of which abounded in wit. I have room
for but a single stanza. The poet speaks of the vari
ous curiosities in the Museum, and representing me as
still searching for further novelties, makes me address
the Swedish Nightingale as follows :
"So Jenny, come along! you re just the card for me,
And quit these kings and queens, for the country of the free ;
They 11 welcome you with speeches, and serenades, and rockets,
And you will touch their hearts, and I will tap their pockets;
And if between us botfi the public isn t skinned,
Why, my name isn t Barnum, nor your name Jenny Liud!"
294 THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YOKK.
Various extracts from this brochure were copied in
the papers daily, and my agents scattered the work as
widely as possible, thus efficiently aiding and advertis
ing my enterprise and serving to keep up the public
excitement.
Among the many complimentary poems sent in, was
the following, by Mrs. L. H. SIGOURNEY, which that
distinguished writer enclosed in a letter to me, with the
request that I should hand it to Miss Lind :
THE SWEDISH SONGSTEESS AND HER CHAEITIE8.
BY MRS. t. H. SIGOURNEY.
BLEST must their vocation be
Who, with tones of melody,
Charm the discord and the strife
And the railroad rush of life,
And with Orphean magic move
Souls inert to life and love.
But there s one who doth inherit
Angel gift and angel spirit,
Bidding tides of gladness flow
Through the realms of want and woe;
Mid lone age and misery s lot,
Kindling pleasures long forgot,
Seeking minds oppressed with night,
And on darkness shedding light.
She the seraph s speech doth know,
She hath done their deeds below :
So, when o er this misty strand
She shall clasp tJ^eir waiting hand,
They will fold her to their breast,
More a sister than a guest.
Jenny Lind s first concert was fixed to come off at
Castle Garden, on Wednesday evening, September llth,
and most of the tickets were sold at auction on the Sat
urday and Monday previous to the concert. John N.
Genin, the hatter, laid the foundation of his fortune by
purchasing the first ticket at $225. It has been exten
sively reported that Mr. Genin and I are brothers-in-law,
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 295
but our only relations are those of business and friend
ship. The proprietors of the Garden saw fit to make
the usual charge of one shilling to all persons who
entered the premises, yet three thousand people were
present at the auction. One thousand tickets were sold
on the first day for an aggregate sum of $10,141.
On the Tuesday after her arrival I informed Miss Lind
that I wished to make a slight alteration in our agree
ment. " What is it I " she asked in surprise.
" I am convinced," I replied, " that our enterprise
will be much more successful than either of us antici
pated. I wish, therefore, to stipulate that you shall
receive not only $1,000 for each concert, besides all the
expenses, as heretofore agreed on, but after taking
$5,500 per night for expenses and my services, the
balance shall be equally divided between us."
Jenny looked at me with astonishment. She could
not comprehend my proposition. After I had repeated
it, and she fully understood its import, she cordially
grasped me by the hand, and exclaimed, " Mr, Barnum,
you are a gentleman of honor : you are generous ; it is
just as Mr. Bates told me ; I will sing for you as long as
you please; I will sing for you in America in Europe
anywhere ! "
Upon drawing the new contract which was to include
this entirely voluntary and liberal advance on my part,
beyond the terms of the original agreement, Miss Lind s
lawyer, Mr. John Jay, who was present solely to put in
writing the new arrangement between Miss Lind and
myself, insisted upon intruding the suggestion that she
should have the right to terminate the engagement at
the end of the sixtieth concert, if she should choose to
do so. This proposition was so persistently aiid annoy-
296 THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK.
ingly pressed that Miss Lind was finally induced to
entertain it, at the same time offering, if she did so, to
refund to me all moneys paid her up to that time,
excepting the $1,000 per concert according to the origi
nal agreement. This was agreed to, and it was also
arranged that she might terminate the engagement at
the one-hundredth concert, if she desired, upon paying
me $25,000 for the loss of the additional fifty nights.
After this new arrangement was completed, I said:
" Now, Miss Lind, as you are directly interested, you
must have an agent to assist in taking and counting the
tickets"; to which she replied, " Oh, no! Mr. Barnum ;
I have every confidence in you and I must decline to act
upon your suggestion " ; but I continued :
" 1 never allow myself, if it can be avoided, when I
have associates in the same interests, to be placed in a
position where I must assume the sole responsibility.
I never even permitted an actor to take a benefit at my
Museum, unless he placed a ticket-taker of his own at
the door."
Thus urged, Miss Lind engaged Mr. Seton to act as
her ticket-taker, and after we had satisfactorily arranged
the matter, Jay, knowing the whole aifair, had the impu
dence to come to me with a package of blank printed
affidavits, which he demanded that I should fill out, from
day to day, with the receipts of each concert, and swear
to their correctness before a magistrate !
I told him that I would see him on the subject at
Miss Lind s hotel that afternoon, and going there a few
moments before the appointed hour, I narrated the cir
cumstances to Mr. Benedict and showed him an affidavit
which I had made that morning to the effect that I
would never directly or indirectly take any advantage
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 297
whatever of Miss Lind. This I had made oath to, for
I thought if there was any swearing of that kind to be
done I would do it " in a lump " rather than in detail.
Mr. Benedict was very much opposed to it, and arriving
during the interview, Jay was made to see the matter in
such a light that he was thoroughly ashamed of his
proposition, and, requesting that the affair might not be
mentioned to Miss Lind, he begged me to destroy the
affidavit. I heard no more about swearing to our
receipts.
On Tuesday, September 10th, I informed Miss Lind
that, judging by present appearances, her portion of the
proceeds of the first concert would amount to $10,000.
She immediately resolved to devote every dollar of it to
charity ; and, sending for Mayor Woodhull, she acted
under his and my advice in selecting the various institu
tions among which she wished the amount to be
distributed.
My arrangements of the concert room were very
complete. The great parterre and gallery of Castle
Garden were divided by imaginary lines into four com
partments, each of which was designated by a lamp of
a different color. The tickets were printed in colors
correspondiog with the location which the holders were
to occupy, and one hundred ushers, with rosettes and
bearing wands tipped with ribbons of the several hues,
enabled every individual to find his or her seat without
the slightest difficulty. Every seat was of course num
bered in color to correspond with the check, which each
person retained after giving up an entrance ticket at the
door. Thus, tickets, checks, lamps, rosettes, wands, and
even the seat numbers were all in the appropriate colors
to designate the different departments. These arrange-
298 THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YOUR.
ments were duly advertised, and every particular was
also printed upon each ticket. In order to prevent
confusion, the doors were opened at five o clock, while
the concert did not commence until eight. The conse
quence was, that although about five thousand persons
were present at the first concert, their entrance was
marked with as much order and quiet as was ever
witnessed in the assembling of a congregation at church.
These precautions were observed at all the concerts
given throughout the country under my administration,
and the good order which always prevailed was the
subject of numberless encomiums from the public and
the press.
The reception of Jenny Lind on her first appearance,
in point of enthusiasm, was probably never before
equalled in the world. As Mr. Benedict led her
towards the foot-lights, the entire audience rose to their
feet and welcomed her with three cheers, accompanied
by the waving of thousands of hats and handkerchiefs.
This was by far the largest audience to which Jenny
Lind had ever sung. She was evidently much agitated,
but the orchestra commenced, and before she had sung
a dozen notes of " Casta Diva," she began to recover
her self-possession, and long before the scena was
concluded, she was as calm as if she was in her own
drawing-room. Towards the last portion of the cavatina,
the audience were so completely carried away by their
feelings, that the remainder of the air was drowned in
a perfect tempest of acclamation. Enthusiasm had been
wrought to its highest pitch, but the musical powers of
Jenny Lind exceeded all the brilliant anticipations
which had been formed, and her triumph was complete.
At the conclusion of the concert Jenny Lind was loudly
THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK. 299
called for, and was obliged to appear three times before
the audience could be satisfied. They then called
vociferously for " Barnum," and I reluctantly responded
to their demand.
On this first night, Mr. Julius Benedict firmly estab
lished with the American people his European reputa
tion, as a most accomplished conductor and musical
composer ; while Signor Belletti inspired an admiration
which grew warmer and deeper in the minds of the
American people, to the end of his career in this
country.
It would seem as if the Jenny Lind mania had
reached its culminating point before she appeared, and
I confess that I feared the anticipations of the public
were too high to be realized, and hence that there
would be a reaction after the first concert ; but I was
happily disappointed. The transcendent musical genius
of the Swedish Nightingale was superior to all that
fancy could paint, and the furor did not attain its high
est point until she had been heard. The people were
in ecstasies ; the powers of editorial acumen, types and
ink, were inadequate to sound her praises. The Rubicon
was passed. The successful issue of the Jenny Lind
enterprise was established. I think there were a hun
dred men in New York, the day after her first concert,
who would have willingly paid me $200,000 for my
contract. I received repeated offers for an eighth, a
tenth, or a sixteenth, equivalent to that price. But
mine had been the risk, and I was determined mine
should be the triumph. So elated was I with my suc
cess, in spite of all obstacles and false prophets, that I
do not think half a million of dollars would have tempted
me to relinquish the enterprise.
14*
800 THE NIGHTINGALE IN NEW YORK.
Upon settling the receipts of the first concert, they
were found to be somewhat less than I anticipated.
The sums bid at the auction sales, together with the
tickets purchased at private sale, amounted to more
than $20,000. It proved, however, that several of the
tickets bid off at from $12 to $25 each, were not called
for. In some instances, probably the zeal of the bidders
cooled down when they came out from the scene of ex
citement, and once more breathed the fresh sea-breeze
which came sweeping up from " the Narrows," while
perhaps, in other instances, bids were made by parties
who never intended to take the tickets. I can only say,
once for all, that I was never privy to a false bid, and
was so particular upon that point, that I would not per
mit one of my employees to bid on, or purchase a ticket
at auction, though requested to do so for especial
friends.
The amount of money received for tickets to the first
concert was $17,864.05. As this made Miss Lind s
portion too small to realize the $10,000 which had been
announced as devoted to charity, I proposed to divide
equally with her the proceeds of the first two concerts,
and not count them at all in our regular engagement.
Accordingly, the second concert was given September
13th, and the receipts, amounting to $14,203.03, were,
like those of the first concert, equally divided. Our
third concert, but which, as between ourselves, we
called the " first regular concert," was given Tuesday
September 17, 1850.
CHAPTER XIX.
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
HEAD-WORK AND HAND-WORK MANAGING PUBLIC OPINION CREATING A
FUROR THE NEW YORK HERALD JENNY LIND S EVIL AD VISERS JOHN
JAY MISS LIND S CHARITIES A POOR GIRL IN BOSTON THE NIGHTINGALE
AT IRANISTAN RUMOR OF HER MARRIAGE TO P. T. BARNUM THE STORY
BASED ON OUR "ENGAGEMENT" WHAT IRANISTAN DID FOR ME AVOIDING
CROWDS IN PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE A SUBSTITUTE FOR MISS
LIND OUR ORCHESTRA PRESIDENT FILLMORE, CLAY, FOOTE, BENTON,
SCOTT, CASS, AND WEBSTER VISIT TO MT. VERNON CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
NEW YEAR S EVE WE GO TO HAVANA PLAYING BALL FREDERIKA BRE-
HER A HAPPY MONTH IN CUBA.
No ONE can imagine the amount of head-work and
hand-work which I performed during the first four
weeks after Jenny Lind s arrival. Anticipating much
of this, I had spent some time in August at the White
Mountains to recruit my energies. Of course I had
not been idle during the summer. I had put innumer
able means and appliances into operation for the fur
therance of my object, and little did the public see of
the hand that indirectly pulled at their heart-strings,
preparatory to a relaxation of their purse-strings ; and
these means and appliances were continued and
enlarged throughout the whole of that triumphal
musical campaign.
The first great assembly at Castle Garden was not
gathered by Jenny Lind s musical genius and powers
alone. She was effectually introduced to the public
before they had seen or heard her. She appeared
in the presence of a jury already excited to enthusiasm
302 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
in her behalf. She more than met their expectations,
and all the means I had adopted to prepare the way
were thus abundantly justified.
As a manager, I worked by setting others to work.
Biographies of the Swedish Nightingale were largely
circulated ; " Foreign Correspondence " glorified her
talents and triumphs by narratives of her benevolence ;
and " printer s ink " was invoked in every possible
form, to put and keep Jenny Lind before the people.
I am happy to say that the press generally echoed
the voice of her praise from first to last. 1 could fill
many volumes with printed extracts which are nearly
all of a similar tenor to the following unbought,
unsolicited editorial article, which appeared in the
New York Herald of Sept. 10, 1850 (the day
before the first concert given by Miss Lind in the
United States) :
"JENNY LIND AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. What ancient monarch was
he, either in history or in fable, who offered half his kingdom (the price of box tick
ets and choice seats in those days) for the invention of an original sensation, or
the discovery of a fresh pleasure? That sensation that pleasure which royal
power in the old world failed to discover has been called into existence at a less
price, by Mr. Barnum, a plain republican, and is now about to be enjoyed by the
sovereigns of the new world.
" Jenny Lind, the most remarkable phenomenon in musical art which has for
the last century flashed across the horizon of the old world, is now among us, and
will make her debut to-morrow night to a house of nearly ten thousand listeners,
yielding in proceeds by auction, a sum of forty or fifty thousand dollars. For
the last ten days our musical reporters have furnished our readers with every
matter connected with her arrival in this metropolis, and the steps adopted by Mr.
Barnum in preparation for her first appearance. The proceedings of yesterday,
consisting of the sale of the remainder of the tickets, and the astonishing, "the
wonderful sensation produced at her first rehearsal on the few persons, critics in
musical art, who were admitted on the occasion, will be found elsewhere in our
columns.
"We concur in everything that has been said by our musical reporter, describ
ing her extraordinary genius her unrivalled combination of power and art.
Nothing has been exaggerated, not an iota. Three years ago, more or less, we
hoard Jenny Lind on many occasions when she made the first great sensation in
Europe, by her debut at the London Opera House. Then she was great in power
--in art in genius; now she is greater in all. We speak from experience and
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 303
conviction. Then she astonished, and pleased, and fascinated the thousands of
the British aristocracy; now she will fascinate, and please, and delight, and almost
make mad with musical excitement, the millions of the American democracy. To
morrow night, this new sensation this fresh movement this excitement excel
ling all former excitements will be called into existence, when she pours out the
notes of CastaDiva, and exhibits her astonishing powers her wonderful pecu
liarities, that seem more of heaven than of earth more of a voice from eternity,
than from the lips of a human being.
We speak soberly seriously calmly. The public expectation has run very
high for the last week higher than at any former period of our past musical
annals. But high as it has risen, the reality the fact the concert the voice
and power of Jenny Lind will far surpass all past expectation. Jenny Lind is a
wonder, and a prodigy in song and no mistake."
As usual, however, the Herald very soon " took it all
back " and roundly abused Miss Lind and persistently
attacked her manager. As usual, too, the public paid
no attention to the Herald and doubled their patronage
of the Jenny Lind concerts.
After the first month the business became thoroughly
systematized, and by the help of such agents as my
faithful treasurer, L. C. Stewart, and the indefatigable
Le Grand Smith, my personal labors were materially
relieved; but from the first concert on the llth of Sep
tember, 1850, until the ninety-third concert on the 9th
of June, 1851, a space of nine months, I did not know
a waking moment that was entirely free from anxiety.
I could not hope to be exempted from trouble and
perplexity in managing an enterprise which depended
altogether on popular favor, and which involved great
consequences to myself ; but I did not expect the
numerous petty annoyances which beset me, especially
in the early period of the concerts. Miss Lind did not
dream, nor did any one else, of the unparalleled enthu
siasm that would greet her ; and the first immense
assembly at Castle Garden somewhat prepared her, I
suspect, to listen to evil advisers. It would seem that
the terms of our revised contract were sufficiently liberal
304 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
to her and sufficiently hazardous to myself, to justify the
expectation of perfectly honorable treatment ; but certain
envious intermeddlers appeared to think differently.
" Do you not see, Miss Lind, that Mr. Barnum is coining
money out of your genius ? " said they ; of course she
saw it, but the high-minded Swede despised and spurned
the advisers who recommended her to repudiate her con
tract with me at all hazards, and take the enterprise
into her own hands possibly to put it into theirs. I,
however, suffered much from the unreasonable interfer
ence of her lawyer, Mr. John Jay. Benedict and Belletti
behaved like men, and Jenny afterwards expressed to
me her regret that she had for a moment listened to the
vexatious exactions of her legal counsellor.
To show the difficulties with which I had to contend
thus early in my enterprise, I copy a letter which I
wrote, a little more than one month after Miss Lind
commenced her engagement with me, to my friend Mr
Joshua Bates, of Messrs. Baring, Brothers & Co.,
London :
NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 1850.
JOSHUA BATES ESQ.:
DEAR SIB, I take the liberty to write you a few lines, merely to say that we
are getting along as well as could reasonably be expected. In this country you
are aware that the rapid accumulation of wealth always creates much envy, and
envy soon augments to malice. Such are the elements at work to a limited
degree against myself, and although Miss Lind, Benedict and myself have never,
as yet, had the slightest feelings between us, to my knowledge, except those of
friendship, yet I cannot well see how this can long continue in face of the
fact that, nearly every day, they allow persons (some moving in the first classes of
society) to approach them, and spend hours in traducing me; even her attorney,
Mr. John Jay, has been so blind to her interests, as to aid in poisoning her mind
against me, by pouring into her ears the most silly twaddle, all of which amounts
to nothing and less than nothing such as the regret that I was a showman,
exhibitor of Tom Thumb, etc., etc.
Without the elements which I possess for business, as well as my knowledge
of human nature, acquired in catering for the public, the result of her concerts
here would not have been pecuniarily one half as much as at present and such
men as the Hon. Edward Everett, G. G. Howland, and others will tell you that
there is no charlatanism or lack of dignity in my management of these concerts.
I know as well as any person that the merits of Jenny Liud are the best capital
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 305
to depend upon to secure public favor, and I have thus far acted on this knowl
edge. Everything which money and attention can procure for their comfort, they
have, and I am glad to know that they are satisfied on this score. All I fear is,
that these continual backbitings, if listened to by her, will, by and by, produce a
feeling of distrust or regret, which will lead to unpleasant results.
The fact is, her mind ought to be as free as air, and she herself as free as a
bird, and, being satisfied of my probity and ability, she should turn a deaf ear to
all envious and malevolent attacks on me. I have hoped that by thus briefly
stating to you the facts in the case, you might be induced for her interests as well
as mine to drop a line of advice to Mi-. Benedict and another to Mr. Jay oil this
subject. If I am asking or expecting too much, I pray you to not give it a
thought, for I feel myself fully able to carry through my rights alone, although I
should deplore nothing so much as to be obliged to do so in a feeling of unfriend
liness. I have risked much money on the issue of this speculation it has
proved successful. I am full of perplexity and anxiety, and labor continually for
success, and I cannot allow ignorance or envy to rob me of the fruits of my
enterprise.
Sincerely and gratefully, yours,
P. T. BAKNUM.
It is not my purpose to enter into full details of all
of the Lind concerts, though I have given elsewhere a
transcript from the account books of my treasurer, pre
senting a table of the place and exact receipts of each
concert. This will gratify curiosity, and at the same
time indicate our route of travel. Meanwhile, I devote
a few pages to interesting incidents connected with Miss
Lind s visit to America.
Jenny Lind s character for benevolence became so
generally known, that her door was beset by persons
asking charity, and she was in the receipt, while in the
principal cities, of numerous letters, all on the same
subject. Her secretary examined and responded favor
ably to some of them. He undertook at first to answer
them all, but finally abandoned that course in despair.
I knew of many instances in which she gave sums of
money to applicants, varying in amount from $20, $50,
$500, to $1,000, and in one instance she gave $5,000 to
a Swedish friend.
One night, while giving a concert in Boston, a girl
306 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
approached the ticket-office, and laying down $3 for a
ticket, remarked, " There goes half a month s earnings,
but I am determined to hear Jenny Lind." Miss Lind s
secretary heard the remark, and a few minutes after
wards coming into her room, he laughingly related the
circumstance. - " Would you know the girl agrun ? "
asked Jenny, with an earnest look. Upon receiving an
affirmative reply, she instantly placed a $20 gold-piece
in his hand, and said, " Poor girl ! give her that with my
best compliments." He at once found the girl, who
cried with joy when she received the gold-piece, and
heard the kind words with which the gift was accompa
nied.
The night after Jenny s arrival in Boston, a display
of fireworks was given in her honor, in front of the
Revere House, after which followed a beautiful torch
light procession by the Germans of that city.
On her return from Boston to New York, Jenny, her
companion, and Messrs. Benedict and Belletti, stopped
at Iranistan, my residence in Bridgeport, where they
remained until the following day. The morning after
her arrival, she took my arm and proposed a promenade
through the grounds. She seemed much pleased, and
said, " I am astonished that you should have left such a,
beautiful place for the sake of travelling through the
country with me."
The same day she told me in a playful mood, that she
had heard a most extraordinary report. " I have heard
that you and I are about to be married," said she ;
" now how could such an absurd report ever have origi
nated ? "
" Probably from the fact that we are ; engaged, " I
replied. She enjoyed a joke, and laughed heartily.
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 307
" Do you know, Mr. Barnum," said she, " that if you
had not built Iranistan, I should never have come to
America for you ? "
I expressed my surprise, and asked her to explain.
" I had received several applications to visit the
United States," she continued, " but I did not much like
the appearance of the applicants, nor did I relish the
idea of crossing 3,000 miles of ocean ; so I declined
them all. But the first letter which Mr. Wilton, your
agent, addressed me, was written upon a sheet headed
with a beautiful engraving of Iranistan. It attracted
my attention. I said to myself, a gentleman who has
been so successful in his business as to be able to
build and reside in such a palace cannot be a mere
adventurer/ So I wrote to your agent, and consented
to an interview, which I should have declined, if I had
not seen the picture of Iranistan ! "
" That, then, fully pays me for building it," I replied ;
"for I intend and expect to make more by this musical
enterprise than Iranistan cost me."
" I really hope so," she replied ; " but you must not
be too sanguine, you know, man proposes but God dis
poses.
Jenny Lind always desired to reach a place in which
she was to sing, without having the time of her arrival
known, thus avoiding the excitement of promiscuous
crowds. As a manager, however, I knew that the inter
ests of the enterprise depended in a great degree upon
these excitements. Although it frequently seemed
inconceivable to her how so many thousands should
have discovered her secret and consequently gathered
together to receive her, I was not so much astonished,
inasmuch as my agent always had early telegraphic
308 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
intelligence of the time of her anticipated arrival, ana
was not slow in communicating the information to the
public.
On reaching Philadelphia, a large concourse of per
sons awaited the approach of the steamer which con
veyed her. With difficulty we pressed through the
crowd, and were followed by many thousands to Jones s
Hotel. The street in front of the building was densely
packed by the populace, and poor Jenny, who was suf
fering from a severe headache, retired to her apartments.
I tried to induce the crowd to disperse, but they declared
they would not do so until Jenny Lind should appear
on the balcony. I would not disturb her, and knowing
that the tumult might prove an annoyance to her, I
placed her bonnet arid shawl upon her companion, Miss
Ahmansen, and led her out on the balcony. She bowed
gracefully to the multitude, who gave her three hearty
cheers and quietly dispersed. Miss Lind was so utterly
averse to any thing like deception, that we never ven
tured to tell her the part which her bonnet and shawl
had played in the absence of their owner.
Jenny was in the habit of attending church whenever
she could do so without attracting notice. She always
preserved her nationality, also, by inquiring out and
attending Swedish churches wherever they could be
found. She gave $1,000 to a Swedish church in Chi
cago.
While in Boston, a poor Swedish girl, a domestic in
a family at Roxbury, called on Jenny. She detained
her visitor several hours, talking about home, and other
matters, and in the evening took her in her carriage to
the concert, gave her a seat, and sent her back to Rox
bury in a carriage, at the close of the performances. I
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 309
have no doubt the poor girl carried with her substan
tial evidences of her countrywoman s bounty.
My eldest daughter, Caroline, and her friend, Mrs.
Lyman, of Bridgeport, accompanied me on the tour
from New York to Havana, and thence home, via New
Orleans and the Mississippi.
We were at Baltimore on the Sabbath, and my
daughter, accompanying a friend, who resided in the
city, to church, took a seat with her in the choir, and
joined in the singing. A number of the congregation,
who had seen Caroline with me the day previous, and
supposed her to be Jenny Lind, were yet laboring under
the same mistake, and it was soon whispered through
the church that Jenny Lind was in the choir ! The
excitement was worked to its highest pitch when my
daughter rose as one of the musical group. Every ear
was on the alert to catch the first notes of her voice,
and when she sang, glances of satisfaction passed through
the assembly. Caroline, quite unconscious of the atten
tion she attracted, continued to sing to the end of the
hymn. Not a note was lost upon the ears of the atten
tive congregation. " What an exquisite singer ! "
" Heavenly sounds!" " I never heard the like!" and
similar expressions were whispered through the church.
At the conclusion of the services, my daughter and
her friend found the passage way to their carriage
blocked by a crowd who were anxious to obtain a nearer
view of the " Swedish Nightingale," and many persons
that afternoon boasted, in good faith, that they had
listened to the extraordinary singing of the great song
stress. The pith of the joke is that we have never
discovered that my daughter has any extraordinary
claims as a vocalist.
310 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
Our orchestra in New York consisted of sixty. When
we started on our southern tour, we took with us per
manently as the orchestra, twelve of the best musicians
we could select, and in New Orleans augmented the
force to sixteen. We increased the number to thirty-
five, forty or fifty, as the case might be, by choice of
musicians residing where the concerts were given. On
our return to New York from Havana, we enlarged the
orchestra to one hundred performers.
The morning after our arrival in Washington, Presi
dent Fillmore called, and left his card, Jenny being out.
When she returned and found the token of his attention,
she was in something of a fiurry. " Come," said she,
" we must call on the President immediately."
"Why so?" I inquired.
" Because he has called on me, and of course that is
equivalent to a command for me to go to his house."
I assured her that she might make her mind at ease, for
whatever might be the custom with crowned heads, our
Presidents were not w r ont to " command " the movements
of strangers, and that she would be quite in time if she
returned his call the next day. She did so, and was
charmed with the unaffected bearing of the President,
and the warm kindnesses expressed by his amiable wife
and daughter, and consented to spend the evening with
them in conformity with their request. She was accom
panied to the " White House " by Messrs Benedict,
Belletti and myself, and several happy hours were
spent in the private circle of the President s family.
Mr. Benedict, who engaged in a long quiet conversa
tion with Mr. Fillmore, was highly pleased with the
interview. A foreigner, accustomed to court etiquette,
is generally surprised at the simplicity which character-
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 311
izes the Chief Magistrate of this Union. In 1852 I
called on the President with my friend the late Mr. Bret-
tell, of London, who resided in St. James Palace, and
was quite a worshipper of the Queen, and an ardent
admirer of all the dignities and ceremonies of royalty.
He expected something of the kind in visiting the Pres
ident of the United States, and was highly pleased with
his disappointment.
Both concerts in Washington were attended by the
President and his family, and every member of the Cab
inet. I noticed, also, among the audience, Henry Clay,
Benton, Foote, Cass and General Scott, and nearly every
member of Congress. On the following morning, Miss
Lind was called upon by Mr. Webster, Mr. Clay, Gen
eral Cass, and Colonel Benton, and all parties were evi
dently gratified. I had introduced Mr. Webster to her
in Boston. Upon hearing one of her wild mountain
songs in New York, and also in Washington, Mr. Web
ster signified his approval by rising, drawing himself
up to his full height, and making a profound bow.
Jenny was delighted by this expression of praise from
the great statesman. When I first introduced Miss
Lind to Mr. Webster, at the Revere House, in Boston,
she was greatly impressed with his manners and conver
sation, and after his departure, walked up and down the
room in great excitement, exclaiming : " Ah ! Mr. Bar-
num, that is a man ; I have never before seen such a
man ! ?>
We visited the Capitol while both Houses were in
session. Miss Lind took the arm of Hon. C. F. Cleve
land, representative from Connecticut, and was by him
escorted into various parts of the Capitol and the
grounds, with all of which she was much pleased.
312 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
While I was in Washington an odd reminiscent
of my old show-days in the South came back to me
in a curious way. Some years before, in 1836, my
travelling show company had stopped at a hotel in
Jackson, Mississippi, and, as the house was crowded,
soon after I went to bed five or six men came into
the room with cards and a candle and asked permission,
as there was no other place, to sit down and play
a quiet game of " brag." I consented on condition
that I might get up and participate, which was permit
ted and in a very little while, as I knew nothing what
ever of the game, I lost fifty dollars. Good " hands r
and good fortune soon enabled me to win back my
money, at which point one of the players who had
been introduced to me as " Lawyer Foote " said :
" Now the best thing you can do is to go back to
bed ; you do n t know anything about the game, and
these fellows do, and they ll skin you."
I acted upon his advice. And now, years afterwards,
when Senator Foote called upon Miss Lind the story
came back to me, and while I was talking with him
I remarked :
" Fifteen years ago, when I was in the South, I became
acquainted with a lawyer named Foote, at Jackson,
Mississippi."
" It must have been me," said the Senator, " I am the
only lawyer Foote, of Jackson, Mississippi.
" Oh ! no, it could not have been you," and I told
him the story.
" It was me," he whispered in my ear, and added,
" I used to gamble like h 1 in those days."
During the week I was invited with Miss Lind and
her immediate friends, to visit Mount Vernon, with Col-
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 313
onel Washington, the then proprietor, and Mr. Seaton,
ex-Mayor of Washington, and Editor of the Intelligencer.
Colonel Washington chartered a steamboat for the pur
pose. We were landed a short distance from the tomb,
which we first visited. Proceeding to the house, -w?
were introduced to Mrs. Washington, and several other
ladies. Much interest was manifested by Miss Lind in
examining the mementoes of the great man whose home
it had been. A beautiful collation was spread out and
arranged in fine taste. Before leaving, Mrs. Washing
ton presented Jenny with a book from the library, with
the name of Washington written by his own hand. She
was much overcome at receiving this present, called me
aside, and expressed her desire to give something in
return. "I have nothing with me," she said, " except
ing this watch and chain, and I will give that if you
think it will be acceptable." I knew the watch was
very valuable, and told her that so costly a present
would not be expected, nor would it be proper. " The
expense is nothing, compared to the value of that book,"
she replied, with deep emotion ; " but as the watch was
a present from a dear friend, perhaps I should not give
it away." Jenny Lind, I am sure, never forgot the
pleasurable emotions of that day.
At Richmond, half an hour previous to her departure,
hundreds of young ladies and gentlemen had crowded
into the halls of the house to secure a glimpse of her at
parting. I informed her that she would find difficulty
in passing out. " How long is it before we must
start I " she asked. " Half an hour," I replied. u Oh,
I will clear the passages before that time," said she, with
a smile ; whereupon she went into the upper hall, and
informed the people that she wished to take the hands
314 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
of every one of them, upon one condition, viz : they
should pass by her in rotation, and as fast as they had
shaken hands, proceed down stairs, and not block up the
passages. They joyfully consented to the arrangement,
and in fifteen minutes the course was clear. Poor Jenny
had shaken hands with every person in the crowd, and I
presume she had a feeling remembrance of the incident
for an hour or two at least. She was waited on by
many members of the Legislature while in Richmond,
that body being in session while we were there.
The voyage from Wilmington to Charleston was an
exceedingly rough and perilous one. We were about
thirty-six hours in making the passage, the usual time
being seventeen. There was really great danger of our
steamer being swamped, and we were all apprehensive
that we should never reach the Port of Charleston
alive. Some of the passengers were in great terror.
Jenny Lind exhibited more calmness upon this occasion
than any other person, the crew excepted. We arrived
safely at last, and I was grieved to learn that for twelve
hours the loss of the steamer had been considered cer
tain, and had even been announced by telegraph in the
Northern cities.
We remained at Charleston about ten days, to take
the steamer "Isabella" on her regular trip to Havana.
Jenny had been through so much excitement at the
North, that she determined to have quiet here, and
therefore declined receiving any calls. This disap
pointed many ladies and gentlemen. One young lady,
the daughter of a wealthy planter near Augusta, was so
determined upon seeing her in private, that she paid
one of the servants to allow her to put on a cap and
white apron, and carry in the tray for Jenny s tea. I
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 315
j
afterwards told Miss Lind of the joke, and suggested
that after such an evidence of admiration, she should
receive a call from the young lady.
" It is not admiration it is only curiosity," replied
Jenny, " and I will not encourage such folly."
Christmas was at hand, and Jenny Lind determined to
honor it in the way she had often done in Sweden. She
had a beautiful Christmas tree privately prepared, and
from its boughs depended a variety of presents for mem
bers of the company. These gifts were encased in
paper, with the names of the recipients written on each.
After spending a pleasant evening in her drawing-
room, she invited us into the parlor, where the " sur
prise " awaited us. Each person commenced opening
the packages bearing his or her address, and although
every individual had one or more pretty presents, she
had prepared a joke for each. Mr. Benedict, for
instance, took off wrapper after wrapper from one of
his packages, which at first was as large as his head,
but after having removed some forty coverings of paper,
it was reduced to a size smaller than his hand, and the
removal of the last envelope exposed to view a piece
of cavendish tobacco. One of my presents, choicely
wrapped in a dozen coverings, was a jolly young Bac
chus in Parian marble, intended as a pleasant hit at my
temperance principles !
The night before New Year s day was spent in her
apartment with great hilarity. Enlivened by music,
singing, dancing and story-telling, the hours glided
swiftly away. Miss Lind asked me if I would dance
with her. I told her my education had been neglected
in that line, and that I had never danced in my life.
" That is all the better," said she ; " now dance with
15
316 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
me in a cotillion. I am sure you can do it." She
was a beautiful dancer, and I never saw her laugh more
heartily than she did at my awkwardness. She said
she would give me the credit of being the poorest
dancer she ever saw !
About a quarter before twelve, Jenny suddenly
checked Mr. Burke, formerly celebrated as the musi
cal prodigy, "Master Burke," who was playing on
the piano, by saying, "Pray let us have quiet; do you
see, in fifteen minutes more, this year will be gone for
ever ! "
She immediately took a seat, and rested her head up
on her hand in silence. We all sat down, and for a
quarter of an hour the most profound quiet reigned in
the apartment. The remainder of the scene I transcribe
from a description written the next day by Mrs. Lyman,
who was present on the occasion :
" The clock of a neighboring church struck the knell
of the dying year. All were silent each heart was
left to its own communings, and the bowed head and
tearful eye told that memory was busy with the Past. It
was a brief moment, but thoughts and feelings were
crowded into it, which render it one never to be forgot
ten. A moment more the last stroke of the clock
had fallen upon the ear the last faint vibration ceased ;
another period of time had passed forever away a
new one had dawned, in which each felt that they were
to live and act. This thought recalled them to a full
consciousness of the present, and all arose and quietly,
but cordially, presented to each other the kind wishes
of the season. As the lovely hostess pressed the hands
of her guests, it was evident that she, too, had wept, -
she, the gifted, the admired, the almost idolized one.
SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT. 317
Had she, too, cause for tears ? Whence were they 1
from the overflowings of a grateful heart, from tender
associations, or from sad remembrances ? None knew,
none could ask, though they awakened deep and pecu
liar sympathy. And from one heart, at least, arose the
prayer, that when the dial of time should mark the last
hour of her earthly existence, she should greet its ap
proach with joy and not with grief that to her soul
spirit- voices might whisper, * Come, sweet sister ! come
to the realms of unfading light and love come, join
your seraphic tones with ours, in singing the praises of
Him who loved us, and gave himself for us while
she, with meekly-folded hands and faith-uplifted eye,
should answer, c Yes, gladly and without fear I come, for
T know that my Redeemer liveth. ?:
I had arranged with a man in New York to transport
furniture to Havana, provide a house, and board Jenny
Lind and our immediate party during our stay. When
we arrived, we found the building converted into a semi-
hotel, and the apartments were any thing but comfort
able. Jenny was vexed. Soon after dinner, she took a
volante and an interpreter, and drove into the
suburbs. She was absent four hours. Whither or why
she had gone, none of us knew. At length she returned
and informed us that she had hired a commodious fur
nished house in a delightful location outside the walls of
the city, and invited us all to go and live with her during
our stay in Havana, and we accepted the invitation.
She was now freed from all annoyances ; her time was
her own, she received no calls, went and came when she
pleased, had no meddlesome advisers about her, legal or
otherwise, and was as merry as a cricket. We had a
large court-yard in the rear of the house, and here she
318 SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT.
would come and romp and run, sing and laugh, like a
young school-girl. "Now, Mr. Barnum, for another
game of ball," she would say half a dozen times a day ;
whereupon, she would take an india-rubber ball, (of
which she had two or three,) and commence a game of
throwing and catching, which would be kept up until,
being completely tired out, I would say, " I give it up."
Then her rich, musical laugh would be heard ringing
through the house, as she exclaimed, " Oh, Mr. Barnum,
you are too fat and too lazy ; you cannot stand it to play
ball with me ! "
Her celebrated countrywoman, Miss Frederika Bremer,
spent a few days with us very pleasantly, and it is diffi
cult to conceive of a more delightful month than was
passed by the entire party at Jenny Lind s house in the
outskirts of Havana.
CHAPTER XX.
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR
PROTEST AGAINST PRICES IN HAVANA THE CUBANS SUCCUMB JENNY LIND
TAKES THE CITY BY STORM A MAGNIFICENT TRIUMPH COUNT PENALVER
A SPLENDID OFFER MR. BRINCKERHOFF BENEFIT FOR THE HOSPITALS
REFUSING TO RECEIVE THANKS VIVALLA AND HIS DOG HENRY BENNETT
HIS PARTIAL INSANITY OUR VOYAGE TO NEW ORLEANS THE EDITOR OF
THE NEW YORK HERALD ON BOARD I SAVE THE LIFE OF JAMES GORDON
BENNETT ARRIVAL AT THE CRESCENT CITY CHEATING THE CROWD A
DUPLICATE MISS LIND A BOY IN RAPTURES A MAMMOTH HOG UP THE
MISSISSIPPI AMUSEMENTS ON BOARD IN LEAGUE WITH THE EVIL ONE
AN AMAZED MULATTO,
SOON after arriving in Havana, I discovered that a
strong prejudice existed against our musical enterprise.
I might rather say that the Habaneros, not accustomed
to the high figure which tickets had commanded in the
States, were determined on forcing me to adopt their
opera prices, whereas I paid one thousand dollars per
night for the Tacon Opera House, and other expenses
being in proportion, I was determined to receive remu
nerating prices, or give no concerts. This determina
tion on my part annoyed the Habaneros, who did not
wish to be thought penurious, though they really were
so. Their principal spite, therefore, was against me ;
and one of their papers politely termed me a " Yankee
pirate," who cared for nothing except their doubloons.
They attended the concert, but were determined to
show the great songstress no favor. I perfectly under
stood this feeling in advance, but studiously kept all
320 INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR.
knowledge of it from Miss Lind. I went to the first
concert, therefore, with some misgivings in regard to
her reception. The following, which I copy from the
Havana correspondence of the New York Tribune , gives
a correct account of it :
********
"Jenny Lind soon appeared, led on by Signor Belletti. Some three or four
hundred persons clapped their hands at her appearance, but this token of appro
bation was instantly silenced by at least two thousand five hundred decided hisses.
Thus, having settled the matter that there should be no forestalling of public
opinion, and that if applause Avas given to Jenny Lind in that house it should
first be incontestably earned, the most solemn silence prevailed. I have heard
the Swedish Nightingale often in Europe as well as in America and have
ever noticed a distinct tremulousness attending her first appearance in any city.
Indeed this feeling was plainly manifested in her countenance as she neared the
foot-lights ; but when she witnessed the kind of reception in store for her so
different from anything she had reason to expect her countenance changed in
an instant to a haughty self-possession, her eye flashed defiance, and, becoming
immovable as a statue, she stood there, perfectly calm and beautiful. She was
satisfied that she now had an ordeal to pass and a victory to gain worthy of her
powers. In a moment her eye scanned the immense audience, the music began
and then followed how can I describe it? such heavenly strains as I verily
believe mortal never breathed except Jenny Lind, and mortal never heard except
from her lips. Some of the oldest Castilians kept a frown upon their brow and a
curling sneer upon their lip ; their ladies, however, and most of the audience
began to look surprised. The gushing melody flowed on increasing in beauty and
glory. The caballeros, the senoras and senoritas began to look at each other;
nearly all, however, kept their teeth clenched and their lips closed, evidently deter
mined to resist to the last. The torrent flowed deeper and faster, the lark flew
higher and higher, the melody grew richer and grander ; still every lip was com
pressed. By and by, as the rich notes came dashing in rivers upon our enraptured
ears, one poor critic involuntarily whispered a brava. This outbursting of the
soul was instantly hissed down. The stream of harmony rolled on till, at the
close, it made a clean sweep of every obstacle, and carried all before it. Not a
vestige of opposition remained, but such a tremendous shout of applause as went
up I never before heard.
"The triumph was most complete. And how was Jenny Lind affected? She
who stood a few moments previous like adamant, now trembled like a reed in
the wind before the storm of enthusiasm which her own simple notes had pro
duced. Tremblingly, slowly, and almost bowing her face to the ground, she
withdrew. The roar and applause of victory increased. Encore ! encore ! encore I
came from every lip. She again appeared, and, courtesying low, again withdrew,
but again, again, and again did they call her out and at every appearance the
thunders of applause rang louder and louder. Thus five times was Jenny Lind
called out to receive their unanimous and deafening plaudits."
I cannot express what my feelings were as I watched
this scene from the dress circle. Poor Jenny ! I deeply
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUB. 321
sympathized with her when I heard that first hiss. 1
indeed observed the resolute bearing which she assumed,
but was apprehensive of the result. When I witnessed
her triumph, I could not restrain the tears of joy that
rolled down my cheeks ; and rushing through a private
box, I reached the stage just as she was withdrawing
after the fifth encore. " God bless you, Jenny, you have
settled them ! " I exclaimed.
" Are you satisfied I " said she, throwing her arms
around my neck. She, too, was crying with joy, and
never before did she look so beautiful in my eyes as on
that evening.
One of the Havana papers, notwithstanding the great
triumph, continued to cry out for low prices. This
induced many to absent themselves, expecting soon to
see a reduction. It had been understood that we would
give twelve concerts in Havana ; but when they saw,
after the fourth concert, which was devoted to charity,
that no more were announced, they became uneasy.
Committees waited upon us requesting more concerts,
but we peremptorily declined. Some of the leading
Dons, among whom was Count Penal ver, then offered to
guarantee us $25,000 for three concerts. My reply was,
that there was not money enough on the island of Cuba
to induce me to consent to it. That settled the matter,
and gave us a pleasant opportunity for recreation.
We visited, by invitation, Mr. Brinckerhoff, the emi
nent American merchant at Matanzas, whom I had met
at the same place three years previously, and who sub
sequently had visited my family in Connecticut. The
gentlemanly host did everything in his power to render
our stay agreeable ; and Miss Lind was so delighted
with his attentions and the interesting details of sugar
322 INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR
and coffee plantations which we visited through his
kindness, that as soon as she returned to Havana, she
sent on the same tour of pleasure Mr. Benedict, who
had been prevented by illness from accompanying us.
I found my little Italian plate-dancer, Vivalla, in
Havana. He called on me frequently. He was in
great distress, having lost the use of his limbs on the
left side of his body by paralysis. He was thus unable
to earn a livelihood, although he still kept a performing
dog, which turned a spinning-wheel and performed some
curious tricks. One day, as I was passing him out of
the front gate, Miss Lind inquired who he was. I
briefly recounted to her his history. She expressed
deep interest in his case, and said something should be
set apart for him in the benefit which she was about to
give for charity. Accordingly, when the benefit came
off, Miss Lind appropriated $500 to him, and I made
the necessary arrangements for his return to his friends
in Italy. At the same benefit $4,000 were distributed
between two hospitals and a convent.
A few mornings after the benefit our bell was rung,
and the servant announced that I was wanted. I went
to the door and found a large procession of children,
neatly dressed and bearing banners, attended by ten or
twelve priests, arrayed in their rich and flowing robes.
I inquired their business, and was informed that they
had come to see Miss Lind, to thank her in person for
her benevolence. I took their message, and informed
Miss Lind that the leading priests of the convent had
come in great state to see and thank her. " I will not
see them," she replied ; " they have nothing to thank
me for. If I have done good, it is no more than
my duty, and it is my pleasure. I do not deserve their
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR 323
thanks, and I will not see them." I returned her
answer, and the leaders of the grand procession went
away in disappointment.
The same day Vivalla called, and brought her a basket
of the most luscious fruit that he could procure. The
little fellow was very happy and extremely grateful.
Miss Lind had gone out for a ride.
" God bless her ! I am so happy ; she is such a good
lady. I shall see my brothers and sisters again. Oh,
she is a very good lady," said poor Vivalla, overcome by
his feelings. He begged me to thank her for him, and
give her the fruit. As he was passing out of the door,
he hesitated a moment, and then said, " Mr. Barnum, I
should like so much to have the good lady see my dog
turn a wheel ; it is very nice ; he can spin very good.
Shall I bring the dog and wheel for her ] She is such
a good lady, I wish to please her very much." I smiled,
and told him she would not care for the dog ; that he
was quite welcome to the money, and that she refused
to see the priests from the convent that morning,
because she never received thanks for favors.
When Jenny came in I gave her the fruit, and laugh
ingly told her that Vivalla wished to show her how his
performing dog could turn a spinning-wheel.
" Poor man, poor man, do let him come ; it is all the
good creature can do for me," exclaimed Jenny, and the
tears flowed thick and fast down her cheeks. " I like
that, I like that," she continued ; "do let the poor crea
ture come and bring his dog. It will make him so
happy."
I confess it made me happy, and I exclaimed, for my
heart was full, " God bless you, it will make him cry for
joy ; he shall come to-morrow."
15*
324 INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR.
I saw Vivalla the same evening, and delighted him
with the intelligence that Jenny would see his dog per
form the next day, at four o clock precisely.
" I will be punctual," said Vivalla, in a voice trem
bling with emotion ; " but I was sure she would like to
see my dog perform."
For full half an hour before the time appointed did
Jenny Lind sit in her window on the second floor and
watch for Vivalla and his dog. A few minutes before
the appointed hour, she saw him coming. " Ah, here
he comes ! here he comes ! " she exclaimed in delight, as
she ran down stairs and opened the door to admit him.
A negro boy was bringing the small spinning-wheel,
while Vivalla led the dog. Handing the boy a silver
coin, she motioned him away, and taking the wheel in
her arms, she said, " This is very kind of you to come
with your dog. Follow me. I will carry the wheel
up stairs." Her servant offered to take the wheel, but
no, she would let no one carry it but herself. She
called us all up to her parlor, and for one full hour did
she devote herself to the happy Italian. She went
down on her knees to pet the dog and to ask Vivalla all
sorts of questions about his performances, his former
course of life, his friends in Italy, and his present hopes
and determinations. Then she sang and played for him,
gave him some refreshments, finally insisted on carrying
his wheel to the door, and her servant accom
panied Vivalla to his boarding-house.
Poor Vivalla ! He was probably never so happy
before, but his enjoyment did not exceed that of Miss
Lind. That scene alone would have paid me for all my
labors during the entire musical campaign. A few
months later, however, the Havana correspondent of the
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR.
New York Herald announced the death of Vivalla and
stated that the poor Italian s last words were about
Jenny Lind and Mr. Barnum.
When Captain Rawlings, of the Steamer " Isabella "
made his next return trip from Charleston, he brought
a fine lot of game and invited Messrs. Benedict,
Belletti and myself to a breakfast on board, where
we met Mr. John Howard, of the Irving House,
New York, Mr. J. B. Monnot, of the New York
Hotel, Mr. Mixer, of the Charleston Hotel, and Mr.
Monroe of one of the Havana hotels. The break
fast was a very nice one, and was accompanied by
some " very fine old Madeira," which received the
highest encomiums of the company.
" Now," said Captain Ilawlings, " you must break
your rule once, Mr. Barnum, and wash down your
game with a glass or two of this choice Madeira. It
is very old and fine, as smooth as oil, and the
game is hardly game without it. Do take some."
I positively declined, saying I did not doubt that
he had the genuine article for once, but that most
of what was offered and sold as wine did not con
tain a single drop of the juice of the grape. This
led to a general talk about the impositions practised,
even in the best hotels, in serving customers with
" fine old wines and liquors " at the bar and at the
table, and some very curious and amusing stories
were told and confessions made. But there could be
no mistake about this Madeira ; it was rich, rare, old,
oily, and genuine in flavor and quality ; all the connois
seurs at the table were unanimous in their verdict.
But when the breakfast was over and we were going
ashore, as I was sitting next the captain in his own
boat, he said to nifi r
326
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR
" Barnum, that fine old Madeira is the real e game *
of my game breakfast ; I wanted to test those experi
enced tasters, and I gave them some wine which I
bought for a dollar and a half a gallon at a corner
grocery in Charleston."
In the party which accompanied me to Havana, was
Mr. Henry Bennett, who formerly kept Peale s Museum
in New York, afterwards managing the same establish
ment for me when I purchased it, and he was now with
me in the capacity of a ticket-taker. He was as honest
a man as ever lived, and a good deal of a wag. I
remember his going through the market once and run
ning across a decayed actor who was reduced to tending
a market stand ; Bennett hailed him with " Hallo ! what
are you doing here ; what are you keeping that old tur
key for ? "
" O ! for a profit," replied the actor.
"Prophet, prophet!" exclaimed Bennett, "patriarch,
you mean ! "
With all his waggery he was subject at times to moods
of the deepest despondency, bordering on insanity.
Madness ran in his family. His brother, in a fit of
frenzy, had blown his brains out. Henry himself had
twice attempted his own life while in my employ in
New York. Some time after our present journey to Ha
vana, I sent him to London. He conducted my business
precisely as I directed, writing up his account with me
correctly to a penny. Then handing it to a mutual
friend with directions to give it to me when I arrived in
London the following week, he went to his lodgings and
committed suicide.
While we were in Havana, Bennett was so despon
dent at times that we were obliged to watch him care-
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR. 327
fully, lest he should do some damage to himself or
others. When we left Havana for New Orleans, on
board the steamer " Falcon," Mr. James Gordon Ben
nett, editor of the New York Herald, and his wife were
also passengers. After permitting one favorable notice
in his paper, Bennett had turned around, as usual, and
had abused Jenny Lind and bitterly attacked me.
There was an estrangement, no new thing, between the
editor and myself. The Herald, in its desire to excite
attention, has a habit of attacking public men and I had
not escaped. I was always glad to get such notices,
for they served as inexpensive advertisements to my
Museum, and brought custom to me free of charge.
Ticket-taker Bennett, however, took much to heart
the attacks of Editor Bennett upon Jenny Lind, and
while in New York he threatened to cowhide his name
sake, as so many men have actually done in days gone
by, but I restrained him. When Editor Bennett came
on board the " Falcon," he had in his arms a small pet
monkey belonging to his wife, and the animal was
placed in a safe place on the forward deck. When
Henry Bennett saw the editor he said to a bystander :
" I would willingly be drowned if I could see that
old scoundrel go to the bottom of the sea."
Several of our party overheard the remark and I
turned laughingly to Bennett and said : " Nonsense ; ho
can t harm any one and there is an old proverb about the
impossibility of drowning those who are born to another
fate."
That very night, however, as I stood near the cabin
door, conversing with my treasurer and other members
of my company, Henry Bennett came up to me with a
wild air, and hoarsely whispered :
328 INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR.
u Old Bennett has gone forward alone in the dark to
feed his monkey, and d n him, I am going to throw
him overboard."
We were all startled, for we knew the man and he
seemed terribly in earnest. Knowing how most effect
ively to address him at such times, I exclaimed .
" Ridiculous ! you would not do such a thing."
" I swear I will," was his savage reply. I expostu
lated with him, and several of our party joined me.
" Nobody will know it," muttered the maniac, " and
I shall be doing the world a favor."
I endeavored to awaken him to a sense of the crime
he contemplated, assuring him that it could not possibly
benefit any one, and that from the fact of the relations
existing between the editor and myself, I should be the
first to be accused of his murder. I implored him to go
to his stateroom, and he finally did so, accompanied by
some of the gentlemen of our party. I took pains to
see that he was carefully watched that night, and,
indeed, for several days, till he became calm again. He
was a large, athletic man, quite able to pick up his
namesake and drop him overboard. The matter was
too serious for a joke, and we made little mention of
it ; but more than one of my party said then, and has
said since, what I really believe to be true, that " James
Gordon Bennett would have been drowned that night
had it not been for P. T. Barnum."
This incident has long been known to several of my
intimate friends, and when Mr. Bennett learns the fact
from this volume, he may possibly be somewhat mollified
over his payment to me, fifteen years later, of $ 200,000
for the unexpired lease of my Museum, concerning
which some particulars will be given anon.
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR 329
In New Orleans the wharf was crowded by a great
concourse of persons, as the steamer " Falcon" ap
proached. Jenny Lind had enjoyed a month of quiet,
and dreaded the excitement which she must now
again encounter.
"Mr. Barnum, I am sure I can never get through
that crowd," said she, in despair.
" Leave that to me. Remain quiet for ten minutes,
and there shall be no crowd here," I replied.
Taking my daughter on my arm, she threw her
veil over her face, and we descended the gangway
to the dock. The crowd pressed around. I had
beckoned for a carriage before leaving the ship.
"That s Barnum, I know him," called out several
persons at the top of their voices.
" Open the way, if you please, for Mr. Barnum
and Miss Lind !" cried Le Grand Smith over the
railing of the ship, the deck of which he had just
reached from the wharf.
" Don t crowd her, if you please, gentlemen," I ex
claimed, and by dint of pushing, squeezing and coax
ing, we reached the carriage, and drove for the
Montalba buildings, where Miss Lind s apartments had
been prepared, and the whole crowd came following at
our heels. In a few minutes afterwards, Jenny and her
companion came quietly in a carriage, and were in the
house before the ruse was discovered. In answer
to incessant calls, she appeared a moment upon the
balcony, waved her handkerchief, received three hearty
cheers, and the crowd dispersed.
A poor blind boy, residing in the interior of Missis
sippi, a flute-player, and an ardent lover of music,
visited New Orleans expressly to hear Jenny Lind.
330 INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR
A subscription had been taken up among his neighbors
to defray the expenses. This fact coming to the ears
of Jenny, she sent for him, played and sang for him,
gave him many words of joy and comfort, took him
to her concerts, and sent him away considerably richer
than he had ever been before.
A funny incident occurred at New Orleans. Our
concerts were given in the St. Charles Theatre, then
managed by my good friend, the late Sol. Smith. In
the open lots near the theatre were exhibitions of
mammoth hogs, five-footed horses, grizzly bears, and
other animals.
A gentleman had a son about twelve years old, who
had a wonderful ear for music. He could whistle or
sing any tune after hearing it once. His father did not
know nor care for a single note, but so anxious was he
to please his son, that he paid thirty dollars for two
tickets to the concert.
" I liked the music better than I expected," said he to
me the next day, " but my son was in raptures. He
was so perfectly enchanted that he scarcely spoke the
whole evening and I would on no account disturb his
delightful reveries. When the concert was finished we
came out of the theatre. Not a word was spoken. I
knew that my musical prodigy was happy among the
clouds, and I said nothing. I could not help envying him
his love of music, and considered my thirty dollars as
nothing, compared to the bliss which it secured to him.
Indeed, I was seriously thinking of taking him to the
next concert, when he spoke. We were just passing the
numerous shows upon the vacant lots. One of the signs
attracted him, and he said, e Father, let us go in and see
the big hog ! The little scamp ! I could have horse-
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR
whipped him!" said the father, who, loving a joke,
could not help laughing at the ludicrous incident.
Some months afterwards, I was relating this story at
my own table to several guests, among whom was a very
matter-of-fact man who had not the faintest conception
of humor. After the whole party had laughed heartily
at the anecdote, my matter-of-fact friend gravely asked :
" And was it a very large hog, Mr. Barnum ? "
I made arrangements with the captain of the splen
did steamer " Magnolia," of Louisville, to take our party
as far as Cairo, the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio
rivers, stipulating for sufficient delay in Natchez, Mis
sissippi, and in Memphis, Tennessee, to give a concert
in each place. It was no unusual thing for me to char
ter a steamboat or a special train of cars for our party.
With such an enterprise as that, time and comfort were
paramount to money.
The time on board the steamer was whiled away in
reading, viewing the scenery of the Mississippi, and
other diversions. One day we had a pleasant musical
festival in the ladies saloon for the gratification of the
passengers, at which Jenny volunteered to sing without
ceremony. It seemed to us she never sang so sweetly
before. I also did rny best to amuse my fellow passen
gers with anecdotes and the exhibition of sundry
legerdemain tricks which I had been obliged to learn
and use in the South years before and under far differ
ent circumstances than those which attended the per
formance now. Among other tricks, I caused a quarter
of a dollar to disappear so mysteriously from beneath a
card, that the mulatto barber on board came to the
conclusion that I was in league with the devil.
The next morning I seated myself for the operation
332 INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR.
of shaving, and the colored gentleman ventured to dip
into the mystery. " Beg pardon, Mr. Barnum, but I
have heard a great deal about you, and I saw more than
I wanted to see last night. Is it true that you have sold
yourself to the devil, so that you can do what you ve a
mind to 1 "
" Oh, yes," was my reply, " that is the bargain
between us."
" How long did you agree for ] " was the question
next in order.
" Only nine years," said I. " I have had three of them
already. Before the other six are out, I shall find a
way to nonplus the old gentleman, and I have told him
so to his face."
At this avowal, a larger space of white than usual
was seen in the darkey s eyes, and he inquired, " Is it
by this bargain that you get so much money ? "
" Certainly. No matter who has money, nor where
he keeps it, in his box or till, or anywhere about him,
I have only to speak the words, and it comes."
The shaving was completed in silence, but thought
had been busy in the barber s mind, and he embraced
the speediest opportunity to transfer his bag of coin to
the iron safe in charge of the clerk.
The movement did not escape me, and immediately a
joke was afoot. I had barely time to make two or three
details of arrangement with the clerk, and resume my
seat in the cabin, ere the barber sought a second inter
view, bent on testing the alleged powers of Beelze
bub s colleague.
" Beg pardon, Mr. Barnum, but where is my money 1
Can you get it 1 "
" I do not want your money," was the quiet answer
u It is safe."
INCIDENTS OF THE TOUR. 333
" Yes, I know it is safe ha! ha! it is in the
iron safe in the clerk s office safe enough from
you!"
"It is not in the iron safe ! " said I. This was said
so quietly, yet positively, that the colored gentleman
ran to the office, and inquired if all was safe. " All
right," said the clerk. " Open, and let me see," replied
the barber. The safe was unlocked and lo ! the money
was gone !
In mystified terror the loser applied to me for relief.
" You will find the bag in your drawer," said I, and
there it was found !
Of course, I had a confederate, but the mystifica
tion of that mulatto was immense.
CHAPTER XXL
JENNY LIND.
ARRIVAL AT ST. LOUIS SURPRISING PROPOSITION OF MISS LIND S SECRETARY
HOW THE MANAGER MANAGED READINESS TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT
CONSULTATION WITH " UNCLE SOL." BARNUM NOT TO BE HIRED A " JOKE "
TEMPERANCE LECTURE IN THE THEATRE SOL. SMITH A COMEDIAN,
AUTHOR, AND LAWYER UNIQUE DEDICATION JENNY LIND s CHARACTER
AND CHARITIES SHARP WORDS FROM THE WEST SELFISH ADVISERS
MISS LIND S GENEROUS IMPULSES HER SIMPLE AND CHILDLIKE CHARACTER
CONFESSIONS OF A MANAGER PRIVATE REPUTATION AND PUBLIC RENOWN
CHARACTER AS A STOCK IN TRADE LE GRAND SMITH MR. DOLBY THE
ANGELIC SIDE KEPT OUTSIDE MY OWN SHARE IN THE PUBLIC BENEFITS
JUSTICE TO MISS LIND AND MYSELF.
ACCORDING to agreement, the " Magnolia" waited for
us at Natchez and Memphis, and we gave profitable
concerts at both places. The concert at Memphis was
the sixtieth in the list since Miss Lind s arrival in
America, and the first concert in St. Louis would be
the sixty-first. When we reached that city, on the
morning of the day when our first concert was to be
given, Miss Lind s secretary came to me, commissioned,
he said, by her, and announced that as sixty concerts
had already taken place, she proposed to avail herself
of one of the conditions of our contract, and cancel the
engagement next morning. As this was the first inti
mation of the kind I had received, I was somewhat
startled, though I assumed an entirely placid demeanor,
and asked :
" Does Miss Lind authorize you to give me this
notice ? "
JENNY LIND, 335
" I so understand it," was the reply.
I immediately reflected that if our contract was thus
suddenly cancelled, Miss Lind was bound to repay to me
all I had paid her over the stipulated $1,000 for each
concert, and a little calculation showed that the sum
thus to be paid back was $77,000, since she had
already received from me $137,000 for sixty concerts.
In this view, I could not but think that this was a ruse
of some of her advisers, and, possibly, that she might
know nothing of the matter. So I told her secretary
that I would see him again in an hour, and meanwhile I
went to my old friend Mr. Sol. Smith for his legal and
friendly advice.
I showed him my contract and told him how much I
fiad been annoyed by the selfish and greedy hangers-on
and advisers, legal and otherwise, of Jenny Lind. I
talked to him about the " wheels within wheels " which
moved this great musical enterprise, and asked and
gladly accepted his advice, which mainly coincided
with my own views of the situation. I then went
back to the secretary and quietly told him that I was
ready to settle with Miss Lind and to close the engage
ment.
" But," said he, manifestly " taken aback," " you have
already advertised concerts in Louisville and Cincinnati,
I believe."
" Yes ," I replied ; " but you may take my contracts
for halls and printing off my hands at cost." I further
said that he was welcome to the assistance of my agent
who had made these arrangements, and, moreover, that
I would cheerfully give my own services to help them
through with these concerts, thus giving them a good
start " on their own hook,"
336 JENNY LIND.
My liberality, which he acknowledged, emboldened
him to make an extraordinary proposition :
" Now suppose," he asked, " Miss Lind should wish
to give some fifty concerts in this country, what would
you charge as manager, per concert ? "
" A million dollars each, not one cent less," I replied.
I was now thoroughly aroused ; the whole thing was as
clear as daylight, and I continued :
" Now we might as well understand each other ; I
do n t believe Miss Lind has authorized you to propose
to me to cancel our contract ; but if she has, just bring
me a line to that effect over her signature and her check
for the amount due me by the terms of that contract,
some $77,000, and we will close our business connec
tions at once."
64 But why not make a new arrangement," persisted
the Secretary, " for fifty concerts more, by which Miss
Lind shall pay you liberally, say $1,000 per con
cert]"
" Simply because I hired Miss Lind, and not she me,"
I. replied, " and because I never ought to take a farthing
less for my risk and trouble than the contract gives me.
I have voluntarily paid Miss Lind more than twice as
much as I originally contracted to pay her, or as she
expected to receive when she first engaged with me.
Now, if she is not satisfied, I wish to settle instantly and
finally. If you do not bring me her decision to-day, I
shall go to her for it to-morrow morning."
I met the secretary soon after breakfast next morning
and asked him if he had a written communication for me
from Miss Lind? He said he had not and that the
whole thing was a "joke." He merely wanted, he
added, to see what I would say to the proposition. I
JENNY LIND. 337
asked him if Miss Lind was in the "joke," as he called
it ? He hoped I would not inquire, but would let the
matter drop. I went on, as usual, and gave four more
concerts in St. Louis, and followed out my programme as
arranged in other cities for many weeks following ; nor
at that time, nor at any time afterwards, did Miss Lind
give me the slightest intimation that she had any knowl
edge of the proposition of her secretary to cancel our
agreement or to employ me as her manager.
During our stay at St. Louis, I delivered a temper
ance lecture in the theatre, and at the close, among
other signers, of the pledge, was my friend and adviser,
Sol. Smith. " Uncle Sol." as every one called him,
was a famous character in his time. He was an excel
lent comedian, an author, a manager and a lawyer.
For a considerable period of his life, he was largely
concerned in theatricals in St. Louis, New Orleans and
other cities, and acquired a handsome property. He
died at a ripe old age, in 1869, respected and lamented
by all who knew him. I esteem it an honor to have
been one of his intimate friends.
A year or two before he died, he published a very
interesting volume, giving a full account of the lead
ing incidents in his long and varied career as an actor
and manager. He had previously, in 1854, pub
lished an autobiographical work, comprising an account
of the " second seven years of his professional life,"
together with sketches of adventure in after years,
and entitled " The Theatrical Journey- Work and Anec-
dotical Recollections of Sol. Smith, Comedian, Attor
ney at Law," etc. This unique work was preceded by
a dedication which I venture to copy. It was as fol-
-, ho r</
lows :
16
338 JENNY LIND.
" TO PHINEAS T. BARNUM, PROPRIETOR OF THE AMERICAN
MUSEUM, ETC.
" Great Impressario : Whilst you were engaged in
your grand Jenny Lind speculation, the following conun
drum went the rounds of the American newspapers :
" Why is it that Jenny Lind and Barnum will never
fall out 1 Answer : fc Because he is always for-getting,
and she is always for-giving.
" I have never asked you the question directly,
whether you, Mr. Barnum, started that conundrum, or
not ; but I strongly suspect that you did. At all events,
I noticed that your whole policy was concentrated into
one idea to make an angel of Jenny, and depreciate
yourself in contrast.
" You may remember that in this city (St. Louis), I
acted in one instance as your legal adviser, and as such,
necessarily became acquainted with all the particulars
of your contract with the so-called Swedish Nightingale,
as well as the various modifications claimed by that
charitable lady, and submitted to by you after her
arrival in this country ; which modifications (I sup
pose it need no longer be a secret) secured to her
besides the original stipulation of one thousand dol
lars for every concert, attendants, carriages, assistant
artists, and a pompous and extravagant retinue, fit
(only) for a European princess one half of the profits
of each performance. You may also remember the
legal advice I gave you on the occasion referred to,
and the salutary effect of your following it You must
remember the extravagant joy you felt afterwards, in
Philadelphia, when the Angel made up her mind to
avail herself of one of the stipulations in her contract,
to break off at the end of a hundred nights, and even
JENNY LIND. 339
(
bought out seven of that hundred supposing that
she could go on without your aid as well as with it. And
you cannot but remember, how, like a rocket-stick she
dropped, when your business connection with her ended,
and how she fizzed out the remainder of her concert
-.nights in this part of the world, and soon afterwards
retired to her domestic blissitude in Sweden.
" You know, Mr. Barnum, if you would only tell,
which of the two it was that was for-getting, and
which for-giving ; and you also know who actually
gave the larger portion of those sums which you
heralded to the world as the sole gifts of the divine
Jenny/
" Of all your speculations from the negro centena-
rina, who didn t nurse General Washington, down
to the Bearded Woman of Genoa there was not
one which required the exercise of so much hum-
buggery as the Jenny Lind concerts ; and I verily be
lieve there is no man living, other than yourself, who
could, or would, have risked the enormous expendi
ture of money necessary to carry them through success
fully travelling, with sixty artists, four thousand
miles, and giving ninety-three concerts, at an actual
cost of forty-five hundred dollars each, is what no
other man would have undertaken you accomplished
this, and pocketed by the operation but little less than
two hundred thousand dollars ! Mr. Barnum, you
are yourself, alone !
" I honor you, oh ! Great Impressario, as the most
successful manager in America or any other country.
Democrat, as you are, you can give a practical lesson to
the aristocrats of Europe how to live. At your beauti
ful and tasteful v^sidence, Iranistan (I do n t like the
340 JENNY LIND.
name, though,) you can and do entertain your friends
with a warmth of hospitality, only equalled by that of
the great landed proprietors of the old country, or of
our own sunny South/ Whilst riches are pouring into
your coffers from your various ventures in all parts of
the world, you do not hoard your immense means, but
continually cast them forth upon the waters, reward
ing labor, encouraging the arts, and lending a helping
hand to industry in all its branches. Not content with
doing all this, you deal telling blows, whenever oppor
tunity offers, upon the monster Intemperance. Your
labors in this great cause alone, should entitle you to
the thanks of all good men, women and children in the
land. Mr. Barnum, you deserve all your good fortune,
and I hope you may long live to enjoy your wealth and
honor.
" As a small instalment towards the debt, I, as one of
the community, owe you, and with the hope of afford
ing you an hour s amusement (if you can spare that
amount of time from your numerous avocations to read
it), I present you with this little volume, containing a
very brief account of some of my journey-work in
the south and west ; and remain, very respectfully,
" Your friend, and affectionate uncle,
" SOL. SMITH.
^ CHOUTEAU AVENUE, ST. Louis,
"Nov. 1, 1854."
" Uncle " Sol. Smith must be held solely responsible
for his extravagant estimate of P. T. Barnum, and for
his somewhat deprecatory view of the attributes of the
" divine Jenny." It is true that he derived many of his
impressions of Miss Lind from the annoying circum-
JENNY LEND. 341
stances that compelled me to seek his professional advice
and assistance in St. Louis, when Jenny Lind s secretary
came to me with an assumed authorization from her to
abruptly close our engagement. But when Sol. Smith s
dedication was first published, there were plenty ot
people and papers throughout the land that were eager
to catch up and indorse this new view of Miss Lind s
character. The Athenians were sometimes sick, no
doubt, of hearing Aristides always called " the Just."
Yet, some of the sharp things which Sol. Smith means
to say about Miss Lind, apply rather to the selfish persons
who, unfortunately, were more in her confidence than I
ever aspired to be, and who assumed to advise her and
thus easily perverted her better judgment.
With all her excellent and even extraordinarily good
qualities, however, Jenny Lind was human, though the
reputation she bore in Europe for her many charitable
acts led me to believe, till I knew her, that she was
nearly perfect. I think now that her natural impulses
were more simple, childlike, pure and generous than
those of almost any other person I ever met. But she
had been petted, almost worshipped, so long, that it
would have been strange indeed if her unbounded popu
larity had not in some degree affected her to her hurt,
and it must not be thought extraordinary if she now and
then exhibited some phase of human weakness.
Like most persons of uncommon talent, she had a
strong will which, at times, she found ungovernable ;
but if she was ever betrayed into a display of ill-temper
she was sure to apologize and express her regret after
wards. Le Grand Smith, who was quite intimate \vith
her, and who was my right-hand man during the entire
Lind engagement, used sometimes to say to me :
342 JENNY LIND.
" Well, Mr. Barnum, you have managed wonderfully
in always keeping Jenny s angel side outside with the
public."
More than one Englishman I may instance Mr.
Dolby, Mr. Dickens s agent during his last visit to
America expressed surprise at the confirmed impres
sion of " perfection " entertained by the general Ameri
can public in regard to the Swedish Nightingale.
These things are WTitten with none but the kindest
feelings towards the sweet songstress, and only to modify
the too current ideas of superhuman excellence which
cannot be characteristic of any mortal being.
As I have before intimated in giving details of my
management of the enterprise, believing, as I did when
I engaged her, in her " angelic" reputation, I am frank
enough to confess that I considered her private charac
ter a valuable adjunct, even in a business point of view,
to her renown as a singer. I admit that I took her
charities into account as part of my " stock in trade."
Whenever she sang for a public or private charity, she
gave her voice, which was worth a thousand dollars to
her every evening. At such times, I always insisted
upon paying for the hall, orchestra, printing, and other
expenses, because I felt able and willing to contribute
my full share towards the worthy objects which
prompted these benefits.
This narration would be incomplete if I did not add
the following :
We were in Havana when I showed to Miss Lind a
paper containing the conundrum on " for-getting " and
" for-giving," at which she laughed heartily, but immedi
ately checked herself and said :
" O ! Mr. Barnum, this is not fair ; you know that
JENNY LIND. 343
yon really give more than I do from the proceeds of
every one of these charity concerts."
And it is but just to her to say that she frequently
remonstrated with me and declared that the actual
expenses should be deducted and the thus lessened sum
devoted to the charity for which the concert might be
given ; but I always laughingly told her that I must do
my part, give my share, and that if it was purely
a business operation, " bread cast upon the waters," it
would return, perhaps, buttered ; for the larger her
reputation for liberality, the more liberal the public
would surely be to us and to our enterprise.
I have no wish to conceal these facts ; and I certainly
have no desire to receive a larger meed of praise than
my qualified generosity merits. Justice to myself and
to my management, as well as to Miss Lind, seems to
permit, if not to demand, this explanation.
CHAPTEE XXII.
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
PENITENT TICKET PURCHASERS VISIT TO THE "HERMITAGE" "APRIL FOOL,"
7UST THE MAMMOTH CAVE SIGNOR SALVI GEORGE D. PRENTICE PER
FORMANCE IN A PORK HOUSE RUSE AT CINCINNATI ANNOYANCES AT
PITTSBURG LE GRAND SMITH S GRAND JOKE RETURN TO NEW YORK
THE FINAL CONCERTS IN CASTLE GARDEN AND METROPOLITAN HALL THE
ADVISERS APPEAR THE NINETY-THIRD CONCERT MY OFFER TO CLOSE THE
ENGAGEMENT MISS LIND s LETTER ACCEPTING MY PROPOSITION STORY
ABOUT AN "IMPROPER PLACE" JENNY S CONCERTS ON HER OWN ACCOUNT
HER MARRIAGE TO MR. OTTO GOLDSCHMIDT CORDIAL RELATIONS
BETWEEN MRS. LIND GOLDSCHMIDT AND MYSELF AT HOME AGAIN STATE
MENT OF THE TOTAL RECEIPTS OF THE CONCERTS.
AFTER five concerts in St. Louis, we went to Nashville,
Tennessee, where we gave our sixty-sixth and sixty-
seventh concert^ in this country. At the first ticket
auction in that city, the excitement was considerable
and the bidding spirited, as was generally the case.
After the auction was over, one of my men, happening
in at a dry-goods store in the town, heard the proprietor
say, " I ll give five dollars to any man who will take me
out and give me a good horse- whipping ! I deserve It,
and am willing to pay for having it done. To think
that I should have been such a fool as to have paid
forty-eight dollars for four tickets for my wife, two
daughters, and myself, to listen to music for only two
hours, makes me mad with myself, and I want to pay
somebody for giving me a thundering good horse-whip
ping ! " I am not sure that others have not experienced
a somewhat similar feeling, when they became cool and
rational, and the excitement of novelty and competition
had passed away.
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 345
While at Nashville, Jenny Lind, accompanied by my
daughter, Mrs. Lyman, and myself, visited " the Her
mitage," the late residence of General Jackson. On
that occasion, for the first time that season, we heard
the wild mocking-birds singing in the trees. This gave
Jenny Lind great delight, as she had never before heard
them sing except in their wire-bound cages.
The first of April occurred while we were in Nash
ville. I was considerably annoyed during the forenoon
by the calls of members of the company who came to
me under the belief that I had sent for them. After
dinner I concluded to give them all a touch of " April
fool." The following article, which appeared the next
morning in the Nashville Daily American, my amanuen
sis having imparted the secret to the editor, will show
how it was done :
"A series of laughable jokes came off yesterday at the Veranda in honor of
All Fools Day. Mr. Barnum was at the bottom of the mischief. He managed
in some mysterious manner to obtain a lot of blank telegraphic despatches and
envelopes from one of the offices in this city, and then went to work and manufac
tured astounding intelligence for most of the parties composing the Jenny Lind
suite. Almost every person in the company received a telegraphic despatch
written under the direction of Barnum. Mr. Barnum s daughter was in
formed that her mother, her cousin, and several other relatives were waiting
for her in Louisville, and various other important and extraordinary items of
domestic intelligence were communicated to her. Mr. Le Grand Smith was told
by a despatch from his father that his native village in Connecticut was in ashes,
including his own homestead, etc. Several of Barnum s employees had most lib
eral offers of engagements from banks and other institutions at the North.
Burke, and others of the musical professors, were offered princely salaries by
opera managers, and many of them received most tempting inducements to pro
ceed immediately to the World s Fair in London.
" One married gentleman in Mr. Barnum s suite received the gratifying intel
ligence that he had for two days been the father of a pair of bouncing boys
(mother and children doing well), an event which he had been anxiously looking
for during the week, though on a somewhat more limited scale. In fact, nearly
every person in the party engaged by Barnum received some extraordinary tele
graphic intelligence, and as the great impressario managed to have the despatches
delivered simultaneously, each recipient was for some time busily occupied with
his own personal news.
" By and by each began to tell his neighbor his good or bad tidings; and each
was, of course, rejoiced or grieved according to circumstances. Several gave Mr.
16*
346 CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Barnum notice of their intention to leave him, in consequence of better offers;
and a number of them sent off telegraphic despatches and letters by mail, in
answer to those received.
" The man who had so suddenly become the father of twins, telegraphed to his
wife to be of good cheer, and that he would start for home to-morrow. At a
late hour last night the secret had not got out, and we presinue that many of the
victims will first learn from our columns that they have been taken in by BA-
NUM and All Fools Day ! "
From. Nashville, Jenny Lind and a few friends went
by way of the Mammoth Cave to Louisville, while the
rest of the party proceeded by steamboat.
"While in Havana, I engaged Signor Salvi for a few
months, to begin about the 10th of April. He joined
us at Louisville, and sang in the three concerts there,
with great satisfaction to the public. Mr. George D.
Prentice, of the Louisville Journal, and his beautiful and
accomplished lady, who had contributed much to the
pleasure of Miss Lind and our party, accompanied us
to Cincinnati.
A citizen of Madison had applied to me on our first
arrival in Louisville, for a concert in that place. I
replied that the town was too small to afford it, where
upon he offered to take the management of it into his
own hands, and pay me $5,000 for the receipts. The
last concert at Louisville, and the concerts at Natchez
and Wheeling were given under a similar agreement,
though with better pecuniary results than at Madison.
As the steamer from Louisville to Cincinnati would
arrive at Madison about sundown, and would wait long
enough for us to give a concert, I agreed to his proposi
tion.
We were not a little surprised to learn upon arriving,
that the concert must be given in a " pork house " a
capacious shed which had been fitted up and decorated
for the occasion. We concluded, however, that if the
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 347
inhabitants were satisfied with the accommodations, we
ought not to object. The person who had contracted
for the concert came $1,300 short of his agreement,
which I consequently lost, and at ten o clock we were
again on board the fine steamer " Ben Franklin 77 bound
for Cincinnati.
The next morning the crowd upon the wharf was
immense. I was fearful that an attempt to repeat the
New Orleans ruse with my daughter would be of no
avail, as the joke had been published in the Cincinnati
papers ; so I gave my arm to Miss Lind, and begged
her to have no fears, for I had hit upon an expedient
which would save her from annoyance. We then
descended the plank to the shore, and as soon as we
had touched it, Le Grand Smith called out* from the
boat, as if he had been one of the passengers, " That s
no go, Mr. Barnum ; you can t pass your daughter off
for Jenny Lind this time."
The remark elicited a peal of merriment from the
crowd, several persons calling out, " That won t do,
Barnum ! you may fool the New Orleans folks, but you
can t come it over the Buckeyes. We intend to stay
here until you bring out Jenny Lind ! " They readily
allowed me to pass with the lady whom they supposed
to be my daughter, and in five minutes afterwards the
Nightingale was complimenting Mr. Coleman upon the
beautiful and commodious apartments which were
devoted to her in the Burnett House. The crowd
remained an hour on the wharf before they would
be convinced that the person whom they took for
my daughter was in fact the veritable Swede. When
this was discovered, a general laugh followed the
exclamation from one of the victims, " Well, Barnum
has humbugged us after all ! "
348 CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
In passing up the river to Pittsburg, the boat waited
four hours to enable us to give a concert in Wheeling.
It was managed by a couple of gentlemen in that city,
who purchased it for five thousand dollars in advance,
by which they made a handsome profit for their trouble.
The concert was given in a church.
At Pittsburg, the open space surrounding the con
cert room became crowded with thousands of persons,
who, foolishly refusing to accommodate each other by
listening to the music, disturbed the concert and deter
mined us to leave the next morning for Baltimore,
instead of giving a second concert that had been adver
tised.
Le Grand Smith here paid me off for my " April fool "
joke. He, induced a female of his acquaintance to call
on me and reveal an arrangement which she pretended
accidentally to have overheard between some scoundrels,
who were resolved to stop our stage coach on the Alle-
ghany mountains and commit highway robbery. The
story seemed incredible, and yet the woman related it
with so much apparent sincerity, that I swallowed the
bait, and remitting to New York all the money I had,
except barely enough to defray our expenses to Balti
more, I purchased several revolvers for such members
of the company as were not already provided, and
we left Pittsburg armed to the teeth ! Fortunately,
Jenny Lind and several of the company had left before
I made this grand discovery, and hence she was saved
any apprehensions on the subject. It is needless to say
we found no use for our firearms.
We reached New York early in May, 1851, and gave
fourteen concerts in Castle Garden and Metropolitan
Hall. The last of these made the ninety-second regu-
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 349
lar concert under our engagement. Jenny Lind had
now again reached the atmosphere of her legal and
other " advisers," and I soon discovered the effects of
their influence. I, however, cared little what course
they advised her to pursue. I indeed wished they
would prevail upon her to close with her hundredth
concert, for I had become weary with constant excite
ment and unremitting exertions. I was confident that
if she undertook to give concerts on her own account,
she would be imposed upon and harassed in a thousand
ways ; yet I felt it would be well for her to have a trial
at it, if she saw fit to credit her advisers 7 assurance that
I had not managed the enterprise as successfully as it
might have been done.
At about the eighty-fifth concert, therefore, I was
most happy to learn from her lips that she had concluded
to pay the forfeiture of twenty-five thousand dollars, and
terminate the concerts with the one hundredth.
We went to Philadelphia, where I had advertised the
ninety-second, ninety-third, and ninety-fourth concerts,
and had engaged the large National Theatre on Chest
nut Street. It had been used for equestrian and theatri
cal entertainments, but was now thoroughly cleansed
and fitted up by Max Maretzek for Italian opera. It
was a convenient place for our purpose. One of her
" advisers," a subordinate in her employ, who was
already itching for the position of manager, made the
selection of this building a pretext for creating dissatis
faction in the mind of Miss Lind. I saw the influences
which were at work, and not caring enough for the
profits of the remaining seven concerts, to continue the
engagement at the risk ol disturbing the friendly feel
ings which had hitherto uninterruptedly existed between
350 CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
that lady and myself, I wrote her a letter offering to
relinquish the engagement, if she desired it, at the ter
mination of the concert which was to take place that
evening, upon her simply allowing me a thousand dol
lars per concert for the seven which would yet remain
to make up the hundred, besides paying me the sum
stipulated as a forfeiture for closing the engagement at
the one-hundredth concert. Towards evening I received
the following reply :
" To P. T. BAENUM, ESQ.
"MY DEAR SIB: I accept your proposition to close our contract to-night, at
the end of the ninety-third concert, on condition of my paying you seven thou
sand dollars, in addition to the sum I forfeit under the condition of finishing the
engagement at the end of one hundred concerts.
"I am, dear Sir, yours truly,
"JENNY LIND.
"PHILADELPHIA, 9th of June, 1851."
I met her at the concert in the evening, and she was
polite and friendly as ever. Between the first and
second parts of the concert, I introduced General
Welch, the lessee of the National Theatre, who informed
her that he was quite willing to release me from my
engagement of the building, if she did not desire it
longer. She replied, that upon trial, she found it much
better than she expected, and she would therefore retain
it for the remainder of the concerts.
In the mean time, her advisers had been circulating
the story that I had compelled her to sing in an im
proper place, and when they heard she had concluded to
remain there, they beset her with arguments against it,
until at last she consented to remove her concerts to a
smaller hall.
I had thoroughly advertised the three concerts, in the
newspapers within a radius of one hundred miles from
Philadelphia, and had sent admission tickets to the edit-
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 351
ors. On the day of the second concert, one of the new
agents, who had indirectly aided in bringing about the
dissolution of our engagement, refused to recognize
these tickets, I urged upon him the injustice of such a
course, but received no satisfaction. I then stated the
fact to Miss Lind, and she gave immediate orders that
these tickets should be received. Country editors tick
ets, which were offered after I left Philadelphia, were
however refused by her agents (contrary to Miss Lind s
wish and knowledge), and the editors, having come from
a distance with their wives, purchased tickets, and I
subsequently remitted the money to numerous gentle
men, whose complimentary tickets were thus repudiated.
Jenny Lind gave several concerts with varied success,
and then retired to Niagara Falls, and afterwards to
Northampton, Massachusetts. While sojourning at the
latter place, she visited Boston and was married to Mr.
Otto Goldschmidt, a German composer and pianist, to
whom she was much attached, and who had studied
music with her in Germany. He played several times
in our concerts. He was a very quiet, inoffensive gen
tleman, and an accomplished musician.
I met her several times after our engagement termi
nated. She was always affable. On one occasion,
w r hile passing through Bridgeport, she told me that she
had been sadly harassed in giving her concerts. " Peo
ple cheat me and swindle me very much," said she,
" and I find it very annoying to give concerts on my own
account."
I was always supplied with conrplimentary tickets
when she gave concerts in New York, and on the occa
sion of her last appearance in America, I visited her in
her room back of the stage, and bade her and her
352 CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN".
husband adieu, with my best wishes. She expressed
the same feeling to uie in return. She told me she
should never sing much, if any more, in public ; but I
reminded her that a good Providence had endowed her
with a voice which enabled her to contribute in an em
inent degree to the enjoyment of her fellow beings,
and if she no longer needed the large sums of money
which they were willing to pay for this elevating and
delightful entertainment, she knew by experience what
a genuine pleasure she would receive by devoting the
money to the alleviation, of the wants and sorrows of
those who needed it.
u Ah! Mr. Barnuin," she replied, u that is very true,
and it would be ungrateful in me to not continue to use
for the benefit of the poor and lowly, that gift which
our kind Heavenly Father has so graciously bestowed
upon me. Yes, I will continue to sing so long as my
voice lasts, but it will be mostly for charitable objects,
for I am thankful tg say I have all the money which I
shall ever need." Pursuant to this resolution, the
larger portion of the concerts which this noble lady
has given since her return to Europe, have been foi
objects of benevolence. [frier
If she consents to sing for a charitable object hi
London, for instance, the fact is not advertised at all,
but the tickets are readily disposed of in a private quiet
way, at a guinea and half a guinea each.
After so many months of anxiety, labor and excite
ment, in the Jenny Lind enterprise, it will readily be
believed that I desired tranquility. I spent a week at
Cape May, and then came home to Iranistan, where I
remained during the entire summer.
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
353
JENNY LIND CONCERTS.
TOTAL RECEIPTS, EXCEPTING OF CONCERTS DEVOTED TO CHARITY.
New York,
$17,864 05 No. 46.
14,203 03 47.
Havana,
New Orleans,
48.
i
No. 1.
14
12,519 59
49.
2.
II
14,266 09
50.
.
a
II
12,174 74
51.
.
4.
"
16,028 39
52.
.
5.
Boston, .
16,479 50
53.
6.
.
11,848 62
54.
;
7.
"
8,639 92
55.
s-
8.
"
10,169 25
56.
i
9.
Providence,
6,525 54
57.
,
10.
Boston, .
10,524 87
58.
i
11.
"
5,240 00
59.
Natchez,
12.
13.
a
Philadelphia, .
7,586 00
9,291 25
60.
61.
Memphis,
St. Louis,
14.
7,547 00
62.
- ( y
15.
8,458 65
63.
II
16.
New York,
6,415 90
64.
14
17.
f
4,009 70
65.
II
18.
t
5,982 00
66.
Nashville,
19.
t
8,007 10
67.
" , -.
20.
t
6,334 20
68.
Louisville,
21.
.
9,429 15
69.
H
22.
. .
9,912 17
70.
.
23.
. .
5,773 40
71.
Madison,
24.
.
4,993 50
72.
Cincinnati, .
25.
.
6,670 15
73.
"
26.
.
9,840 33
74.
"
27.
,
7,097 15
75.
.
28.
.
8,263 30
76.
"
29
, .
10,570 25
77.
Wheeling, .
30!
. .
10,646 45
78.
Pittsburg,
31.
Phil
delphia, .
5,480 75
79.
New York, .
32.
.
5,728 65
80.
i - f
33.
,
3,709 88
81.
t
34.
4,815 48
82.
9
36.
Bait
more,
7,117 00
83.
Y
36.
,
8,357 05
84.
.
37.
8,406 50
85.
*
38.
8,121 33
86.
t
39.
Washington City,
6,878 55
87.
*
40.
.
8,507 05
88.
..
41.
Richmond,
12,385 21
89.
i
42.
Charleston,
6,775 00
90.
(
43.
,
3,653 75
91.
t
44.
Havana, .
4,666 17
92.
t
45
"
2,837 92
93.
Philadelphia,
95
12,599 85
10,210 42
8,131 15
6,019 85
6,644 00
9,720 80
7,545 50
6,053 50
4,850 25
4,495 35
6,630 35
4,745 10
5,000 00
4,539 56
7,811 85
7,961 92
7,708 70
4.086 50
3,044 70
7,786 30
4,248 00
7,833 90
6,595 60
5,000 00
3,693 25
9,339 75
11,001 50
8,446 30
8,954 18
6,500 40
5,000 00
7,210 58
6,858 42
5,453 00
5,463 70
7,378 35
7,179 27
6,641 00
6,917 13
6,f42 04
3,738 75
4,335 28
5,339 23
4.087 03
5,717 00
9,525 80
3,852 75
CHARITY CONCERTS. Of Miss Lind s half receipts of the first two Concerts,
she devoted $10,000 to charity in New York. She afterwards gave Charity
Concerts in Boston, Baltimore, Charleston, Havana, New Orleans, New York,
and Philadelphia, and donated large sums for the like purposes in Richmond,
Cincinnati, and elsewhere. Thfire were also several Benefit Concerts, for the
Orchestra, Le Grand Smith, and other persons and objects.
354
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.
[RECAPITULATION.
NEW YORK . . 35 CONCERTS.
PHILADELPHIA 8
BOSTON . . .
PROVIDENCE .
BALTIMORE . .
WASHINGTON .
RICHMOND . .
CHARLESTON .
HAVANA . .
NEW ORLEANS
NATCHEZ . .
MEMPHIS . .
ST. Louis . .
NASHVILLE
LOUISVILLE
MADISON
CINCINNATI
WHEELING
PITTSBURG
RECEIPTS, $280,210 04
AVERAGE, $8,177 50
48,884 41
0,110 55
70,388 16
10,055 45
6,525 54
0.525 54
32,101 88
8,000 47
15,385 60
7,092 80
12,385 21
12,385 21
10,428 75
5,214 37
10,430 04
3,478 08
87,040 12
7,303 84
5,000 00
5,000 00
4,539 50
4,539 50
30,013 07
0,122 73
12,034 30
6,017 15
19,429 50
6,476 50
3,093 25
3,693 25
44,242 13
8,848 43
5,000 00
5,000 00
7,210 58
7,210 58
TOTAL . . 95 CONCERTS. RECEIPTS, $712,101 34 AVERAGE, $7,496 43
JENNY LIND S RECEIPTS.
$712,161 34
32,007 08
From the Total Receipts of Ninety-five Concerts .
Deduct the receipts of the first two, which, as between
P. T. Barnum and Jenny Lind, were aside from the
contract, and are not numbered in the Table . . .
Total Receipts of Concerts from No. 1 to No. 93 . $680,094 26
Deduct the receipts of the 28 Concerts, each
of which fell short of $5,500 .... $123,311 15
Also deduct $5,500 for each of the remaining
65 Concerts 357,500 00 480,811 15
Leaving the total excess, as above . . .
Being equally divided, Miss Lind s portion was
I paid her $1,000 for each of the 93- Concerts . .
Also one half the receipts of the first two Concerts
$199,283 11
Amount paid to Jenny Lind
She refunded to me as forfeiture, per contract, in case
she withdrew after the 100th Concert $25,000
She also paid me $1,000 each for the seven Concerts
relinquished 7,000
JENNY LIND S net avails of 95 Concerts
P. T. BARNUM s gross receipts, after paying Miss Lind
$99,641 55
93,000 00
10,033 54
$208,075 09
32,000 00
$170,675 09
535,486 25
TOTAL RECEIPTS of 95 Concerts $712,161 34
PRICE OF TICKETS. The highest prices paid for tickets were at auction as
follows: John N. Genin, in New York, $225; Ossian- E. Dodge, .in Boston,
$625 ; Col. William C. Ross, in Providence, $650 ; M. A. Root, in Philadelphia,
$025 ; Mr. D Arcy, in New Orleans, $240 ; a keeper of a refreshment saloon in
St. Louis, $150 ; a Daguerrotypist, in Baltimore, $100. I cannot now recall the
names of the last two. After the sale of the first ticket, the premium usually
fell to $20, and so downward in the scale of figures. The fixed price of tickets
ranged from $7 to $3. Promenade tickets were from $2 to $1 each.
CHAPTER XXIII.
OTHER ENTERPRISES.
ANOTHER YENTURE "BARNUM S GREAT ASIATIC CARAVAN, MUSEUM AND
MENAGERIE " HUNTING ELEPHANTS GENERAL TOM THUMB ELEPHANT
PLOWING IN CONNECTICUT CURIOUS QUESTIONS FROM ALL QUARTERS
THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN MY NOVEL FARMING HOW MUCH AN ELEPHANT
CAN REALLY "DRAW " COMMODORE VANDERBELT DAN DREW SIDE SHOWS
AND VARIOUS ENTERPRISES OBSEQUIES OF NAPOLEON THE CRYSTAL
PALACE CAMP ANALOG I ANS AMERICAN INDIANS IN LONDON AUTOMATON
SPEAKER THE DUKB OF WELLINGTON ATTEMPT TO BUY SHAKESPEARE S
HOUSE DISSOLVING VIEWS THE CHINESE COLLECTION WONDERFUL
SCOTCH BOYS SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF DOUBLE SIGHT THE BATEMAN
CHILDREN CATHERINE HAYES IRANI8TAN ON FIRE MY ELDEST DAUGH
TER S MARRIAGE BENEFITS FOR THE BRIDGEPORT LIBRARY AND THE MOUN
TAIN GROVE CEMETERY.
WHILE I was managing the Lind concerts, in addition
to the American Museum I had other business matters
in operation which were more than enough to engross
my entire attention and which, of course, I was com
pelled to commit to the hands of associates and agents.
In 1849 I had projected a great travelling museum
and menagerie, and, as I had neither time nor inclina
tion to manage such a concern, I induced Mr. Seth B.
Howes, justly celebrated as a " showman," to join me,
and take the sole charge. Mr. Sherwood E. Stratton,
father of General Tom Thumb, was also admitted to
partnership, the interest being in thirds.
In carrying out a portion of the plan, we chartered
the ship " Eegatta," Captain Pratt, and despatched her,
together with our agents, Messrs. June and Nutter,
to Ceylon. The ship left New York in May, 1850,
and was absent one year. Their mission was to pro-
356 OTHER ENTERPRISES.
cure, either by capture or purchase, twelve or more
living elephants, besides such other wild animals as
they could secure. In order to provide sufficient drink
and provender for a cargo of these huge animals, we
purchased a large quantity of hay in New York. Five
hundred tons were left at the Island of St. Helena,
to be taken on the return trip of the ship, and staves
and hoops of water-casks were also left at the same
place.
As our agents were unable to purchase the required
number of elephants, either in Columbo or Kandy, the
principal towns of the island, (Ceylon,) they took one
hundred and sixty native assistants, and plunged into
the jungles, where, after many most exciting adven
tures, they succeeded in securing thirteen elephants
of a suitable size for their purpose, with a female and
her calf, or "baby" elephant, only six months old. In
the course of the expedition, Messrs. Nutter and June
killed large numbers of the huge beasts, and had
numerous encounters of the most terrific description
with the formidable animals, one of the most fearful
of which took place near Anarajah Poora, while they
were endeavoring, by the aid of the natives and
trained elephants, to drive the wild herd of beasts into
an Indian kraal.
They arrived in New York in 1851 with ten of the
elephants, and these, harnessed in pairs to a chariot,
paraded up Broadway past the Irving House, while
Jenny Lind was staying at that hotel, on the occasion
of her second visit to New York. Messrs. Nutter and
June also brought with the elephants a native who was
competent to manage and control them. We added a
caravan of wild animals and many museum curiosities,
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 357
the entire outfit, including horses, vans, carriages, tent,
etc., costing $109,000, and commenced operations, with
the presence and under the " patronage " of General
Tom Thumb, who travelled nearly four years as one
of the attractions of " Barnum s Great Asiatic Caravan,
Museum and Menagerie," returning us immense profits.
At the end of that time, after exhibiting in all sec
tions of the country, we sold out the entire establish
ment animals, cages, chariots and paraphernalia,
excepting one elephant, which I retained in my own
possession two months for agricultural purposes. It
occurred to me that if I could put an elephant to plow
ing for a while on my farm at Bridgeport, it would be a
capital advertisement for the American Museum, which
was then, and always during my proprietorship of that
establishment, foremost in my thoughts.
So I sent him to Connecticut in charge of his keeper,
whom I dressed in Oriental costume, and keeper and
elephant were stationed on a six-acre lot which lay close
beside the track of the New York and New Haven
Railroad. The keeper was furnished with a time-table
of the road, with special instructions to be busily
engaged in his work whenever passenger trains from
either way were passing through. Of course, the matter
soon appeared in the papers and went the entire rounds of
the press in this country and even in Europe, and it was
everywhere announced that P. T. Barnum, " Proprietor
of the celebrated American Museum in New York "
and here is where the advertisement came in had
introduced elephants upon his farm, to do his plowing
and heavy draft work. Hundreds of people came many
miles to witness the novel spectacle. Letters poured in
upon me from the secretaries of hundreds of State and
358 OTHER ENTERPRISES.
\
County agricultural societies throughout the Union, stat
ing that the presidents and directors of such societies
had requested them to propound to me a series of ques
tions in regard to the new power I had put in operation
on my farm. These questions were greatly diversified,
but the "general run" of them were something like
the following :
1. "Is the elephant a profitable agricultural animal] "
2. " How much can an elephant plow in a day I "
3. " How much can he draw ? "
4. " How much does he eat 1 ?" this question was
invariably asked, and was a very important one.
5. " Will elephants make themselves generally useful
on a farm I " I suppose some of my inquirers thought
the elephant would pick up chips, or even pins as they
have been taught to do, and would rock the baby and
do all the chores, including the occasional carrying of a
trunk, other than his own, to the depot.
6. " What is the price of an elephant] "
7. " Where can elephants be purchased?"
Then would follow a score of other inquiries, such as,
whether elephants were easily managed ; if they would
quarrel with cattle ; if it was possible to breed them ;
how old calf elephants must be before they would earn
their own living ; and so on indefinitely. I began to be
alarmed lest some one should buy an elephant, and so
share the fate of the man who drew one in a lottery, and
did not know what to do with him. I accordingly had
a general letter printed, which I mailed to all my anx
ious inquirers. It was headed " strictly confidential,"
and I then stated, begging my correspondents " not to
mention it," that to me the elephant was a valuable
agricultural animal, because he was an excellent adver*
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 359
tisement to my Museum ; but that to other farmers he
would prove very unprofitable for many reasons. In
the first place, such an animal would cost from $3,000
to $10,000 ; in cold weather he could not work at all ;
in any weather he could not earn even half his living ;
he would eat up the value of his own head, trunk, and
body every year ; and I begged my correspondents not
to do so foolish a thing as to undertake elephant farming.
Newspaper reporters came from far and near, and
wrote glowing accounts of the elephantine perform
ances. One of them, taking a political view of the mat
ter, stated that the elephant s sagacity showed that he
knew more than did any laborer on the farm, and yet,
shameful to say, he was not allowed to vote. Another
said that Bamum s elephant built all the stone wall on
the farm ; made all the rail fences ; planted corn with his
trunk, and covered it with his foot ; washed my windows
and sprinkled the walks and lawns, by taking water
from the fountain-basin with his trunk; carried all the
children to school, and put them to bed at night, tuck
ing them up with his trunk ; fed the pigs ; picked fruit
from branches that could not otherwise be reached ;,
turned the fanning mill and corn-sheller ; drew the
mowing machine, and turned and cocked the hay with
his trunk ; carried and brought my letters to and from
the post-office (it was a male elephant) ; and did all the
chores about the house, including milking the cows, and
bringing in eggs. Pictures of Barnum s plowing ele
phant appeared in illustrated papers at home and
abroad, and as the cars passed the scene of the perform
ance, passengers heads were out of every window, and
among many and varied exclamations, I heard of one
man s saying:
17
360 * OTHER ENTERPRISES.
"Well, I declare ! That is certainly a real elephant
and any man who has so many elephants that he can
afford to work them on his farm, must have lots of wild
animals and curious critters in his Museum, and I am
bound to go there the first thing after my arrival in New
York."
The six acres were plowed over at least sixty times
before I thought the advertisement sufficiently circulated,
and I then sold the elephant to Van Amburgh s Mena
gerie.
A substantial farmer friend of mine, Mr. Gideon
Thompson, called at Iranistan during the elephant excite
ment and asked me to accompany him to the field to let
him see " how the big animal worked." I knew him to
be a shrewd, sharp man and a good farmer, and I tried
to excuse myself, as I did not wish to be too closely
questioned. Indeed, for the same reason, I made it a
point at all times to avoid being present when the plow
ing was going on. But the old farmer was a particular
friend and he refused to take " no " for an answer ; so
I went with him " to see the elephant."
Arriving at the field, Mr. Thompson said nothing, but
stood with folded arms and sedately watched the ele
phant for at least fifteen minutes. Then he walked out
on to the plowed ground, and found it so mellow that he
sank nearly up to his knees ; for it had already been
plowed over and over many times. As usual, several
spectators were present. Mr. Thompson walked up to
where I was standing, and, looking me squarely in the
eyes, he asked with much earnestness :
" What is your object, sir, in bringing that great Asi*
atic animal on to a New England farm ? "
" To plow," I replied very demurely.
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 361
" To plow ! " said Thompson ; " do n t talk to me
about plowing ! I have been out where he has plowed,
and the ground is so soft I thought I should go through,
and come out in China. No, sir ! You can t humbug
me. You have got some other object in bringing that
elephant up here ; now what is it ? "
" Do n t you see for yourself that I am plowing with
him V I asked.
" Nonsense," said Thompson " that would never pay ;
I have no doubt he eats more than he earns every day ;
you have some other purpose in view, I am sure you
have."
" Perhaps he does not eat so much as you think," I
replied ; " and you see he draws nobly in fact, I
expect he will be just the animal by and by, to draw
saw logs to mill, and do other heavy work."
But Uncle Gid., was not to be put aside so easily
so he asked very sharply :
" How much does he eat in a day I "
" Oh," I replied carelessly, " not more than a quarter
of a ton of hay and three or four bushels of oats."
" Exactly," said Thompson, his eyes glistening with
delight ; " that is just about what I expected. He
can t draw so much as two pair of my oxen can, and he
costs more than a dozen pair."
" You are mistaken, friend Thompson," I replied
with much gravity ; "that elephant is a powerful
animal ; he can draw more than forty yoke of oxen,
and he pays me well for bringing him here."
" Forty yoke of oxen !" contemptuously replied the
old farmer ; " I do n t want to tell you I doubt your
word, but I would just like to know what he can
draw. 7
362 OTHER "ENTERPRISES.
" He can draw the attention of twenty millions of
American citizens to Barnum s Museum," I replied.
" Oh, you can make him pay in that way, of course,"
responded the old farmer.
" None but a greenhorn could ever have expected he
would pay in any other way," I replied.
The old man gave a hearty laugh, and said, " Well, I
give it up. I have been a farmer thirty-five years, and
I have only just discovered that an elephant is a very
useful and profitable animal on a farm provided the
farmer also owns a museum."
In 1851 I became a part owner of the steamship
"North America." Our intention in buying it was to
run it to Ireland as a passenger and freight ship. The
project was, however, abandoned, and Commodore Cor
nelius Vanderbilt bought one half of the steamer, while
the other half was owned by three persons, of whom
I was one. The steamer was sent around Cape Horn
to San Francisco, and was put into the Vanderbilt line.
After she had made several trips I called upon Mr.
Vanderbilt, at his office, and introduced myself, as this
was the first time we had met.
" Is it possible you are Barnum ? " exclaimed the
Commodore, in surprise, " why, I expected to see a
monster, part lion, part elephant, and a mixture of
rhinoceros and tiger ! Is it possible," he continued,
" that you are the showman who has made so much
noise in the world V
I laughingly replied that I was, and added that if I too
had been governed in my anticipation of his personal
appearance by the fame he had achieved in his line, I
should have expected to have been saluted by a steam
whistle, and to have seen him dressed in a pea jacket,
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 363
blowing off steam, and crying out " all aboard that s
going."
" Instead of which," replied Mr. Vanderbilt, " I sup
pose you have come to ask me, to walk up to the
Captain s office and settle.
After this interchange of civilities, we talked about
the success of the "North America" in having got
safely around the Horn, and of the acceptable manner
in which she was doing her duty on the Pacific side.
" We have received no statement of her earnings
yet," said the Commodore, " but if you want money,
give your receipt to our treasurer, and take some."
A few months subsequent to this, I sold out my share
in the steamship to Mr. Daniel Drew. The day after
closing with Mr. Drew, I discovered an error of several
hundred dollars (a matter of interest on some portion of
the purchase money, which had been overlooked). I
called on Mr. Drew, and asked him to correct it, but
could get no satisfaction. I then wrote him a threaten
ing letter, but received no response. I was on the eve
of suing him for the amount due me, when the news
came that the steamship " North America " was lying
at the bottom of the Pacific. It turned out that she
was sunk several days before I sold out, and as the
owners were mulcted in the sum of many thousands of
dollars damages by their passengers, besides suffering
a great loss in their steamship, I said no more to the
millionnaire Drew about the few hundreds which he had
withheld from the showman.
Some reference to the various enterprises and " side
shows" connected with and disconnected from my
Museum, is necessary to show how industriously I have
catered for the public s amusement, not only in America
864 OTHER ENTERPRISES.
but abroad. When I was in Paris in 1844, in addition
to the purchase of Robert Houdin s ingenious automa
ton writer, and many other costly curiosities for the
Museum, I ordered, at an expense of $3,000, a pano
ramic diorama of the obsequies of Napoleon. Every
event of that grand pageant, from the embarkation of the
body at St. Helena, to its entombment at the Hotel des
Invalides, amid the most gorgeous parade ever witnessed
in France, was wonderfully depicted. This exhibition,
after having had its day at the American Museum, was
sold, and extensively and profitably exhibited else
where. While I was in London, during the same year, I
engaged a company of " Campanalogians, or Lancashire
Bell Ringers," then performing in Ireland, to make an
American tour. They were really admirable perform
ers, and by means of their numerous bells, of various
sizes, they produced the most delightful music. Tljey
attracted much attention in various parts of the United
States, in Canada, and in Cuba.
As a compensation to England for the loss of the Bell
Ringers, I despatched an agent to America for a party
of Indians, including squaws. He proceeded to Iowa,
and returned to London with a company of sixteen.
They were exhibited by Mr. Catlin on our joint account,
and were finally left in his sole charge.
On my first return visit to America from Europe, I
engaged Mr. Faber, an elderly and ingenious German,
who had constructed an automaton speaker. It was of
life-size, and when worked with keys similar to those
of a piano, it really articulated words and sentences
with surprising distinctness. My agent exhibited it for
several months in Egyptian Hall, London, and also in
the provinces. This was a marvellous piece of median-
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 365
ism, though for some unaccountable reason it did not
prove a success. The Duke of Wellington visited it
several times, and at first he thought that the "voice"
proceeded from the exhibitor, whom he assumed to be
a skillful ventriloquist. He was asked to touch the keys
with his own fingers, and after some instruction in the
method of operating, he was able to make the machine
speak, not only in English but also in German, with
which language the Duke seemed familiar. Thereafter,
he entered his name on the exhibitor s autograph book,
and certified that the " Automaton Speaker" was an
extraordinary production of mechanical genius.
During my first visit to England I obtained, verbally,
through a friend, the refusal of the house in which
Shakespeare was born, designing to remove it in sections
to my Museum in New York ; but the project leaked out,
British pride was touched, and several English gentle
men interfered and purchased the premises for a Shakes
pearian Association. Had they slept a few days longer,
I should have made a rare speculation, for I was subse
quently assured that the British people, rather than suf
fer that house to be removed to America, would have
bought me off with twenty thousand pounds. I did not
hesitate to engage, or attempt to secure anything, at
any expense, to please my patrons in the United States,
and I made an effort to transfer Madame Tussaud s
world-wide celebrated wax- work collection entire to New
York. The papers were actually drawn up for this
engagement, but the enterprise finally fell through.
The models of machinery exhibited in the Royal Poly
technic Institution in London, pleased me so well that
I procured a duplicate ; also duplicates of the " Dissolv
ing Views," the Chromatrope and Physioscope, includ-
366 OTHER ENTERPRISES.
ing many American scenes painted expressly to my
order, at an aggregate cost of $7,000. After they had
been exhibited in my Museum, they were sold to itiner
ant showmen, and some of them were afterwards on
exhibition in various parts of the United States.
In June 1850, I added the celebrated Chinese Collec
tion to the attractions of the American Museum, I also
engaged the Chinese Family, consisting of two men,
two " small-footed " women and two children. My agent
exhibited them in London during the World s Fair.
It may be stated here, that I subsequently sent to Lon
don the celebrated artist De Lamano to paint a pano
rama of the Crystal Palace, in which the World s Fail-
was held, and Colonel John S, Dusolle, an able and
accomplished editor, whom I sent with De Lamano,
wrote an accompanying descriptive lecture. Like most
panoramas, however, the exhibition proved a failure.
The giants whom I sent to America were not the
greatest of my curiosities, though the dwarfs might have
been the least. The " Scotch Boys " were interesting,
not so much on account of their weight, as for the mys
terious method by which one of them, though blind
folded, answered questions put by the other respecting
objects presented by persons who attended the surpris
ing exhibition. The mystery, which was merely the
result of patient practice, consisted wholly in the man
ner in which the question was propounded ; in fact, the
question invariably carried its own answer ; for instance :
" What is this I " meant gold ; " Now what is this I "
silver ; " Say what is this I " copper ; " Tell me what
this is," iron ; " What is the shape I " long ; " Now what
shape I " round ; " Say what shape," square ; " Please say
what this is," a watch ; " Can you tell what is in this
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 367
lady s hand ? " a purse ; " Now please say what this is ] "
a key ; " Come now, what is this ? " money ; " How
much?" a penny ; " Now how much ? " sixpence ; " Say
how much," a quarter of a dollar ; " What color is this I "
black; "Now what color is this?" red; "Say what
color," green ; and so on, ad inftnitum. To such per
fection was this brought that it was almost impossible
to present any object that could not be quite closely
described by the blindfolded boy. This is the key to all
exhibitions of what is called " second sight."
In 1850, the celebrated Bateman children acted for
several weeks at the American Museum and in June of
that year I sent them to London with their father and
Mr. Le Grand Smith, where they played in the St. James
Theatre, and afterwards in the principal provincial thea
tres. The elder of these children, Miss Kate Bateman,
subsequently attained the highest histrionic distinction in
America and abroad, and reached the very head of her
profession.
In October, 1852, having stipulated with Mr. George
A. Wells and Mr. Bushnell that they should share in the
enterprise and take the entire charge, I engaged Miss
Catherine Hayes and Herr Begnis to give a series of
sixty concerts in California, and the engagement was ful
filled to our entire satisfaction. Mr. Bushnell after
wards went to Australia with Miss Hayes and they were
subsequently married. Both of them are dead.
Before setting out for California, Miss Catherine
Hayes, her mother and sister spent several days at Iran-
istan and were present at the marriage of my eldest
daughter, Caroline, to Mr. David W. Thompson. The
wedding was to take place in the evening, and in the
afternoon I was getting shaved in a barber-shop in
368 OTHER ENTERPRISES.
Bridgeport, when Mr. Thompson drove up to the door
in great haste and exclaimed :
" Mr. Barnum, Iranistan is in flames ! "
I ran out half-shaved, with the lather on my face,
jumped into his wagon and bade him drive home with
all speed. I was greatly alarmed, for the house was
full of visitors who had come from a distance to attend
the wedding, and all the costly presents, dresses, refresh
ments, and everything prepared for a marriage celebra
tion to which nearly a thousand guests had been invited,
were already in my house. Mr. Thompson told me that
he had seen the flames bursting from the roof and it
seemed to me that there was little hope of saving the
building.
My mind was distressed, not so much at the great
pecuniary loss which the destruction of Iranistan would
involve as at the possibility that some of my family or
visitors would be killed or seriously injured in attempt
ing to save something from the fire. Then I thought of
the sore disappointment this calamity would cause to the
young couple, as well as to those who were invited to
the wedding. I saw that Mr, Thompson looked pale
and anxious.
" Never mind!" said I ; "we can t help these things ;
the house will probably be burned ; but if no one is
killed or injured, you shall be married to-night, if we
are obliged to perform the cersmony in the coach
house."
On our way, we overtook a fire-company and I
implored them to " hurry up their machine." Arriving
in sight of Iranistan we saw huge volumes of smoke
rolling out from the roof and many men on the top
of the house were passing buckets of water to pour
MO uwrtiiw GIIO YE CE METER r.
OTHER ENTERPRISES. 369
upon the fire. Fortunately, several men had been en
gaged during the day in repairing the roof, and their lad
ders were against the house. By these means and with
the assistance of the men employed upon my grounds,
water was passed very rapidly and the flames were
soon subdued- without serious damage. The inmates of
Iranistan were thoroughly frightened ; Catherine Hayes
and other visitors packed their trunks and had them
carried out on the lawn ; and the house came as near
destruction as it well could, and escape.
While Miss Hayes was in Bridgeport I induced her
to give a concert for the benefit of the " Mountain
Grove Cemetery," and the large proceeds were devoted
to the erection of the beautiful stone tower and gate
way at the entrance of that charming ground. The
land for this cemetery, about eighty acres, had been
bought by me, years before, from several farmers. I
had often shot over the ground while hunting a year
or two before, and had then seen its admirable capabili
ties for the purpose to which it was eventually devoted.
After deeds for the property were secured, it was
offered for a cemetery, and at a meeting of citizens
several lots were subscribed for, enough, indeed, to
cover the amount of the purchase money. Thus was
begun the " Mountain Grove Cemetery," which is now
beautifully laid out and adorned with many tasteful
and costly monuments. Among these are my own sub-
stantial granite monument, the family monuments of
Harral, Bishop, Hubbell, Lyon, Wood, Loomis, Wor-
din, Hyde, and others, and General Tom Thumb has
erected a tall marble shaft which is surmounted by
a life-size statue of himself. There is no more charm
ing burial ground in the whole country ; yet when the
370 OTHER ENTERPRISES.
project was suggested, many persons preferred an inter-
mural cemetery to this rural resting-place for their
departed friends ; though now, all concur in considering
it fortunate that this adjunct was secured to Bridgeport
before the land could be permanently devoted to other
purposes.
Some time afterwards, when Mr. Dion Boucicault vis-
ited me at Bridgeport, at my solicitation he gave a lec
ture for the benefit of this cemetery. I may add that on
several occasions I have secured the services of General
Tom Thumb and others for this and equally worthy
objects in Bridgeport. When the General first returned
with me from England, he gave exhibitions for the ben
efit of the Bridgeport Charitable Society. September
28, 1867, I induced him and his wife, with Commodore
Nutt and Minnie Warren to give their entertainment
for the benefit of the Bridgeport Library, thus adding
$475 to the funds of that institution ; and on one occa
sion I lectured to a full house in the Methodist Church,
and the entire receipts were given to the library, of
which I was already a life member, on account of pre
vious subscriptions and contributions.
CHAPTER XXIV.
WORK AND PLAY.
ALFRED BUNN, OF DRURY LANE THEATRE AMUSING INTERVIEW MR. LEVY,
OF THE LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH VACATIONS AT HOME MY PRESIDENCY
OF THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY EXHIBITING A PICK
POCKET PHILOSOPHY OF HUMBUG A CHOP-FALLEN TICKET-SELLER A
PROMPT PAYMASTER BARNUM IN BOSTON A DELUDED HACK DRIVER
PHILLIPS S FIRE ANNLHILATOR HONORABLE ELISHA WHITTLESEY TRIAL
OF THE ANNIHILATOR IN NEW YORK PEQUONNOCK BANK OF BRIDGEPORT
THE ILLUSTRATED NEWS THE WORLD S FAIR IN NEW YORK MY PRES
IDENCY OF THE ASSOCIATION ATTEMPT TO EXCITE PUBLIC INTEREST
MONSTER JULLIEN CONCERTS RESIGNATION OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE PRES
IDENCY FAILURE OF THE CONCERN.
IN the summer, I think, of 1853, I saw it announced
in the newspapers that Mr. Alfred Bunn, the great
ex-manager of Drury Lane Theatre, in London, had
arrived in Boston. Of course, I knew Mr. Bunn by
reputation, not only from his managerial career, but
from the fact that he made the first" engagement with
Jenny Lind to appear in London. This engagement,
however, Mr. Lumley, of Her Majesty s Theatre, induced
her to break, he standing a lawsuit with Mr. Bunn, and
paying heavy damages. I had never met Mr. Bunn, but
he took it for granted that I had seen him, for one day
after his arrival in this country, a burly Englishman
abruptly stepped into my private office in the Museum,
and assuming a theatrical attitude, addressed me :
" Barnum, do you remember me ] "
372 WORK AND PLAY.
I was confident I had never seen the man before, but
it struck me at once that no Englishman I ever heard
of would be likely to exhibit more presumption 01
assumption than the ex-manager of Drury Lane, and 1
jumped at the conclusion :
" Is not this Mr. Bunn?"
" Ah ! Ah ! my boy ! " he exclaimed, slapping me
familiarly on the back, " I thought you would remember
me. Well, Barnum, how have you been since I last
saw you ? "
I replied in a manner that would humor his impres
sion that we were old acquaintances, and during his two
hours visit we had much gossip about men and things in
London. He called upon me several times, and it prob
ably never entered into his mind that I could possibly
have been in London two or three years without having
made the personal acquaintance of so great a lion as
Alfred Bunn.
I met Mr. Bunn again in 1858, in London, at a din
ner party of a mutual friend, Mr. Levy, proprietor of
the London Daily Telegraph. Of course, Bunn and I
were great chums and very old and intimate acquaint
ances. At the same dinner, I met several literary and
dramatic gentlemen.
In 1851, 1852, and 1853, 1 spent much of my time
at my beautiful home in Bridgeport, going very fre-
.quently to New York, to attend to matters in the
Museum, but remaining in the city only a day or two at
a time. I resigned the office of President of the Fair-
field County Agricultural Society in 1853, but the mem
bers accepted my resignation, only on condition that it
should not go into effect until after the fair of 1854.
During my administration, the society held six fairs and
WORK AND PLAY. 373
cattle-shows, four in Bridgeport and two in Stam
ford, and the interest in these gatherings increased
from year to year.
Pickpockets are always present at these country fairs,
and every year there were loud complaints of the depre
dations of these operators. In 1853 a man was caught
in the act of taking a pocket-book from a country
farmer, nor was this farmer the only one who had suf
fered in the same way. The scamp was arrested, and
proved to be a celebrated English pickpocket. As the
Fair would close the next day, and as most persons had
already visited it, we expected our receipts would be
light.
Early in the morning the detected party was legally
examined, plead guilty, and was bound over for trial.
I obtained consent from the sheriff that the culprit
should be put in the Fair room for the purpose of
giving those who had been robbed an opportunity to
identify him. For this purpose he was handcuffed, and
placed in a conspicuous position, where of course he
was " the observed of all observers." I then issued
handbills, stating that as it was the last day of the Fair,
the managers were happy to announce that they had
secured extra attractions for the occasion, and would
accordingly exhibit, safely handcuffed, and without extra
charge, a live pickpocket, who had been caught in the
act of robbing an honest farmer the day previous.
Crowds of people rushed in " to see the show." Some
good mothers brought their children ten miles for that
purpose, and our treasury was materially benefited by
the operation.
At the close of my presidency in 1854, 1 was requested
to deliver the opening speech at our County Fair, which
374: WORK AND PLAY.
was held at Stamford. As I was not able to give agricul 1 -
tural advice, I delivered a portion of my lecture on the
" Philosophy of Humbug." The next morning, as I
was being shaved in the village barber s shop, which
was at the time crowded with customers, the ticket-
seller to the Fair came in.
"What kind of a house did you have last night?"
asked one of the gentlemen in waiting,
" Oh, first-rate, of course. Barnum always draws a
crowd," was the reply of the ticket-seller, to whom I
was not known.
Most of the gentlemen present, however, knew me,
and they found much difficulty in restraining their
laughter.
" Did Barnum make a good speech ? " I asked.
" I did not hear it. I was out in the ticket-office. I
guess it was pretty good, for I never heard so much
laughing as there was all through his speech. But it
makes no difference whether it was good or not," con
tinued the ticket-seller, " the people will go to see Bar
num."
" Barnum must be a curious chap," I remarked.
" Well, I guess he is up to all the dodges."
" Do you know him ? " I asked.
" Not personally," he replied ; " but I always get into
the Museum for nothing. I know the doorkeeper, and
he slips me in free."
" Barnum would not like that, probably, if he knew
it," I remarked.
" But it happens he don t know it," replied the ticket-
seller, in great glee.
" Barnum was on the cars the other day, on his way
to Bridgeport," said I, " and I heard one of the passeiv
WORK AND PLAY. 375
gers blowing him up terribly as a humbug. He was
addressing Barnum at the time, but did not know him.
Barnum joined in lustily, and indorsed everything the
man said. When the passenger learned whom he had
been addressing, I should think he must have felt rather
flat."
" I should think so, too," said the ticket seller.
This was too much, and we all indulged in a burst
of laughter ; still the ticket-seller suspected nothing.
After I had left the shop, the barber told him who I
was. I called into the ticket-office on business several
times during the day, but the poor ticket-seller kept his
face turned from me, and appeared so chap-fallen that
I did not pretend to recognize him as the hero of the
joke in the barber s shop.
This incident reminds me of numerous similar ones
which have occurred at various times. On one occasion
it was in 1847 I was on board the steamboat from
New York to Bridgeport. As we approached the har
bor of the latter city, a stranger desired me to point out
" Barnum s house " from the upper deck. I did so,
whereupon a bystander remarked, " I know all about
that house, for I was engaged in painting there for sev
eral months while Barnum was in Europe." He then
proceeded to say that it was the meanest and most ill-
contrived house he ever saw. " It will cost old Barnum
a mint of money, and not be worth two cents after it is
finished," he added.
" I suppose old Barnum don t pay very punctually,"
I remarked.
" Oh, yes, he pays punctually every Saturday night
there s no trouble about that ; he has made half a million
by exhibiting a little boy whom he took from Bridgeport,
376 WORK AND PLAY.
and whom we never considered any great shakes till
Barnum took him and trained him."
Soon afterwards one of the passengers told him who
I was, whereupon he secreted himself, and was not seen
again while I remained on the boat.
On another occasion, I went to Boston by the Fall
River route. Arriving before sunrise, I found but one
carriage at the depot. I immediately engaged it, and
giving the driver the check for my baggage, told him to
take me directly to the Revere House, as I was in great
haste, and enjoined him to take in no other passengers,
and I would pay his demands. He promised compliance
with my wishes, but soon afterwards appeared with a
gentleman, two ladies, and several children, whom he
crowded into the carriage with me, and placing their
trunks on the baggage rack, started off. I thought
there was no use in grumbling, and consoled myself
with the reflection that the Revere House was not far
away. He drove up one street and down another,
for what seemed to me a very long time, but I was
wedged in so closely that I could not see what route he
was taking.
After half an hour s drive he halted, and I found we
were at the Lowell Railway depot. Here my fellow-
passengers alighted, and after a long delay the driver
delivered their baggage, received his fare, and was about
closing the carriage door preparatory to starting again.
I was so thoroughly vexed at the shameful manner in
which he had treated me, that I remarked ;
" Perhaps you had better wait till the Lowell train
arrives ; you may possibly get another load of passen
gers. Of course my convenience is of no consequence.
I suppose if you land me at the Revere House any
WORK AND PLAY. 377
time this week, it will be as much as I have a right to
expect."
" I beg your pardon," he replied, " but that was Bar
num and his family. He was very anxious to get here
in time for the first train, so I stuck him for $2, and now
I ll carry you to the Eevere House free."
" What Barnum is it ? " I asked.
" The Museum and Jenny Lind man," he replied.
The compliment and the shave both having been
intended for me, I was of course mollified, and replied,
" You are mistaken, my friend, / am Barnum."
" Coachee " was thunderstruck, and offered all sorts
of apologies.
" A friend at the other depot told me that I had
Mr. Barnum on board," said he, " and I really supposed
he meant the other man. When I come to notice you,
I perceive my mistake, but I hope you will forgive me.
I have carried you frequently before, and hope you will
give me your custom while you are in Boston. I never
will make such a mistake again." I had to be satisfied.
Late in August, 1851, I was visited at Bridgeport by
a gentleman who was interested in an English invention
patented in this country, and known as Phillips Fire
Annihilator, He showed me a number of certificates
from men of eminence and trustworthiness in England,
setting forth the merits of the invention in the highest
terms. The principal value of the machine seemed to
consist in its power to extinguish flame, and thus pre
vent the spread of fire when it once broke out. Besides,
the steam or vapor generated in the Annihilator was not
prejudicial to human life. Now, as water has no effect
whatever upon flame, it was obvious that the Annihi
lator would at the least prove a great assistant in extin-
378 WORK AND PLAY.
guishing conflagrations, and that, especially in the incip
ient stage of a fire, it would extinguish it altogether,
without damage to goods or other property, as is usually
the case with water.
Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, First Comptroller of the
United States Treasury at Washington, was interested in
the American patent, and the gentleman that called
upon me desired that I should also take an interest in
it. I had no disposition to engage in any speculation ;
but, believing this might prove a beneficent invention,
and be the means of saving a vast amount of human
life as well as property, I visited Washington City for
the purpose of conferring with Mr. Whittlesey, Hon. J.
W. Allen and other parties interested.
I was there shown numerous certificates of fires
having been extinguished by the machine in Great
Britain, and property to the amount of many thousands
of pounds saved. I also saw that Lord Brougham had
proposed in Parliament that every Government vessel
should be compelled to have the Fire Annihilator on
board. Mr. Whittlesey expressed his belief in writing,
that " if there is any reliance to be placed on human
testimony, it is one of the greatest discoveries of this
most extraordinary age." I fully agreed with him, and
have never yet seen occasion to change that opinion.
I agreed to join in the enterprise. Mr. Whittlesey
was elected President, and I was appointed Secretary
and General Agent of the Company. I opened the
office of the Company in New York, and sold and
engaged machines and territory in a few months to the
amount of $180,000. I refused to receive more than a
small portion of the purchase money until a public
experiment had tested the powers of the machine, and
WORK AND PLAY. 379
I voluntarily delivered to every purchaser an agreement,
signed by myself, in the following words:
" If the public test and demonstration are not per
fectly successful, I will at any time when demanded,
within ten days after the public trial, refund and pay
back every shilling that has been paid into this office
for machines or territory for the sale of the patent."
The public trial came off in Hamilton Square on the
18th December, 1851. It was an exceedingly cold and
inclement day, Mr. Phillips, who conducted the experi
ment, was interfered with and knocked down by some
rowdies who were opposed to the invention, and the
building was ignited and consumed after he had extin
guished the previous fire. Subsequently to this unex
pected and unjust opposition, I refunded every cent
which I had received, sometimes against the wishes of
those who had purchased, for they were willing to wait
the result of further experiments ; but I was utterly
disgusted with the course of a large portion of the
public upon a subject in which they were much more
deeply interested than I was.
The arrangements of the Annihilator Company with
Mr. Phillips, the inventor, predicated all payments
which he was to receive on bona fide sales which we
should actually make ; therefore he really received
nothing, and the entire losses of the American Com
pany, which were merely for advertising and the
expense of trying the experiments, hire of an office,
etc., amounted to nearly $30,000, of which my portion
was less than $10,000.
In the spring of 1851 the Connecticut Legislature
chartered the Pequonnock Bank of Bridgeport, with
a capital of two hundred thousand dollars. I had no
380 WORK AND PLAY.
interest whatever in the charter, and did not even know-
that an application was to be made for it. More banking
capital was needed in Bridgeport in consequence of the
great increase of trade and manufactures in that growing
and prosperous city, and this fact appearing in evidence,
the charter was granted as a public benefit. The stock-
books were, opened under the direction of State Com
missioners, according to the laws of the Commonwealth,
and nearly double the amount of capital was subscribed
on the first day. The stock was distributed by the
Commissioners among several hundred applicants. Cir
cumstances unexpectedly occurred which induced me to
accept the presidency of the bank, in compliance with
the unanimous vote of its directors. Feeling that I
could not, from my many avocations, devote the requisite
personal attention to the duties of the office, C. B. Hub-
bell, Esq., then Mayor of Bridgeport, was at my request
appointed Vice -President of the institution.
In the fall of 1852 a proposition was made by certain
parties to commence the publication of an illustrated
weekly newspaper in the City of New York. The field
seemed to be open for such an enterprise, and I invested
twenty thousand dollars in the concern, as special part
ner, in connection with two other gentlemen, who each
contributed twenty thousand dollars, as general partners.
Within a month after the publication of the first number
of the Illustrated News, which was issued on the first
day of January, 1853, our weekly circulation had
reached seventy thousand. Numerous and ajmost
insurmountable difficulties, for novices in the business,
continued however to arise, and my partners becoming
weary and disheartened with constant over-exertion,
were anxious to wind up the enterprise at the end of
WOKK AND PLAY.
the first year. The good-will and the engravings were
sold to Gleasoris Pictorial^ in Boston, and the concern
was closed without loss.
In 1851, when the idea of opening a World s Fair in
New York was first broached, I was waited upon by
Mr. Riddell and the other originators of the scheme,
and invited to join in getting it up. I declined, giving
as a reason that such a project was, in my opinion, pre
mature. I felt that it was following quite too closely
upon its London prototype, and assured the projectors
that I could see in it nothing but certain loss. The
plan, however, was carried out, and a charter obtained
from the New York Legislature. The building was
erected on a plot of ground upon Reservoir Square,
leased to the association, by the City of New York, for
one dollar per annum. The location, being four miles
distant from the City Hall, was enough of itself to kill
the enterprise. The stock was readily taken up, how
ever, and the Crystal Palace opened to the public in
July, 1853. Many thousands of strangers were brought
to New York, and however disastrous the enterprise
may have proved to the stockholders, it is evident that
the general prosperity of the city has been promoted far
beyond the entire cost of the whole speculation.
In February, 1854, numerous stockholders applied to
me to accept the Presidency of the Crystal Palace, or,
as it was termed, <; The Association for the Exhibition
of the Industry of all Nations." I utterly declined lis
tening to such a project, as I felt confident that the
novelty had passed away, and that it would be difficult
to revive public interest in the affair.
Shortly afterwards, however, I was waited upon by
numerous influential gentlemen, and strongly urged to
18
382 WORK AND PLAY.
allow my name to be used. I repeatedly objected to
this, and at last consented, much against my own judg
ment. Having been elected one of the directors, I was
by that body chosen President. I accepted the office
conditionally, reserving the right to decline if I thought,
upon investigation, that there was no vitality left in the
institution. Upon examining the accounts said to exist
against the Association, many were pronounced indefen
sible by those who I supposed knew the facts in the case,
while various debts existing against the concern were
not exhibited whea called for, and I knew nothing of
their existence until after I accepted the office of Presi
dent. I finally accepted it, only because no suitable
person could be found who was willing to devote his
entire time and services to the enterprise, and because I
was frequently urged by directors and stockholders to
take hold of it for the benefit of the city at large, inas
much as it was well settled that the Palace would bo
permanently closed early in April, 1854, if I did not
take the helm.
These considerations moved me, and I entered upon
my duties with all the vigor which I could command.
To save it from bankruptcy, I advanced large sums of
money for the payment of debts, and tried by every legit
imate means to create an excitement and bring it into
life. By extraneous efforts, such as the Re-inauguration,
the Monster Concerts of Jullien, the Celebration of
Independence, etc., it was temporarily galvanized, and
gave several life-like kicks, generally without material
results, except prostrating those who handled it too
familiarly ; but it was a corpse long before I touched it,
and I found, after a thorough trial, that my first impres
sion was correct, and that so far as my ability was con-
WOEK AND PLAY. 383
eerned, "the dead could not be raised." I therefore
resigned the presidency and the concern soon went into
liquidation.
In 1854, my esteemed friend. Reverend Moses Ballon,
wrote, and Redfield, of New York, published a volume
entitled " The Divine Character Vindicated " in which
he reviewed some of the principal features of a work by
the Rev. E. Beecher, brother of Henry Ward Beecher,
"The Conflict of Ages; or, the Great Debate on the
Moral Relations of God and Man." The dedication in
Rev. Mr. Ballou s volume was as follows :
To P. T. BARNUM, ESQ., IRANISTAN.
My Dear B.:I am more deeply indebted to you for personal favors than to any
other living man, and I feel that it is but a poor acknowledgment to beg your
acceptance of this volume. Still, I know that you will value it somewhat, not
only for the sake of our personal friendship, but because it is an advocate of that
interpretation of Christianity of which you have ever been a most generous and
devoted patron. With renewed assurances of my best regards,
I am, yours, always,
BRIDGEPORT, January 22, 1854. M. B.
The following trifling incident which occurred at
Iranistan in the winter of 1852, has been called to my
mind by a lady friend from Philadelphia, who was
visiting us at the time. The poem was sent to me soon
after the occurrence, but was lost and the subject
forgotten until my Philadelphia friend recently sent it
to me with the wish that I should insert it in the present
volume :
WINTER BOUQUETS.
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
THE poor man s garden lifeless lay
Beneath a fall of snow ;
But Art in costly greenhouses,
Keeps Summer in full glow.
And Taste paid gold for bright bouquets,
The parlor vase that drcst,
That scented Fashion is gay boudoir,
Or bloomed on Beauty s breast
384 WOKK AND PLAY.
A rich man sat beside the fire,
Within his sculptured halls ;
Brave heart, clear head, and busy hand,
Had reared those stately walls.
He to his gardener spake, and said
In tone of quiet glee
" I want a hundred fine bouquets
Canst make them, John, for me?"
John s eyes became exceeding round,
This question when he heard ;
He gazed upon his master,
And he answered not a word.
" Well, John," the rich man laughing said,
l . "If these too many be,
What sayest to half the number, man ?
Canst fifty make for me ? "
Now John prized every flower, as twere
A daughter or a son ;
And thought, like Began " what the need
Of fifty, or of one?"
But keeping back the thought, he said,
" I think, sir, that I might ;
But it would leave my lady s flowers
In very ragged plight."
" Well, John, thy vegetable pets
Must needs respected be ;
We ll halve the number once again
Make twenty-five for me.
And hark ye, John, when they are made
Come up and let me know ;
And I ll give thee a list of those
To whom the flowers must go."
The twenty-five bouquets were made,
And round the village sent ;
And to whom thinkest thou, my friend,
These floral jewels went?
Not to the beautiful and proud
Not to the rich and gay
Who, Dives-like, at Luxury s feast
Are seated every day.
An aged Pastor, on his desk
Saw those fair preachers stand;
A Widow wept upon the gift,
And blessed the giver s hand.
Where Poverty bent o er her task,
They cheered the lonely room;
And round the bed where Sickness lay,
. They breathed Health s fresh perfume.
WORK AND PLAY. 385
Oh ! kindly heart and open hand
Those flowers in dust are trod,
But they bloom to weave a wreath for thee,
In the Paradise of God.
Sweet is the Minstrel s task, whose song
Of deeds like these may tell ;
And long may he have power to give,
Who wields that power so well!
MKS. ANNA BACHE.
PHILADELPHIA.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE JEROME CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT.
TOE EAST BRIDGEPORT ENTERPRISE W. H. NOBLE PLANS FOR A NEW CITY
DR. TIMOTHY DWIGHT s TESTIMONY INVESTING A FORTUNE SELLING
CITY LOTS MONEY MAKING A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION CLOCK COM
PANY IN LITCHFIELD THE "TERRY AND BABNUM MANUFACTURING COM
PANY "7- THE JEROME CLOCK COMPANY BAITING FOR BITES FALSE REP
RESENTATIONS HOW I WAS DELUDED WHAT I AGREED TO DO THE COUN
TER AGREEMENT NOTES WITH BLANK DATES THE LIMIT OF MY RESPON
SIBILITY HOW IT WAS EXCEEDED STARTLING DISCOVERIES A RUINED
MAN PAYING MY OWN HONEST DEBTS BARNUM DUPED MY FAILURE
THE BARNUM AND JEROME CLOCK BUBBLE MORALISTS MAKING USE OF
MY MISFORTUNES WHAT PREACHERS, PAPERS, AND PEOPLE SAID ABOUT
ME DOWN IN THE DEPTHS.
I NOW come to a series of events which, all things
considered, constitute one of the most remarkable expe
riences of my life an experience which brought me
much pain and many trials ; which humbled my pride
and threatened me with hopeless financial ruin ; and yet,
nevertheless, put new blood in my veins, fresh vigor
in my action, warding off all temptation to rust in the
repose which affluence induces, and developed, I trust,
new and better elements of manliness in my character.
This trial carried me through a severe and costly disci
pline, and now that I have passed through it and
have triumphed over it, I can thank God for sending
it upon me, though I feel no special obligations to the
human instruments employed in the severe chasten
ing.
CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT. 387
When the blow fell upon me, I thought that I could
never recover; the event has shown, however, that
I have gained both in character and fortune, and what
threatened, for years, to be my ruin, has proved one of
the most fortunate happenings of my career. The
" Bull Run " of my life s battle was a crushing defeat,
which, unknown to me at the time, only presaged the
victories which were to follow.
In my general plan of presenting the facts and inci
dents of my life in chronological order, I shall neces
sarily introduce in the history of the next seven years,
an account of my entanglement in the " Jerome Clock
Company," how I was drawn into it, how I got out
of it, and what it did to me and for me. The great
notoriety given to my connection with this concern
the fact that the journals throughout the country
made it the subject of news, gossip, sympathy, abuse,
and advice to and about me, my friends, my persecut
ors, and the public generally seems to demand that the
story should be briefly but plainly told. The event itself
has passed away and with it the passions and excite
ments that were born of it ; and I certainly have no
desire now to deal in personalities or to go into the
question of the motives which influenced those w r ho
were interested, any farther than may be strictly essen
tial to a fair and candid statement of the case.
It is vital to the narrative that I should give some
account of the new city, East Bridgeport, and my inter
ests therein, which led directly to my subsequent com
plications with the Jerome Clock Company.
In 1851, I purchased from Mr. William H. Noble, of
Bridgeport, the undivided half of his late father s home
stead, consisting of fifty acres of land; lying on the east
388 CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT.
side of the river, opposite the City of Bridgeport. We
intended this as the nucleus of a new city, which we
concluded could soon be built up, in consequence of
many natural advantages that it possesses.
Before giving publicity to our plans, however, we
purchased one hundred and seventy-four acres contigu
ous to that which we already owned, and laid out the
entire property in regular streets, and lined them with
trees, reserving a beautiful grove of six or eight acres,
which we inclosed, and converted into a public park.
We then commenced selling alternate lots, at the same
price which the land cost us by the acre. Our sales
were always made on the condition that a suitable
dwelling-house, store, or manufactory should be erected
upon the land, within one year from the date of pur
chase ; that every building should be placed at a cer
tain distance from the street, in a style of architecture
approved by us ; that the grounds should be enclosed
with acceptable fences, and kept clean and neat, with
other conditions which would render the locality a desir
able one for respectable residents, and operate for the
mutual benefit of all persons who should become set
tlers in the new city.
This entire property consists of a beautiful plateau ot
ground, lying within less than half a mile of the centre
of Bridgeport city. Considering the superiority of the
situation, it is a wonder that the City of Bridgeport was
not originally founded upon that side of the river. The
late Dr. Timothy D wight, for a long time President of
Yale College, in his " Travels in New England in 1815,"
says of the locality :
" There is not in the State a prettier village than the
borough of Bridgeport. In the year 1783, there were
CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT. 389
ri r > n? / r i^<
scarcely half a dozen houses in this place. It now con
tains probably more than one hundred, built on both
sides of Pughquonnuck (Pequonnock) river, a beautiful
mill-stream, forming at its mouth the harbor of Bridge
port. The situation of this village is very handsome,
particularly on the eastern side of the river. A more
cheerful and elegant piece of ground can scarcely be
imagined than the point which stretches between the
Pughquonnuck and the old mill-brook ; and the pros
pects presented by the harbors at the mouths of these
streams, the Sound, and the surrounding country, are,
in a fine season, gay and brilliant, perhaps without a
parallel."
I 00 }.A-" >. <)>>;, f.iii "l
This " cheerful and elegant piece of ground," as Dr.
Dwight so truly describes it, had only been kept from
market by the want of means of access. A new foot
bridge was built, connecting this place with the City of
Bridgeport, and a public toll-bridge which belonged to
us was thrown open to the public free. We also
obtained from the State Legislature a charter for erect
ing a toll-bridge between the two bridges already exist
ing, and under that charter we put up a fine covered
draw- bridge at a cost of $16,000 which also we made
free to the public for several years. We built and
leased to a union company of young coach makers a
large and elegant coach manufactory, which was one of
the first buildings erected there, and which went into
operation on the first of January, 1852, and was the
beginning of the extensive manufactories which were
1 1 1 ! -r-i
subsequently built m East Bridgeport.
Besides the inducement which we held out to pur
chasers to obtain their lots at a merely nominal price,
we advanced one half, two-thirds, and frequently all
18*
390 CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT.
the funds necessary to erect their buildings, permitting
them to repay us in sums as small as five dollars, at
their own convenience. This arrangement enabled
many persons to secure and ultimately pay for homes
which they could not otherwise have obtained. We
looked for our profits solely to the rise in the value of
the reserved lots, which we were confident must ensue.
Of course, these extraordinary inducements led many
persons to build in the new city, and it began to develop
and increase with a rapidity rarely witnessed in this
section of the country. Indeed, our speculation, which
might be termed a profitable philanthropy) soon
promised to be so remunerative, that I offered Mr.
Noble for his interest in the estate, $60,000 more than
the prime cost, which offer he declined.
It will thus be seen that, in 1851, my pet scheme
was to build up a city in East Bridgeport. I had
made a large fortune and was anxious to be released
from the harassing cares of active business. But I could
not be idle, and if I could be instrumental in giving
value to land comparatively worthless ; if I could by
the judicious investment of a portion of my capital open
the way for new industries and new homes, I should be
of service to my fellow men and find grateful employ
ment for my energies and time. I saw that in case of
success there was profit in my project, and I was
enough like mankind in general to look upon the
enlargement of my means as a consummation devoutly
and legitimately to be wished.
Yet, I can truly say that mere money-making was
a secondary consideration in my scheme. I wanted
to build a city on the beautiful plateau across the river ;
in the expressive phrase of the day, I " had East
.Of/) jTfrff >ff WWPV
CLOCK. COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT. 391
Bridgeport on the brain." Whoever approached me
with a project which looked to the advancement of my
new city, touched my weak side and found me an eager
listener. The serpent that beguiled me was any plaus
ible proposition that promised prosperity to East
Bridgeport, and it was in this way that the coming city
connected me with that source of so many annoyances
and woes, the Jerome Clock Company.
There was a small clock manufactory in the town of
Litehfield, Connecticut, in which I became a stock
holder to the amount of six or seven thousand dollars,
and my duties as a director in the company called me
occasionally to Litchfield and made me somewhat
acquainted with the clock business. Thinking of plans
to forward my pet East Bridgeport enterprise, it
occurred to me that if the Litchfield clock concern
could be transferred to my prospective new city, it
would necessarily bring many families, thus increasing
the growth of the place and the value of the property.
Negotiations were at once commenced and the desired
transfer of the business was the result. A new stock
company was formed under the name of the " Terry &
Barnum Manufacturing Company, " and in 1852 a
factory was built in East Bridgeport.
In 1855, I received a suggestion from a citizen of
New Haven, that the Jerome Clock Company, then repu
ted to be a wealthy concern, should be removed to East
Bridgeport, and shortly afterwards I was visited f.t Iran-
istan by Mr. Chauncey Jerome, the President of that
company. The result of this visit was a proposition
from the agent of the company, who also held power of
attorney for the president, that I should lend my name
as security for $110,000 in aid of the Jerome Clock
392 CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT.
Company, and the proffered compensation was the
transfer of this great manufacturing concern, with its
seven hundred to one thousand operatives, to my beloved
East Bridgeport. It was just the bait for the fish ; 1
was all attention ; yet I must do my judgment the jus
tice to say that I called for proofs, strong and ample,
that the great company deserved its reputation as a
substantial enterprise that might safely be trusted.
Accordingly, I was shown an official report of the
directors of the company, exhibiting a capital of $400,-
000, and a surplus of $187,000, in all, $587,000. The
need for $110,000 more, was on account of a dull sea
son, and the market glutted with the goods, and imme
diate money demands which must be met. I was also
impressed with the pathetic tale that the company was
exceedingly loth to dismiss any of the operatives, who
would suffer greatly if their only dependence for their
daily food was taken away.
The official statement seemed satisfactory, and I cor
dially sympathized with the philanthropic purpose of
keeping the workmen employed, even in the dull season.
The company was reputed to be rich ; the President,
Mr. Chauncey Jerome, had built a church in New
Haven, at a cost of $40,000, and proposed to present it
to a congregation ; he had given a clock to a church in
Bridgeport, and these things showed that he, at le*^t,
thought he was wealthy. The Jerome . clocks were for
sale all over the world, even in China, where the Celes
tials were said to take out the " movements," and use
the cases for little temples for their idols, thus proving
that faith was possible without " works." So wealthy
and so widely-known a company would surely be a
grand acquisition to my city.
CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT. 393
Further testimony came in the form of a letter from
the cashier of one of the New Haven banks, express
ing the highest confidence in the financial strength of
the concern, and much satisfaction that I contemplated
giving temporary aid which would keep so many work
men and their families from suffering, and perhaps star
vation. I had not, at the time, the slightest suspicion
that my voluntary correspondent had any interest in the
transfer of the Jerome Company from New Haven to
East Bridgeport, though I was subsequently informed
that the bank, of which my correspondent was the
cashier, was almost the largest, if not the largest, creditor
of the clock company.
Under all the circumstances, and influenced by the
rose-colored representations made to me, not less than
by my mania to push the growth of my new city, I
finally accepted the proposition and consented to
an agreement that I would lend the clock company
my notes for a sum not to exceed $50,000, and accept
drafts to an amount not to exceed $60,000. It was
thoroughly understood that I was in no case to be
responsible for one cent in excess of $110,000. I also
received the written guaranty of Chauncey Jerome that
in no event should I lose by the loan, as he would
become personally responsible for the repayment. I
was willing that my notes, when taken up, should
be renewed, I cared not how often, provided the stipu
lated maximum of $110,000 should never be exceeded.
I was weak enough, however, under the representation
that it was impossible to say exactly when it would
be necessary to use the notes> to put my name to
several notes for $3,000, $5,000, and $10,000, leaving
the date of payment blank ; but it was agreed that the
394 CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT,
blanks should be filled to make the notes payable in
five, ten, or even sixty days from date, according to the
exigencies of the case, and I was careful to keep a
memorandum of the several amounts of the notes.
On the other side it was agreed that the Jerome
Company should exchange its stock with the Terry &
Barnum stockholders and thus absorb that company
and unite the entire business in East Bridgeport. It
was scarcely a month before the secretary wrote me
that the company would soon be in condition to " snap
its fingers at the banks."
Nevertheless, three months after the consolidation of
the companies, a reference to my memoranda showed
that I had already become responsible for the stipulated
sum of $110,000. I was then called upon in New
5fork by the agent who wanted five notes of $5,000
each and I declined to furnish them, unless 1 should
receive in return an equal amount in my own cancelled
notes, since he assured me they were cancelling these
" every week." The cancelled notes were brought to me
next day and I renewed them. This I did frequently,
always receiving cancelled notes, till finally my confi
dence in the company became so established that I did
not ask to see the notes that had been taken up, but fur
nished new accommodation paper as it was called for.
By and by I heard that the banks began to hesitate
about discounting my paper, and knowing that I was good
for $110,000 several times over, I wondered what was the
matter, till the discovery came at last that my notes had
not been taken up as was represented, and that some of
the blank date notes had been made payable in twelve,
eighteen, and twenty-four months. Further investiga
tion revealed the frightful fact that I had endorsed for
CLOCK COMPANY ENTANGLEMENT. 395
the clock company to the extent of more than half
a million dollars, and most of the notes had been
exchanged for old Jerome Company notes due to the
banks and other creditors. My agent who made these
startling discoveries came back to me with the refresh
ing intelligence that I was a ruined man !
Not quite ; I had the mountain of Jerome debts on
my back, but I found means to pay every clain; against
me at my bank, all my store and shop debts, notes to
the amount of $40,000, which banks in my neighbor
hood, relying upon my personal integrity, had discounted
for the Clock Company, and then I. failed !
What a dupe had I been ! Here was a great co apany
pretending to be worth $587,000, asking temporary
assistance to the amount of $110,000, coming down
with a crash, so soon as my helping hand was removed,
and sweeping me down with it. It failed ; and even
after absorbing my fortune, it paid but from twelve to
fifteen per cent of its obligations, while, to cap the
climax, it never removed to East Bridgeport at all,
notwithstanding this was the only condition which ever
prompted me to advance one dollar to the rotten
concern !
If at any time my vanity had been chilled by the fear
that after my retirement from the Jenny Lind enterprise
the world would forget me, this affair speedily reassured
me ; I had notice enough to satisfy the most inordinate
craving for notoriety. All over the country, and even
across the ocean, " Barnum and the Jerome Clock
Bubble " was the great newspaper theme. I was taken
to pieces^ analyzed, put together again, kicked,
" pitched into," tumbled about, preached to, preached
about, and made to serve every purpose to which a
896 CLOCK COMPANY ENTAHGLEMENT.
sensation-loving world could put me. Well! I was
now in training, in a new school, and was learning
new and strange lessons.
Yet, these new lessons conveyed the old, old story.
There were those who had fawned upon me in my pros
perity, who now jeered at my adversity ; people whom
I had specially favored, made special efforts to show
their ingratitude ; papers which, when I had the means
to make it an object for them to be on good terms with
me, overloaded me with adulation, now attempted to
overwhelm me with abuse ; and then the immense
amourt of moralizing over the " instability of human
fortunes," and especially the retributive justice that is
sure to follow " ill-gotten gains," which my censors
assumed to be the sum and substance of my honorably
acquired and industriously worked for property. I have
no doubt that much of this kind of twaddle was believed
>y the twaddlers to be sincere ; and thus my case was
actual capital to certain preachers and religious editors
who were in want of fresh illustrations wherewith to
point their morals.
As for myself, I was in the depths, but I did not de
spond. I was confident that with energetic purpose and
divine assistance I should, if my health and life were
spared, get on my feet again ; and events have since-
fully justified and verified the expectation and the effort.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
FRIENDS TO THE RESCUE MONEY OFFERS REFUSED BENEFITS DECLINED
MAGNIFICENT OFFER OF PROMINENT NEW YORK CITIZENS WILLIAM E.
BURTON LAURA KEENE WILLIAM NIBLO GENERAL TOM THUMB EDI
TORIAL SYMPATHY "A WORD FOR BARNUM " IN BOSTON LETTER FROM
"MRS. PARTINGTON" CITIZENS MEETING IN BRIDGEPORT RESOLUTIONS
OF RESPECT AND CONDOLENCE MY LETTER ON THE SITUATION TENDER
OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS MAGNITUDE OF THE DECEPTION PRAC
TISED UPON ME PROPOSITION OF COMPROMISE WITH MY CREDITORS A
TRAP LAID FOR ME IN PHILADELPHIA THE SILVER LINING TO THE
CLOUD THE BLOW A BENEFIT TO MY FAMILY THE REY. DR. E. H.
CHAPIN MY DAUGHTER HELEN A LETTER WORTH TEN THOUSAND DOL
LARS OUR NEW HOME IN NEW YORK.
HAPPILY, there is always more wheat than there is
chaff. While my enemies and a few envious persons
and misguided moralists were abusing and traducirfg me,
my very misfortunes revealed to me hosts of hitherto
unknown friends who tendered to me something more
than mere sympathy. Funds were offered to me in
unbounded quantity for the support of my family and to
re-establish me in business. I declined these tenders
because, on principle, I never accepted a money favor,
unless I except the single receipt of a small sum which
came to me by mail at this time and anonymously so
that I could not return it. Even this small sum I at
once devoted to charity towards one who needed the
money far more than I did.
The generosity of my friends urged me to accept
" benefits " by the score, the returns of which would
398 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
have made me quite independent. There was a pro
position among leading citizens in New York to give a
series of benefits which I felt obliged to decline though
the movement in my favor deeply touched me. To
show the class of men who sympathized with me in my
misfortunes and also the ground which I took in the
matter I venture to copy the following correspondence
which appeared in the New York papers of the day :
NEW YORK, June 2, 1856.
MB. P. T. BARNUM :
Dear Sir, The financial ruin of a man of acknowledged energy and enterprise
is a public calamity. The sudden blow, therefore, that has swept away, from a
man like yourself, the accumulated wealth of years, justifies we think, the public
sympathy. The better to manifest our sincere respect for your liberal example
in prosperity, as well as exhibit our honest admiration of your fortitude under
overwhelming reverses, we propose to give that sympathy a tangible expression
by soliciting your acceptance of a series of benefits for your family, the result
f which may possibly secure for your wife and children a future home, or at
least rescue them from the more immediate consequences of your misfortune.
Freeman Hunt, E. K. Collins, Isaac V. Fowler, James Phalen, Cornelius
Vanderbilt, F. B. Cuting, James W. Gerard, Simeon Draper, Thomas McElrath,
Park Godwin, R F. Carman, Gen. C. W. Sanford, Philo Hurd, President H.
B. B. ; Win. Ellsworth, President Brooklyn Ins. Co. ; George S. Doughty, Pres
ident Excelsior Ins. Co. ; Chas. T. Cromwell, Bobert Stuyvesant, E. L. Livingston,
B. Busteed, Wm. P. Fettridge, E. N. Haughwout, Geo. F. Nesbitt, Osborne,
Boardman & Townsend, Charles H. Delavan, I. & C. Berrien, Fisher & Bird,
Solomon & Hart, B. Young, M. D., Tread well, Acker & Co., St. Nicholas Hotel,
John Wheeler, Union Square Hotel, S. Lcland & Co., Metropolitan Hotel,
Albert Clark, Brevoort House, H. D. Clapp, Everett House, John Taylor, Inter
national Hotel, Sydney Hopmaii, Smithsonian Hotel, Messrs. Delmonico,
Delmonico s, Geo. W. Sherman, Florence s Hotel, Kingsley & Ainslee, Howard
Hotel, Libby & Whitney, Lovejoy s Hotel, Howard & Brown, Tammany Hall,
Jonas Bartlett, Washington Hotel, Patten & Lynde, Pacific Hotel, J. Johnson,
Johnson s Hotel, and over 1,000 others.
To this gratifying communication I replied as follows :
LONG ISLAND, Tuesday, June 3, 1850.
GENTLEMEN, I can hardly find words to express my gratitude for your very
kind proposition. The popular sympathy is to me far more precious than gold,
and that sympathy seems in my case to extend from my immediate neighbors, in
Bridgeport, to all parts of our Union.
Proffers of pecuniary assistance have reached me from every quarter, not only
from friends, but from entire strangers. Mr. Wm. E. Burton, Miss Laura Keene
and Mr. Wm. Niblo have in the kindest manner tendered me the receipts of their
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 399
theatres for one evening. Mr. Gough volunteered the proceeds of one of his at
tractive lectures; Mr. James Phalon generously offered me the free use of the Acad
emy of Music ; many professional ladies and gentlemen have urged me to accept
their gratuitous services. I have, on principle, respectfully declined them all, as
I beg, with the most grateful acknowledgments (at least for the present), to decline
yours not because a benefit, in itself, is an objectionable thing, but because I
have ever made it a point to ask nothing of the public on personal grounds, and
should prefer, while I can possibly avoid that contingency, to accept nothing
from it without the honest conviction that I had individually given it in return a
full equivalent.
While favored with health, I feel competent to earn an honest livelihood for
myself and family. More than this I shall certainly never attempt with such a
load of debt suspended in terrorem over me. "While I earnestly, thank you, there
fore, for your generous consideration, gentlemen, I trust you will appreciate my
desire to live unhumiliated by a sense of dependence-, and believe me, sincerely
yours, P. T. BARNUM.
To Messrs. FJREEMAN HUNT, E. K. COLLINS, and others.
And with other offers of assistance from far and
near, came the following from a little gentleman who
did not forget his old friend and benefactor in the time
of trial:
JONES HOTEL, PHILADELPHIA, May 12, 185G.
MY DEAK Mn. BARNUM, I understand your friends, and that means "all
creation," intend to get up some benefits for your family. Now, my dear sir, just be
good enough to remember that I belong to that mighty crowd, and I must have a
finger (or at least a " thumb ") in that pie. I am bound to appear on all such occa-
casions in some shape, from " Jack the Giant Killer," up stairs, to the doorkeeper
down, whichever may serve you best; and there are some feats that I can perform
as well as any other man of my inches. I have just started out on my western
tour, and have my carriage, ponies and assistants all here, but I am ready to go
on to New York, bag and baggage, and remain at Mrs. Barnum s service as long
as I, in my small way, can be useful. Put me into any "heavy" work, if you
like. Perhaps I cannot lift as much as some other folks, but just take your pencil
in hand and you will see I can draw a tremendous load. I drew two hundred tons
at a single pull to-day, embracing two thousand persons, whom I hauled up
safely and satisfactorily to all parties, at one exhibition. Hoping that you will be
able to fix up a lot of magnets tliat will attract all New York, and volunteering
to sit on any part of the loadstone, I am, as ever, your little but sympathizing
friend, GEN. TOM THUMB.
Even this generous offer from my little friend I felt
compelled to refuse. But kind words were written and
spoken which I could not prevent, nor did I desire to do
so, and which were worth more to me than money. I
should fail to find space, if I wished it, to copy one-
100 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
tenth part of the cordial and kind articles and para
graphs that appeared about me in newspapers through
out the country. The following sentence from an
editorial article in a prominent New York journal was
the key-note to many similar kind notices in all parts of
the Union : " It is a fact beyond dispute that Mr. Bar-
num s financial difficulties have accumulated from the
goodness of his nature ; kind-hearted and generous to a
fault, it has ever been his custom to lend a helping hand
to the struggling ; and honest industry and enterprise
have found his friendship prompt and faithful." The
Boston Journal dwelt especially upon the use I had
made of my money in my days of prosperity in assisting
deserving laboring men and in giving an impulse to
Business in the town where I resided. It seems only
just that I should make this very brief allusion to these
things, if only as an offset to the unbounded abuse of
those who believed in kicking me merely because I was
down ; nor can I refrain from copying the following
from th<? Boston Saturday Evening Gazette, of May 3,
1856:
BABNUM EEDIVIVUS.
A WORD FOB BARNUM.
BARNUM, your hand ! Though you arc " down,"
And see full many a frigid shoulder,
Be brave, my brick, and though they frown,
Prove that misfortune makes you bolder.
There s many a man that sneers, my hero,
And former praise converts to scorning,
Would worship when he fears a Nero,
And bend " where thrift may follow fawning."
y/ou humbugged us that we have seen,
We got our money s worth, old fellow,
And though you thought our minds were green,
We never thought your heart was yelloio.
We knew you liberal, generous, warm,
Quick to assist a falling brother,
And, with such virtues, what s the harm
All memories of your faults to smother?
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 401
"We had not heard the peerless Lind,
But for your spirit enterprising,
You were the man to raise the wind,
And make a coup confessed surprising.
You re reckoned in your native town
A friend in need, a friend in danger,
You ever keep the latchstring down,
And greet with open hand the stranger.
Stiffen your upper lip. You know
Who are your friends and who your foes now;
We pay for knowledge as we go ;
And though you get some sturdy blows now,
You ve a fair field, no favors crave,
The storm once passed will find you braver, -
In virtue s cause long may you wave,
And on the right side, never waver.
Desirous of knowing who was the author of this
kindly effusion, I wrote, while preparing this autobiog
raphy, to Mr. B. P. Shillaber, one of the editors of the
journal, and well known to the public as "Mrs. Parting-
ton." In reply, I received the following letter in which
it will be seen that he makes sympathetic allusion to
the burning of my last Museum, only a few weeks
before the date of his letter :
CHELSEA, April 25, 1868.
MY DEAR MR. BARNUM: The poem in question was written by A. Wallace
Thaxter, associate editor with Mr. Clapp and myself, on the Gazette since
deceased, a glorious fellow who Avrote the poem from a sincere feeling of admi
ration for yourself. Mr. Clapp, (Hon. W. W. Clapp,) published it with his full
approbation. I heard of your new trouble, in my sick chamber, where I have
been all winter, with regret, and wish you as ready a release from attending diffi
culty as your genius has hitherto achieved under like circumstances.
Yours, very truly,
B. P. SHILLABER.
But the manifestations of sympathy which came to
me from Bridgeport, where my home had been for more
than ten years, were the most gratifying of all, because
they showed unmistakably that my best friends, those
who were most constant in their friendship and most
emphatic in their esteem, were my neighbors and asso-
402 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
elates who, of all people, knew me best. With such
support I could easily endure the attacks of traducers
elsewhere. The New York Times, April 25, 1856,
under the head of " Sympathy for Barnum," published
a full report of the meeting of my fellow-citizens of
Bridgeport, the previous evening, to take my case into
consideration.
In response to a call headed by the mayor of the city,
and signed by several hundred citizens, this meeting was
held in Washington Hall " for the purpose of sympa
thizing with P. T. Barnum, Esq., in his recent pecuniary
embarrassments, and of giving some public expression
to their views in reference to his financial misfortunes."
It was the largest public meeting which, up to that time,
had ever been held in Bridgeport. Several prominent
citizens made addresses, and resolutions were adopted
declaring " that respect and sympathy were due to P. T.
Barnum in return for his many acts of liberality, philan
thropy and public spirit," expressing unshaken confi
dence in his integrity, admiration for the " fortitude and
composure with which he has met reverses into which
he has been dragged through no fault of his own except
a too generous confidence in pretended friends," and hop
ing that he would " yet return to that wealth which he
has so nobly employed, and to the community he has so
signally benefited." During the evening the following
letter was read :
NEW YORK, Thursday, April 24, 1&5G.
WM. H. NOBLE, Esq.,
Dear Sir:! have just received a slip containing a call for a public meeting of
she citizens of Bridgeport to sympathize with me in my troubles. It is headed by
His Honor the Mayor, and is signed by most of your prominent citizens, as well as
by many men who by hard labor earn their daily bread, and who appreciate a calam
ity which at a single blow strips a man of his fortune, his dear home, and all the
worldly comforts which years of diligent labor had acquired. It is due to truth
to say that I knew nothing of this movement until your letter informed me of it.
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 403
In misfortune the true sympathy of neighbors is more consoling and precious
than anything which money can purchase. This voluntary offering of my felloAV-
citizens, though it thrills me with painful emotions and causes tears of gratitude,
yet imparts to me renewed strength and fills my heart with thankfulness to Prov
idence for raising up to my sight, above all this wreck, kind hearts which soar
above the sordid atmosphere of "dirty dollars." I can never forget this unex
pected kindness from my old friends and neighbors.
I trust I am not blind to my many faults and shortcomings. I, however, do
feel great consolation in believing that I never used money or position to oppress
the poor or wrong my fellow-inen, and that I never turned empty away those
whom I had the power to assist.
My poor sick wife, who needs the bracing air which our own dear home (mad&
beautiful by her willing hands) would now have afforded her, is driven by the
orders of her physician to a secluded spot on Long Island where the sea-wind
lends its healthful influence, and where I have also retired for the double purpose
of consoling her and of recruiting my own constitution, which, through the excite
ments of the last few months, has most seriously failed me.
In our quiet and humble retreat, that which I most sincerely pray for is tran
quillity and contentment. I am sure that the remembrance of the kindness of
my Bridgeport neighbors will aid me in securing these cherished blessings. No
man who has not passed through similar scenes can fully comprehend the misery
which has been crowded into the last few months of my life ; but I have endeavored
to preserve my integrity, and I humbly hope and believe that I am being taught
humility and reliance upon Providence, which will yet afford a thousand times
more peace and true happiness than can be acquired in the din, strife and turmoil,
excitements and struggles of this money- worshipping age. The man who coins
his brain and blood into gold, who wastes all of his time and thought upon the
almighty dollar, who looks no higher than blocks of houses, and tracts of land,
and whose iron chest is crammed with stocks and mortgages tied up with his own
hea.rt=strings, may console himself with the idea of safe investments, but he misses
a pleasure which I firmly believe this lesson was intended to secure to me, and
which it will secure if I can fully bring my mind to realize its wisdom. I
think I hear you say
" When the devil was sick,
The devil a saint would be.
But when the devil got well,
The devil a saint was he."
Granted, but, after all, the man who looks upon the loss of money as anything
compared to the loss of honor, or health, or self-respect, or friends, a man who
can find no source of happiness except in riches, is to be pitied for his blindness.
I certainly feel that the loss of money, of home and my home comforts, is dread
ful, that to be driven again to find a resting-place away from those I love, and
from where I had fondly supposed I was to end my days, and where I had
lavished time, money, everything, to make my descent to the grave placid and
pleasant, is, indeed, a severe lesson; but, after all, I firmly believe it is for the
best, and though my heart may break, I will not repine.
I regret, beyond expression, that any man should be a loser for having trusted
to my name; it would not have been so, if I had not myself been deceived. As
it is, I am gratified in knowing that all my individual obligations will be met. It
would have been much better if clock creditors had accepted the best offer that it
was in my power to make them ; but it was not so to be. It is now too late, and
as I willingly give up all I possess, I can do no more-
404 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
Wherever my future lot may be cast, I shall ever fondly cherish the kindness
which I have always received from the citizens of Bridgeport.
I am, my dear Sir, truly yours,
P. T. BA11NUM.
Shortly after this sympathetic meeting, a number of
gentlemen in Bridgeport offered me a loan of $50,000
if that sum would be instrumental in extricating me
from my entanglement. I could not say that this?
amount would meet the exigency; I could only say,
" wait, wait, and hope."
Meanwhile, my eyes were fully opened to the entire
magnitude of the deception that had been practised
upon my too confiding nature. I not only discovered
that my notes had been used to five times the amount
I stipulated or expected, but that they had been
applied, not to relieving the company from temporary
embarrassment after my connection with it, but almost
wholly to the redemption of old and rotten claims of
years and months gone by. To show the extent to
which the fresh victim was deliberately bled, it may be
stated that I was induced to become surety to one of
the New Haven banks in the sum of $30,000 to indem
nify the bank against future losses it might incur from
the Jerome company after my connection with it, and
by some legerdemain this bond was made to cover past
obligations which were older even than my knowledge
of the existence of the company. In every way it
seemed as if I had been cruelly swindled and delibe
rately defrauded.
As the clock company had gone to pieces and was
paying but from twelve to fifteen per cent for its paper,
I sent two of my friends to New Haven to ask for a
meeting of the creditors and I instructed them to say in
substance for me as follows :
CLOTHES AND SUNSHINE. 405
" Gentlemen : This is a capital practical joke ! Be
fore I negotiated with your clock company at all, I was
assured by several of you, and particularly by a represen
tative of the bank which was the largest creditor of the
concern, that the Jerome company was eminently respon
sible and that the head of the same was uncommonly t
pious. On the strength of such representations solely,
I was induced to agree to indorse and accept paper for
that company to the extent of $1 10,000 no more. That
sum I am now willing to pay for my own verdancy,
with an additional sum of $40,000 for your cuteness,
making a total of $150,000, which you can have if you
cry quits with the fleeced showman and let him off."
Many of the old creditors favored this proposition ;
but it was found that the indebtedness was so scattered
it would be impracticable to attempt a settlement by an
unanimous compromise of the creditors. It was
necessary to liquidation that my property should go
into the hands of assignees ; I therefore at once turned
over my Bridgeport property to Connecticut assignees
and I removed my family to New York, where I also
made an assignment of all my real and personal estate,
excepting what had already been transferred in Connect
icut.
About this time I received- a letter from Philadelphia
preferring $500 in case my circumstances were such
that I really stood in need of help. The very wording of
the letter awakened the suspicion in my mind that it
was a trick to ascertain whether I really had any prop
erty, for I knew that banks and brokers in that city
held some of my Jerome paper which they refused to
compound or compromise. So I at once wrote that I
did need $500, and, as I expected, the money did not
19
406 CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
come, nor was my letter answered; but, as a natural
consequence, the Philadelphia bankers who were
holding the Jerome paper for a higher percentage at
once acceded to the terms which I had announced my
self able and willing to pay.
Every dollar which I honestly owed on my own
count I had already paid in full or had satisfactorily
-.1 ranged. For the liabilities incurred by the deliberate
deception which had involved me I offered such a per
centage as I thought my estate, when sold, would
eventually pay ; and my wife, from her own property,
advanced from time to time money to take up such notes
as could be secured upon these terms. It was, however,
a slow process. More than one creditor would hold on
to his note, which possibly he had " shaved " at the rate
of two or three per cent a month, and say ;
" Oh ! you can t keep Barnum down ; he will dig out
after a while ; I shall never sell my claim for less than
par and interest."
Of course, I knew very well that if all the creditors
took this view I should never get out of the entangle
ment in which I had been involved by the old creditors
of the Jerome Company, who had so ingeniously man
aged to make me take their place. All I could do
was to take a thorough survey of the situation, arid con
sider, now that I was down, how I could get up
again.
46 Every cloud," says the proverb, "has a silver lin
ing," and so I did not despair. " This blow," I thought
" may be beneficial to my children, if not to me." They
had been brought up in luxury ; accustomed to call
on servants to attend to every want ; and almost unlim
ited in the expenditure of money. My daughter Helen,
CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 407
especially, was naturally extravagant. She was a warm
hearted, generous girl, who knew literally nothing of
the value of money and the difficulty of acquiring it.
At this time she was fifteen years old, and was attend
ing a French boarding school in the City of Washing
ton. A few days after the news of my failure was pub
lished in the papers, my friend, the Rev. Dr. E. H.
Chapin, of New York, was at my house. He had long
been intimate with my family, and was well acquainted
with the extravagant ideas and w r ays of my daughter
Helen. One morning, I received a letter from her, filled
with sympathy and sorrow for my misfortunes. She
told me how much shocked she was at hearing of my
financial disasters, and added : " Do send for me imme-
/liately, for I cannot think of remaining here at an
expense which my parents cannot afford. I have
learned to play the piano well enough to be able to take
some little girls as pupils, and in this way I can be
of some assistance in supporting the family."
On reading this I was deeply affected ; and, handing
(he letter to Dr. Chapin, I said : " There, sir, is a letter
which is worth ten thousand dollars."
" Twenty thousand, at the least ! " was the exclama
tion of the Doctor when he had read it.
We were now living in a very frugal manner in
a hired furnished house in Eighth Street, near Sixth
Avenue, in New York, and our landlady and her family
boarded with us. At the age of forty-six, after the
acquisition and the loss of a handsome fortune, I was
once more nearly at the bottom of the ladder, and was
about to begin the world again. The situation w r as
disheartening, but I had energy, experience, health
and hope.
. . . .-
CHAPTER XXVII. , .;, : ,
EEST, BUT NOT RUST.
SALE OF THE MUSEUM COLLECTION SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEEDINGS OF MY
CREDITORS EXAMINATIONS IN COURT BARNUM AS A BAR T3NDER PER
SECUTION THE SUMMER SEASON ON LONG ISLAND THE MUSEUM MAN ON
SHOW CHARLES HOWELL A GREAT NATURAL CURIOSITY VALUE OF A
HONK PROPOSING TO BUY IT A BLACK WHALE PAYS MY SUMMER S
BOARD A TURN IN THE TIDE THE WHEELER AND WILSON SEWING MA
CHINE COMPANY THEIR REMOVAL TO EAST BRIDGEPORT THE TEKRY
AND BARNUM CLOCK FACTORY OCCUPIED NEW CITY PROPERTY LOOKING
UP A LOAN OF $5,000 THE CAUSE OF MY RUIN PROMISES TO ME MY RE
DEMPTION SETTING SAIL FOR ENGLAND GENERAL TOM THUMB LITTLE
CORDELIA HOWARD.
IN the summer of 1855, previous to my financial
troubles, feeling that I was independent and could
retire from active business, I sold the American Mu
seum collection and good will to Messrs. John Green
wood, Junior, and Henry D. Butler. They paid me
double the amount the collection had originally cost, giv
ing me notes for nearly the entire amount secured by a
chattel mortgage, and hired the premises from my wife,
who owned the Museum property lease, and on which,
by the agreement of Messrs. Greenwood and Butler, she
realized a profit of $19,000 a year. The chattel mort
gage of Messrs. Greenwood and Butler, was, of course,
turned over to the New York assignee with the other
property.
And now there came to me a new sensation which
was at times terribly depressing and annoying. My wide
spread reputation for shrewdness as a showman had
BEST, BUT NOT BUST. 409
induced the general belief that my means were still
ample , and certain outside creditors who had bought my
clock notes at a tremendous discount and entirely on
speculation, made up their minds that they must be
paid at once without waiting for the slow process of the
sale of my property by the assignees.
They therefore took what are termed " supplementary
proceedings," which enabled them to haul me any day
before a judge for the purpose, as they phrased it, of
" putting Barnum through a course of sprouts," and
which meant an examination of the debtor under oath,
compelling him to disclose everything with regard to his
property, his present means of living, and so on.
I repeatedly answered all questions on these points;
and reports of the daily examinations were published.
Still another and another, and yet another creditor would
haul me up ; and his attorney would ask me the same
questions which had already been answered and pub
lished half a dozen times. This persistent and unneces
sary annoyance created considerable sympathy for me,
which was not only expressed by letters I received daily
from various parts of the country, but the public press,
with now and then an exception, took my part, and even
the Judges, before whom I appeared, said to me on
more than one occasion, that as men they sincerely
pitied me, but as judges of course they must administer
the law. After a while, however, the judges ruled that
I need not answer any question propounded to me by an
attorney, if I had already answered the same question
to some other attorney in a previous examination in
behalf of other creditors. In fact, one of the judges,
on one occasion, said pretty sharply to an examining
attorney :
410 BEST, BUT NOT BUST.
" This, sir, has become simply a case of persecution.
Mr. Barnum has many times answered every question
that can properly be put to him to elicit the desired
information ; and I think it is time to stop these exam
inations. I advise him to not answer one interrogatory
which he has replied to under any previous inquiries."
These things gave me some heart, so that at last, I
went up to the " sprouts " with less reluctance, and
began to try to pay off my persecutors in their own
coin.
On one occasion, a dwarfish little lawyer, who
reminded me of " Quilp," commenced his examination
in behalf of a note-shaver who held a thousand dollar
note, which it seemed he had bought for seven hundred
dollars. After the oath had been administered the
little "limb of the law" arranged his pen, ink and
paper, and in a loud voice, and with a most peremptory
and supercilious air, asked :
" What is your name, sir? "
I answered him, and his next question, given in
a louder and more peremptory tone, was :
" What is your business V
" Attending bar," I meekly replied.
" Attending bar ! " he echoed, with an appearance of
much surprise ; " Attending bar ! Why, do n t you
profess to be a temperance man a teetotaler V
" I do," I replied.
" And yet, sir, do you have the audacity to assert that
you peddle rum all day, and drink none yourself ? "
" I doubt whether that is a relevant question," I
said in a low tone of voice.
" I will appeal to his honor the judge, if you don t
answer it instantly," said Quilp in great glee.
EEST, BUT NOT RUST. 411
" I attend bar, and yet never drink intoxicating
liquors," I replied.
" Where do you attend bar, and for whom]" was
the next question.
" I attend the bar of this court, nearly every day,
for the benefit of two-penny, would-be lawyers and
their greedy clients," I answered.
A loud tittering in the vicinity only added to the vex
ation which was already visible on the countenance of
my interrogator, and he soon brought his examination to
a close.
On another occasion, a young lawyer was pushing
his inquiries to a great length, when, in a half laughing,
apologetic tone, he said:
" You see, Mr. Barnum, I am searching after the small
things ; I am willing to take even the crumbs which fall
from the rich man s table ! "
"Which are you, Lazarus, or one of the dogs?"
I asked.
" I guess a blood-hound would not smell out much on
this trail," he said good-naturedly, adding that he had
no more questions to ask.
I still continued to receive many offers of pecuniary
assistance, which, whenever proposed in the form of a
gift, I invariably refused. In a number of instances,
personal friends tendered me their checks for $500,
$1,000, and other sums, but I always responded in
substance : " Oh, no, I thank you ; I do not need it ; my
wife has considerable property, besides a large income
from her Museum lease. I want for nothing ; I do not
owe a dollar for personal obligations that is not already
secured, and when the clock creditors have fully investi
gated and thought over the matter, I think they will be
412 BEST, BUT NOT BUST.
content to divide my property among themselves and let
me up."
Just after my failure, and on account of the ill-
health of my wife, I spent a portion of the summer
with my family in the farmhouse of Mr. Charles Howell,
at "Westhampton, on Long Island. The place is a mile
west of Quogue, and was then called " Ketchebon-
neck." The thrifty and intelligent farmers of the
neighborhood were in the habit of taking summer
O O
boarders, and the. place had become a favorite resort.
Mr. Howell s farm lay close upon the ocean and I found
the residence a cool and delightful one. Surf bathing,
fishing, shooting and fine roads for driving made the
season pass pleasantly and the respite from active life and
immediate annoyance from my financial troubles was a
very great benefit to me.
Our landlord was an eccentric character, who took
great pleasure in showing me to his friends and neigh
bors as u the Museum man," and consequently, as a great
curiosity ; for in his estimation, the American Museum
was chief among the institutions of New York. He
was in a habit of gathering shells and such rarities as
came within his reach, which he took to the city and
disposed of at the Museum. He often spoke of certain
phenomena in his neighborhood, which he thought
would tafoe" well with the public, if they were prop
erly ; brought out. One day he said :
* 4 Mr. Barnum, I am going to Moriches this morning,
and I want you to go along with me and see a great
curiosity there is there."
What is it ?" I asked.
" It is a man who has got a natural c honk, " replied
Howell, " and it is worth fifty dollars a year to him."
BEST, BUT NOT BUST. 413
"A what]" I inquired.
" A honk ! a honk ! a perfectly natural honk ! he
makes fifty dollars a year out of it," Howell reiterated.
I could not comprehend what a " honk " was, but con
cluded that if it was worth fifty dollars a year among
the Long Island fishermen and farmers who could hardly
be expected to pay much for mere sight-seeing, it would
be much more valuable to exhibit in the Museum. So I
remarked that as I was authorized by Messrs. Green
wood and Butler to purchase curiosities for them, I
would go with him and buy the honk from its possessor
if I could get it at a reasonable price.
" Buy it ! " exclaimed Howell ; "I guess you can t
buy it ! You do n t seem to understand me ; the man
has got a natural honk, I tell you ; that is, he honks
exactly like a wild goose ; when flocks are flying over
he goes out and honks and the geese, supposing that
some goose has settled and is honking for the rest of
the flock to come down and feed, all fly towards the
ground and he lets into em with his gun, thus killing
a great many, and in this way his honk is worth fifty
dollars a year to him, and perhaps more."
I decided not to attempt to buy the " honk," but my
eagerness to do so and my entire ignorance of the char
acter of the curiosity furnished food for laughter to
Howell and his neighbors for a long time.
One morning we discovered that the waves had
thrown upon the beach a young black whale some
twelve feet long. It was dead, but the fish was hard
and fresh and I bought it for a few dollars from the
men who had taken possession of it. I sent it at
once to the Museum, where it was exhibited in a huge
refrigerator for a few days, creating considerable excite-
19*
414: BEST, BUT NOT BUST.
ment, the general public considering it " a big thing on
ice," and the managers gave me a share of the profits,
which amounted to a sufficient sum to pay the entire
board bill of my family for the season.
This incident both amused and amazed my Long
Island landlord. "Well, I declare," said he, "that
beats all ; you are the luckiest man I ever heard of.
Here you come and board for four months with your fam
ily, and when your time is nearly up, and you are getting
ready to leave, out rolls a black whale on our beach, a
thing never heard of before in this vicinity, and you
take that whale and pay your whole bill with it ! I
wonder if that ain t c providential 1 Why, that beats
the natural honk all to pieces ! " This was followed
by such a laugh as only Charles Ho well could give, and
like one of his peculiar sneezes, it resounded, echoed,
and re-echoed through the whole neighborhood.
Soon after my return to New York, something
occurred which I foresaw, I thought, at the time, was
likely indirectly to lead me out of the wilderness into a
clear field again, and, indeed, it eventually did so.
Strange to say, my new city which had been my ruin
was to be my redemption, and dear East Bridgeport
which plunged me into the slough was to bring me out
again. " Dear" as the place had literally proved to me,
it was to be yet dearer, in another and better sense,
hereafter.
The now gigantic Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine
Company was then doing a comparatively small, yet
rapidly growing business at Watertovvn, Connecticut.
The Terry Barnum clock factory was standing idle,
almost worthless, in East Bridgeport, and Wheeler &
Wilson saw in the empty building, the situation, the ease
BEST, BUT NOT RUST. 415
of communication with New York, and other advantages,
precisely what they wanted, provided they could procure
the premises at a rate which would compensate them
for the expense and trouble of removing their establish
ment from Watertown. It is enough to say here, that
the clock factory was sold for a trifle and the Wheeler
Wilson Company moved into it and speedily enlarged
it. I felt then that this was providential ; the fact that
the empty building could be cheaply purchased was the
main motive for the removal of this Watertown enter
prise to East Bridgeport, and was one of the first
indications that my failure might prove a " blessing in
disguise." It was a fresh impulse towards the building
up of the new city and the consequent increase of the
value of the land belonging to my estate. Many persons
did not see these things in the same light in which
they were presented to me, but I had so long pondered
upon the various means which were to make the new
city prosperous, that I was quick to catch any indication
which promised benefit to East Bridgeport.
This important movement of the Wheeler and Wil
son Company gave me the greatest hope, and moreover,
Mr. Wheeler kindly offered me a loan of $5,000, with
out security, and as I was anxious to have it used in
purchasing the East Bridgeport property, when sold at
public auction by my assignees, and also in taking up
such clock notes as could be bought at a reasonable per
centage, I accepted the offer and borrowed the $5,000.
This sum, with many thousand dollars more belonging
to my wife, was devoted to these purposes.
It seemed as if I had now got hold of the thread
which would eventually lead me out of the labyrinth of
financial difficulty in which the Jerome entanglement
416 BEST, BUT NOT BUST.
had involved me. Though the new plan promised relief,
and actually did succeed, even beyond my most san
guine expectations, eventually putting more money into
my pocket than the Jerome complication had taken out
yet I also foresaw that the process would necessarily
be very sloiv. In fact, two years afterwards I had made
very little progress. But I concluded to let the new
venture work cflit itself and it would go on as well
without my personal presence and attention, perhaps
even better. Growing trees, money at interest, and rap
idly rising real estate, work for their owners all night
as well as all day, Sundays included, and when the pro
prietors are asleep or away, and with the design of coop
erating in the new accumulation and of saving some
thing to add to the amount, I made up my mind to go
to Europe again. I was anxious for a change of scene
and for active employment, and equally desirous of get
ting away from the immediate pressure of troubles
which no effort on my part could then remove. While
my --affairs were working out themselves in their own
way and in the speediest manner possible, I might be
doing something for myself and for my family.
Accordingly, 1 leaving all my business affairs at home
ih the hands of my friends, early in 1857 I set sail once
more for England, taking with me General Tom Thumb,
nhtl also little Cordelia Howard and her parents. This
young girl had attained an extended reputation for her
artistic personation of "Little Eva," in the play of
" Uncle Tom," and she displayed a precocious talent in
her rendering of other juvenile characters. With these
attractions, and with what else I might be able to do
myself, I determined to make as much money as I
could, intending to remit the same to my wife s friends,
BEST, BUT KOT KUST. 417
for the purpose of repurchasing a portion of my estate,
when it was offered at auction, and of redeeming such
of the clock notes as could be obtained at reasonable
rates.
f * i >> loot j r i97i fc I ni fibnoli i y agat y^t
t !)9TiiJO->O l>r>i{ jlJ^o
^/pue oifl ai Jbovil 11^
>o.m to
,1/j .fjonii.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ABEOAD AGAIN.
OLD FRIENDS IN OLD ENGLAND ALBERT SMITH AS A SHOWMAN HIS ASCENT
OF MONT BLANC POPULARITY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT THE GARRICK CLUB
" PHINEAS CUTECRAFT " THE ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS OF COLOGNE
UTILIZING INCIDENTS SUBTERRANEAN TERRORS A PANIC EGYPTIAN
DARKNESS IN EGYPTIAN HALL WILLIAM M. THACKERAY HIS TWO VISITS
TO AMERICA FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE NOVELIST I LOSE HIS SYM
PATHY HIS WARM REGARD FOR HIS AMERICAN FRIENDS OTTO GOLD-
SCHMIDT AND JENNY LIND GOLDSCHMIDT TENDER OF THEIR AID THE
FORGED LIND LETTER BENEDICT AND BELLETTI GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA
CHARLES KEAN EDMUND YATES HORACE MAYIIEVV GEORGE PEABODY
MR. BUCKSTONE MY EXHIBITIONS IN ENGLAND S. M. PETTINGILL Mil.
LUMLEY.
ON arriving at Liverpool, I found that my old
friends, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn, of the Waterloo Hotel, had
changed very little during my ten years absence from
England. Even the servants in the hotel were mainly
those whom I left there when I last went away from
Liverpool which illustrates, in a small way, how
much less changeable, and more <; conservative " the
English people are than we are. The old head-waiter,
Thomas, was still head- waiter, as he had been for full
twenty years. His hair was more silvered, his gait was
slower, his shoulders had rounded, but he was as ready
to receive, as I was to repeat, the first order I ever gave
him, to wit: "Fried soles and shrimp sauce."
And among my many friends in Liverpool and Lon
don, but one death had occurred, and with only two
exceptions they all lived in the same buildings, and pur-
ABBOAD AGAIN. 419
sued the same vocations as when I left them in 1847.
When I reached London, I found one of these excep
tions to be Mr. Albert Smith, who, when I first knew
him, was a dentist, a literary hack, a contributor to
Punch, and a writer for the magazines, and who was
now transformed to a first-class showman in the full tide
of success, in my own old exhibition quarters in Egyp
tian Hall, Piccadilly.
A year or two before, he had succeeded in reaching
the top of Mont Blanc, and after publishing a most
interesting account, which was re-published and trans
lated into several languages, the whole world over, he
concluded to make further use of his expedition by
adapting it to a popular entertainment. He therefore
illustrated his ascent by means of a finely painted and
accurate panorama, and he accompanied the exhibition
with a descriptive lecture full of amusing and interest
ing incidents, illustrative of his remarkable experiences
in accomplishing the difficult ascent. He also gave a
highly- colored and exciting narrative of his entire jour
ney from London to Switzerland, and back again, includ
ing his trip up and down the Rhine, and introducing the
many peculiar characters of both sexes, he claimed to
have met at different points during his tour. These he
imitated and presented in so life-like a manner, as to
fairly captivate and convulse his audiences.
It was one of the most pleasing and popular enter
tainments ever presented in London, and was immensely
remunerative to the projector, resulting, indeed, in
a very handsome fortune. The entertainments were
patronized by the most cultivated classes, for informa
tion was blended with amusement, and in no exhibition
then in London was there so much genuine fun. Two
Miocf - afjjtniV oiit
420 ABROAD AGAIIT.
or three times Albert Smith was commanded to appear
before the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and at Wind
sor, and as he gave his entertainment with great success
on these occasions, spite of the fact that he could not
take his panorama with him, it can readily be imagined
that the frame was quite as good as the picture, and
that the lecture as compared with the panorama, admi
rable as both were, was by no means the least part of the
" show."
Calling upon Albert Smith, I found him the same
kind, cordial friend as ever, and he at once put me on
the free list at his entertainment, and insisted upon my
dining frequently with him at his favorite club, the
Garrick.
The first time I witnessed his exhibition he gave me
a sly wink from the stage at the moment of his describ
ing a scene in the golden chamber of St. Ursula s
church in Cologne, where the old sexton was narrating
the story of the ashes and bones of the eleven thou
sand innocent virgins who, according to tradition, were
sacrificed .on a certain occasion. One of the characters
whom he pretended to have met several times on
his trip to Mont Blanc, was a Yankee, whom he named
" Phineas Cutecraft." The wink came at the time he
introduced Phineas in the Cologne Church, and made
him say at the end of the sexton s story about the
Virgins bones :
" Old fellow, what will you take for that hull lot of
bones \ I want them for my Museum in America ! "
When the question had been interpreted to the old
German, he exclaimed in horror, according to Albert
Smith :
" Mine Gott! it is impossible! We will never sell
the Virgins bones ! "
ABROAD AGAIN. 421
" Never mind." replied Phineas Cutecraft, " I ll send
another lot of bones to my Museum, swear mine are
the real bones of the Virgins of Cologne, and burst up
your show ! "
This always excited the heartiest laughter ; but Mr.
Smith knew very well that I would at once recognize it
as a paraphrase of the scene wherein he had figured
with me in 1844 at the porter s lodge of Warwick
Castle. In the course of the entertainment, I found he
had woven in numerous anecdotes I had told him at
that time, and many incidents of our excursion were
also travestied and made to contribute to the interest of
his description of the ascent of Mont Blanc.
When we went to the Garrick club that day, Albert
Smith introduced me to several of his acquaintances as
his " teacher in the show business." As we were
quietly dining together, he remarked that I must have
recognized several old acquaintances in the anecdotes
at his entertainment. Upon my answering that I did,
"indeed," he remarked, "you are too old a showman
not to know that in order to be popular, we must snap up
and localize all the good things which we come across."
By thus engraft ag his various experiences upon this
Mont Blanc ente, tainment, Albert Smith succeeded in
serving up a salmagundi feast, which was relished
alike by royal and less distinguished palates.
At one of the Egyptian Hall matinees, Albert Smith,
espying me in the audience, sent an usher to me with
a note of invitation to dine with him and a number of
friends immediately after the close of the entertainment.
To this invitation he added the request that as soon as
he concluded his lecture I should at once come to him
through the small door under the stage at the end of
422 ABEOAD AGAIN.
the orchestra, and by thus getting ahead of the large
crowd of ladies and gentlemen composing the audience
we should save time and reach the club at an hour for
an early dinner.
As soon as he uttered the last word of his lecture, I
pushed for the little door, the highly distinguished
audience, which on this occasion was mainly made up
of ladies, meanwhile slowly progressing towards the
exits, while the orchestra was " playing them out " with
selections of popular music. Closing the stage door
behind me, I instantly found myself enveloped in that
Egyptian darkness which was peculiar, I suppose, if not
appropriate, to that part of Egyptian Hall. I could
hear Smith and his assistants walking on the stage
over my head, but I dare not call out lest some nervous
Duchess or Countess should faint under the appre
hension that the hall was on fire, or that some other
severe disaster threatened.
Groping my way blindly and hitting my head several
times against sundry beams, at last, to my joy, I
reached the knob of the door which led me into this
hole, but to my dismay it had been locked from the
outside ! In feeling abaut, however, I discovered a
couple of bell pulls, both of which I desperately jerked
and heard a faint tinkling in two opposite directions.
Next, I heard the heavy canvas drop-curtain roll down
rapidly till it struck the stage with a thud. Then the
music in the orchestra suddenly ceased, and I could
readily understand by the shrieks of the women and
the loud protestations of masculine voices that the gas
had been turned off and the whole house left in dark
ness. This was followed by hurried and heavy footsteps
on the stage, the imprecations of stage carpenters and
ABEOAD AGAIN. 423
gasmen, jargon of foreign musicians in the orchestra,
and the earnest voice of my friend Smith excitedly
exclaiming: "Who rung those bells? why are we all
left in the dark 1 Light up here at once ; bless my
soul ! what does all this mean ? "
I was amazed, yet amused and half alarmed. What
to do, I did not know, so I sat still on a box which I
had stumbled over., as well as upon, afraid to move or
put out my hand lest I might touch some machinery
which would give the signal for thurtder and lightning,
or an earthquake, or more likely, a Mont Blanc
avalanche. Restored tranquillity overhead assured me
that the gas had been relighted. I knew Smith must be
anxiously awaiting me, for he was not a man to be
behind time when so important a matter as dinner was
the motive of the appointment. Something desperate
must be done ; so I carefully groped my way to the
stage door again and with a strong effort managed to
wrench it open. Covered with dust and perspiration I
followed behind the rear of the out-going audience and
found Smith, to whom I narrated my under-ground
experiences.
Brushes, water and towels soon put me once more in
presentable condition and we went to the Garrick Club
where we dined with several gentlemen of note.
Smith could not refrain from relating my mishaps and
their consequences in my search for him under diffi
culties, and worse yet, under his stage, and great was
the merriment over the idea that an old manager like
myself should so lose his reckoning in a place with which
he might well be supposed to be perfectly familiar.
When the late William M. Thackeray made his first
visit to the United States, I think in 1852, he called on
424 ABEOAD AGAIN.
me at the Museum with a letter of introduction from
our mutual friend Albert Smith. He spent an hour
with me, mainly for the purpose of asking my advice in
regard to the management of the course of lectures on
" The English Humorists of the Eighteenth Century,"
which he proposed to deliver, as he did afterwards, with
very great success, in the principal cities of the Union.
I gave him the best advice I could as to management,
and the cities he ought to visit, for which he was very
grateful and he called on me whenever he was in New
York. I also saw him repeatedly when he came to
America the second time with his admirable lectures on
" The Four Georges," which, it will be remembered he
delivered in the United States in the season of 1855-56,
before he read these lectures to audiences in Great
Britain. My relations with this great novelist, I am
proud to say, were cordial and intimate ; and now, when
I called upon him, in 1857, at his own house he
grasped me heartily by the hand and said :
" Mr. Barnum, I admire you more than ever. I have
read the accounts in the papers of the examinations
you underwent in the New York courts, and the posi
tive pluck you exhibit under your pecuniary embarrass
ments is worthy of all praise. You would never have
received credit for the philosophy you manifest, if these
financial misfortunes had not overtaken you."
I thanked him for his compliment, and he continued :
" But tell me, Barnum, are you really in need of pres
ent assistance? for if you are you must be helped."
" Not in the least," I replied, laughing ; " I need more
money in order to get out of bankruptcy and I intend
to earn it ; but so far as daily bread is concerned, I am
quite at ease, for my wife is worth 30,000 or 40,000."
ABKOAD AGAIN. 425
t; Is it possible I " he exclaimed, with evident delight ;
" well, now, you have lost all my sympathy ; why, that
is more than I ever expect *to be worth ; I shall be
sorry for you no more."
During my stay in London, I met Thackeray several
times, and on one occasion I dined with him. He was
a most genial, noble-hearted gentleman. In our conversa
tions he spoke with the warmest appreciation of Amer
ica, and of his numerous friends in this country, and he
repeatedly expressed his obligations to me for the
advice and assistance I had given him on the occasion
of his first lecturing visit to the United States.
The late Charles Kean, then manager of the Princess s
Theatre, in London, was also exceedingly polite and
friendly to me. He placed a box at my disposal at all
times, and took me through his theatre to show me the
stage, dressing rooms, and particularly the valuable
" properties " he had collected. Among other things,
he had twenty or more complete suits of real armor and
other costumes and appointments essential to the pro
duction of historical plays, in the most complete and
authentic manner. In the mere matter of stage-setting,
Charles Kean has never been surpassed.
Otto Goldschmidt, the husband of Jenny Lind, also
called on me in London. He and his wife were then
living in Dresden, and he said the first thing his wife
desired him to ask me was, whether I was in want. I
assured him that I was not, although I was managing to
live in an economical way and my family would soon
come over to reside in London. He then advised me to
take them to Dresden, saying that living was very cheap
there ; and, he added, " my wife will gladly look up a
proper house for you to live in." I thankfully declined
426 ABROAD AGAIN.
his proffered kindness, as Dresden was too far away from
my business. A year subsequent to this, a letter was
generally published in the American papers, purporting
to have been written to me by Jenny Lind, and proffer
ing me a large sum of money. I immediately pronounced
the letter a forgery, and I soon afterwards received a
communication from a young reporter in Philadelphia
acknowledging himself as the author, and saying that
he wrote it from a good motive, hoping it would benefit
me. On the contrary it annoyed me exceedingly.
My old friends Julius Benedict and Giovanni
Belletti, called on me and we had some very pleasant
dinners together, when we talked over incidents of
their travels in America. Among the gentlemen whom
I met in London, some of them quite frequently at
dinners, were Mr. George Augustus Sala, Mr. Edmund
Yates, Mr. Horace Mayhew, Mr. Alfred Bunn, Mr.
Lumley, of Her Majesty s Theatre, Mr. Buckstone, of
the Haymarket, Mr. Charles Kean, our princely country
men Mr. George Peabody, Mr. J. M. Morris, the manager,
Mr. Bates, of Baring, Brothers & Co., Mr. Oxenford,
dramatic critic of the London Times , Dr. Ballard, the
American dentist, and many other eminent persons.
I had numerous offers from professional friends on
both sides of the Atlantic" who supposed me to be in
need of employment. Mr. Barney Williams, who had
not then acted in England, proposed in the kindest man
ner to make me his agent for a tour through Great
Britain, and to give me one-third of the profits which
he and Mrs. Williams might make by their acting. Mr.
S. M. Pettengill, of New York, the newspaper advertis
ing agent, offered me the fine salary of $10,000 a year
to transact business for him in Great Britain. He
ABEOAD AGAIN. 427
wrote to me : " when you failed in consequence of the
Jerome clock notes, I felt that your creditors were
dealing hard with you ; that they should have let you
up and give you a chance, and they would have fared
better and I wish I was a creditor so as to show what I
would do." These offers, both from Mr. Williams and
Mr. Pettengill, I was obliged to decline.
Mr. Lumley, manager of Her Majesty s Theatre, used
to send me an order for a private box for every opera night,
and I frequently availed myself of his courtesy. I had
an idea that much money might be made by transferring
his entire opera company, which then included Piccolo-
mini and Titjiens to New York for a short season. The
plan included the charter of a special steamer for the
company and the conveyance of the entire troup, includ
ing the orchestra, with their instruments, and the chorus,
costumes, scores, and properties of the company. It
was a gigantic scheme, which would no doubt have been
pecuniarily successful, and Mr. Lumley and I went so
far as to draw up the preliminaries of an arrangement,
in which I was to share a due proportion of the profits
for my assistance in the management ; but after a while,
and to the evident regret of Mr. Lumley, the scheme
was given up.
Meanwhile, I was by no means idle. Cordelia
Howard as " Little Eva," with her mother as the
inimitable " Topsy," were highly successful in London
and other large cities, while General Tom Thumb,
returning after so long an absence, drew crowded houses
wherever he went. These were strong spokes in the
wheel that was moving slowly but surely in the effort
to get me out of debt, and, if possible, to save some
portion of my real estate. Of course, it was not gener-
428 ABEOAD AGAIN.
ally known that I had any interest whatever in either of
these exhibitions ; if it had been, possibly some of the
clock creditors would have annoyed me ; but I busied
myself in these and in other ways, working industri
ously and making much money, which I constantly
remitted to my trusty agent at home.
- [>a*; -gfflGiliiW /iK i;iuil iUo<f f <r:ho u- ;!] ".uj !V<..-
,0-fliHof) oj fy>>i[no -mir I Jii^ii .;./]
,--.r!, joiiT (& }\\M. Toll to ryef^ujn
fiodr doiiiv/ f 7rfisq<ao:) i.^ocjr-
"
mud :i\L ha* <Iiih* ttMift /i
lo 8sh.Giiin(l n<{ -jjh ]J> /n;il;
t IOO fC owb f: 91if&- Of-feJT/7 1
CHAPTER XXIX.
IN GERMANY.
PROM LONDON TO BADEN-BADEN TROUBLE IN PARIS STRASBOURG SCENE
IN A GERMAN CUSTOM-HOUSE A TERRIBLE BILL SIX CENTS WORTH OF
AGONY GAMBLING AT BADEN-BADEN SUICIDES GOLDEN PRICES FOR
THE GENERAL A CALL FROM THE KING OF HOLLAND THE GERMAN SPAS
HAMBURG, EMS AND WIESBADEN THE BLACK FOREST ORCHESTRION
MAKER AN OFFERED SACRIFICE THE SEAT OF THE ROTHSCHILDS
DIFFICULTIES IN FRANKFORT A POMPOUS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
RED-TAPE AN ALARM HENRY J. RAYMOND CALL ON THE COMMIS
SIONER CONFIDENTIAL DISCLOSURES HALF OF AN ENTIRE FORTUNE IN
AN AMERICAN RAILWAY ASTOUNDING REVELATIONS DOWN TH1 RHINE
DEPARTURE FOR HOLLAND.
AFTER a pleasant and successful season of several
weeks in London and in the provinces, I took the little
General into Germany, going from London to Paris and
from thence to Strasbourg and Baden-Baden. I had not
been in Paris since the times of King Louis Philippe,
and while I noticed great improvements in the city, in
the opening of the new boulevards and the -erection of
noble buildings, I could see also with sorrow that there
was less personal liberty under the Emperor Napoleon
III., than there was under the " Citizen King." The
custom-house officials were overbearing and unne
cessarily rigid in their exactions ; the police were over-
watchful and intolerant; the screws were turned on
everywhere. I had a lot of large pictorial placards of
General Tom Thumb, which were merely in transitu,
as I wished only to forward them to Germany to be
used as advertisements of the forthcoming exhibitions.
20
430 IN GEllMANY.
These the French custom-house officers determined to
examine in detail, and when they discovered that one of
the pictures represented the General in the costume of
the First Napoleon, the whole of the bills were seized
and sent to the Prefecture of Police. I was compelled
to stay three days in Paris before I could convince the
Prefect of Police that there was no treason in the Tom
Thumb pictures. I was very glad to get out of Paris
with my baggage and taking a seat in the express train
on the Paris and Strasbourg railway I soon forgot my
custom-house annoyances.
One would suppose that by this time I had had
enough to do with clocks to last me my lifetime, but
passing one night and a portion of a day at Strasbourg,
I did not forget or fail to witness the great church
clock which is nearly as famous as the cathedral itself.
At noon precisely a mechanical cock crows ; the bell .
strikes ; figures of the twelve apostles appear and walk
in procession ; and other extraordinary evidences of
wonderful mechanical art are daily exhibited by this
curious old clock.
From Strasbourg we went to Baden-Baden. I had
been abroad so much that I could understand and man
age to speak French, but I had never been in Germany
and I did not know six words of the language of that
country. As a consequence, I dreaded to pass the cus
tom-house at Kehl, nearly opposite Strasbourg, and
the first town on the German border at that point.
"When the diligence stopped at this place I fairly
trembled. I knew that I had no baggage which was
rightfully subject to duty, as I had nothing but my
necessary clothing and the package of placards and
lithographs illustrating the General s exhibitions. This
IN GERMANY. 431
was the package which had given me so much
trouble in Paris, and as the official was examining my
trunks, I assured him in French that I had nothing
subject to duty ; but he made no reply and deliber
ately handled every article in my luggage. He then
cut the strings to the large packages of show bills.
I asked him, in French, whether he understood that
language. He gave a grunt, which was the only
audible sound I could get out of him, and then laid
my show bills and lithographs on his scales as if to
weigh them. I was almost distracted, when an Eng
lish gentleman who spoke German, kindly offered to
act as my interpreter.
u Please to tell him," said I, " that those bills and
lithographs are not articles of commerce ; that they
are simply advertisements."
My English friend did as I requested; but it was
of no use ; the custom-house officer kept piling them
upon his scales. I grew more excited.
" Please tell him I give them away," I said. The
translation of my assertion into German did not help
me ; a double grunt from the functionary was the only
response. Tom Thumb, meanwhile, jumped about like
a little monkey for he was fairly delighted at my worry
and perplexity. Finally, I said to my new found Eng
lish friend : " Be good enough to tell the officer to
keep the bills if he wants them, and that I will not pay
duty on them any how."
He was duly informed of my determination, but he
was immovable. He lighted his huge Dutch pipe, got
the exact weight, and marking it down, handed it
to a clerk, who copied it on his book, and solemnly
passed it over to another clerk, who copied it on still
432 IN GERMANY.
another book ; a third clerk then took it, and copied it
on to a printed bill, the size of a half letter sheet, which
was duly stamped in red ink with several official devi
ces. By this time I was in a profuse perspiration ; and
as the document passed from clerk to clerk, I told them
they need not trouble themselves to make out a bill for
I would not pay it; they would get no duty and they
might keep the property.
To be sure, I could not spare the placards for any
length of time, for they were exceedingly valuable to me
as advertisements and I could not easily have duplicated
them in Germany ; but I was determined that I would
not pay duties on articles which were not merchandise.
Every transfer, therefore, of the bill to a new clerk, gave
me a fresh twinge, for I imagined that every clerk
added more charges, and every charge was a tighter
turn to the vise which held my fingers. Finally, the
last clerk defiantly thrust in my face the terrible official
document, on which were scrawled certain cabalistic
characters, signifying the amount of money I should be
forced to pay to the German government before I could
have my property. I would not touch it; but resolved
I would really leave my packages until I could commu
nicate with one of our consuls in Germany, and I said
as much to the English gentleman who had kindly inter
preted for me.
He took the bill, and examining it, burst into a loud
laugh. " Why, it is but fifteen kreutzers ! " he said.
"How much is that?" I asked, feeling for the gol
den sovereigns in my pocket.
" Sixpence ! " was the reply.
I was astonished and delighted, and as I handed
out the money, I begged him to tell the officials that
IN GERMANY. 433
the custom house charge would not pay the cost of
the paper on which it was written. But this was a
very fair illustration of sundry red-tape dealings in
other countries as well as in Germany.
I found Baden a delightful little town, cleaner and
neater than any city I had ever visited. I learned after
wards that Mr. Benazet, the lessee of the kurasal and
gambling house, was compelled annually to expend
large sums for keeping the streets and public places
clean. Indeed, he could well afford to do so, as one
would readily perceive upon witnessing the vast amounts
of money which were daily lost by the men and women
of nearly all nations, upon his tables of roulette and
rouge et noir.
The town has all the characteristics and accompani
ments of a first-class watering-place, a theatre, pub
lic library, and several very fine hotels. The springs
are presumed to be the inducements which draw hun
dreds of invalids to Baden-Baden every summer, but the
gaming tables are the real attractions to thousands of
far weaker persons who spend the entire season in
gambling. It is no unusual thing to see ladies sitting
around these gaming tables, betting their silver and gold
pieces, until they lose five hundred or a thousand
dollars, while men frequently " invest " many times
these amounts. If they happen to be winners, they are
very sure to be tempted to try again ; and thus in the
long run succumb to the "advantage" which is given
in the game to the bankers over the " betters."
The games open at eleven o clock every morning,
Sundays included, and close at eleven o clock at night.
Players have been known to sit at the table, without
once rising, even to eat or to drink, through the entire
434 IN GERMANY.
day and night session. Very early in the day, however,
many a player finds himself penniless, and, in such case,
if he does not step to some quiet place and blow his
brains out, the proprietor of the " hell " will present to
him money enough to carry him at least fifty miles from
Baden-Baden.
A few days before my arrival, a young lady hung her
self. Indeed, several suicides occur in all the German
spas every year from the one cause ruin by gambling ;
but so callous do the players, as well as the card-dealers
become, that I can easily credit a story told me at
Homburg, the greatest gambling place in Europe : A
Frenchman, sitting at the table where scores of others
were betting their money, lost his last sou, and imme
diately drew a razor from his pocket and cut his throat.
The circumstance was scarcely sufficient to induce the
players to raise their eyes from the cards ; it was a
mere incident, an episode in matters more important.
A sheet was thrown over the body, and as the servants
quietly removed the corpse, some one slipped into
the vacated chair, the dealer crying out in French,
" make your bets, gentlemen," and the play went on as
usual.
In due time, when our preliminary arrangements were
completed, the General s attendants, carriage, ponies
and liveried coachman and footmen arrived at Baden-
Baden and were soon seen in the streets. The excite
ment was intense and increased from day to day. Sev
eral crowned heads, princes, lords and ladies who were
spending the season at Baden-Baden, with a vast num
ber of wealthy pleasure seekers and travellers, crowded
the saloon in which the General exhibited during the
entire time we remained in the place. The charges
IN GERMANY. 435
for admission were much higher than had been demanded
in any other city.
Some time before I left America I received several
letters from a young man residing in the Black Forest in
regard to a wonderful orchestrion which he was building
and which he wished to sell or send to me for exhibi
tion. When he saw the accounts of my arrival with
Tom Thumb at Baden-Baden, he announced his willing
ness to bring his orchestrion and set it up in that place
so that I could see and hear it. His letter was for
warded to me at Frankfort and I replied that my engage
ments were made many days in advance, that my time
was invaluable, but that if he would have his orches
trion set up and in perfect order at such a time on such
a day I would be there promptly to see it. Arriving at
the appointed time, I found that he had not completed
his work. The beautiful case w r as up, but the interior
was unfinished. I was much disappointed, but not
nearly so much so as was the orchestrion builder.
" Oh ! Mr. Barnum," said he, "I have worked with
my men all last night and all to-day and I will work all
night again and have it in readiness to-morrow morn
ing. If you will only stay, I will go down on my knees
to you ; yes, Mr. Barnum, I will cut off one of my fin
gers for you, if you will only wait."
But I could not wait, even under this strong and cer
tainly extraordinary inducement, and was obliged to
return to my engagements without hearing the orches
trion, which, I afterwards learned, was sold and set up
in St. Petersburg.
From Baden-Baden we went to other celebrated Ger
man Spas, including Ems, Homburg and Weisbaden.
These are all fashionable gambling as well as vater-
20*
436 IN GERMANY.
ing places, and during our visits they were crowded
with visitors from all parts of Europe. Our exhibitions
were attended by thousands who paid the same high
prices that were charged for admission at Baden-Baden,
and at Wiesbaden, among many distinguished persons,
the King of Holland came to see the little General.
These exhibitions were among the most profitable that
had ever been given, and I was able to remit thousands
of dollars to my agents in the United States to aid in
re-purchasing my real estate and to assist in taking up
such clock notes as were offered for sale. A short but
very remunerative season at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, the
home and starting-place of the great house of the Roths
childs, assisted me largely in carrying out these pur
poses.
There was the greatest difficulty, however, in getting
permission to hold our exhibitions in Frankfort. When
I applied for a permit at the office of the Commissary
of Police, I was told that office hours were ended for
the day, and that the chief official, who alone could give
me the permit, had gone home to dinner. As I was
in a great hurry to begin, I went to the residence
of the Commissary, where I was met at the door by
a gorgeously arrayed flunkey, to whom I stated my
business, and who informed me that I could on no
account see the distinguished official till dinner was
over.
I waited one hour and a half by my watch for that
mighty man to dine, and then he condescended to admit
me to his presence. When I had stated my business,
he demanded to know why I had not applied to him at
his office in the proper hours, declaring that he would
do no business with me at his house, and that I must
IN GERMANY. 437
come to him to-morrow. I went, and after a great deal
of questioning and delay, I received the sought-for
license to exhibit ; but I have never seen more red-tape
wound up on a single reel. All my men, all Tom
Thumb s attendants, the General and myself, in addition
to showing our passports, were obliged to register ourj
names, ages, occupations, and what not, in a huge book,
and to answer all sorts of questions. At last we were
permitted to go, and we opened our doors to the throng
that came to see the General.
But a day or two after our exhibitions began, came a
messenger with a command that I should appear before
the Commissary of Police. I was very much frightened,
I confess ; I was sure that some of my men had been
doing or saying something which had offended the
authorities, and although I was conscious that my own
conduct had been circumspect, I started for the police
office in fear and trembling. On the way, I met Mr.
Henry J. Eaymond, editor of the New York Times , who
was in company with a gentleman from Ohio, to whom
he introduced me, and thereupon I stated my trouble,
and my opinion that I was about to be fined, imprisoned,
possibly beheaded, I knew not what.
"Don t be alarmed," said Mr. Raymond, "we will
keep an eye on the proceedings, and if you get into
trouble we will try to get you out.
Arriving at head-quarters, I was solemnly shown into
the private office of the Commissary who asked me to be
seated, and then rose and locked the door. This move
ment was by no means calculated to calm my agitation,
and I at once exclaimed, in the best French I could
summon :
" Sir, I demand an interpreter."
438 IN GERMANY.
" We do not need one," he replied ; " I can under
stand your French, and you can understand mine ; I
wish to consult you confidentially on a very private
matter, and one that concerns me deeply."
Somewhat reassured at this remarkable announce
ment, I begged him to proceed, which he did as follows :
" Do not be uneasy, sir, as this matter wholly affects
me ; I must state to you in entire secrecy that the half of
my whole fortune is invested in the bonds of one of your
American railways (giving me the name of the road),
arid as I have received no interest for a long time I am
naturally alarmed for the safety of my property. I wish
to know if the road is good for anything, and if so,
why the interest on the bonds is not paid."
I was happy to tell him that I had met that very morn
ing a gentleman from Ohio who was well acquainted
with the condition of this road, which was in his vicinity
at home, and that I would speedily derive from him the
desired information. The Commissary overwhelmed me
with profuse thanks, adding : " Remember, the half of
my entire fortune is at stake."
Impressed with the magnitude of the loss he might
be called upon to suffer, I ventured, as I was going out,
to ask him the amount of his investment.
" Four thousand dollars," was the reply.
When I thought of his livened lackeys, his house, his
style, his dignity, and his enormous consequence, I could
not but smile to think that all these things were sup
ported on his small salary and an " entire " fortune of
$8,000, one-half of which was invested in the bonds of
a doubtful American railway company.
We exhibited at Mayence and several other places in
the vicinity, reaping golden harvests everywhere, and
IN GERMANY. 439
then went down the Ehine to Cologne. The journey
down the river was very pleasant and we duly " did "
the scenery and lions on the way. The boats were very
ill-provided with sleeping, accommodations, and one
night, as I saw our party must sit up, I suggested that
we should play a social game of euchre if we could get
the cards. The clerk of the boat was prompt in
affording the gratifying intelligence that he had cards
to sell and I bought a pack, paying him a good round
price. Immediately thereafter, the clerk, pocketing the
money, stated that " it was nine o clock and according to
the regulations he must turn out all the lights " which
he did, leaving us to play cards, if we wished to, in the
dark.
The slowness of the boat was a great annoyance and
on one occasion I said to the captain :
" Look here ! confound your slow old boat. I have
a great mind to put on an opposition American line and
burst up your business."
He knew me. and knew something of Yankee enter
prise, and he was evidently alarmed, but a thought came
to his relief:
" You cannot do it," he triumphantly exclaimed ;
" the government will not permit you to run more than
nine miles an hour."
We remained at Cologne only long enough to visit
the famous cathedral and to see other curiosities and
works of art, and then pushed on to Rotterdam and
Amsterdam.
CHAPTER XXX.
IN HOLLAND.
THE FINEST AND FLATTEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SUPER-CLEANLINESS
HABITS AND CUSTOMS " KREMIS " THE ALBINO FAMILY THE HAGUE
AUGUST BELMONT JAPANESE MUSEUM MANUFACTURED FABULOUS ANIMALS
A GENEROUS OFFER VALUABLE PICTURES AN ASTONISHED SUPERIN
TENDENT BACK TO ENGLAND EXHIBITIONS IN MANCHESTER I RETURN
-AGAIN TO AMERICA FUN ON THE VOYAGE MOCK TRIALS BARNUM AS
A PROSECUTOR AND AS A PRISONER COLD SHOULDERS IN NEW YORK
PREPARING TO MOVE INTO MY OLD HOME CARELESS PAINTERS AND CAR
PENTERS IRANISTAN BURNED TO THE GROUND NEXT TO NO INSURANCE
SALE OF THE PROPERTY ELIAS HOWE, JR.
HOLLAND gave me more genuine satisfaction than
any other foreign country I have ever visited, if I except
Great Britain. Redeemed as a large portion of the whole
surface of the land has been from the bottom of the sea
by the wonderful dykes, which, are monuments of the
industry of whole generations of human beavers, Hol
land seems to me the most curious as well as interesting
country in the world. The people, too, with their
quaint costumes, their extraordinary cleanliness, their
thrift, industry and frugality, pleased me very much. It
is the universal testimony of all travellers that the Hol
landers are the neatest and most economical people
among all nations. So far as cleanliness is concerned,
in Holland it is evidently not next to, but far ahead of
godliness. It is rare, indeed, to meet a ragged, dirty,
or drunken person. The people are very temperate and
economical ip their habits ; and even the very rich, and
IN HOLLAND. 441
there is a vast amount of wealth in the country live
with great frugality, though all of the people live well.
As for the scenery I cannot say much for it, since it
is only diversified by thousands of windmills, which are
made to do all kinds of work, from grinding grain to
pumping water from the inside of the dykes back to the
sea again. As I exhibited the General only in Rotter
dam and Amsterdam, and to no great profit in either
city, we spent most of our time in rambling about to
see what was to be seen. In the country villages it
seemed as if every house was scrubbed twice and white
washed once every day in the week, excepting Sunday.
Some places were almost painfully pure, and I was in
one village where horses and cattle were not allowed to
go through the streets, and no one was permitted to wear
their boots or shoes in the houses. There is a general
and constant exercise of brooms, pails, floor brushes and
mops all over Holland, and in some places even, this
kind of thing is carried so far, I am told, that the only
trees set out are scrub-oaks.
The reason, I think, why our exhibitions were not
more successful in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, is that
the people are too frugal to spend much money for
amusement, but they and their habits and ways afforded
us so much amusement, that we were quite willing they
should give our entertainment the " go by," as they gen-
e*aliy did. We were in Amsterdam at the season of
" Kremis," or the annual Fair which is held in all the
principal towns, and where shows of all descriptions are
open, at prices for admission ranging from one to five
pennies, and are attended by nearly the whole popula
tion. For the people generally, this one great holiday
seems all-sufficient for the whole year. I went through
44:2 IN HOLLAND.
scores of booths, where curiosities and monstrosities of
all kinds were exhibited, and was able to make some
purchases and engagements for the American Museum.
Among these, was the Albino family, consisting of a
man, his wife, and son, who were by far the most inter
esting and attractive specimens of their class I had ever
seen.
We visited the Hague, the capital and the finest city
in Holland. It is handsomely and regularly laid out,
and contains a beautiful theatre, a public picture-gallery,
which contains some of the best works of Vandyke,
Paul Potter, and other Dutch masters, while the museum
is especially rich in rarities from China and Japan.
When we arrived at the Hague, Mr. August Belmont,
who had been the United States Minister at that court,
had just gone home ; but I heard many encomiums
passed upon him and his family, and I was told some
pretty good stories of his familiarity with the king, and
of the "jolly times " these two personages frequently
enjoyed together. I did not miss visiting the great gov
ernment museum, as I wished particularly to see the rich
collection of Japan ware and arms, made during the
many years when the Dutch carried on almost exclu
sively the entire foreign trade with the Japanese. I
spent several days in minutely examining these curious
manufactures of a people, who were then almost as
little known to nations generally as are the inhabitants
of the planet Jupiter.
On the first day of my visit to this museum, I stood
for an hour before a large case containing a most
unique and extraordinary collection of fabulous animals,
made from paper and other materials, and looking as
natural and genuine as the stuffed skins of any animals
IN HOLLAND. 443
in the American Museum. There were serpents two
yards long, with a head and pair of feet at each end ;
frogs as large as a man, with human hands and feet ;
turtles with three heads ; monkeys with two heads and
six legs; scores of equally curious monstrosities ; and at
least two dozen mermaids, of all sorts and sizes. Look
ing at these " sirens " I easily divined from whence the
Fejee mermaid originated.
While I was standing near this remarkable cabinet
the superintendent of the Museum came, and, introduc
ing himself to me, asked me from what country I came
and how I liked the Museum. I told him that I was
an American and that the collection was interesting and
remarkable, adding :
" You seem to have a great variety of mermaids here."
" Yes," he replied ; " the Japanese exercise great
ingenuity in manufacturing fabulous animals, especially
mermaids ; and by the way," he added, " your great
showman, Barnum, is said to have succeeded in hum
bugging the Americans to a very considerable extent,
by means of what he claimed to be a veritable mer
maid."
I said that such was the story, though I believed that
Barnum only used the mermaid as an advertisement for
his Museum.
" Perhaps so," responded the superintendent, " but
he is a shrewd and industrious manager. We have had
frequent applications from his European agents for
duplicates from our collection and have occasionally
sold some to them to be sent to America."
The superintendent then politely asked me to go into
his office, as he had something to offer me, which, as
an American gentleman, he was sure I would prize
444 IN HOLLAND.
Highly ,- but the business was of a strictly confidential
character. He asked me to be seated, and cautiously
locking the door and drawing his chair near to mine, he
informed me in a tone scarcely above a whisper that
he was the executor of the estate of a wealthy gentle
man, recently deceased, with power to dispose of tho
property, which included a large number of exceedingly
valuable ancient and modern paintings.
" You must be well aware," he continued, " that my
countrymen would be extremely unwilling to permit
these precious specimens of art to leave Holland, but,"
and here he gave my hand a slight but most friendly
squeeze, " I have such a high respect, I might almost
say reverence for your great republic that I am only
too happy in the opportunity now afforded me of allow
ing you to take a very few of these fine paintings to
America at an unprecedentedly low price."
I thought he was a little too generous, and I gave
him what the Irishman called an " evasive answer ;" but
this only seemed to stimulate him to further efforts to
effect a sale, so he turned to his memorandum book
and pointed out the names of gentlemen from Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Orleans, who had
ordered one or more cases from this large gallery of
paintings. This exhibition was conclusive, and I at
once said that I would not decide to purchase till I
returned from Amsterdam. I quite understood the
whole thing ; but not to leave my anxious friend toe
long in suspense I quietly handed my card to him,
remarking, "Perhaps you have heard of that name
before."
His cheeks were fairly crimson ; " surely," said he,
" you a.re not Mr. Barnum, of the New York Museum ? "
IN HOLLAND. 445
* Nobody else," I replied with a laugh.
He stammered out an apology for his mermaid
remarks, but I patted him on the shoulder in a friendly
way, telling him it was " all right," and that I considered
it a capital joke. This re-assured him and we then had
a very pleasant half-hour s conversation, in which he
gave me several valuable hints of curiosities to be pro
cured at the Hague and elsewhere in Holland, and we
parted good friends.
A week afterwards, a young gentleman from Boston
introduced himself to me at Amsterdam and remarked
that he knew I was there for he had been so
informed by the museum superintendent at the Hague.
" And, by the by," he added, " as soon as this superin*
tendent discovered I was from America, he told me if I
would go into his office he would show me the greatest
curiosity in the Museum. I went, and he pointed to the
card of P. T. Barnum which he had conspicuously
nailed up over his desk ; he then told me about your
visit to the museum last week."
" Did he sell you any paintings VI asked.
" No," was the reply ; " but he informed me that as
executor of an estate, including a fine gallery, he could
sell me a few cases at a very low price, mainly on
account of his high regard for the great republic to
which I belonged."
I have no doubt that this estate is still unsettled,
and that a few of the valuable paintings, if cheap
Dutch artists keep up the supply, are still for sale to
the public generally, and to representatives of the
revered republic especially. Undoubtedly this kind of
business will continue so long as Waterloo relics are
manufactured at Birmingham, and are sent to be
4 > IN HOLLAND.
plowed in and dug up again on the memorable field
where Wellington met Napoleon. And how many
very worthy persons there are, like the superintendent
of the Hague Museum, who have been terribly shocked
at the story of the Fejee Mermaid and the Woolly
Horse !
After a truly delightful visit in Holland, we went
back to England ; and, proceeding to Manchester, opened
our exhibition. For several days the hall was crowded
to overflowing at each of the three, and sometimes four,
entertainments we gave every day. By this time, my
wife and two youngest daughters had come over to
London, and I hired furnished lodgings in the suburbs
where they could live within the strictest limits of
economy. It was necessary now for me to return for
a few weeks to America, to assist personally in forward
ing a settlement of the clock difficulties. So leaving
the little General ia the hands of trusty and competent
agents to carry on the exhibitions in rny absence, I set
my face once more towards home and the west, and took
steamer at Liverpool for New York.
The trip, like most of the passages which I have
made across the Atlantic, was an exceedingly pleasant
one. These frequent voyages were to me the rests, the
reliefs from almost unremitting industry, anxiety, and
care, and I always managed to have more or less fun
on board slyp every time I crossed the ocean. During
the present trip, for amusement and to pass away the
time, the passengers got up a number of mock trials
which afforded a vast deal of fun. A judge was
selected, jurymen drawn, prisoners arraigned, counsel
employed, and all the formalities of a court established.
I have the vanity to think that if my good fortune had
IN HOLLAND. 447
directed me to that profession I should have made a
very fair lawyer, for I have always had a great fondness
for debate and especially for the cross-examination of
witnesses, unless that witness was P. T. Barnum in
examination under supplementary proceedings at the
instance of some note-shaver who had bought a clock
note at a discount of thirty-six per cent. In this mock
court, I was unanimously chosen as prosecuting attor
ney, and as the court was established expressly to con
vict, I had no difficulty in carrying the jury and secur
ing the punishment of the prisoner. A small fine was
generally imposed, and the fund thus collected was
given to a poor sailor boy who had fallen from the mast
and broken his leg.
After several of these trials had been held, a dozen
or more of the passengers secretly put their heads
together and resolved to place the showman " on trial
for his life. An indictment covering twenty pages was
drawn up by several legal gentlemen among the passen
gers, charging him with being the Prince of Humbugs,
and enumerating a dozen special counts, containing
charges of the most absurd and ridiculous description.
Witnesses were then brought together, and privately
instructed what to say and do. Two or three days
were devoted to arranging this mighty prosecution.
When everything was ready, I was arrested, and the
formidable indictment read to me. I saw at a
glance that time and talent had been brought into
requisition, and that my trial was to be more elaborate
than any that had preceded it. I asked for half a$
hour to prepare for my defence, which was granted.
Meanwhile, seats were arranged to accommodate the
court and spectators, and extra settees were placed for
448 IN HOLLAND.
the ladies on the upper deck, where they could look
down, see and hear all that transpired. Curiosity was
on tip-toe, for it was evident that this was to be a
long, exciting and laughable trial. At the end of half
an hour the judge was on the bench, the jury had
taken their places ; the witnesses were ready ; the
counsel for the prosecution, four in number, with pens,
ink, and paper in profusion, were seated and everything
seemed ready. I was brought in by a special constable,
the indictrqent read, and I was asked to plead guilty, or
not guilty . I rose, and in a most solemn manner stated
that I could not conscientiously plead guilty or not
guilty ; that I had in fact committed many of the acts
charged in the indictment, but these acts I was ready
to show were not criminal, but on the contrary, worthy
of praise. My plea was received and the first witness
called.
He testified to having visited the prisoner s Museum,
and of being humbugged by the Fejee Mermaid; the
nurse of Washington ; and by other curiosities, natural
and unnatural. The questions and answers having been
all arranged in advance, everything worked smoothly.
Acting as my own counsel, I cross-examined the witness
by simply asking whether he saw anything else in
the Museum besides what he had mentioned.
" Oh ! yes, I saw thousands of other things."
" Were they curious ? "
" Certainly ; many of them very astonishing."
" Did you witness a dramatic representation in the
Museum ? "
" Yes, sir, a very good one."
" What did you pay for all this I "
" Twenty-five cents."
IN HOLLAND. 449
" That will do, sir ; you can step down."
A second, third and fourth witness were called, and
the examination was similar to the foregoing. Another
witness then appeared to testify in regard to another
count in the indictment. He stated that for several
weeks he was the guest of the prisoner at his country
residence, Iranistan, and he gave a most amusing
description of the various schemes and contrivances
which were there originated for the purpose of being
carried out at some future day in the Museum.
" How did you live there ] " asked one of the counsel
for the prosecution.
" Very well, indeed, in the daytime," was the reply ;
" plenty of the best to eat and drink, except liquors.
In bed, however, it was impossible to sleep. I rose the
first night, struck a light, and on examination found
myself covered with myriads of little bugs, so small as
to be almost imperceptible. By using my microsope I
discovered them to be infantile bedbugs. After the first
night I was obliged to sleep in the coach-house in order
to escape this annoyance."
Of course this elicited much mirth. The first ques
tion put on the cross-examination was this :
" Are you a naturalist, sir ? "
The witness hesitated. In all the drilling that had
taken place before the trial, neither the counsel nor wit
nesses had thought of what questions might come up in
the cross-examination, and now, not seeing the drift of
question, the witness seemed a little bewildered, and the
counsel for the prosecution looked puzzled.
The question was repeated with some emphasis.
" No, sir ! " replied the witness, hesitatingly, " I am
not a naturalist."
450 IN HOLLAND.
" Then, sir, not being a naturalist, dare you affirm
that those microscopic insects were not humbugs instead
of bedbugs " ( here the prisoner was interrupted by a
universal shout of laughter, in which the solemn judge
himself joined) "and if they were humbugs, I sup
pose that even the learned counsel opposed to me, will
not claim that they were out of place ? "
" They may have been humbugs," replied the witness.
" That will do, sir you may go," said I; and at the
same time turning to the array of counsel, I remarked,
with a smile, " You had better have a naturalist for your
next witness, gentlemen."
" Do n t be alarmed, sir, we have got one, and we will
now introduce him," replied the counsel.
- The next witness testified that he was a planter from
Georgia, that some years since the prisoner visited his
plantation with a show, and that while there he discov
ered an old worthless donkey belonging to the planter,
and bought him for five dollars the next year the
witness visited Iranistan, the country seat of the pris
oner, and, while walking about the grounds, his old
donkey, recognizing his former master, brayed ; " where
upon," continued the witness, " I walked up to the
animal and found that two men were engaged in
sticking wool upon him, and this animal was afterwards
exhibited by the prisoner as the woolly horse."
The whole court spectators, and even the "pris
oner" himself were convulsed with laughter at the
gravity with which the planter gave his very ludicrous
testimony.
" What evidence have you," I inquired, " that this
was the same donkey which you sold to me ? "
"The fact that the animal recognized me, as was
evident from his braying as soon as he saw me."
IN HOLLAND. 451
.
* Are you a naturalist, sir 1 "
" Yes, I am," replied the planter, with firm emphasis,
as much as to say, you can t catch me as you did the
other witness.
"Oh! you are a naturalist, are you? Then, sir, I
ask you, as a naturalist, do you not know it to be a fact
in natural history that one jackass always brays as soon
as he sees another ?"
This question was received with shouts of laughter,
in the midst of which the nonplussed witness backed
out of court, and all the efforts of special constables,
and even the high sheriff himself, were unavailing in
getting him again on the witness stand.
This trial lasted two days, to the great delight of all
on board. After my success with the " naturalist " not
one half of the witnesses would appear against me. In
my final argument I sifted the testimony, analyzed its
bearings, ruffled the learned counsel, disconcerted the
witnesses, flattered the judge and jury, and when the
judge had delivered his charge, the jury acquitted
me without leaving their seats. The judge received the
verdict, and then announced that he should fine the
naturalist for the mistake he made, as to the cause of
the donkey s braying, and he should also fine the several
witnesses, who, through fear of the cross-fire, had
refused to testify.
The trial afforded a pleasant topic of conversation for
the rest of the voyage ; and the morning before arriving
in port, a vote of thanks was passed to me, in consid
eration of the amusement I had intentionally and
unintentionally furnished to the passengers during the
voyage.
After my arrival in New York, oftentimes in passing
21
452 IN HOLLAND.
.CLXJUCEOH TO
up and down Broadway I saw Id and prosperous friends
coming, but before I came anywhere near them, if they
espied me "they would dodge into a store, or across the
street, or opportunely meet some one with whom they
had pressing business, or they would be very much
interested in something that was going on over the way
or on top of the City Hall. I was delighted at this, for it
gave me at once a new sensation and a new experience.
"Ah, ha!" I said to myself; "my butterfly friends, I
know you now ; and what is more to the point, if ever
I get out of this bewilderment of broken clock-wheels,
I shall not forget you " ; and I heartily thanked the old
clock concern for giving me the opportunity to learn
this sad but most needful lesson. I had a very few of
the same sort of experiences in Bridgeport, and they
proved valuable to me.
Mr. James D. Johnson, of Bridgeport, one of my
assignees, who had written to me that my personal pres
ence might facilitate a settlement of my affairs, told me
soon after my arrival that there was no probability of dis
posing of Iranistan at present, and that I might as well
move my family into the house. I had arrived in August
and my family followed me from London in September,
and October 20, 1857, my second daughter, Helen, was
married in the house of her elder sister, Mrs. D. W.
Thompson, in Bridgeport, to Mr. Samuel H. Hurd.
Meanwhile, Iranistan which had been closed and unoc
cupied for more than two years, was once more opened
to the carpenters and painters whom Mr. Johnson sent
there to put the house in order. He agreed with me
that it was best to keep the property as long as possible,
and in the interval, till a purchaser for the estate
appeared, or till -it was forced to auction, to take up the
IN HOLLAND. 453
clock notes whenever they were offered. The workmen
who were employed in the house were specially instructed
not to smoke there, but nevertheless it was subsequently
discovered that some of the men were in the habit occa
sionally of going into the main dome to eat their dinners
which they brought with them, and that they stayed
there awhile after dinner to smoke their pipes. In all
probability, one of these lighted pipes was left on the
cushion which covered the circular seat in the dome and
ignited the tow with which the cushion was stuffed.
It may have been days and even weeks before this
smouldering tow fire burst into flame.
I was staying at the Astor House, in New York, when,
on the morning of December 18, 1857, I received a
telegram from my brother Phiio F. Barnum, dated at
Bridgeport and informing me that Iranistan was burned
to the ground that morning, The alarm was given at
eleven o clock on the night of the 17th, and the fire
burned till one o clock on the morning of the 18th.
My beautiful Iranistan was gone ! This was not only
a serious loss to my estate, for it had probably cost at
least $150,000, but it was generally regarded as a public
calamity. It was the only building in its peculiar style
of architecture, of any pretension, in America, and many
persons visited Bridgeport every year expressly to see
Iranistan. The insurance on the mansion had usually
been about $62,000, but I had let some of the policies
expire without renewing them, so that at the time of the
fire there was only $28,000 insurance on the property.
Most of the furniture and pictures were saved, generally
in a damaged state.
Subsequently, my assignees sold the grounds and out
houses of Iranistan to the late Elias Howe, Jr., the eel-
454 IN HOLLAND.
ebrated inventor of the needle for sewing-machines.
The property brought $50,000, which, with the $28,000
insurance, went into my assets to satisfy clock creditors.
It was Mr. Howe s intention to erect a splendid mansion
on the estate, but his untimely and lamented death pre
vented the fulfilment of the plan. The estate (in 1869)
was to be divided among Mr. Howe s three children and
in all probability three houses will be built upon the
beautiful grounds,
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CHAPTER XXXI.
fif < MijjVjoI oil) .^hji^1nt? ^ni^ia-T00om Jtoig -jad^o
THE AET OF MONEY GETTING.
A.CK OXCE MORE TO ENGLAND TOUIt THROUGH SCOTLAND AND WALES HOTY
I CAME TO LECTURE ADVICE OF MY FRIENDS MY LECTURE HOW TO MAKE
MONEY AND HOW TO KEEP IT WHAT THE PAPERS SAID ABOUT ME PRAISE OF
THE LONDON PRESS LECTURING IN THE PROVINCES PERFORMANCES AT
CAMBRIDGE CALL FOR JOICE HETH EXTRAORDINARY FUN AT OXFORD
THE AUDIENCE AND LECTURER TAKING TURNS A UNIVERSITY BREAK
FAST MAGNIFICENT OFFER FOR A COPYRIGHT SUCCESS OF MY ENTERPRISE
MORE MONEY FOR THE CLOCK CREDITORS.
SEEING the necessity of making more money to
assist in extricating me from my financial difficulties,
and leaving my affairs in the hands of Mr. James D.
Johnson- my wife and youngest daughter, Pauline,
boarding with my eldest daughter, Mrs. Thompson, in
Bridgeport early in 1858, I went back to England,
and took Tom Thumb to all the principal places in
Scotland and Wales, giving many exhibitions and mak
ing much money which was remitted, as heretofore, to
my agents and assignees in America.
Finding, after a while, that my personal attention
was not needed in the Tom Thumb exhibitions and
confiding him almost wholly to agents who continued
the tour through Great Britain, under my general
advice and instruction, 1 turned my individual atten
tion to a new field. At the suggestion of several Amer
ican gentlemen, resident in London, I prepared a
lecture on " The Art of Money-Getting." I told my
friends that, considering my clock complications, I
456 THE AET OF MONEY GETTING.
thought I was more competent to speak on " The Art
of Money Losing " ; but they encouraged me by remind
ing me that I could not have lost money, if I had
not previously possessed the faculty of making it.
They further assured me that my name having been
intimately associated with the Jenny Lind concerts and
other great money-making enterprises, the lecture would
be sure to prove attractive and profitable.
The old clocks ticked in my ear the reminder that I
should improve every opportunity to " turn an honest
penny," and my lecture was duly announced for delivery
in the great St. James Hall, Eegent Street, Picca
dilly. It was thoroughly advertised a feature I never
neglected and, at the appointed time, the hall, which
would hold three thousand people, was completely filled,
at prices of three and two shillings, (seventy-five and
fifty cents,) per seat, according to location. It was the
evening of December 29, 1858. Since my arrival in
Great Britain the previous spring, I had spent months
in travelling with General Tom Thumb, and now I was
to present myself in a new capacity to the English pub
lic as a lecturer. I could see in my audience all my
American friends who had suggested this effort; all my
theatrical and literary friends ; and as I saw several gen
tlemen whom I knew to be connected with the leading
London papers, I felt sure that my success or failure
would be duly chronicled next morning. There was,
moreover, a general audience that seemed eager to see
the " showman " of whom they had heard so muc^i, and
to catch from his lips the " art" which, in times past,
had contributed so largely to his success in life. Stimu
lated by these things, I tried to do my best, and I think
I did it. The following is the lecture substantially as
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 457
it was delivered, though it was interspersed with many
anecdotes and illustrations which are necessarily omit
ted; and I should add, that the subjoined copy being
adapted to the meridian in which it has been repeatedly
delivered, contains numerous local allusions to men and
matters in the United States, which, of course, did not
appear in the original draft prepared for my English
audiences :
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
In the United States, where we have more land than
people, it is not at all difficult for persons in good
health to make money. In this comparatively new field
there are so many avenues of success open, so many
vocations which are not crowded, that any person of
either sex who is willing, at least for the time being, to
engage in any respectable occupation that offers, may
find lucrative employment.
Those who really desire to attain an independence,
have only to set their minds upon it, and adopt the pro
per means, as they do in regard to any other object
which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily
done. But however easy it may be found to make
money, I have no doubt many of my hearers will agree
it is the most difficult thing in the world to keep it.
The road to wealth is, as Dr. Franklin truly says, " as
plain as the road to mill." It consists simply in expend
ing less than we earn ; that seems to be a very simple
problem. Mr. Micawber, one of those happy creations
of the genial Dickens, puts the case in a strong light
when he says that to have an income of twenty pounds,
per annum, and spend twenty pounds and sixpence, is
to % the most miserable of men; whereas, to have an
458 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
income of only twenty pounds, and spend but nineteen
pounds and sixpence, is to be the happiest of mortals.
Many of my hearers may say, " we understand this ; this
is economy, and we know economy is wealth ; we know
we can t eat our cake and keep it also." Yet I beg to
say that perhaps more cases of failure arise from mis
takes on this point than almost any other. The fact is,
many people think they understand economy when they
really do not.
True economy is misapprehended, and people go
through life without properly comprehending what that
principle is. Some say, " I have an income of so much,
and here is my neighbor who has the same ; yet every
year he gets something ahead and I fall short ; why is
it? I know all about economy." He thinks he does,
but he does not. There are many who think that
economy consists in saving cheese-parings and candle
ends, in cutting off two pence from the laundress bill
and doing all sorts of little, mean, dirty things. Econ
omy is not meanness. The misfortune is also that this
class of persons let their economy apply in only one
direction. They fancy they are so wonderfully economi
cal in saving a half-penny where they ought to spend
two pence, that they think they can afford to squander
in other directions. A few years ago, before kerosene oil
was discovered or thought of, one might stop over night
at almost any farmer s house in the agricultural districts
and get a very good supper, but after supper he might
attempt to read in the sitting room, and would find it
impossible with the inefficient light of one candle. The
hostess, seeing his dilemma, would say : " It is rather
difficult to read here evenings ; the proverb says you
must have a ship at sea in order to be able to burn two
n
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 459
candles at once ; we never have an extra caddie except
on extra occasions." These extra occasions occur,
perhaps, twice a year. In this way the good woman
saves five, six, or ten dollars in that time ; but the
information which might be derived from having the
extra light would, of course, far outweigh a ton of
candles.
But the trouble does not end here. Feeling that she
is so economical in tallow candles, she thinks she can
afford to go frequently to the village and spend twenty
or thirty dollars for ribbons and furbelows, many of
which are not necessary. This false ecpnomy may fre
quently be seen in men of business, and in those
instances it often runs to writing paper. You find
good business men who save all the old envelopes, and
scraps, and would not tear a new sheet of paper, if
they could avoid it, for the world. This is all very
well ; they may in this way save five or ten dollars
a year, but being so economical (only in note paper),
they think they can afford to waste time ; to have
expensive parties, and to drive their carriages. This
is an illustration of Dr. Franklin s " saving at the
spigot and wasting at the bung-hole " ; " penny wise
and pound foolish." Punch in speaking of this " one-
idea" class of people says " they a^ e like the man who
bought a penny herring for his family s dinner and then
hired a coach and four to take it home." I never knew
a man to succeed by practising this kind of economy.
True economy consists in always making the income
exceed the out-go. Wear the old clothes a little longer
if necessary ; dispense with the new pair of gloves ;
mend the old dress ; live on plainer food if need be ; so
that under all circumstances, unless some unforeseen
21*
460 THE ABT OF MONEY GETTING.
accident occurs, there will be a margin in favor of the
income. A penny here, and a dollar there, placed at
interest, goes on accumulating, and in this way the
desired result is attained. It requires some training,
perhaps, to accomplish this economy, but when once
used to it, you will find there is more satisfaction
in rational saving, than in irrational spending. Here
is a recipe which I recommend ; I have found it to work
an excellent cure for extravagance and especially for
mistaken economy : When you find that you have
no surplus at the end of the year, and yet have a good
income, I advise you to take a few sheets of paper and
form them into a book and mark down every item
of expenditure. Post it every "day or week in two
columns, one headed " necessaries " or even " comforts,"
and the other headed " luxuries," and you will find that
the latter column will be double, treble, and frequently
ten times greater than the former. The real comforts of
life cost but a small portion of what most of us can earn.
Dr. Franklin says "it is the eyes of others and not our
own eyes which ruin us. If all the world were blind
except myself I should not care for fine clothes or fur
niture." It is the fear of what Mrs. Grundy may say
that keeps the noses of many worthy families to the
grindstone. In America many persons like to repeat
44 we are all free and equal," but it is a great mistake
in more senses than one.
That we are born "free and equal" is a glorious
truth in one sense, yet we are not all born equally
rich, and we never shall be. One may say, " there is
a man who has an income of fifty thousand dollars
per annum, while I have but one thousand dollars ;
I knew that fellow when he was poor like myself;
tfHE AET OF MONEY GETTING. 461
now he is rich and thinks he is better than I am ;
I will show him that I am as good as he is ; I will
go and buy ahorse and baggy ; no, I cannot do thai
but I will go and hire one and ride this afternoon on
the same road that he does, and thus prove to him
that I am as good as he is."
My friend, you need not take that trouble, you can
easily prove that you are " as good as he is " ; you have
only to behave as well as he does, but you cannot make
anybody believe that you are as rich as he is. Besides,
if you put on these " airs," and waste your time and
spend your money, your poor wife will be obliged to
scrub her fingers oif at home, and buy her tea two ounces
at a time, and everything eke in proportion, in order
that you may keep up " appearances," and after all,
deceive nobody. On the other hand, Mrs. Smith may-
say that her next-door neighbor married Johnson for
his money, and " everybody says so." She has a nice
one thousand dollar camel s hair shawl, and she will
make Smith get her an imitation one and she will sit
in a pew right next to her neighbor in church, in order
to prove that she is her equal.
My good woman you will not get ahead in the world,
if your vanity and envy thus take the lead. In this
country, where we believe the majority ought to rule,
we ignore that principle in regard to fashion, and let a
handful of people, calling themselves the aristocracy,
run up a false standard of perfection, and in endeavor
ing to rise to that standard, we constantly keep ourselves
poor ; all the time digging away for the sake of outside
appearances. How much wiser to be a " law unto our
selves " and say, " we will regulate our out-go by our
income, and lay up something for a rainy day." People
462 THE AET OF MONEY GETTING.
ought to be as sensible on the subject of money-getting
as on any other subject. Like causes produce like effects.
You cannot accumulate a fortune by taking the road
that leads to poverty. It needs no prophet to tell us
that those who live fully up to their means, without
any thought of a reverse in this life, can never attain a
pecuniary independence.
Men and women accustomed to gratify every whim
and caprice, will find it hard, at first, to cut down their
various unnecessary expenses, and will feel it a great
self denial to live in a smaller house than they have
been accustomed to, with less expensive furniture, less
company, less costly clothing, fewer servants, a less
number of balls, parties, theatre goings, carriage ridings,
pleasure excursions, cigar smokings, liquor drinkings,
and other extravagances ; but, after all, if they will try
the plan of laying by a " nest-egg," or in other words, a
small sum of money, at interest or judiciously invested
in land, they will be surprised at the pleasure to be
derived from constantly adding to their little " pile," as
well as from all the economical habits which are
engendered by this course.
The old suit of clothes, and the old bonnet and dres^,
will answer for another season ; the Croton or spring
water will taste better than-champagne ; a cold bath and
a brisk walk will prove more exhilarating than a ride in
the finest coach ; a social chat, an evening s reading in
the family circle, or an hour s play of " hunt the slip
per " and " blind man s buff," will be far more pleasant
than a fifty or a five hundred dollar party, when the
reflection on the difference in cost is indulged in by
those who begin to know the pleasures of saving.
Thousands of men are kept poor, and tens of thou-
THE AET OF MONEY GETTING. 463
ands are made so after they have acquired quite suffi
cient to support them well through life, in consequence
of laying their plans of living on too broad a platform.
Some families expend twenty thousand dollars per
annum, and some much more, and would scarcely know
how to live on less, while others secure more solid
enjoyment frequently on a twentieth part of that
amount. Prosperity is a more severe ordeal than
adversity, especially sudden prosperity. " Easy come,
easy go," is an old and true proverb. A spirit of
pride and vanity, when permitted to have full sway,
is the undying . canker worm which gnaws the very
vitals of a man s worldly possessions, let them be
small or great, hundreds or millions. Many persons,
as they begin to prosper, immediately expand their
ideas and commence expending for luxuries, until in
a short time their expenses swallow up their income,
and they become ruined in their ridiculous attempts
to keep up appearances, and make a " sensation."
I know a gentleman of fortune who says, that when
he first began to prosper, his wife would have a new
and elegant sofa. " That sofa," he says, " cost me
thirty thousand dollars ! " When the sofa reached the
house, it was found necessary to get chairs to match ;
then side-boards, carpets and tables " to correspond "
with them, and so on through the entire stock of furni
ture ; when at last it was found that the house itself
was quite too small and old-fashioned for the furniture,
and a new one was built to correspond with the new
purchases ; " thus," added my friend, " summing up an
outlay of thirty thousand dollars caused by that single
sofa, and saddling on me, in the shape of servants, equi
page, and the necessary expenses attendant upon keep-
464 THE AIIT OF MONEY GETTING.
ing up a fine establishment, a yearly outlay of eleven
thousand dollars, and a tight pinch at that ; whereas,
ten years ago, we lived with much more real comfort,
because with much less care, on as many hundreds.
The truth is," he continued, " that sofa would have
brought me to inevitable bankruptcy, had not a most
unexampled tide of prosperity kept me above it, and
had I not checked the natural desire to * cut a dash.
The foundation of success in life is good health ; that
is the substratum of fortune ; it is also the basis of hap
piness. A person cannot accumulate a fortune very
well when he is sick. He has no ambition ; no incen
tive ; no force. Of course, there are those who have
bad health and cannot help it ; you cannot expect that
such persons can accumulate wealth ; but there are a
great many in poor health who need not be so.
If, then, sound health is the foundation of success
and happiness in life, how important it is that we
should study the laws of health, which is but another
expression for the laws of nature ! The closer we keep
to the laws of nature, the nearer we are to good health,
and yet how many persons there are who pay no atten
tion to natural laws, but absolutely transgress them,
even against their own natural inclination. We ought
to know that the " sin of ignorance " is never winked at
in regard to the violation of nature s laws ; their infrac
tion always brings the penalty. A child may thrust its
finger into the flame without knowing it will burn, and
so suffers ; repentance even will not stop the smart.
Many of our ancestors knew very little about the prin
ciple of ventilation. They did not know much about
oxygen, whatever other " gin " they might have been
acquainted with; and consequently, they built their
TH$) ART OF MOKEY GETTING. 465
houses with little seven-by-nine feet bedrooms, and
these good old pious Puritans would lock themselves
up in one of these cells, say their prayers, and go to
bed. In the morning they would devoutly return
thanks for the " preservation of their lives," during the
night, and nobody had better reason to be thankful.
Probably some big crack in the window, or in the door,
let in a little fresh air, and thus saved them.
Many persons knowingly violate the laws of nature
against their better impulses, for the sake of fashion.
For instance, there is one thing that nothing living
except a vile worm ever naturally loved, and that is
tobacco ; yet how many persons there are who deliber
ately train an unnatural appetite, and overcome this
implanted aversion for tobacco, to such a degree that
they get to love it. They have got hold of a poisonous,
filthy weed, or rather that takes a firm hold of them.
Here are married men who run about spitting tobacco
juice on the carpet and floors, and sometimes even upon
their wives besides. They do not kick their wives out
of doors like drunken men, but their wives, I have no
doubt, often wish they were outside of the house.
Another perilous feature is that this artificial appetite,
like jealousy, " grows by what it feeds on " ; when you
love that which is unnatural, a stronger appetite is
created for the hurtful thing than the natural desire for
what is harmless. There is an old proverb which says
that "habit is second nature," but an artificial habit is
stronger than nature. Take for instance an old tobacco-
chewer ; his love for the " quid " is stronger than his
love for any particular kind of food. He can give up
roast beef easier than give up the weed.
Young lad regret that they are not men ; they
466 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
would like to go to bed boys and wake up men;
and to accomplish this they copy the bad habits of
their seniors. Little Tommy and Johnny see their
fathers or uncles smoke a pipe and they say, " If I
could only do that I would be a man too ; uncle John
has gone out and left his pipe of tobacco, let us try it."
They take a match and light it, and then puff away.
"We will learn to smoke; do you like it Johnny?"
That lad dolefully replies : " Not very much ; it tastes
bitter " ; by and by he grows pale, but he persists, and
he soon offers up a sacrifice on the altar of fashion ; but
the boys stick to it and persevere until at last they
conquer their natural appetites and become the victims
of acquired tastes.
I speak " by the book," for I have noticed its effects
on myself, having gone so far as to smoke ten or fifteen
cigars a day, although I have not used the weed during
the last fourteen years, and never shall again. The
more a man smokes, the more he craves smoking ; the
last cigar smoked, simply excites the desire for another,
and so on incessantly.
Take the tobacco-chewer. In the morning when he
gets up, he puts a quid in his mouth and keeps it there
all day, never taking it out except to exchange it for
a fresh one, or when he is going to eat ; oh ! yes, at
intervals during the day and evening, many a chewer
takes out the quid and holds it in his hand long enough
to take a drink, and then pop it goes back again. This
simply proves that the appetite for rum is even stronger
than that for tobacco. When the tobacco chewer goes
to your country seat and you show him your grapery
and fruit house and the beauties of your garden, when
you offer him some fresh, ripe fruit, and say, " My friend,
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 467
I have got here the most delicious apples and pears
and peaches and apricots ; I have imported them from
Spain, France and Italy, just see those luscious grapes ;
there is nothing more delicious nor more healthy than
ripe fruit, so help yourself ; I want to see you delight
yourself with these things," he will roll the dear quid
under his tongue and answer, " No, I thank you, I have
got tobacco in my mouth." His palate has become nar
cotized by the noxious weed, and he has lost, in a
great measure, the delicate and enviable taste for fruits.
This shows what expensive, useless and injurious hab
its men will get into. I speak from experience. I
have smoked until I trembled like an aspen leaf, the
blood rushed to my head, and I had a palpitation of the
heart which I thought was heart disease, till I was
almost killed with fright. When I consulted my phy
sician, he said " break off tobacco using." I was not
only injuring my health and spending a great deal of
money, but I was setting a bad example. I obeyed his
counsel. No young man in the world ever looked so
beautiful, as he thought he did. behind a fifteen cent
cigar or a meerschaum !
These remarks apply with ten-fold force to the use
of intoxicating drinks. To make money, requires a
clear brain. A man has got to see that two and two
make four ; he must lay all his plans with reflection
and forethought, and closely examine all the details and
the ins and outs of business. As no man can suc
ceed in business unless he has a brain to enable him to
lay his plans, and reason to guide him in their execu
tion, so, no matter how bountifully a man may bP
blessed with intelligence, if the brain is muddled, and
his judgment warped by intoxicating drinks, it is
468 THE AET OF MONEY GETTING.
impossible for him to carry on business successfully.
How many good opportunities have passed, never to
return, while a man was sipping a " social glass," with
his friend ! How many foolish bargains have been made
under the influence of the " nervine," which temporarily
makes its victim think he is rich. How many import
ant chances have been put off until to-morrow, and then
forever, because the wine cup has thrown the system
into a state of lassitude, neutralizing the energies so
essential to success in business. Verily " wine is a
mocker." The use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage,
is as much an infatuation, as is the smoking of opium
by the Chinese, and the former is quite as destructive
to the success of the business man as the latter. It is
an unmitigated evil, utterly indefensible in the light of
philosophy, religion, or good sense. It is the parent of
nearly every other evil in our country.
Do N T MISTAKE YOUR VOCATION. The safest plan,
and the one most sure of success for the young man
starting in life, is to select the vocation which is most
congenial to his tastes. Parents and guardians are often
quite too negligent in regard to this. It is very com
mon for a father to say, for example : "I have five boys.
I will make Billy a clergyman ; John a lawyer ; Tom a
doctor, and Dick a farmer." He then goes into town
and looks about to see what he will do with Sammy.
He returns home and says " Sammy, I see watch-making
is a nice, genteel business ; I think I will make you a
goldsmith." He does this regardless of Sam s natural
inclinations, or genius.
We are all, no doubt, born for a wise purpose.
There is as much diversity in our brains as in our coun
tenances. Some are born natural mechanics, while
THE AKT OF MONEY GETTING. 469
some have great aversion to machinery. Let a dozen
boys of ten years get together and you will soon observe
two or three are " whittling " out some ingenious device ;
working with locks or complicated machinery. When
they were but five years old, their father could find no
toy to please them like a puzzle. They are natural
mechanics ; but the other eight or nine boys have differ
ent aptitudes. I belong to the latter class ; I never
had the slightest love for mechanism ; on the contrary 3
I have a sort of abhorrence for complicated machinery.
I never had ingenuity enough to whittle a cider tap se
it would not leak. I never could make a pen that I
could write with, or understand the principle of a steam
engine. If a man was to take such a boy as I was and
attempt to make a watchmaker of him, the boy might,
after an apprenticeship of five or seven years, be able
to take apart and put together a watch ; but all through
life he would be working up hill and seizing every
excuse for leaving his work and idling away his time.
Watch making is repulsive to him.
Unless a man enters upon the vocation intended for
him by nature, and best suited to his peculiar genius, he
cannot succeed. I am glad to believe that the majority
of persons do find the right vocation. Yet we see many
who have mistaken their calling, from the blacksmith
up (or down) to the clergyman. You will see for
instance, that extraordinary linguist the " learned black
smith," who ought to have been a teacher of languages ;
and you may have seen lawyers, doctors and clergymen
who were better fitted by nature for the anvil or the lap-
stone.
SELECT THE RIGHT LOCATION. After securing the
right vocation, you must be careful to select the proper
470 THE ART OF MOHEY GETTING.
location. You may have been cut out for a hotel
keeper, and they say it requires a genius to " know how
to keep a hotel." You might conduct a hotel like clock
work, and provide satisfactorily for five hundred guests
every day ; yet, if you should locate your house in a
small village where there is no railroad communication
or public travel, the location would be your ruin. It is
equally important that you do not commence business
where there are already enough to.meet all demands in
the same occupation. I remember a case which illus
trates this subject. When I was in London in 1858, I
was passing down Holborn with an English friend and
came to the " penny shows." They had immense car
toons outside, portraying the wonderful curiosities to be
seen " all for a penny." Being a little in the " show
line " myself, I said " let us go in here." We soon
found ourselves in the presence of the illustrious show
man, and he proved to be the sharpest man in that line
I had ever met. He told us some extraordinary stories
in reference to his bearded ladies, his Albinos, and his
Armadillos, which we could hardly believe, but thought
it " better to believe it than look after the proof." He
finally begged to call our attention to some wax statuary,
and showed us a lot of the dirtiest and filthiest wax
figures imaginable. They looked as if they had not
seen water since the Deluge.
" What is there so wonderful about your statuary?"
I asked.
" I beg you not to speak so satirically," he replied,
" Sir, these are not Madam Tussaud s wax figures, all
covered with gilt and tinsel, and imitation diamonds, and
copied from engravings and photographs. Mine, sir,
were taken from life. Whenever you look upon one of
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 471
those figures, you may consider that you are looking
upon the living individual."
Glancing casually at them, I saw one labelled " Henry
VIII.," and feeling a little curious upon seeing that it
looked like Calvin Edson, the living skeleton, I said :
Do you call that Henry the Eighth ] "
He replied, " Certainly, sir ; it was taken from life at
Hampton Court by special order of his majesty, on such
a day."
He would have given the hour of the day if I had
insisted ; I said " everybody knows that Henry VIII,
was a great stout old king, and that figure is lean and
lank ; what do you say to that 1 "
<{ Why," he replied, " you would be lean and lank
yourself, if you sat there as long as he has."
There was no resisting such arguments. I said to
my English friend., " Let us go out ; do not tell him
who I am ; I show the white feather ; he beats me."
He followed us to the door, and seeing the rabble in
the street he called out, " ladies and gentlemen, I beg
to draw your attention to the respectable character of
my visitors," pointing to us as we walked away. I
called upon him a couple of days afterwards ; told him
who I was, and said :
" My friend, you are an excellent showman, but you
have selected a bad location."
He replied, "This is true, sir; I feel that all my
talents are thrown away ; but what can I do ? "
" You can go to America," I replied. " You can give
full play to your faculties over there ; you will find
plenty of elbow room in America ; I will engage you
for two years ; after that you will be able to go o*
your own account."
472 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
He accepted my offer and remained two years in
my New York Museum. He then went to New Or
leans and carried on a travelling show business during
the summer. To-day he is worth sixty thousand dol
lars, simply because he selected the right vocation and
also secured the proper location. The old proverb
says, " Three removes are as bad as a fire," but when a
man is in the fire, it matters but little how soon or
how often he removes.
AVOID DEBT, Young men starting in life should
avoid running into debt. There is scarcely anything
that drags a person down like debt. It is a slavish
position to get in, yet we find many a young man
hardly out of his " teens " running in debt. He meets
a chum and says, ;< Look at this ; I have got trusted for
a new suit of clothes." He seems to look upon the
clothes as so much given to him ; well, it frequently is
so, but, if he succeeds in paying and then gets trusted
again, he is adopting a habit which will keep him in
poverty through life. Debt robs a man of his self re
spect, and makes him almost despise himself. Grunt
ing and groaning and working for what he has eaten
up or worn out, and now when he is called upon to
pay up, he has nothing to show for his money ; this is
properly termed " working for a dead horse." I do not
speak of merchants buying and selling on credit, or of
those who buy on credit in order to turn the purchase
to a profit. The old Quaker said to his farmer son,
" John, never get trusted ; but if thee gets trusted for
anything, let it be for manure/ because that will help
thee pay it back again."
Mr. Beecher advised young men to get in debt if
they could to a small amount in the purchase of land in
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 473
the country districts. " If a young man," he says,
" will only get in debt for some land and then get mar
ried, these two things will keep him straight, or noth
ing will." This may be safe to a limited extent, but
getting in debt for what you eat and drink and wear is
to be avoided. Some families have a foolish habit of
getting credit at " the stores," and thus frequently
purchase many things which might have been dispensed
with.
It is all very well to say, " I have got trusted for sixty
days, and if I do n t have the money, the creditor will
think nothing about it." There is no class of people
in the world who have such good memories as credit
ors. When the sixty days run out, you will have to
pay. If you do not pay, you will break your promise
and probably resort to a falsehood. You may make
some excuse or get in debt elsewhere to pay it, but that
only involves you the deeper.
A good looking, lazy young fellow, was the apprentice
boy Horatio. His employer said, " Horatio, did you ever
see a snail ? " "I think I have," he drawled out.
" You must have met him then, for I am sure you never
overtook one," said the " boss." Your creditor will
meet you or overtake you and say, " Now, my young
friend, you agreed to pay me ; you have not done it, you
, must give me your note." You give the note on interest
and it commences working against you ; "it is a dead
horse." The creditor goes to bed at night and wakes
up in the morning better off than when he retired to
bed because his interest has increased during the night,
but you grow poorer while you are sleeping, for the
interest is accumulating against you.
Money is in some respects like fire it is a very
474: THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
excellent servant but a terrible master. When you
have it mastering you, when interest is constantly piling
up against you, it will keep you down in the worst kind
of slavery. But let money work for you, and you have
the most devoted servant in the world. It is no " eye-
servant." There is nothing animate or inanimate that
will work so faithfully as money when placed at interest,
well secured. It works night arid day, and in wet or
dry weather.
I was born in the blue law State of Connecticut,
where the old Puritans had laws so rigid that it was said,
" they fined a man for kissing his wife on Sunday."
Yet these rich old Puritans would have thousands of
dollars at interest, and on Saturday night would be
worth a certain amount ; on Sunday they would go to
church and perform all the duties of a Christian. On
waking up on Monday morning, they would find them
selves considerably richer than the Saturday night
previous, simply because their money placed at interest
had worked faithfully for them all day Sunday, according
to law !
Do not let it work against you ; If you do, there is
no chance for success in life so far as money is con
cerned. John Randolph, the eccentric Virginian, once
exclaimed in Congress, " Mr. Speaker, I have discovered
the philosopher s stone : pay as you go." This is
indeed nearer to the philosopher s stone than any
alchemist has ever yet arrived.
PERSEVERE. When a man is in the right path, he
must persevere. I speak of this because there are
some persons who are " born tired " ; naturally lazy and
possessing no self reliance and no perseverance. But,
they can cultivate these qualities, as iJavy Crockett said :
AET OF MONEY GETTING. 475
" This thing remember, when I am dead,
Be sure you are right, then go ahead."
It is this go-aheaditivencss, this determination not
to let the "horrors " or the "blues" take possession
of you, so as to make you relax your energies in the
struggle for independence, which you must cultivate.
How many have almost reached the goal of their
ambition, but losing faith in themselves have relaxed
their energies, and the golden prize has been lost
forever.
It is, no doubt, often true, as Shakespeare says :
" There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune."
If you hesitate, some bolder hand will stretch out
before you and get the prize. Remember the proverb
of Solomon : " He becometh poor that dealeth with a
slack hand ; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich."
Perseverance is sometimes but another word for self-
reliance. Many persons naturally look on the dark side
of life, and borrow trouble. They are born so. Then
they ask for advice, and they will be governed by one
wind and blown by another, and cannot rely upon
themselves. Until you get so that you can rely
upon yourself, you need not expect to succeed. I have
known men personally who have met with pecuniary
reverses, and absolutely committed suicide, because they
thought they could never overcome their misfortune.
But I have known others who have met more serious
financial difficulties, and have bridged them over by
simple perseverance, aided by a firm belief that they
were doing justly, and that Providence would " over
come evil with good." You will see this illustrated in
any sphere of life.
22
4:76 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
Take two Generals ; both understand military tactics,
both educated at West Point, if you please, both
equally gifted ; yet one, having this principle of persever
ance, and the other lacking it, the former will succeed
in his profession, while the latter will fail. One may
hear the cry, the enemy are coming, and they have
got cannon.
"Got cannon?" says the hesitating General.
"Yes."- &fili
" Then halt every man."
He wants time to reflect ; his hesitation is his ruin.
The enemy passes unmolested, or overwhelms him.
The General 0f pluck, perseverance and self reliance
goes into battle with a will, and amid the clash of arms,
the booming of cannon, and the shrieks of the wounded
and dying, you will see this man persevering, going on,
cutting and slashing his way through with unwavering
determination, and if you are near enough, you will
hear him shout, " I will fight it out on this line if it
takes all summer."
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT.
Work at it, if necessary, early and late, in season and
out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never
deferring for a single hour that which can be done just
as well now. The old proverb is full of truth and mean
ing, " Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing
well." Many a man acquires a fortune by doing his
business thoroughly, while his neighbor remains poor
for life because he only half does it. Ambition, energy,
industry, perseverance, are indispensable requisites for
success in business.
Fortune always favors the brave, and never helps a
man who does not help himself. It won t do to spend
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 477
your time like Mr. Micawber, in waiting for something
to "turn up." To such men one of two things usu
ally " turns up " : the poor-house or the jail ; for idle
ness breeds bad habits, and clothes a man in rags. The
poor spendthrift vagabond said to a rich man :
" I have discovered there is money enough in the
world for all of us, if it was equally divided ; this must
be done, and we shall all be happy together."
" But," was the response, " if everybody was like
you, it would be spent in two months, and what would
you do then 1 "
" Oh ! divide again ; keep dividing, of course ! "
I was recently reading in a London paper an account
of a like philosophic pauper who was kicked out of a
cheap boarding-house because he could not pay his bill,
but he had a roll of papers sticking out of his coat
pocket, which, upon examination, proved to be his plan
for paying off the national debt of England without
the aid of a penny. People have got to do as Crom
well said : " not only trust in Providence, but keep the
powder dry." Do your part of the work, or you can
not succeed. Mahomet, one night, while encamping in
the desert, overheard one of his fatigued followers
remark : " I will loose my camel, and trust it to God."
" No, no, not so," said the prophet, " tie thy camel, and
trust it to God ! " Do all you can for yourselves, and
then trust to Providence, or luck, or whatever you
please to call it, for the rest.
DEPEND UPON YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXERTIONS. The
eye of the employer is often worth more than the hands
of a dozen employees. In the nature of things, an
agent cannot be so faithful to his employer as to himself.
Many who are employers will call to mind instances
478 THE AllT OF MONEY GETTING.
where the best employees have overlooked important
points which could not have escaped their own observa
tion as a proprietor. No man has a right to expect to
succeed in life unless he understands his business, and
nobody can understand his business thoroughly unless
he learns it by personal application and experience. A
man may be a manufacturer ; he has got to learn the
many details of his business personally ; he will learn
something every day, and he will find he will make
mistakes nearly every day. And these very mistakes
are helps to him in the way of experiences if he but
heeds them. He will be like the Yankee tin-peddler,
who, having been cheated as to quality in the purchase
of his merchandise, said : " All right, there s a little
information to be gained every day ; I will never be
cheated in that way again." Thus a man buys his
experience, and it is the best kind if not purchased at
too dear a rate.
I hold that every man should, like Cuvier, the French
naturalist, thoroughly know his business. So proficient
was he in the study of natural history, that you might
bring to him the bone or even a section of a bone of an
animal which he had never seen described, and reason
ing from analogy, he would be able to draw a picture of
the object from which the bone had been taken. On
one occasion his students attempted to deceive him.
They rolled one of their number in a cow skin and put
him under the Professor s table as a new specimen. When
the philosopher came into the room, some of the
students asked him what animal it was. Suddenly the
animal said " I am the devil and I am going to eat you."
It was but natural that Cuvier should desire to classify
this creature, and examining it intently, he said,
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 479
" Divided hoof ; graminivorous ! it cannot be done."
He knew that an animal with a split hoof must live
upon grass and grain, or other kind of vegetation, and
would not be inclined to eat flesh, dead or alive, so he
considered himself perfectly safe. The possession of a
perfect knowledge of your business is an absolute
necessity in order to insure success.
Among the maxims of the elder Eothschild was one,
an apparent paradox : "Be cautious and bold." This
seems to be a contradiction in terms, but it is not,
and there is great wisdom in the maxim. It is, in
fact, a condensed statement of what I have already
said. It is to say, " you must exercise your caution in
laying your plans, but be bold in carrying them out."
A man who is all caution, will never dare to take hold
and be successful ; and a man who is all boldness, is
merely reckless, and must eventually fail. A man may
go on " change " and make fifty or one hundred thou
sand dollars in speculating in stocks, at a single opera
tion. But if he has simple boldness without caution, it
is mere chance, and what he gains to-day he will lose
to-morrow. You must have both the caution and the
boldness, to insure success.
The Rothschilds have another maxim : " Never have
anything to do with an unlucky man or place." That
is to say, never have anything to do with a man or
place which never succeeds, because, although a man
may appear to be honest and intelligent, yet if he tries
this or that thing and always fails, it is on account
of some fault or infirmity that you may not be able to
discover, but nevertheless which must exist.
There is no such thing in the world as luck. There
never was a man who could go out in the morning and
480 -THE ABT OF MONEY.
find a purse full of gold in the street to-day, and anothef
to-morrow, arid so on, day after day. He riiay do so once
in his life ; but so far as mere luck is concerned, he is as
liable to lose it as to find it. " Like causes produce
like effects." If a man adopts the proper methods
to be successful, " luck" will not prevent him. If he
do^es not succeed, there are reasons for it, although per
haps, he may not be able to see them.
USE THE BEST TOOLS. Men in engaging employees
should be careful to get the best. Understand, you
cannot have too good tools to work with, and there is
no tool you should be so particular about as living
tools. If you get a good one, it is better to keep him,
than keep changing. He learns something every day,
and you are benefited by the experience he acquires.
He is worth more\ to you this year than last, and he is
the last man to park with, provided his habits are good
and he continues faithful. If, as he gets more valu
able, he demands an exorbitant increase of salary on
the supposition that you can t do without him, let him
go. Whenever I have such an employee, I always
discharge him ; first, to convince him that his place may
be supplied, and second, because he is good for noth
ing if he thinks he is invaluable and cannot be spared.
But I would keep him, if possible, in order to profit
from the result of his experience. An important ele
ment in an employee is the brain. You can see bills
up, " Hands Wanted," but " hands " are not worth a
great deal without " heads." Mr. Beecher illustrates
this, in this wise :
An employee offers his services by saying, " I have a
pair of hands and one of my fingers thinks." "That
is very good," says the employer. Another man comes
THE AET OF MONEY GETTING. 481
along, and says " he has two fingers that think." "Ah !
that is better." But a third calls in and says that
" all his fingers and thumbs think." That is better still.
Finally another steps in, and says, " I have a brain
that thinks ; I think all over ; I am a thinking as well
as a working man ! " " You are the man I want/ says
the delighted employer.
Those men who have brains and experience are there
fore the most valuable and not to be readily parted
with ; it is better for them, as well as yourself, to keep
them, at reasonable advances in their salaries from time
to time.
Do N T GET ABOVE YOUR BUSINESS. Young men after
they get through their business training, or apprentice
ship, instead of pursuing their avocation and rising in
their business, will often lie about doing nothing. They
say, " I have learned my business, but I am not going
to be a hireling ; what is the object of learning my trade
or profession, unless I establish myself]"
" Have you capital to start with ? "
" No, but I am going to have it."
" How are you going to get it ? "
" I will tell you confidentially ; I have a wealthy old
aunt, and she will die pretty soon ; but if she does not,
I expect to find some rich old man who Tvlll lend me a
few thousands to give me a start. If I only get the
money to start with I will do well."
There is no greater mistake than when a young
man believes he will succeed with borrowed money.
Why? Because every man s experience coincides with
that of Mr. Astor, who said, it was more difficult for
him to accumulate his first thousand dollars, than all
the succeeding millions that made up his colossal for-
482 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
tune/ Money is good for nothing unless you know the
value of it by experience. Give a boy twenty thousand
dollars and put him in business and the chances are
that he will lose every dollar of it before he is a year
older. Like buying a ticket in the lottery, and drawing
a prize, it is " easy come, easy go." He does not
know the value of it ; nothing is worth anything, unless
it costs effort. Without self denial and economy,
patience and perseverance, and commencing with capital
which you have not earned, you are not sure to succeed
in accumulating. Young men instead of " waiting for
dead men s shoes " should be up and doing, for there is
no class of persons who are so unaccommodating in
regard to dying as these rich old people, and it is
fortunate for the expectant heirs that it is so. Nine out
of ten of the rich men of our country to-day, started
out in life as poor boys, with determined wills, industry,
perseverance, economy and good habits. They went on
gradually, made their own money and saved it ; and this
is the best way to acquire a fortune. Stephen Girard
started life as a poor cabin boy, and died worth nine
million dollars. A. T. Stewart was a poor Irish boy ;
now he pays taxes on a million and a half dollars of
income, per year. John Jacob Astor was a poor farmer
boy, and died worth twenty millions. Cornelius Van-
derbilt began life rowing a boat from Staten Island to
New York ; now he presents our government with a
steamship worth a million of dollars, and he is worth
fifty millions.
" There is no royal road to learning," says the proverb,
and I may say it is equally true, " there is no royal road
to wealth." But I think there is a royal road to both.
The road to learning is a royal one ; the road that
THE AET OF MONEY GETTING. 483
enables the student to expand his intellect and add
every day to his stock of knowledge, until, in the pleas
ant process of intellectual growth, he is able to solve
the most profound problems, to count the stars, to
analyze every atom of the globe, and to measure the
firmament this is a regal highway, and it is the only
road worth travelling.
So in regard to wealth. Go on in confidence, study
the rules, and above all things, study human nature ; for
" the proper study of mankind is man," and you will find
that while expanding the intellect and the muscles, your
enlarged experience will enable you every day to accu
mulate more and more principal, which will increase
itself by interest and otherwise, until you arrive at a
state of independence. You will find, as a general
thing, that the poor boys get rich and the rich boys get
poor. For instance, a rich man at his decease, leaves
a large estate to his family. His eldest sons, who have
helped him earn his fortune, know by experience the
value of money, and they take their inheritance and
add to it. The separate portions of the young children
are placed at interest, and the little fellows are patted
on the head, and told a dozen times a day, " you are rich ;
you will never have to work, you can always have what
ever you wish, for you were born with a golden spoon in
your mouth." The young heir soon finds out what that
means ; he has the finest dresses and playthings ; he is
crammed with sugar candies and almost " killed with
kindness," and he passes from school to school, petted
and flattered. He becomes arrogant and self-conceited,
abuses his teachers, and carries everything with a high
hand. He knows nothing of the real value of money,
having never earned any ; but he knows all about the
22*
484 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
" golden spoon " business. At college, he invites his
poor fellow-students to his room where he " wines and
dines " them. He is cajoled and caressed, and called a
glorious good fellow, because he is so lavish of his money.
He gives his game suppers, drives his fast horses, invites
his chums to fetes and parties, determined to have lots of
" good times." He spends the night in frolics and
debauchery, and leads off his companions with the
familiar song, " we won t go home till morning." He
gets them to join him in pulling down signs, taking
gates from their hinges and throwing them into back
yards and horse-ponds. If the police arrest them, he
knocks them down, is taken to the lock-up, and joy
fully foots the bills.
" Ah ! my boys," he cries, " what is the use of being
rich, if you can t enjoy yourself? "
He might more truly say, " if you can t make a fool of
yourself" ; but he is " fast," hates slow things, and don t
" see it." Young men loaded down with other people s
money are almost sure to lose all they inherit, and they
acquire all sorts of bad habits which, in the majority of
cases, ruins them in health, purse and character. In
this country, one generation follows another, and the
poor of to-day are rich in the next generation, or the
third. Their experience leads them on, and they be
come rich, and they leave vast riches to their young
children. These children, having been reared in luxury,
are inexperienced and get poor ; and after long experi
ence another generation comes on and gathers up
riches again in turn. And thus " history repeats itself,"
and happy is he who by listening to the experience of
others avoids the rocks and shoals on which so many
have been wrecked.
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 485
LEARN SOMETHING USEFUL. Every man should make
his son or daughter learn some trade or profession, so
that in these days of changing fortunes of being rich
to-day and poor to-morrow, they may have something
tangible to fall back upon. This provision might save
many persons from misery, who by some unexpected
turn of fortune have lost all their means.
LET HOPE PREDOMINATE, BUT BE NOT TOO VISIONARY.
Many persons are always kept poor, because they are
too visionary. Every project looks to them like certain
success, and therefore they keep changing from one
business to another, always in hot water, always "under
the harrow." The plan of " counting the chickens
before they are hatched " is an error of ancient date,
but it does not seem to improve by age.
Do NOT SCATTER YOUR POWERS. Engage in one kind
of business only, and stick to it faithfully until you
succeed, or until your experience shows that you should
abandon it. A constant hammering on one nail will
generally drive it home at last, so that it can be
clinched. When a man s undivided attention is cen
tred on one object, his mind will constantly be suggest
ing improvements of value, which would escape him if
his brain was occupied by a dozen different subjects at
once. Many a fortune has slipped through a man s
fingers because he was engaging in too many occupa
tions at a time. There is good sense in the old caution
against having too many irons in the fire at once.
BE SYSTEMATIC. Men should be systematic in their
business. A person who does business by rule, hav*
ing a time and place for everything, doing his work
promptly, will accomplish twice as much and with half
the trouble of him who does it carelessly and slipshod.
4:86 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
By introducing system into all your transactions, doing
one thing at a time, always meeting appointments with
punctuality, you find leisure for pastime and recreation ;
whereas the man who only half does one thing, and
then turns to something else and half does that,
will have his business at loose ends, and will neve 1 *
know when his day s work is done, for it never will be
done. Of course there is a limit to all these rules.
We must try to preserve the happy medium, for there
is such a thing as being too systematic. There are men
and women, for instance, who put away things so care
fully that they can never find them again. It is too
much like the " red tape " formality at Washington
and Mr. Dickens "Circumlocution Office," all the
ory and no result.
When the " Astor House " was first started in New
York City, it was undoubtedly the best hotel in tht
country. The proprietors had learned a good deal in
Europe regarding hotels, and the landlords were proud
of the rigid system which pervaded every departmcp*
of their great establishment. When twelve o clock at
night had arrived and there were a number of guests
around, one of the proprietors would say, " Touch that
bell, John " ; and in two minutes sixty servants with a
water bucket in each hand, would present themselves
in the hall. "This," said the landlord, addressing his
guests, " is our fire bell ; it will show you we are quite
safe here ; we do everything systematically." This was
before the Croton water was introduced into the city.
But they sometimes carried their system too far. On
one occasion when the hotel was thronged with guests,
one of the waiters was suddenly indisposed, and al
though there were fifty waiters in the hotel, the land
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 487
lord thought he must have his full complement, or his
" system " would be interfered with. Just before din
ner time he rushed down stairs and said, " There must
be another waiter, I am one waiter short, what can I
do ? " He happened to see " Boots " the Irishman.
u Pat," said he, " wash your hands a nd face ; take that
white apron and come into the dining room in five min
utes." Presently Pat appeared as required, and the pro
prietor said : " Now Pat, you must stand behind these
two chairs and wait on the gentlemen who will occupy
them ; did you ever act as a waiter ] "
" I know all about it sure, but I never did it."
Like the Irish pilot, on one occasion when the cap
tain, thinking he was considerably out of his course,
asked, " Are you certain you understand what you are
doing! "
Pat replied, " Sure and I knows every rock in the
channel."
That moment " bang " thumped the vessel against a
rock.
"Ah! be jabers, and that is one of em," continued
the pilot. But to return to the dining-room. " Pat, *
said the landlord, " here we do everything systemati
cally. You must first give the gentlemen each a plate
of soup, and when they finish that, ask them what they
will have next."
Pat replied, " Ah ! an I understand parfectly the
vartues of shystem."
Very soon in came the guests. The plates of soup
were placed before them. One of Pat s two gentlemen
ate his soup, the other did not care for it. He said
" Waiter, take this plate away and bring me some fish."
Fat looked at the untasted plate of soup, and remem-
HG irmij>o:i iT >rv-\Fv * ifurno 1 t vni^
488 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
bering the injunctions of the landlord in regard to
u system," replied :
" Not till ye have ate yer supe ! "
Of course that was carrying " system " entirely too
far.
READ THE NEWSPAPERS. Always take a trustworthy
newspaper and thus keep thoroughly posted in regard to
the transactions of the world, He who is without a
newspaper is cut off from his species. In these days
of telegraphs and steam, many important inventions and
improvements in every branch of trade are being made,
and he who don t consult the newspapers will soon find
himself and his business left out in the cold.
BEWARE OF " OUTSIDE OPERATIONS." We sometimes
see men who have obtained fortunes, suddenly become
poor. In many cases this arises from intemperance,
and often from gaming, and other bad habits. Fre
quently it occurs because a man has been engaged in
u outside operations," of some sort. When he gets
rich in his legitimate business, he is told of a grand
speculation where he can make a score of thousands.
He is constantly flattered by his friends, who tell him
that he is born lucky, that everything he touches turns
into gold. Now if he forgets that his economical
habits, his rectitude of conduct and a personal attention
to a business which he understood, caused his success in
life, he will listen to the syren voices. He says :
" I will put in twenty thousand dollars. I have been
lucky, and my good luck will soon bring me back sixty
thousand dollars."
A few days elapse and it is discovered he must put in
ten thousand dollars more ; soon after he is told "it is
all right," but certain matters not foreseen require an
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 489
advance of twenty thousand dollars more, which will
bring him a rich harvest ; but before the time comes
around to realize, the bubble bursts, he loses all he is
possessed of, and then he learns what he ought to have
known at the first, that however successful a man may
be in his own business, if he turns from that and
engages in a business which he don t understand he is
like Sampson when shorn of his locks, his strength
has departed, and he becomes like other men.
If a man has plenty of money he ought to invest
something in everything that appears to promise success
and that will probably benefit mankind; but let the
sums thus invested be moderate in amount, and never
let a man foolishly jeopardize a fortune that he has
earned in a legitimate way, by investing it in things in
which he has had no experience,
DON T INDORSE WITHOUT SECURITY. I hold that no
man ought ever to indorse a note or become security for
any man, be it his father or brother, to a greater extent
than he can afford to lose and care nothing about, with
out taking good security. Here is a man that is worth
twenty thousand dollars ; he is doing a thriving manu
facturing or mercantile trade ; you are retired and
living on your money ; he comes to you and says :
" You are aware that I am worth twenty thousand
dollars, and don t owe a dollar ; if I had five thousand
dollars in cash, I could purchase a particular lot of
goods and double my money in a couple of months ; will
you indorse my note for that amount I "
You reflect that he is worth twenty thousand dollars,
and you incur no risk by indorsing his note ; you like
to accommodate him, and you lend your name without
taking the precaution of getting security. Shortly after,
490 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
he shows you the note with your indorsement cancelled,
and tells you, probably truly, " that he made the profit
that he expected by the operation," you reflect that
you have done a good action, and the thought makes
you feel happy. By and by, the same thing occurs
again, and you do it again ; you have already fixed the
impression in your mind that it is perfectly safe to
indorse his notes without security.
But the trouble is, this man is getting money too
easily. He has only to take your note to the bank, get
it discounted and take the cash. He gets money for
the time being without effort ; without inconvenience to
himself. Now mark the result. He sees a chance for
speculation outside of his business. A temporary
investment of only $10,000 is required. It is sure to
come back before a note at the bank would be due.
He places a note for that amount before you. You
sign it almost mechanically. Being firmly convinced
that your friend is responsible and trustworthy, you
indorse his notes as " a matter of course."
Unfortunately the speculation does not come to a head
quite so soon as was expected, and another $10,000 note
must be discounted to take up the last one when due.
Before this note matures the speculation has proved an
utter failure and all the money is lost. Does the loser
tell his friend, the indorser, that he has lost half of his
fortune? Not at all. He don t even mention that he
has speculated at all. But he has got excited ; the spirit
of speculation has seized him ; he sees others making
large sums in this way (we seldom hear of the losers),
a . like other speculators, he " looks for his money
where he loses it." He tries again. Indorsing his
notes has become chronic with you, and at every loss he
THE AKT OF MONEY GETTING. 491
gets your signature for whatever amount he wants.
Finally you discover your friend has lost all of his
property and all of yours. You are overwhelmed with
astonishment and grief, and you say " it is a hard thing,
my friend here has ruined me," but, you should add, " I
have also ruined him." If you had said in the first
place, " I will accommodate you, but I never indorse with
out taking ample security," he could not have gone
beyond the length of his tether and he would never
have been tempted away from his legitimate business.
It is a very dangerous thing, therefore, at any time, to
let people get possession of money too easily ; it tempts
them to hazardous speculations, if nothing more.
Solomon truly said " he that hateth suretiship is sure."
So with the young man starting in business ; let him
understand the value of money by earning it. When he
does understand its value, then grease the wheels a little
in helping him to start business, but remember men
who get money with too great facility cannot usually
succeed. You must get the first dollars by hard knocks,
and at some sacrifice, in order to appreciate the value
of those dollars.
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS. We all depend, more or
less, upon the public for our support We all trade
with the public, lawyers, doctors, shoemakers, artists,
blacksmiths, showmen, opera singers, railroad presi
dents, and college professors. Those who deal with the
public must be careful that their goods are valuable ;
that they are genuine, and will give satisfaction. When
you get an article which you know is going to please
your customers, and that when they have tried it, they
will feel they have got their money s worth, then let the
fact be known that you have got it. Be careful to
492 THE AET OF MONEY GETTING.
advertise it in some shape or other, because it is evident
that if a man has ever so good an article for sale, and
nobody knows it, it will bring him no return. In a
country like this, where nearly everybody reads, and
where newspapers are issued and circulated in editions
of five thousand to two hundred thousand, it would be
very unwise if this channel was not taken advantage of
to reach the public in advertising. A newspaper goes
into the family and is read by wife and children, as well
as the head of the house ; hence hundreds and thou
sands of people may read your advertisement, while you
are attending to your routine business. Many, perhaps,
read it while you are asleep. The whole philosophy of
life is, first " sow," then " reap." That is the way the
farmer does ; he plants his potatoes and corn, and sows
his grain, and then goes about something else, and the
time comes when he reaps. But he never reaps first
and sows afterwards. This principle applies to all
kinds of business, and to nothing more eminently than
to advertising. If a man has a genuine article, there is
no way in which he can reap more advantageously than
by " sowing " to the public in this way. He must, of
course, have a really good article, and one which will
please his customers ; anything spurious will not suc
ceed permanently, because the public is wiser than
many imagine. Men and women are selfish, and we all
prefer purchasing where we can get the most for our
money ; and we try to find out where we can most surely
do so.
You may advertise a spurious article, and induce
many people to call and buy it once, but they will
denounce you as an impostor and swindler, and your busi
ness will gradually die out, and leave you poor. This is
THE ABT OF MONEY GETTING. 493
right* Few people can safely depend upon chance cus
tom. You all need to have your customers return and
purchase again. A man said to me, " I have tried
advertising, and did not succeed; yet I have a good
urticle."
I replied, " My friend, there may be exceptions to
a general rule. But how do you advertise] "
" I put it in a weekly newspaper three times, and
paid a dollar and a half for it."
I replied : " Sir, advertising is like learning a
little is a dangerous thing.
A French writer says that " The reader of a newspa
per does not see the first insertion of an ordinary adver
tisement ; the second insertion he sees, but does not
read ; the third insertion he reads ; the fourth insertion,
he looks at the price ; the fifth insertion, he speaks of it
to his wife ; the sixth insertion, he is ready to purchase,
and the seventh insertion, he purchases." Your object
in advertising is to make the public understand what
you have got to sell, and if you have not the pluck to
keep advertising, until you have imparted that informa
tion, all the money you have spent is lost. You are
like the fellow who told the gentleman if he would
give him ten cents it would save him a dollar. " How
can I help you so much with so small a sum ? " asked
the gentleman in surprise. " I started out this morning
(hiccupped the fellow) with the full determination to get
drunk, and I have spent my only dollar to accomplish
the object, and it has not quite done it. Ten cents
worth more of whiskey would just do it, and in this
manner I should save the dollar already expended."
So a man who advertises at all must keep it up until
the public know who and what he is, and what his
494 THE AFT OF MONEY GETTING.
business is, or else the \noney invested in advertising is
lost.
Some men have a peculiar genius for Writing a
striking advertisement, one that will arrest the atten
tion of the reader at first sight. This tact, of course,
gives the advertiser a gre^t advantage. Sometimes a
man makes himself popular by an unique sign or a
curious display in his window. Recently I observed
a swing sign extending ove* the sidewalk in front
of a store, on which was th^ inscription, in plain
letters,
"DON T HEAD THE OTH^K SIDE."
Of course I did, and so did everybody else, and I
learned that the man had made an independence by
first attracting the public to his business in that way
and then using his customers well afterwards.
Genin, the hatter, bought the first Jenny Lind ticket
at auction for two hundred and twenty- five dollars,
because he knew it would be a good advertisement for
him. " Who is the bidder]" said the auctioneer, as he
knocked down that ticket at Castle Garden. " Genin,
the hatter," was the response. Here were thousands of
people from the Fifth Avenue, and from distant cities
in the highest stations in life, " Who is Genin, th
hatter ? " they exclaimed. They had never heard of him
before. The next morning the newspapers and tele
graph had circulated the facts from Maine to Texas, and
from five to ten millions of people had read that the
tickets sold at auction for Jenny Lind s first concert
amounted to about twenty thousand dollars, and that a
single ticket was sold at two hundred and twenty-five
dollars, to " Genin, the hatter." Men throughout the
THE ART OF MONEY GWTtflNG. 495
country involuntarily took off their hats to see if they
had a " Genin " hat on their heads. At a town in Iowa
it was found that in the crowd around the Post Office,
there was one man who had a " Genin " hat, and he
shoAved.it in triumph, although it was worn out and not
worth two cents. " Why," one man exclaimed, " you
have a real c Genin hat ; what a lucky fellow you are."
Another man said " Hang on to that hdt, it will be a
valuable heir-loom in your family. " Still another man
in the crowd, who seemed to envy the possessor of this
good fortune, said, " come, give us all a chance ; put it up
at auction ! " He did so, and it was sold as a keepsake
for nine dollars and fifty cents ! What was the conse
quence to Mr. Genin ? He sold ten thousand extra hats
per annum, the first six years. Nine-tenths of the
purchasers bought of him, probably, out of curiosity,
and many of them, finding that he gave them an equiva
lent for their money, became his regular customers.
This novel advertisement first struck their attention,
and then as he made a good article, they came again.
Now, I do n t say that everybody should advertise as
Mr. Genin did. But I say if a man has got goods
for sale, and he don t advertise them in some way, the
chances are that some day the sheriff will do it for him.
Nor do I say that everybody must advertise in a news
paper, or indeed use " printers ink " at all. On the
contrary, although that article is indispensable in the
majority of cases, yet doctors and clergymen, and some
times lawyers and some others can more effectually reach
the public in some other manner. But it is obvious,
they must be known in some way, else how could they
be supported?
BE POLITE AND KIND TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.,. Politeness
496 THE AKT OF MONEY GETTING.
and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.
Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will
all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat
your patrons abruptly. The truth is, the more kind
and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the
patronage bestowed upon him. " Like begets like."
The man who gives the greatest amount of goods of a
corresponding quality for the least sum (still reserving
to himself a profit) will generally succeed best in the long
run. This brings us to the golden rule, " As ye
would that men should do to you, do ye also to them,"
and they will do better by you than if you always
treated them as if you wanted to get the most you could
out of them for the least return. Men who drive sharp
bargains with their customers, acting as if they never
expected to see them again, will not be mistaken. They
never will see them again as customers. People don t
like to pay and get kicked also.
One of the ushers in my Museum once told me he
intended to whip a man who was in the lecture room as
soon as he came out.
"What for?" I inquired.
" Because he said I was no gentleman," replied the
usher.
" Never mind," I replied, " he pays for that, and you
will not convince him you are a gentleman by whipping
him. I cannot afford to lose a customer. If you whip
him, he will never visit the Museum again, and he will
induce friends to go with him to other places of amuse
ment instead of this, and thus, you see, I should be a
serious loser."
" But he insulted me," muttered the usher.
" Exactly," I replied, " and if he owned the Museum,
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 497
and you had paid him for the privilege of visiting it,
and he had then insulted you, there might be some rea
son in your resenting it, but in this instance he is the
man who pays, while we receive, and you must, there
fore, put up with his bad manners."
My usher laughingly remarked, that this was undoubt
edly the true policy, but he added that he should not
object to an increase of salary if he was expected to be
abused in order to promote my interests.
BE CHARITABLE. Of course men should be charitable,
because it is a duty and a pleasure. But even as a mat
ter of policy, if you possess no higher incentive, you
will find that the liberal man will command patronage,
while the sordid, uncharitable miser will be avoided.
Solomon says : " There is that scattereth and yet
increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than
meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Of course the only
true charity is that which is from the heart.
The best kind of charity is to help those who are
willing to help themselves. Promiscuous almsgiving,
without inquiring into the worthiness of the applicant,
is bad in every sense. But to search out and quietly
assist those who are struggling for themselves, is the
kind that " scattereth and yet increaseth." But don t
fall into the idea that some persons practise, of giving a
prayer instead of a potato, and a benediction instead of
bread, to the hungry. It is easier to make Christians
with full stomachs than empty.
Do N T BLAB. Some men have a foolish habit of tell
ing their business secrets. If they make money they
like to tell their neighbors how it was done. Nothing
is gained by this, and ofttimes much is lost. Say noth
ing about your profits, your hopes, your expectations,
498 THE AET OF MONEY GETTIKG.
your intentions. And this should apply to letters as
well as to conversation. Goethe makes Mephistophiles
say : " never write a letter nor destroy one." Business
men must write letters, but they should be careful what
they put in them. If you are losing money, be specially
cautious and not tell of it, or you will lose your reputa
tion.
PRESERVE YOUR INTEGRITY. It is more precious than
diamonds or rubies. The old miser said to his sons :
" Get money ; get it honestly, if you can, but get money."
This advice was not only atrociously wicked, but it was
the very essence of stupidity. It was as much as to say,
" if you find it difficult to obtain money honestly, you
can easily get it dishonestly. Get it in that way."
Poor fool ! Not to know that the most difficult thing
in life is to make money dishonestly ! not to know that
our prisons are full of men who attempted to follow
this advice ; not to understand that no man can be dis
honest without soon being found out, and that when his
lack of principle is discovered, nearly every avenue id
success is closed against him forever. The public very
properly shun all whose integrity is doubted. No mat
ter how polite and pleasant and accommodating a man
may be, noi)e of us dare to deal with him if we suspect
" false weights and measures." Strict honesty not only
lies at the foundation of all success in life (financially),
but in every other respect. Uncompromising integrity
of character is invaluable. It secures to its possessor a
peace and joy which cannot be attained without it
which no amount of money, or houses and lands can
purchase. A man who is known to be strictly honest,
may be ever so poor, but he has the purses of all the
community at his disposal ; for all know that if he
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING 499
promises to return what he borrows, he will never dis
appoint them. As a mere matter of selfishness, there
fore, if a man had no higher motive for being honest,
all will find that the maxim of Dr. Franklin can never
fail to be true, that " honesty is the best policy."
To get rich, is not always equivalent to being successful.
" There are many rich poor men," while there are many
others, honest and devout men and women, who have
never possessed so much money as some rich persons
squander in a week, but who are nevertheless really richer
and happier than any man can ever be while he is a
transgressor of the higher laws of his being.
The inordinate love of money, no doubt, may be and
is " the root of all evil," but money itself, when properly
used, is not only a "handy thing to have in the house,"
but affords the gratification of blessing our race by
enabling its possessor to enlarge the scope of human
happiness and human influence. The desire for wealth
is nearly universal, and none can say it is not laudable,
provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities,
and uses it as a friend to humanity.
The history of money getting, which is commerce, is
a history of civilization, and wherever trade has
flourished most, there, too, have art and science pro
duced the noblest fruits. In fact, as a general thing,
money getters are the benefactors of our race. To
them, in a great measure, are we indebted for our insti
tutions of learning and of art, our academies, col
leges and churches. It is no argument against the
desire for, or the possession of wealth, to say that
there are sometimes misers who hoard money only
for the sake of hoarding, and who have no higher aspi
ration than to grnsp everything which comes with>
23
500 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
their reach. As we have sometimes hypocrites in relig
ion, and demagogues in politics, so there are occasionally
misers among money getters. These, however, are
only exceptions to the general rule. But when, in
this country, we find such a nuisance and stumbling
block as a miser, we remember with gratitude that in
America we have no laws of primogeniture, and that in
the due course of nature the time will come when the
hoarded dust will be scattered for the benefit of mankind.
To all men and women, therefore, do I conscientiously
say, make money honestly, and not otherwise, for Shakes
peare has truly said, " He that wants money, means and
content, is without three good friends."
Nearly every paper in London had something to say
about my lecture, and in almost every instance the
matter and manner of the lecturer were unqualifiedly
approved. Indeed, the profusion of praise quite over
whelmed me. The London Times, December 30, 1858,
concluded a half-column criticism with the following
paragraph :
" We arc bound to admit that Mr. Barnuin is one of the most entertaining
lecturers that ever addressed an audience on a theme universally intelligible.
The appearance of Mr. Barnum, it should be added, has nothing of the
charlatan about it, but is that of the thoroughly respectable man of business;
and he has at command a fund of dry humor that convulses everybody Avith
laughter, while he himself remains perfectly serious. A sonorous voice and an
admirably clear delivery complete his qualifications as a lecturer, in which
capacity he is 110 ( humbug, either in a higher or. lower sense of the word."
The London Morning Post, the Advertiser, the Chron
icle, the Telegraph, the Herald, the News, the Globe, the
Sun, and other lesser journals of the same date, all
contained lengthy and favorable notices and criticisms
of rny lecture. My own lavish advertisements were as
nothing to the notoriety which the London newspapers
voluntarily and editorially gave to my new enterprise.
THE AKT OF MONEY GETTING. 501
The weekly and literary papers followed in the train ;
and even Punch, which had already done so much t6
keep Tom Thumb before the public, gave me a half-
page notice, with an illustration, and thereafter favored
me with frequent paragraphs. The city thus prepared
the provinces to give me a cordial reception.
During the year 1859, I delivered this lecture nearly
one hundred times in different parts of England,
returning occasionally to London to repeat it to fresh
audiences, and always with pecuniary success. Every
provincial paper had something to say about Barnum
and " The art of Money Getting," and I was never more
pleasantly or profusely advertised. The tour, too, made
me acquainted with many new people and added fresh
and fast friends to my continually increasing list. My
lecturing season is among my most grateful memories of
England.
Remembering my experiences, some years before,
with General Tom Thumb at Oxford and Cambridge,
and the fondness of the undergraduates for practical
joking, I was quite prepared when I made up my mind
to visit those two cities, to take any quantity of " chaff "
and lampooning which the University boys might choose
to bring. I was sure of a full house in each city, and
as I was anxious to earn all the money I could, so as to
hasten my deliverance from financial difficulties, I fully
resolved to put up with whatever offered indeed, I
rather liked the idea of an episode in the steady run of
praise which had followed my lecture every where, and
I felt, too, in the coming encounter that I might give
quite as much as I was compelled to take.
I commenced at Cambridge, and, as I expected, to an
overflowing house, largely composed of undergraduates
502 THE ART OF MONEY GETTING.
Soon after I began to speak, one of the young men
called out : " Where is Joice Heth ? " to which I very
coolly replied :
" Young gentleman, please to restrain yourself till the
conclusion of the lecture, when I shall take great
delight in affording you, or any others of her posterity,
all the information I possess concerning your deceased
relative."
This reply turned the laugh against the youthful and
anxious inquirer and had the effect of keeping other
students quiet for a half hour. Thereafter, questions
of a similar character were occasionally propounded,
but as each inquirer generally received a prompt Roland
for his Oliver, there was far less interruption than I
had anticipated. The proceeds of the evening were
more than one hundred pounds sterling, an important
addition to my treasury at that time. At the close of
the lecture, several students invited me to a sump
tuous supper where I met, among other undergraduates,
a nephew of Lord Macaulay, the historian. This
young gentleman insisted upon my breakfasting with
him at his rooms next morning, but as I was anxious to
take an early train for London, I only called to leave
my card, and after his " gyp " had given me a strong
cup of coffee, I hastened away, leaving the young
Macaulay, whom I did not wish to disturb, fast asleep
in bed.
At Oxford the large hall was filled half an hour
before the time announced for the lecture to begin and
the sale of tickets was stopped. I then stepped upon
the platform, and said : " Ladies and Gentlemen : As
every seat is occupied and the ticket-office is closed,
I propose to proceed with my lecture now, and not
keep you waiting till the advertised hour."
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 503
<c Good for you, old Barnum," said one ; " Time is
money," said another; " Nothing like economy," came
from a third, and other remarks and exclamations
followed which excited much laughter in the audi
ence. Holding up my hand as a signal that I was
anxious to say something so soon as silence should
be restored, I thus addressed my audience :
" Young gentlemen, I have a word or two to say, in
order that we may have a thorough understanding
between ourselves at the outset. I see symptoms of a
pretty jolly time here this evening, and you have paid
me liberally for the single hour of my time which is at
your service. I am an old traveller and an old show
man, and I like to please my patrons. Now, it is quite
immaterial to me ; you may furnish the entertainment
for the hour, or I will endeavor to do so, or we will take
portions of the time by turns you supplying a part
of the amusement, and I a part ; as we say sometimes
in America, you pays your money, and you takes your
choice. "
My auditors were in the best of humor from the
beginning, and my frankness pleased them. " Good for
you, old Barnum," cried their leader ; and I went on
with my lecture for some fifteen minutes, when a voice
called out :
" Come, old chap ! you must be tired by this time ;
hold up now till we sing Yankee Doodle, " whereupon
they all joined in that pleasing air with a vigor which
showed that they had thoroughly prepared themselves
for the occasion, and meanwhile I took a chair and sat
down to show them that I was quite satisfied with their
manner of passing the time. When the song was con
cluded, the leader of the party said : " Now, Mr. Bar
num, you may go ahead again,"
504 THE AKT OF MONEY GETTING.
I looked at my watch and quietly remarked, " Oh !
there is time for lots of fun yet ; we have nearly forty
minutes of the hour remaining," and I proceeded with
my lecture, or rather a lecture, for I began to adapt my
remarks to the audience and the occasion. At intervals
of ten minutes, or so, came interruptions which I, as
my audience saw, fully enjoyed as much as the house
did. When this miscellaneous entertainment w^as con
cluded, and I stopped short at the end of the hour,
crowds of the young men pressed forward to shake
hands with me, declaring that they had had a "jolly
good time," while the leader said : " Stay with us a
week, Barnum, and we will dine you, wine you, and
give you full houses every night." But I was announced
to lecture in London the next evening and I could not
accept the pressing invitation, though I would gladly
have stayed through the week. They asked me all
sorts of questions about America, the Museum, my
various shows and successes, and expressed the hope
that I would come out of my clock troubles all right.
At least a score of them pressed me to breakfast with
them next morning, but I declined, till one young gentle
man put it on this purely personal ground : "My dear
sir, you must breakfast with me ; I have almost split
my throat in screaming here to-night and it is only fair
that you should repay me by coming to see me in the
morning." This appeal was irresistible, and at the
appointed time I met him and half a dozen of his
friends at his table and we spent a very pleasant hour
together. They complimented me on the tact and
equanimity I had exhibited the previous evening, but I
replied : " Oh ! I was quite inclined to have you enjoy
your fun, and came fully prepared for it."
THE ART OF MONEY GETTING. 505
But they liked better, they said, to get the party angry.
A fortnight before, they told me, my friend Howard
Paul had left them in disgust, because they insisted
upon smoking while his wife was on the stage, adding
that the entertainment was excellent and that Howard
Paul could have made a thousand pounds if he had not
let his anger drive him away. My new-found friends
parted with me at the railway station, heartily urging
me to come again, and my ticket seller returned 169
as the immediate result of an evening s good-natured
fun with the Oxford boys.
After delivering my lecture many times in different-
places, a prominent publishing house in London, offered
me 1,200 ($6,000,) for the copyright. This offer I
declined, not that I thought the lecture worth more
money, but because I had engaged to deliver it in several
towns and cities, and I thought the publication would
be detrimental to the public delivery of my lec
ture. It was a source of very considerable emolument
to me, bringing in much money, which went towards the
redemption of my pecuniary obligations, so that the lec
ture itself was an admirable illustration of " The Art of
Money Getting."
CHAPTER XXXII.
AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.
AN ENGLISH YANKEE MY FIRST INTERVIEW WITH HIM HIS PLANS BASED. ON
BARNUM S BOOK ADVERTISING FOR PARTNERS HOW MY RULES MADE
HIM RICH METHOD IN MADNESS THE " BARNUM " OF BURY DINNER TO
TOM THUMB AND COMMODORE NUTT MY AGENT IN PARIS MEASURING A
MONSTER HOW GIANTS AND DWARFS STRETCH AND CONTRACT AN UN
WILLING FRENCHMAN A PERSISTENT MEASURER A GIGANTIC HUMBUG
THE STEAM-ENGINES "BARNUM" AND " CHARITY " WHAT " CHARITY " DID
FOR "BARNUM" SELLING THE SAME GOODS A THOUSAND TIMES THE
GREAT CAKES SIMNEL SUNDAY THE SANITARY COMMISSION FAIR.
WHILE visiting Manchester, in 1858, I was invited by
Mr. Peacock, the lessee, to deliver a lecture in " Free
Trade Hall." I gave a lecture, the title of which I now
forget ; but I well remember it contained numerous per
sonal reminiscences. The next day a gentleman sent
his card to my room at the hotel where I was stopping.
I requested the servant to show the gentleman up at
once, and he soon appeared and introduced himself.
At first he seemed somewhat embarrassed, but gradually
broke the ice by saying he had been pleased in listening
to my lecture the previous evening, and added that he
knew my history pretty well, as he had read my auto
biography. As his embarrassment at first meeting with
a stranger wore away, he informed me that he was joint
proprietor with another gentleman in a " cotton-mill "
in Bury, near Manchester, " although," he modestly
added, " only a few years ago I was working as a jour
neyman, and probably should have been at this tim/x
AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN. 501
had it not been for your book." Observing my surprise
at this announcement, he continued :
" The fact is, Mr. Barnum, upon reading your auto
biography, I thought I perceived you tried to make
yourself out something worse than you really were ; for
I discovered a pleasant spirit and a good heart under the
rougher exterior in which you chose to present yourself
to the public ; but," he added, " after reading your
life I found myself in possession of renewed strength,
and awakened energies and aspirations, and I said to
myself, Why can t I go ahead and make money as Bar
num did I He commenced without money and suc
ceeded ; why may not I ] In this train of thought,"
he continued, " I went to a newspaper office and adver
tised for a partner with money to join me in establishing
a cotton-mill. I had no applications, and, remembering
your experiences when you had money and wanted a
partner, I spent half a crown in a similar experiment.
I advertised for a partner to join a man who had plenty
of capital. Then I had lots of applicants ready to intro
duce me into all sorts of occupations, from that of a
banker to that of a horse-jockey or gambler, if I would
only furnish the money to start with. After a while, I
advertised again for a partner, and obtained one with
money. We have a good mill. I devote myself closely
to business, and have been very successful. I know
every line in your book ; so, indeed, do several members
of my family ; and I have conducted my business on the
principles laid down in your published fc Rules for
Money-making. I find them correct principles ; and,
sir, I have sought this interview in order to thank you
for publishing your autobiography, and to tell you that
to that act of yours I attribute my present position in
life." 23*
508 AN ENTERPKISING ENGLISHMAN.
Of course, I was pleased and surprised at this revela
tion, and, feeling that my new friend, whom I will call
Mr. Wilson * had somewhat exaggerated the results of
my labors as influencing his own, I said :
" Your statement is certainly very flattering, and I am
glad if I have been able in ,any manner, through my
experiences, to aid you in starting in life ; but I presume
your genius would have found vent in good time if I
had never written a book."
" No, indeed it would not," he replied, in an earnest
tone ; " I am sure I should have worked as a mill-hand
all my life if it had not been for you. Oh, I have made
no secret of it," he continued ; " the commercial men
with whom I deal know all about it : indeed, they call
me Barnum on change here in Manchester."
This singular yet gratifying interview led to several
others, and from that time a warm personal friendship
sprung up between us. In our conversations, my enthu
siastic friend would often quote entire pages from my
autobiography, which I had almost forgotten ; and, after
he had frequently visited me by appointment where I
happened to be stopping in different parts of Great
Britain, he would write me letters, often quoting scraps
of my conversation, and extolling what he called the
" wisdom " of these careless remarks. I laughed at
him, and told him he was about half Barnum-crazy.
" Well," he replied, " then there is method in my mad
ness, for whenever I follow the Barnum rules I am
always successful."
On one occasion, when General Tom Thumb exhi
bited in Bury, Mr. Wilson closed his mill, and gave
each of his employes a ticket to the exhibition ; out
of respect, as he said, to Barnum. On a subsequent
* T.yfiis consent I state that his name is John Fish.
AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN. 509
occasion, when the little General visited England the
last time, Mr. Wilson invited him, his wife, Commodore
Nutt, Minnie Warren, and the managers of " the show,"
to a splendid and sumptuous dinner at his house, which
the distinguished little party enjoyed exceedingly ; and
several interesting incidents occurred on that pleasant
occasion, which the miniature guests will never cease
to remember with gratitude. When I was about to
leave England for home, in 1859, my friend Wilson
made an appointment to come to Liverpool to see me
off. He came the day before I sailed, and brought his
little daughter, some twelve years old, with him. We
had a remarkably pleasant and social time, and I did
not part with them until the tug was almost dropping off
from the steamer in the river Mersey. It was a very
reluctant parting. We waved our handkerchiefs until
we could no longer distinguish each other ; and up to
the present writing we have never again met. To my
numerous invitations to him and his family, to visit me
in America, he sends but one response, that, as yet,
his business will not permit him to leave home. I hope
ere long to receive a different answer. Our correspond
ence has been regularly kept up ever since we parted.
My friend Wilson expressed himself extremely anx
ious to do any service for me which might at any time
be in his power. Soon after I arrived in America, I
read an account of a French giant, then exhibiting in
Paris, and said to be over eight feet in height. As this
was a considerably greater altitude than any specimen
of the genus homo within my knowledge had attained,
I wrote to my friend to take a trip to. Paris for me,
secure an interview with this modern Anak, and by
actual measurement obtain for me his exact height. I
510 AN ENTEKRRISING ENGLISHMAN.
enclosed an offer for this giant s services, arranging ike
price on a sliding scale, according to what his height
should actually prove to be, commencing at c-fght
feet, and descending to seven feet two inches; and r ( ;
he was not taller than the latter figure, I did not war :
him at all.
Mr. Wilson, placing an English two-foot rule in his
pocket, started for Paris ; and, after much difficulty and
several days delay in trying to speak with the giant,
who was closely watched by his exhibitor, Mr. Wilson
succeeded, by the aid of an interpreter, in exchanging a
few words with him, and appointing an interview at his
own (the giant s) lodgings. And now came a trouble
which required all the patience and diplomacy which
my agent could command. Mr. Wilson, arriving at the
place of rendezvous, told the giant who he was, and the
object of his visit. In fact, he showed him my letter,
and read the tempting offers which I made for his ser
vices, provided he measured eight feet, or even came
within six inches of that height.
" Oh, I measure over eight feet in height," said the
giant. "Very likely," .replied my faithful agent, "but
you see my orders are to measure you- " There s no
need of that, you can see for yourself," stretching him
self up a few inches, by aid of that peculiar muscular
knack which giants and dwarfs exercise when they
desire to extend or diminish their apparent stature.
64 No doubt you are right," persisted the agent ; " but
you see that is not according to orders." " Weil, stand
alongside of me ; see, the top of your hat do n t come to
my shoulder," said the giant, as he swung his arm com
pletely over Mr. Wilson s head, hat and all,
But my wary agent happened just then to be watch-
:
AN ENTERPBISING ENGLISHMAN. 511
ing the giant s feet and knees, and he thought he saw a
movement around the " understandings " that materially
helped the elevation of the " upperworks." " It is all
very well," said Mr. Wilson ; " but I tell you I have
brought a two-foot rule from England, and, if I am not
permitted to mfeasure your height with that, I shall not
engage you." My offer had been very liberal ; in fact,
provided he was eight feet high, it was more than four
times the amount the giant was then receiving ; it was
evidently a great temptation to his u highness," and
quite as evidently he did not want to be fairly measured.
" Well," said the giant, " if you can t take my word
for it, look at that door ; you see my head is more than
two feet above the top : " (giving his neck and every
muscle in his body a severe stretch:) "just measure the
height of that door." My English friend plainly saw
that the giant felt that he could not come up to the
mark, an,d he laughed at this last ruse. " Oh, I don t
want to measure the door; I prefer to measure you,"
said Mr. Wilson, coolly. The giant was now desperate,
and, stretching himself up to the highest point, he ex
claimed : " Well, be quick ! put your rule down to my
feet and measure me ; no delay, if you please."
The giant knew .he could nol hold himself up many
seconds to the few extra inches he had imparted to his
extended muscles ; but his "remark had drawn Mr. Wil
son s attention to his feet, and from the feet to the boots,
and he began to open his eyes. " Look here, Monsieur,"
he exclaimed with much earnestness, " this sort of thing
wont do, you know. I don t understand this contrivance
around the soles of your boots, but it seems to me you
have got a set of springs in there which materially aids
your altitude a few inches when you desire it. Now, I
512 AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.
shall stand no more nonsense. If I engage you at all,
you must first take off your boots, and lie flat upon your
back in the middle of the floor ; there you will have no
purchase, and you may stretch as much as you like ; and
for every inch you fairly measure above seven feet two
inches you know what I am authorized to give you."
The giant grumbled and talked about his word being
doubted and his honor assailed, but Mr. Wilson calmly
persisted, until at length he slowly took off his coat and
gradually got down on the floor. Stretched upon his
back, he made several vain efforts to extend his natural
height. Mr. Wilson carefully applied his English two-
foot rule, the result of the measurement causing him
much astonishment and the giant more indignation, the
giant measuring exactly seven feet one and one half
inches. So he was not engaged, and my agent returned
to England and wrote me a most amusing letter, giving
the particulars of the gigantic interview.
On the occasion of the erection of a new engine in his
mill, Mr. Wilson proposed naming it after his daughter,
but she insisted it should be christened " Barnum," and
it was so done, with considerable ceremony. Subse
quently he introduced a second engine into his enlarged
mill, and named this, after my wife, " Charity."
A short time since, I wrote informing him that I de
sired to give some of the foregoing facts in my book,
and asked him to give me his consent, and also to
furnish me some particulars in regard to the engines,
and the capacity of his mill. He wrote in return a
modest letter, which is so characteristic of my whole-
souled friend that I cannot forbear making the following
extracts from it :
AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.
Had I made a fortune of 100,0(X) I should have been proud of such a place in
your book as Albert Smith has in your Autobiography; but, as I have only been
able to make (here he named a sum which in this country would be considered
almost a fortune), I feel I should be out of place in your pages; at all events,
if you mention me at all, draw it mildly, if you please.
The American war has made sad havoc in our trade, and it is only by close atten
tion to business that I have lately been at all succesvsful. I have built a place for
one thousand looms, and have, as you know, put in a pair of engines, which I have
named "Barnum" and "Charity." Each engine has its name engraved on two
large brass plates at either end of the cylinder, which has often caused much
mirth when I have explained the circumstances to visitors. I started and chris
tened "Charity" on the 14th of January last, and she has saved me 12 per
month in coals ever since. The steam from the boiler goes first to " Charity" (she
is high pressure), and " Barnum " only gets the steam after she has done with it.
He has to work at low pressure (a condensing engine), and the result is a saving.
Barnum was extravagant when he took steam direct, but, since I fixed Charity
betwixt him and the boiler, he can only get what she gives him. This reminds
me that you state in your " Life " you could always make money, but formerly did
not save it. Perhaps you never took care of it till Charity became Chancellor of
Exchequer. When I visited you at the Bull Hotel, in Blackburn, you pointed to-
General Tom Thumb, and said: "That is my piece of goods; I have sold it hun
dreds of thousands of times, and have never yet delivered it !" That was ten
years ago, in 1858. If I had been doing the same with my pieces of calico, I must
have been wealthy by this time: but I have been hammering at one (cotton) nail
several months, and, as it did not offer to clinch, I was almost tempted to doubt
one of your " rules," and thought I would drive at some other nail; but, on reflec
tion, I knew I understood cotton better than anything else, and so I back up
your rule and stick to cotton, not doubting it will be all right and successful.
Mr, Wilson was one of the large class of English
manufacturers who suffered seriously from the effects of
the rebellion in the United States. As an Englishman
he could not have a patriot s interest in the progress of
that terrible struggle ; but he made a practical exhibition
of sympathy for the suffering soldiers, in a pleasant and
characteristic manner.
The great fair of the Sanitary Commission, held in
Naw York during the war, affords one of the most
interesting chapters in American history. It meant
cordial for the sick and suffering in the hospitals, and
balm and relief for the wounded in the field. None
of those who visited the Fair will forget, in the multi
plicity of offerings to put money into the treasury of the
514 AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.
Commission, two monster cakes, which were as strange
in shape and ornament as they were fairly mammoth in
their proportions. One of these great cakes was cov
ered with miniature forts, ships of war, cannon, armies,
arms of the whole " panoply of war," and it excited the
attention of all visitors. This strange cake was what is
called in Bury, England, where name, cake and custom
originated, a " Simnel cake," and an interesting history
pertains to it.
There is an anniversary in Bury, and I believe only in
that place in England, called " Simnel Sunday." Like
many old observances, its origin is lost in antiquity ; but
on the fourth Sunday in Lent, which is Simnel Sunday,
everybody in Bury eats Simnel cake. It is a high day
for the inhabitants, and the streets are thronged with
people. During the preceding week, the shop windows
of the confectioners exhibit a plethora of large, flat
cakes, of a peculiar pattern and of toothsome composi
tion. Every confectioner aims to outdo his rivals in the
bigness of the one show-cake which nearly fills his win
dow, and in the moulding and ornamental accessories.
A local description, giving the requisite characteristics,
says : " The great Simnel must be rich, must be big, and
must be novel in ornamentation." Such is the Simnel
cake, the specialty of Simnel Sunday, in the town of
Bury, in Old England.
And such was the monster cake, with its warlike em
blems, which attracted so much attention at the Fair,
and added considerably to the receipts for the Sanitary
Commission. It was sent to me expressly for this Fair,
by my friend Wilson, and, while it was in itself a gener
ous gift, it was doubly so as coming from an English
manufacturer who had suffered by the war. The second
AN ENTERPRISING ENGLISHMAN.; 515
great Simnel cake which stood beside it in the Fair was
sent to me personally by Mr. Wilson ; but with his per
mission I took much pleasure in contributing it, with his
own offering, for the benefit of our suffering soldiers.
It may thus be seen that my friend Wilson is not
only " an enterprising Englishman," but that he is also
a generous, noble-hearted man, one who in a great
struggle like the late civil war in America, could sin
cerely sympathize with suffering humanity, notwith
standing, as he expressed it, " the American war has
made sad havoc in our trade." His soul soars above
" pounds, shillings and pence "; and I take great pleasure
in expressing admiration for a gentleman of such marked
enterprise, philanthropy and integrity.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
KICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIK
AT HOME EXTINGUISHMENT OF THE CLOCK DEBTS A RASCALLY PROPOSITION
BARNUM ON HIS FEET AGAIN RE-PURCHASE OF THE MUSEUM A GALA
PAY MY RECEPTION BY MY FRIENDS THE STORY OF MY TROUBLES
HOW I WADED ASHORE PROMISES TO THE PUBLIC THE PUBLIC RESPONSE
MUSEUM VISITORS THE RECEIPTS DOUBLED HOW THE PRESS RECEIVED
THE NEWS OF RESTORATION THE SYCOPHANTS OLD AND FAST FRIENDS
ROBERT BONNER CONSIDERATION AND COURTESY OF CREDITORS THE
BOSTON SATURDAY EVENING GAZETTE AGAIN ANOTHER WORD FOR BARNUM.
IN 1859 I returned to the United States. During my
last visit abroad I had secured many novelties for the
Museum, including the Albino Family, which I engaged
at Amsterdam, and Thiodon s mechanical theatre, which
I found at Southampton, beside purchasing many curi
osities. These things all afforded me a liberal commis
sion, and thus, by constant and earnest effort, I made
much money, besides what I derived from the Tom
Thumb exhibitions, my lectures, and other enterprises.
All of this money, as well as my wife s income and a
considerable sum raised by selling a portion of her
property, was faithfully devoted to the one great object
of my life at that period my extrication from those
crushing clock debts. I worked and I saved. When my
wife and youngest daughter were not boarding in Bridge
port, they lived frugally in the suburbs, in a small one-
story house which was hired at the rate of $150 a year.
I had now been struggling about four years with the
difficulties of my one great financial mistake, and the end
RICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIN. 517
still seemed to be far off. I felt that the land, purchased
by my wife in East Bridgeport at the assignees sale,
would, after a while, increase rapidly in value ; and on
the strength of this expectation more money was bor
rowed for the sake of taking up the clock notes, and
some of the East Bridgeport property was sold in single
lots, the proceeds going to the same object.
At last, in March 1860, all the clock indebtedness
was satisfactorily extinguished, excepting some $20,000
which I had bound myself to take up within a certain
number of months, my friend, James D. Johnson, guaran
teeing my bond to that effect. Mr. Johnson was by
far my most effective agent in working me through these
clock troubles, and in aiding to bring them to a success
ful conclusion. Another man, however, who pretended
to be my friend, and whom I liberally paid to assist in
bringing me out of my difficulties, gained my confidence,
possessed himself of a complete knowledge of the
situation of my affairs, and then coolly proposed to Mr.
Johnson to counteract all my efforts to get out of debt,
and to divide between them what could be got out of
my estate. Failing in this, the scoundrel, taking advan
tage of the confidence reposed in him. slyly arranged
with the owners of clock notes to hold on to them, and
share with him whatever they might gain by adopting
his advice, he assuming that he knew all my secrets and
that I would soon come out all right again. Thus I
had to contend with foes from within as well as without ;
but the " spotting " of this traitor was worth something,
for it opened my eyes in relation to former transactions
in which I had intrusted large sums of money to his
hands, and it put me on guard for the future. But I
bear no malice towards him ; I only pity him, as I do
518 KICHAKD S HIMSELF AGAIN.
any man who knows so little of the true road to
contentment and happiness as to think that it lies in the
direction of dishonesty. *
I need not dwell upon the details of what I suffered
from the doings of those heartless, unscrupulous men
who fatten upon the misfortunes of others. It is
enough to say that I triumphed over them and all my
troubles. I was once more a free man. At last I was
able to make proclamation that " Richard s himself
again " ; that Barnum was once more on his feet. The
Museum had not flourished greatly in the hands
of Messrs. Greenwood & Butler, and so, when I was
free, I was quite willing to take back the property
upon terms that were entirely satisfactory to them.
I had once retired from the establishment a man of
independent fortune ; I was now ready to return, to
make, if possible, another fortune.
On the 17th of March, 1860, Messrs. Butler & Green
wood signed an agreement to sell and deliver to me on
the following Saturday, March 24th, their good will
and entire interest in the Museum collection. This
fact was thoroughly circulated and it was everywhere
announced in blazing posters, placards and advertise
ments which were headed, " Barnum on his feet
again." It was furthermore stated that the Museum
would be closed, March 24th, for one week for repairs
and general renovation, to be re-opened, March 31st,
under the management and proprietorship of its
original owner. It was also announced that on the
night of closing I would address the audience from the
stage.
The American Museum, decorated on that occasion,
as on holidays, with a brilliant display of nags and
BICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIN. 519
banners, was filled to its utmost capacity, and I expe
rienced profound delight at seeing hundreds of old
friends of both sexes in the audience. I lacked but
four months of being fifty years of age ; but I felt all
the vigor and ambition that fired me when I first took
possession of the premises twenty years before ; and
I was confident that the various experiences of that
score of years would be valuable to me in my second
effort to secure an independence.
At the rising of the curtain and before the play com
menced, I stepped on the stage and was received by
the large and brilliant audience with an enthusiasm
far surpassing anything of the kind I had ever experi
enced or witnessed in a public career of a quarter of a
century. Indeed, this tremendous demonstration nearly
broke me down, and my voice faltered and tears came
to my eyes as I thought of this magnificent conclusion
to the trials and struggles of the past four years.
Recovering myself, however, I bowed my grateful
acknowledgments for the reception, and addressed the
audience as follows:
" LADIES AND GENTLEMEN : I should be more or less
than human, if I could meet this unexpected and over
whelming testimonial at your hands, without the deep
est emotion. My own personal connection with the
Museum is now resumed, and I avail myself of the
circumstance to say why it is so. Never did I feel
stronger in my worldly prosperity than in September,
1855. Three months later, I was so deeply embarrassed
that I felt certain of nothing, except the uncertainty of
everything. A combination of singular efforts and cir
cumstances tempted me to put faith in a certain clock
manufacturing company, and I placed my signature to
520 RICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIN.
papers which ultimately broke me down. After nearly
five years of hard struggle to keep my head above
water, I have touched bottom at last, and here, to-night,
I am happy to announce that I have waded ashore.
Every clock debt of which I have any knowledge lias
been provided for. Perhaps, after the troubles and tur
moils I have experienced, I should feel no desire to
re-engage in the excitements of business, but a man
like myself, less than fifty years of age, and enjoying
robust health, is scarcely old enough to be embalmed
and put in a glass case in the Museum as one of its
million of curiosities. It is better to wear out than
rust out. Besides, if a man of active temperament is
not busy, he is apt to get into mischief. To avoid evil,
therefore, and since business activity is a necessity of
my nature, here I am, once more, in the Museum, and
among those with whom I have been so lon<? and so
o o
pleasantly identified. I am confident of a cordial wel
come, and hence feel some claim to your indulgence
while I briefly allude to the means of my present deliv
erance from utter financial ruin. Need I say, in the
first place, that I am somewhat indebted to the forbear
ance of generous creditors. In the next place, permit
me to speak of sympathizing friends, whose volunteered
loans and exertions vastly aided my rescue. When my
day of sorrow came, I first paid or secured every debt
I owed of a personal nature. This done, I felt bound
in honor to give up all of my property that remained
towards liquidating my " clock debts." I placed it in
the hands of trustees and receivers for the benefit of all
the " clock " creditors. But, at the forced sale of my
Connecticut real estate, there was a purchaser behind
the screen, of whom the world had little knowledge,
RICHARD S HIMSELF AGADT. 521
Tn the day of my prosperity I made over to my wife
much valuable property, including the lease of this
Museum building, a lease then having about twenty-
two years to run, and enhanced in value to more than
double its original worth. I sold the Museum collection
to Messrs. Greenwood and Butler, subject to my wife s
separate interest in the lease, and she has received more
than eighty thousand dollars over and above the sums
paid to the owners of the building. Instead of selfishly
applying this amount to private purposes, my family
lived with a due regard to economy, and the savings
(strictly belonging to my wife) were devoted to buying
in portions of my estate at the assignees sales, and to
purchasing " clock notes " bearing my indorsements.
The Christian name of my wife is Charity. I may well
acknowledge, therefore, that I am not only a proper
subject of charity, but that without Charity, I am
nothing/
" But, ladies and gentlemen, while Charity thus labored
in my behalf, Faith and Hope were not idle. I have
been anything but indolent during the last four years.
Driven from pillar to post, and annoyed beyond descrip
tion by all sorts of legal claims and writs, I was perusing
protests and summonses by day, and dreaming of clocks
run down by night. My head was ever whizzing with
dislocated cog-wheels and broken main-springs; my
whole mind (and my credit) was running upon tick, and
everything pressing on me like a dead weight
In this state of affairs I felt that I was of no use on
this side of the Atlantic ; so, giving the pendulum a
swing, and seizing time by the forelock, I went to
Europe. There I furtively pulled the wires of several
exhibitions, among which that of Tom Thumb may be
24
BICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIK,
mentioned for example. I managed a variety of musical
and commercial speculations in Great Britain, Germany,
and Holland. These enterprises, together with the net
profits of my public lectures, enabled me to remit large
sums to confidential agents for the purchase of my obli
gations. In this manner, I quietly extinguished, little
by little, every dollar of my clock liabilities. I could
not have achieved this difficult feat, however, without
the able assistance of enthusiastic friends, and among
the chief of them let me gratefully acknowledge the
invaluable services of Mr. James D. Johnson, a gentle
man of wealth, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Other
gentlemen have been generous with me. Some have
loaned me large sums, without security, and have placed
me under obligations which must ever command my
honest gratitude ; but Mr. Johnson has been a friend
indeed, for he has been truly a- friend in need.
" You must not infer, from what I have said, that I
have completely recovered from the stunning blow to
which I was subjected four years ago. I have lost
more in the way of tens of thousands, yes, hundreds of
thousands, than I care to remember. A valuable portion
of my real estate in Connecticut, however, has been
preserved, and as I feel all the ardor of twenty years
ago, and the prospect here is so flattering, my heart
is animated with the hope of ultimately, by enterprise
and activity, obliterating unpleasant reminiscences, and
retrieving the losses of the past. Experience, too, has
taught me not only that even in the matter of money,
enough is as good as a feast, but that there are, in
this world, some things vastly better than the Almighty
Dollar ! Possibly I may contemplate, at times, the
painful day when I said : Othello s occupation s
EICHAED S HIMSELF AGAIN. 523
gone ; but I shall more frequently cherish the memory
of this moment, when I am permitted to announce that
4 Richard s himself again/
" Many people have wondered that a man considered
so acute as myself should have been deluded into
embarrassments like mine, and not a few have declared,
in short metre, that Barnum was a fool/ I can only
reply that I never made pretensions to the sharpness of
a pawn-broker, and I hope I shall never so entirely lose
confidence in human nature as to consider every man a
scamp by instinct, or a rogue by necessity. It is better
to be deceived sometimes, than to distrust always, says
Lord Bacon, and I agree with him.
" Experience is said to be a hard schoolmaster, but I
should be sorry to feel that this great lesson in adversity
has not brought forth fruits of some value. I needed
the discipline this tribulation has given me, and I really
feel, after all, that this, like many other apparent
evils, was only a blessing in disguise. Indeed, I may
mention that the very clock factory which I built in
Bridgeport, for the purpose of bringing hundreds of
workmen to that city, has been purchased and qua
drupled in size by the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing
Machine Company, and is now filled with intelligent
New England mechanics, whose families add two thou
sand to the population, and who are doing a great work
in building up and beautifying that flourishing city. So
that the same concern which prostrated me seerns
destined as a most important agent towards my recuper
ation. I am certain that the popular sympathy has
been with me from the beginning ; and this, together with
a consciousness of rectitude, is more than an offset to
all the vicissitudes to which I have been subjected.
524 RICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIN.
" In conclusion, I beg to assure you and the public that
my chief pleasure, while health and strength are spared
me, will be to cater for your and their healthy amuse
ment and instruction. In future, such capabilities as I
possess will be devoted to the maintenance of this
Museum as a popular place of family resort, in which
all that is novel and interesting shall be gathered from
the four quarters of the globe, and which ladies and
children may visit at all times unattended, without
danger of encountering anything of an objectionable
nature. The dramas introduced in the Lecture Room
will never contain a profane expression or a vulgar
allusion ; on the contrary, their tendency will always be
to encourage virtue, and frown upon vice.
"I have established connections in Europe, which will
enable me to produce here a succession of interesting
novelties otherwise inaccessible. Although I shall be
personally present much of the time, and hope to meet
many of my old acquaintances, as well as to form many
new ones, I am sure you will be glad to learn that I
have re-secured the services of one of the late proprie
tors, and the active manager of this Museum, Mr. John
Greenwood, Jr. As he is a modest gentleman, who
would be the last to praise himself, allow me to add
that he is one to whose successful qualities as a caterer
for the popular entertainments, the crowds that have
often filled this building may well bear testimony. But,
more than this, he is the unobtrusive one to whose
integrity, diligence and devotion, I owe much of my
present position of self-congratulation. Mr. Greenwood
will hereafter act as assistant manager, while his late
co-partner, Mr. Butler, has engaged in another branch
of business. Once more, thanking you all for your
HICHAIID S HIMSELF AGAIK 52^
kind welcome, I bid you, till the re-opening, * an affec
tionate adieu. "
This off-hand speech was received with almost tumult
uous applause. At nearly fifty years of age, I was now
once more before the public with the promise to put
on a full head of steam, to " rush things," to give
double or treble the amount of attractions ever before
offered at the Museum, and to devote all my own time
and services to the enterprise. In return, I asked that
the public should give my efforts the patronage they
merited, and the public took me at my word. The
daily number of visitors at once more than doubled,
and my exertions to gratify them with rapid changes
and novelties never tired.
The announcement that " Eichard s himself again " .
that I was at last out of the financial entanglement was
variously received in the community. That portion of
the press which had followed me with abuse when I was
down, under the belief that my case was past recov
ery, were chary in allusions to the new state of things,
or passed them over without comment. The sycophants
always knew I would get up again, " and said so at the
time ; " the many and noble journals which had stood
by me and upheld me in my misfortunes, were of course
rejoiced, and their words of sincere congratulation gave
me a higher satisfaction than I have power of language
to acknowledge. Letters of congratulation came in upon
me from every quarter. Friendly hands that had never
been withheld during the long period of my misfortune,
w r ere now extended with a still heartier grip. I never
knew till now the warmth and number of my friends.
My editorial friend, Mr. Kobert Bonner, of the New
York Ledger, sincerely congratulated me upon my full
526 RICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIH.
and complete restoration. I had some new plays which
were adapted from very popular stories which had been
written for Mr. Bonner s paper, and I went to him to pur
chase, if I could, the large cuts he had used to advertise
these stories in his street placards. He at once generously
offered to lend them to me as long as I wished to use
them and tendered me his services in any way. Mr.
Bonner was the boldest of advertisers, following me
closely in the field in which I was the pioneer, and to
his judicious use of printers ink, he owes the fine for
tune which he so worthily deserves and enjoys.
Nor must I neglect to state that a large number of
my creditors who held the clock notes, proved very mag
nanimous in taking into consideration the gross deception
which had put me in their power. Not a few of them
said to me in substance : " you never supposed you had
made yourself liable for this debt ; you were deluded
into it ; it is not right that it should be held over you to
keep you hopelessly down; take- it, and pay me such per
centage as, under the circumstances, it is possible for
you to pay." But for such men and such consideration
I fear I should never have got on my feet again; and of
the many who rejoiced in my bettered fortune, not a few
were of this class of my creditors.
My old friend, the Boston Saturday Evening Gazette,
which printed a few cheering poetical lines of consola
tion and hope when I was down, now gave me the fol
lowing from the same graceful pen, conveying glowing
words of congratulation at my rise again :
ANOTHER WORD FOR BARNUM.
BARNUM, your hand ! The struggle o er,
You face the world and ask no favor ;
You stand where you have stood before,
The old salt hasn t lost its savor.
RICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIN. 527
You now can laugh with friends, at foes,
Ne er heeding Mrs. Grundy s tattle ;
You ve dealt and taken sturdy blows,
Regardless of the rabble s prattle.
Not yours the heart to harbor ill
Gainst those who ve dealt in trivial jesting ;
You pass them with the same good will
Erst shown when they their wit were testing.
You re the same Barnum that we knew,
You re good for years, still fit for labor,
Be as of old, be bold and true,
Honest as man, as friend, as neighbor.
^-yv^or r"^ imrf J-yvijst fr5 /*h u-lT
At about this period, the following poem was pub
lished in a Potts ville, Pa., paper, and copied by many
journals of the day:
A HEALTH TO BARNUM.
COMPANIONS ! fill your glasses round,
And drink a health to one
Who has few coming after him,
To do as he has done ;
"Who made a fortune for himself,
Made fortunes, too, for many,
Yet wronged no bosom of a sigh,
No pocket of a penny.
Come ! shout a gallant chorus,
And make the glasses ring,
Here s health and luck to Barimra!
The Exhibition King.
Who lured the Swedish Nightingale
To Western woods to come?
Who prosperous and happy made
The life of little Thumb?
Who oped Amusement s golden door
So cheaply to the crowd,
| And taught Morality to smile
On all his stage allowed?
Come ! shout a gallant chorus,
Until the glasses ring,
Here s health and luck to Barnum!
The Exhibition King.
And when the sad reverses came,
As come they may to all,
Who stood a Hero, bold and true,
Amid his fortune s fall?
528 HICHARD S HIMSELF AGAIK.
"Who to the utmost yielded up
What Honor could not keep,
Then took the field of life again
With courage calm and deep?
Come ! shout a gallant chorus,
it.. Until the glasses danee,
Here s health and luck to Barnum,
The Napoleon of Finance.
* ?
Yet, no our hero would not look
With smiles on suoh a cup ;
Throw out the wine with water clear,
Fill the pure crystal up.
Then rise, and greet with deep respect,
The courage he has shown,
And drink to him who well deserves
A seat on Fortune s throne.
Here s health and luck to Barnum 1
An Elba he has seen,
And never may his map of life
Display a St. Helcm!
PHILADELPHIA. j&is. ANNA BACHB.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
MENAGEEIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
A REMARKABLE CHARACTER OLD GRTZ/LY ADAMS THE CALIFORNIA MENAGE
RIE TERRIBLY WOUNDED BY BEARS MY UP-TOWNSHOW EXTRAORDI
NARY WILL AND VIGOR A LESSON FOR MUNCHAUSEN THE CALIFORNIA
GOLDEN PIGEONS PIGEONS OF ALL COLORS PROCESS OF THEIR CREATION
M. GUILLAUDEU A NATURALIST DECEIVED THE MOST WONDERFUL
BIRDS IN THE WORLD THE CURIOSITIES TRANSFERRED TO THE MENAGERIE
OLD ADAMS TAKEN IN A CHANGE OF COLOR MOTLEY THE ONLY WKAIf
OLD GRIZZLY UNDECEIVED TOUR OF THE BEAR-TAMER THROUGH THK
COUNTRY A BEAUTIFUL HUNTING SUIT A LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE FOR
A WAGER OLD ADAMS WINS HIS DEATH THE LAST JOKE ON BARNUM
THE PRINCE OF WALES VISITS THE MUSEUM I CALL ON THE PRINCE IN
BOSTON STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS " BEFORE AND AFTER " IN A BARBER SHOP
HOW TOM HIGGINSON "DID" BARNUM THE MUSEUM FLOURISHING.
I WAS now fairly embarked on board the good old
ship American Museum, to try once more my skill as
captain, and to see what fortune the voyage would bring
me. Curiosities began to pour into the Museum halls,
and I was eager for enterprises in the show line,
whether as part of the Museum itself, or as outside
accessories or accompaniments. Among the first to
give me a call, with attractions sure to prove a success,
was James C. Adams, of hard-earned, grizzly-bear fame.
This extraordinary man was eminently what is called
" a character." He was universally known as tf Grizzly
Adams," from the fact that he had captured a great
many grizzly bears, at the risk and cost of fearful
encounters and perils. He was brave, and with his
bravery there was enough of the romantic in his nature
24*
530 MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
to make him a real hero. For many years a hunter and
trapper in the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains, he
acquired a recklessness, which, added to his natural
invincible courage, rendered him one of the most strik
ing men of the age, and he was emphatically a man of
pluck. A month after I had re-purchased the Museum,
he arrived in New York with his famous collection of
California animals, captured by himself, consisting of
twenty or thirty immense grizzly bears, at the head of
which stood " Old Sampson," together with several
wolves, half a dozen different species of California bears,
California lions, tigers, buffalo, elk, and " Old Nep
tune," the great sea-lion from the Pacific.
Old Adams had trained all these monsters so that with
him they were as docile as kittens, though many of the
most ferocious among them would attack a stranger
without hesitation, if he came within their grasp. In
fact the training of these animals was no fool s play, as
Old Adams learned to his cost, for the terrific blows
which he received from time to time, while teaching
them " docility," finally cost him his life.
Adams called on me immediately on his arrival in
New York. He was dressed in his hunter s suit of
buckskin, trimmed with the skins and bordered with the
hanging tails of small Eocky Mountain animals ; his
cap consisting of the skin of a wolf s head and
shoulders, from which depended several tails, and under
which appeared his stiff, bushy, gray hair and his long,
white, grizzly beard ; in fact Old Adams was quite as
much of a show as his beasts. They had come around
Cape Horn on the clipper ship " Golden Fleece," and a
sea voyage of three and a half months had probably
not added much to the beauty or neat appearance of
MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 531
the old bear-hunter. During our conversation, Grizzly
Adams took off his cap, and showed me the top of his
head. His skull was literally broken in. It had on
various occasions been struck by the fearful paws of his
grizzly students ; and the last blow, from the bear called
" General Fremont," had laid open his brain so that its
workings were plainly visible. I remarked that I
thought it was a dangerous wound and might possibly
prove fatal.
" Yes," replied Adams, " that will fix me out. It had
nearly healed ; but old Fremont opened it for me, for
the third or fourth time, before I left California, and
he did his business so thoroughly, I m a used-up man.
However I reckon I may live six months or a year
yet." This was spoken as coolly as if he had been
talking about the life of a dog. The immediate object
of " old Adams " in calling upon me was this ; I had
purchased, a week previously, one-half interest in his
California menagerie, from a man who had come by
way of the Isthmus from California, and who claimed
to own an equal interest with Adams in the show.
Adams declared that the man had only advanced him
some money, and did not possess the right to sell
half of the concern. However, the man held a bill
of sale for half of the " California Menagerie," and
old Adams finally consented to accept me as an equal
partner in the speculation, saying that he guessed I
could do the managing part, and he would show up
the animals. I obtained a canvas tent, and erecting
it on the present site of Wallack s Theatre, Adams
there opened his novel California Menagerie. On the
morning of opening, a band of music preceded a pro
cession of animal cages down Broadway and up the
532 MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
Bowery, old Adams dressed in his hunting costume,
heading the line, with a platform wagon on which were
placed three immense grizzly bears, two of which he
held by chains, while he was mounted on the back of
the largest grizzly, which stood in the centre and was
not secured in any manner whatever. This was the bear
known as tc General Fremont," and so docile had he
become, that Adams said he had used him as a pack-
bear to carry his cooking and hunting apparatus through
the mountains for six months, and had ridden him hun
dreds of miles. But apparently docile as wore many
of these animals, there was not one among them that
would not occasionally give Adams a sly blow or a sly
bite when a good chance offered ; hence old Adams
was but a wreck of his former self, and expressed
pretty nearly the truth when he said :
"Mr. Barnum, I am not the man I was five years
ago. Then I felt able to stand the hug of any griz
zly living, and was always glad to encounter, single
handed, any sort of an animal that dared present him
self. But I have been beaten to a jelly, torn almost
limb from limb, and nearly chawed up and spit out by
these treacherous grizzly bears. However, I am good
for a few months yet, and by that time I hope we shall
gain enough to make my old woman comfortable, for I
have been absent from her some years."
His wife came from Massachusetts to New York and
nursed him. Dr. Johns dressed his wounds every day,
and not only told Adams he could never recover, but
assured his friends, that probably a very few weeks
would lay him in his grave. But Adams was as firm as
adamant and as resolute as a lion. Among the thousands
who saw him dressed in his grotesque hunter s suit,
MENAGEEIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 533
and witnessed the seeming vigor with which he " per
formed" the savage monsters, beating and whipping
them into apparently the most perfect docility, probably
not one suspected that this rough, fierce looking, power
ful demi-savage, as he appeared to be, was suffering
intense pain from his broken skull and fevered system,
and that nothing kept him from stretching himself on
his death-bed but his most indomitable and extraordi
nary will.
Old Adams liked to astonish others, as he often did,
with his astounding stories, but no one could astonish
him ; he had seen everything and knew everything, and
I was anxious to get a chance of exposing this weak
point to him. A fit occasion soon presented itself. One
day, while engaged in my office at the Museum, a man
with marked Teutonic features and accent approached
the door and asked if I would like to buy a pair of
living golden pigeons.
" Yes," I replied, " I would like a flock of golden
pigeons, if I could buy them for their weight in silver ;
for there are* no golden pigeons in existence, unless
they are made from the pure metal.**
" You shall see some golden pigeons alive," he replied,
at the same time entering my office, and closing the door
after him. He then removed the lid from a small bas
ket which he carried in his hand, and sure enough,
there were snugly ensconced a pair of beautiful, living
ruff-necked pigeons, as yellow as saffron, and as bright
as a double-eagle fresh from the mint.
I confess I was somewhat staggered at this sight and
quickly asked the man where those birds came from. A
dull, lazy smile crawled over the sober face of my Ger
man visitor, as he replied in a slow, guttural torxg , of
voice i
534 MENAGEBIE AKD MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
" What you think yourself? "
Catching his meaning, I quickly replied:
" I think it is. a humbug."
" Of course, I know you will say so ; because you
* forstha such things ; so I shall not try to humbug you ;
I have color them myself."
On further inquiry I learned that this German was a
chemist, and that he possessed the art of coloring birds
any hue desired, and yet retain a natural gloss on the
feathers, which gave every shade the appearance of
reality.
" I can paint a green pigeon or a blue pigeon, a gray
pigeon or a black pigeon, a brown pigeon or a pigeon
half blue or half green," said the German ; " and if you
prefer it, I can paint them pink or purple, or give you
a little of each color, and make you a rainbow pigeon."
The " rainbow pigeon " did not strike me as partic
ularly desirable ; but thinking here was a good chance
to catch " Grizzly Adams," I bought the pair of golden
pigeons for ten dollars, and sent them up to the " Happy
Family " (where I knew Adams would soon see them),
marked, " Golden Pigeons, from California." Mr. Tay
lor, the great pacificator, who had charge of the Happy
Family, soon came down in a state of excitement.
" Really, Mr. Barnum," said he, " I could not think
of putting those elegant golden pigeons into the Happy
Family, they are too valuable a bird, and they might
get injured ; they are by far the most beautiful pigeons
I ever saw ; and as they are so rare, I would not jeopar
dize their lives for anything."
" Well," said I, " you may put them in a separate
cage, properly labelled."
Monsieur Guillaudeu, the naturalist and taxidermist
MENAGEBIE AtfD MtTSETJM MEMORANDA. 535
of the Museum, had been attached to that establishment
since the year it was founded, in 1810. He is a French
man, and has read nearly everything upon natural his
tory that was ever published in his own or in the Eng
lish language. When he saw the "Golden Pigeons
from California," he was considerably astonished. He
examined them with great delight for half an hour,
expatiating upon their beautiful color and the near
resemblance which every feature bore to the American
ruff-necked pigeon. He soon came to my office, and
said:
" Mr. Barnum, these golden pigeons are superb, but
they cannot be from California. Audubon mentions no
such bird in his work upon American Ornithology."
I told him he had better take Audubon home with
him that night, and perhaps by studying him attentively
he would see occasion to change his mind.
The next day, the old naturalist called at my office
and remarked :
" Mr. Barnum, those pigeons are a more rare bird
than you imagine. They are not mentioned by Linnaeus,
Cuvier, Goldsmith, or any other writer on natural
history, so far as I have been able to discover. I
expect they must have come from some unexplored
portion of Australia."
" Never mind," I replied, " we may get more light on
the subject, perhaps, before long. We will continue to
label them California Pigeons until we can fix their
nativity elsewhere."
The next morning, " Old Grizzly Adams," passed
through the Museum when his eyes fell on the " Golden
California Pigeons." He looked a moment and doubtless
admired. He soon after came to my office.
536 MENAGEKIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
" Mr. Barnum," said he," you must let me have those
California pigeons."
" I can t spare them," I replied.
" But you must spare them. All the birds and
animals from California ought to be together. You
own half of my California menagerie, and you must
lend me those pigeons."
" Mr. Adams, they are too rare and valuable a bird to
be hawked about in that manner."
" Oh, do n t be a fool," replied Adams. " Eare bird,
indeed ! Why they are just . as common in California
as any other pigeon ! I could have brought a hundred
of them from San Francisco, if I had thought of it."
" But why did you not think of it? " I asked, with a
suppressed smile.
" Because they are so common there," said Adams,
u I did not think they would be any curiosity here. I
have eaten them in pigeon-pies hundreds of times, and
have shot them by the thousands ! "
I was ready to burst with laughter to see how a*eadily
Adams swallowed the bait, but maintaining the most
rigid gravity, I replied :
" Oh well, Mr. Adams, if they are really so common
in California, you had probably better take them, and
you may write over and have half a dozen pairs sent
to me for the Museum."
" All right," said Adams, " I will send over to a
friend in San Francisco, and you shall have them here
in a couple of months."
I told Adams that, for certain reasons, I would prefer
to have him change the label so as to have it read:
" Golden Pigeons from Australia."
" Well, I will call them what you like," said Adams;
MENAGEBIE AD MUSEUM MEMORANDA, 537
" I suppose they are probably about as plenty ill
Australia as they are in California."
Six or eight weeks after this incident, I was in the
California Menagerie, and noticed that the " Golden
Pigeons " had assumed a frightfully mottled appearance.
Their feathers had grown out and they were half
white. Adams had been so busy with his bears that
he had not noticed the change. I called him up to the
pigeon cage, and remarked :
"Mr. Adams, I fear you will lose your Golden
Pigeons ; they must be very sick ; I observe they are
turning quite pale/
Adams looked at them a moment with astonishment,
then turning to me, and seeing that I could not suppress
a smile, he indignantly exclaimed :
" Blast the Golden Pigeons ! You had better take
them back to the Museum. You can t humbug me
with your painted pigeons ! "
This was too much, and " I laughed till I cried," to
witness the mixed look of astonishment and vexation
which marked the grizzly features of old Adams.
After the exhibition on Thirteenth Street and Broad
way had been open six weeks, the doctor insisted that
Adams should sell out his share in the animals and
settle up all his worldly affairs, for he assured^ him that
he was growing weaker every day, and his earthly exis
tence must soon terminate. " I shall live a good deal
longer than you doctors think for," replied Adams
doggedly ; and then, seeming after all to realize the
truth of the doctor s assertion, he turned to me and said :
" Well, Mr. Barnum, you must buy me out." He
named his price for his half of the " show," and 1
accepted his offer. We had arranged to exhibit the
538 MENAGEEIE AND MTTSEtTM MEMORANDA.
bears in Connecticut and Massachusetts during the sum
mer, in connection with a circus, and Adams insisted
that I should hire him to travel for the season and
exhibit the bears in their curious performances. He
offered to go for $60 per week and travelling expenses
of himself and wife. I replied that I would gladly
engage him as long as he could stand it, but I advised
him to give up business and go to his home in Massa
chusetts ; " for," I remarked, " you are growing weaker
every day, and at best cannot stand it more than a fort
night."
" What will you give me extra if I will travel and
exhibit the bears every day for ten weeks ? " added old
Adams, eagerly.
" Five hundred dollars," I replied, with a laugh.
" Done ! " exclaimed Adams, " I will do it, so draw
up an agreement to that effect at once. But mind you,
draw it payable to my wife, for I may be too weak to
attend to business after the ten weeks are up, and if I
perform my part of the contract, I want her to get the
$500 without any trouble."
I drew up a contract to pay him $60 per week for his
services, and if he continued to exhibit the bears for
ten consecutive weeks I was then to hand him, or his
wife, $500 extra.
" You have lost your $500 ! " exclaimed Adams on
taking the contract ; " for I am bound to live and earn it."
" I hope you may, with all my heart, and a hundred
years more if you desire it," I replied.
" Call me a fool if I do n t earn the $500 ! " exclaimed
Adams, with a triumphant laugh.
The " show " started off in a few days, and at the
end of a fortnight I met it at Hartford, Connecticut.
MENAGEKIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 539
" Well," said I, " Adams, you seem to stand it pretty
well. I hope you and your wife are comfortable ? "
" Yes," he replied, with a laugh ; " and you may as
well try to be comfortable, too, for your $500 is a
goner."
" All right," I replied, " I hope you will grow bet-
ter every day."
But I saw by his pale face and other indications
that he was rapidly failing. In three weeks more, I
met him again at New Bedford, Massachusetts. It
seemed to me, then, that he could not live a week, for
his eyes were glassy and his hands trembled, but his
pluck was as great as ever.
" This hot weather is pretty bad for me," he said,
" but my ten weeks are half expired, and I am good
for" your $500, and, probably, a month or two longer."
This was said with as much bravado as if he was
offering to bet upon a horse-race. I offered to pay
him half of the $500 if he would give up and go home ;
but he peremptorily declined making any compromise
whatever. I met him the ninth week in Boston. He
had failed considerably since I last saw him, but he still
continued to exhibit the bears although he was too
weak to lead them in, and he chuckled over his almost
certain triumph. I laughed in return, and sincerely
congratulated him on his nerve and probable success.
I remained with him until the tenth week was finished,
and handed him his $500. He took it with a leer of
satisfaction, and remarked, that he was sorry I was a
teetotaler, for he would like to stand treat!
Just before the menagerie left New York, I had paid
$150 for a new hunting suit, made of beaver skins, sim
ilar to the one which Adams had worn. This I intended
540 MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMOBANDA.
for Herr Driesbach, the animal tamer, who was engaged
by me to take the place of Adams, whenever he should
be compelled to give up. Adams, on starting from
New York, asked me to loan this new dress to him to
perform in once in a while in a fair day, where he had
a large audience, for his own costume was considera
bly soiled. I did so, and now when I handed him
his $500, he remarked :
" Mr. Barnum, I suppose you are going to give me
this new hunting dress I "
" Oh, no," I replied, " I got that for your successor,
who will exhibit the bears to-morrow ; besides, you have
no possible use for it."
" Now, do n t be mean, but lend me the dress, if you
won t give it to me, for I want to wear it home to my
native village."
I could not refuse the poor old man anything, and I
therefore replied :
" Well, Adams, I will lend you the dress ; but you
will send it back to me I "
" Yes, when I have done with it," he replied, with an
evident chuckle of triumph.
I thought to myself, he will soon be done with it, and
replied : " That s all right."
A new idea evidently struck him, for, with a brighten
ing look of satisfaction, he said :
" Now, Barnum, you have made a good thing out of
the California menagerie, and so have I ; but you will
make a heap more. So if you won t give me this new
hunter s dress, just draw a little writing, and sign it, say
ing that I may wear it until I have done with it."
Of course, I knew that in a few days at longest,
he would be " done " with this world altogether,
MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 541
and, to gratify him, I cheerfully drew and signed
the paper.
"Come, old Yankee, I ve got you this time see if
I haint ! " exclaimed Adams, with a broad grin, as he
took the paper,
I smiled, and said :
" All right, my dear fellow ; the longer you live the
better I shall like it."
We parted, and he went to Neponset, a small town
near Boston, where his wife and daughter lived. He
took at once to his bed, and never rose from it again.
The excitement had passed away, and his vital energies
could accomplish no more. The fifth day after arriving
home, the physician told him he could not live until the
next morning. He received the announcement in per
fect calmness, and with the most apparent indifference ;
then, turning to his wife, with a smile he requested her
to have him buried in the new hunting suit. "For,"
said he, " Barnum agreed to let me have it until I have
done with it, and I was determined to fix his flint this
time. He shall never see that dress again." His wife
assured him that his request should be complied with.
He then sent for the clergyman and they spent several
hours in communing together.
Adams, who, rough and untutored, had nevertheless,
a natur5f*T>k)quence, and often put his thoughts in good
language, said to the clergyman, that though he had
told some pretty big stories about his bears, he had
always endeavored to do the straight thing between man
and man. " I have attended preaching every day, Sun
days and all," said he, " for the last six years. Some
times an old grizzly gave me the sermon, sometimes it
was a panther ; often it was the thunder and lightning,
542 MENAGE1UE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
the tempest, or the hurricane on the peaks of the Sierra
Nevada, or in the gorges of the Rocky Mountains ; but
whatever preached to me, it always taught me the
majesty of the Creator, and revealed to me the undying
and unchanging love of our kind Father in heaven.
Although I am a pretty rough customer," continued tha
dying man, " I fancy my heart is in about the right place,
and look with confidence for that rest which I so much
need, and which I have never enjoyed upon earth." He
then desired the clergyman to pray with him, after which
he took him by the hand, thanked him for his kindness,
and bade him farewell. In another hour his spirit had
taken its flight. It was said by those present, that his
face lighted into a smile as the last breath escaped him,
and that smile he carried into his grave. Almost his last
words were : " Won t Barnum open his eyes when he
finds I have humbugged him by being buried in his new
hunting dress I " That dress was indeed the shroud in
which he was entombed.
And that was the last on earth of " Old Grizzly
Adams."
After the death of Adams, the grizzly bears and
other animals were added to the collection in my
Museum, and I employed Herr Driesbach, the celebrated
lion-tamer, as an exhibitor. Some time afterwards the
bears were sold to a menagerie company, but H kept
" old Neptune," the sea-lion, for several years, sending
him occasionally for exhibition in other cities, as far
west as Chicago. This noble and ferocious animal was
a very great curiosity and attracted great attention. He
was kept in a large tank, which was supplied with salt
water every day from the Fall River steamboats, whose
deck hands filled my barrels on every passage to the
MENAGEKIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 543
city with salt water from the deepest part of Long
Island Sound. On his tours through the country the
sea-lion lived very well in fresh water.
It w r as at one time my serious intention to engage in
an American Indian Exhibition on a stupendous scale.
I proposed to secure at the far West not less than one
hundred of the best specimens of full-blood Indians,
with their squaws and papooses, their paint, ponies,
dresses, and weapons, for a general tour throughout the
United States and Europe. The plan comprehended a
grand entry at every town and city where the Indians
were to exhibit the Indians in all the glory of paint
and feathers, beads and bright blankets, riding on their
ponies, followed by tame buffaloes, elks and antelopes ;
then an exhibition on a lot large enough to admit of
a display of all the Indian games and dances, their
method of hunting, their style of cooking, living, etc.
Such an exhibition is perfectly practicable now to
any one who has the capital and tact to undertake it,
and a sure fortune would follow the enterprise.
On the 13th of October, 1860, the Prince of Wales,
then making a tour in the United States, in company
with his suite, visited the American Museum. This was
a very great compliment, since it was the only place of
amusement the Prince attended in this country. Un
fortunately, I was in Bridgeport at the time, and the
Museum was in charge of my manager, Mr. Green
wood. Knowing that the name of the American
Museum was familiar throughout Europe, I was quite
confident of a call from the Prince, and from regard to
his filial feelings I had, a day or two after his arrival
in New York, ordered to be removed to a dark closet
a frightful wax figure of his royal mother, which, for
544 MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
nineteen years, had excited the admiration of the
million and which bore a placard with the legend,
" An exact likeness of Her Majesty Queen Victoria,
taken from life." Mr. Greenwood, who was an Eng
lishman, was deeply impressed with the condescension
of the Prince, and backed his way through the halls,
followed by the Prince, the Duke of Newcastle, and
other members of the royal suite, and he actually
trembled as he attempted to do the reception honors.
Presently they arrived in front of the platform on
which were exhibited the various living human curiosities
and monstrosities. The tall giant woman made her best
bow ; the fat boy waddled out and kissed his hand ;
the " negro turning white " showed his ivory and his
spots; the dwarfs kicked up their heels, and like the
clown in the ring, cried " here we are again" ; the
living skeleton stalked out, reminding the Prince, per
haps, of the wish of Sidney Smith in a hot day that
he could lay off his flesh and sit in his bones ; the
Albino family went thr6ugh their performances ; the
" What is it]" grinned ; the Infant Drummer-boy beat
a tattoo ; and the Aztec children were shown and
described as specimens of a remarkable and ancient
race in Mexico and Central America. The Prince and
his suite seemed pleased, and Greenwood was duly
delighted. He was, however, quite overwhelmed with
the responsibility of his position, especially whenever
the Prince addressed him, and leading the way to the
wax figure hall he called attention to the figures of the
Siamese Twins and the Quaker Giant and his wife.
" I suppose," said the Prince, " these figures are
representatives of different living curiosities exhibited
from time to time in your Museum ] "
MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 545
" Yes, your Royal Highness, all of them," replied
the confused Greenwood, and as " all of them "
included very fair figures of the Emperors Nicholas and
Napoleon, the Empress Eugenie, and other equally dis
tinguished personages, the Prince must have thought
that the Museum had contained, in times past, some
famous "living curiosities." On leaving the Museum,
the Prince asked to see Mr. Barnum, and when he was
told that I was out of town, he remarked : " We have
missed the most interesting feature of the establishment."
A few days afterwards, when the Prince was in Boston,
happening to be in that city, I sent my card to him at
the Revere House, and was cordially received. He
smiled when I reminded him that I had seen him when
he was a little boy, on the occasion of one of my visits
to Buckingham Palace with General Tom Thumb. The
Prince told me that he was much pleased with his
recent inspection of my Museum, and that he and his
suite had left their autographs in the establishment, as
mementos of their visit.
When I arrived in Boston, by the by, on this visit,
the streets were thronged with the military and citizens
assembled to receive the Prince of Wales, and I had great
difficulty, in starting from the depot to the Revere House,
in getting through the assembled crowd. At last, a
policeman espied me, and taking me for Senator Stephen
A. Douglas, he cried out, at the top of his voice :
" Make way there for Judge Douglas s carriage." The
crowd opened a passage for my carriage at short notice,
and shouted out " Douglas, Douglas, hurrah for Doug
las." I took off my hat and bowed, smiling from the
windows on each side of my carriage ; the cheers and
enthusiasm increased as I advanced, and all the way to
546 MENAGEKIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
the Eevere House I continued to bow Judge Douglas s
grateful acknowledgments for the enthusiastic recep
tion. There must have been at least fifty thousand peo
ple who joined in this spontaneous demonstration in
honor of Judge Douglas.
When Douglas ran for the presidency in 1860, my
democratic friend, J. D. Johnson, bet me a hat that the
Judge would be elected. Douglas passed through
Bridgeport on his electioneering tour down East, and
made a brief speech from the rear platform of the car,
to the people assembled at the depot. The next day
Mr. Johnson met me in a crowded barber shop and
asked me if I had ever seen Douglas I I answered
that I had, and Johnson then asked what sort of a
looking man he was. Eemembering our hat bet, and
knowing that Johnson expected a pretty hard descrip
tion of his favorite candidate, I said :
"He is a red-nosed, blear-eyed, dumpy, swaggering
chap, looking like a regular bar-room loafer."
" I thought as much," said Johnson, " for here is the
New Haven paper of this morning, which says that he
is the very image, in personal appearance, of P. T. Bar-
num."
When the roar that followed subsided, I told John
son I must have had some other man in my mind s eye,
when I answered his question.
* One day I went out of the Museum in great haste to
Tom Higginson s barber shop, in the Park Hotel, where
my daily tonsorial operations were performed, and find
ing a rough-looking Hibernian just ahead of me, I told
him that if he would be good enough to give me his
" turn," I would pay his bill ; to which he consented, and
taking his turn and my own shave, I speedily departed,
MENAGERIE AND MUSEUM MEMORANDA. 547
saying to Tom, as I went out : " Fix out this man,
and for whatever he has done I will pay the bill."
Two or three clerks and reporters, who were in the
shop, and who knew me, put their freshly-dressed heads
together and suggested to Tom that here was an oppor
tunity to perpetrate a practical joke on Barnum, and
they explained the plan, in which Higginson readily
acquiesced.
"Now," says one of them to the Irishman, "get
everything done which you like, and it will cost you
nothing ; it will be charged to the gentleman to whom
you gave your turn."
" Sure and a liberal gintleman he must be," said
Pat.
" Will you take a bath?" asked the barber.
" That indade I will, if the gintleman pays," was the
reply.
When he came out of the bath he was asked if he
would be shampooed. " And what is that ? " asked
the bewildered Hibernian. The process was explained
and he consented to go through with the operation.
Thereafter, moved and instigated thereto by the barber
and his confederates, Pat permitted Higginson to dye
his red haijr and whiskers a beautiful brown, and then
to curl them. When all was done, the son of Erin
looked in the mirror and could scarcely believe the
1 /idence of his own eyes. A more thorough transforma
tion could scarcely be conceived, and as he went out
of the door he said to Higginson :
" Give the generous gintleman me best complements
and tell him he can have my turn ony day on the same
terms."
One of the newspaper reporters, who assisted in the
048 MENAGEKIE AXD MUSEUM MEMORANDA.
joke, published the whole story the next day, and when
I called at the barber shop a bill for $1.75 was pre
sented, which, of course, I could do no less than to pay.
The joke went the rounds of the papers ; and after a
few months, an English friend sent me the whole story
in a copy of the London Family Herald a publication
that issues about half a million of copies weekly. Mr.
Currier, the lithographer, put the joke into pictorial
form, representing the Irishman as he appeared before,
also as he appeared after the " barbar-ous " operations.
After all, it was a good advertisement for me, as well as
for Higginson ; and it would have been pretty difficult
to serve me up about these times in printers ink in any
form that I should have objected to.
Meanwhile, the Museum flourished better than ever ;
and I began to make large holes in the mortgages
which covered the property of my wife in New York
and in Connecticut. Still, there was an immense amount
of debts resting upon all her real estate, and nothing
but time, economy, industry and diligence woul(J remove
the burdens.
CHAPTER, XXXV.
EAST BRIDGEPORT.
4XOTHER NEW HOME LINDENCROFT PROGRESS OF MY PET CITY THE
CHESTNUT WOOD FIRE HOW IT BECAME OLD HICKORY INDUCEMENTS TO
SETTLERS MY OFFER EVERY MAN HIS OWN HOUSE-OWNER WHISKEY
AND TOBACCO RISE IN REAL-ESTATE PEMBROKE LAKE WASHINGTON
PARK GREAT MANUFACTORIES W1IKELWK AND WILSON SCHUYLER,
HARTLEY AND GRAHAM HOTCHKISS, SON AND COMPANY STREET NAMES
MANY THOUSAND SHADE TREES BUSINESS IN THE NEW CITY UNPARAL
LELED GROWTH AND PROSPERITY PROBABILITIES IN THE FUTURE
SITUATION OF BRIDGEPORT ITS ADVANTAGES AND PROSPECTS THE SECOND,
IF NOT THE FORE3IOST CITY IN CONNECTICUT.
FOR nearly five years my family had been knocked
about, the sport of adverse fortune, without a settled
home. Sometimes we boarded, and at other times we
lived in a small hired house. Two of my daughters
were married, and my youngest daughter, Pauline, was
away at boarding school. The health of my wife was
much impaired, and she especially needed a fixed
residence which she could call " home." Accord
ingly, in 1860, I built a pleasant house adjoining that
of my daughter Caroline, in Bridgeport, and one
hundred rods west of the grounds of Iranistan. I had
originally a tract of twelve acres, but half of it had
been devoted to my daughter, and on the other half
I now proposed to establish my own residence. To
prepare the site it .was necessary to cart in several
thousands of loads of dirt to fill up the hollow and to
make the broad, beautiful lawn, in the centre of which
I erected the new house, and after supplying the place
550 EAST BKIDGEPOKT.
with fountains, shrubbery, statuary and all that cotdd
adorn it, I named my new home " Lindencroft." It
was, in truth, a very delightful place, complete and
convenient in all respects, and there is scarcely a more
beautiful residence in Bridgeport now.
Meanwhile, my pet city, East Bridgeport, was pro
gressing with giant strides. The Wheeler and Wilson
Sewing Machine manufactory had been quadrupled in
size, and employed about a thousand workmen. Nu
merous other large factories had been built, and scores
of first-class houses were erected, besides many neat, but
smaller and cheaper houses for laborers and mechanics.
That piece of property, which, but eight years before,
had been farm land, with scarcely six houses upon the
whole tract, was now a beautiful new city, teeming with
busy life, and looking as neat as anew pin. The great
est pleasure which I then took, or even now take, was
in driving through those busy streets, admiring the
beautiful houses and substantial factories, with their
thousands of prosperous workmen, and reflecting that I
had, in so great a measure, been the means of adding
all this life, bustle and wealth to the City of Bridgeport.
And reflection on this subject only confirmed in my
mind the great doctrine of compensations. How plain
was it in my case, that an " apparent evil " was a " bles
sing in disguise ! " How palpable was it now, that, had
it not been for the clock failure, this prosperity could
not have existed here. An old citizen of*Bridgeport
used to say to me, when, a few years before, he had
noticed my zeal in trying to build tip the east side :
" Mr. Barnum, your contemplated new city is like a
fire made with chestnut wood ; it burns so long as you
keep blowing it, and when you stop, it goes out ! "
^
EAST BRIDGEPORT. 551
I like, now-a-days to laugh at him about his " chestnut
wood fire." Of course, I did blow the fire in all possi
ble ways, but the result proved that the wood which
fed the fire was not chestnut, but the best and soundest
old hickory. The situation was everything that could
be desired, and I knew that in order to induce manufac
turers to establish their business in the new city, a
prime requisite was the advantage I could oifer to em
ployers, agents and workmen, to secure good and
cheap homes -in the vicinity of their place of labor.
To show the method I adopted to secure this end, I
copy from the files of the Bridgeport Standard, an offer
which I made, and the editorial comment thereon.
This offer, I may add, was not so much for the purpose
of blowing the fire, which was already fairly roaring
with a lively blaze, as for the sake of helping those
who were willing to help themselves, and, at the same
time, contribute to my happiness, as well as their
own, by forwarding the growth of the new city.
"NEW HOUSES IN EAST BRIDGEPORT.
"EVERY MAN TO OWN THE HOUSE HE LIVES IN.
" There is a demand at the present moment for two hundred more dwellinsr-
houses in East Bridgeport. It is evident that if the money expended in rent
can be paid towards the purchase of a house and lot, the person so paying
will in a few years own the house he lives in, instead of always remaining a ten
ant. In view of this fact, I propose to loan money at six per cent to any num
ber, not exceeding fifty, industrious, temperate and respectable individuals, who
desire to build their own houses.
" They may engage their own builders, and build according to any reasonable
plan (which I may approve), or I will have it done for them at the lowest possi
ble rate, without a farthing profit to myself or agent, I putting the lot at a fair
price and advancing eighty per cent of the entire cost ; the other party to furnish
twenty per cent in labor, material or money, and they may pay me in small
sums weekly, monthly or quarterly, any amount not less than three per cent
per quarter, all of which is to apply on the money advanced until it is paid.
" It has been ascertained that by purchasing building materials for cash, and in
large quantities, nice dwellings, painted and furnished* with green blinds, can.
be erected at a cost of $1,500 or $1,800, for house, lot, fences, etc., all complete.
552 EAST BRIDGEPORT.
and if six or eight friends prefer to join in erecting a neat block of houses with
verandas in front, the average cost need not exceed about $1,300 per house and
lot. If, however, some parties would prefer a single or double house that would
cost $2,500 to $3,000, I shall be glad to meet their views.
P. T. BARNUM.
"February 16, 1864."
The editor of the Standard printed the following
upon my announcement:
"AN ADVANTAGEOUS OFFER. We have read with great pleasure Mr.
Barnum s advertisement, offering assistance to any number of persons, not
exceeding fifty, in the erection of dwelling houses. This plan combines all the
advantages and none of the objections of Building Associations. Any individual
who can furnish in cash, labor, or material, one-fifth only of the amount requisite
for the erection of a dwelling house, can receive the other four-fifths from Mr.
Barnum, rent his house and by merely paying what may be considered as only a
fair rent for a few years, find himself at last the owner, and all further payments
cease. In the mean time, he can be making such inexpensive improvements in his
property as would greatly improve its market value, and besides have the
advantage of any rise in the value of real estate. It is not often that such a
generous ofier is made to working men. It is a loan on what would be generally
considered inadequate security, at six per cent, at a time when a much better use
of money can be made by any capitalist. It is therefore generous. Mr. Barnum
may make money by the operation. Very well, perhaps he will, but if he does,
it will be by making others richer, not poorer; by helping those who need assist
ance, not by hindering them, and we can only wish that every rich man would
follow such a noble example, and thus, without injury to themselves, give a
helping hand to those who need it. Success to the enterprise. We hope that
fifty men will be found before the week ends, each of whom desires in such a
manner to obtain a roof which he can call his own."
Quite a number of men at once availed themselves of
my offer, and eventually succeeded in paying for their
homes without much effort. I am sorry to add, that rent
is still paid, month after month, by many men who would
long ago have owned neat homesteads, free from all
incumbrances, if they had accepted my proposals and
had signed and kept the temperance pledge, and given
up the use of tobacco. The money they have since
expended for whiskey and tobacco, would have given
them a house of their own, if the money had been
devoted to that object, and their positions, socially and
morally, would have been far better than they are
EAST BRIDGEPORT. 553
to-day. How many infatuated men there are in all
parts of the country, who could now be independent,
and even owners of their own carriages, but for their
slavery to these miserable habits !
I built a number of houses to let. in order to accom
modate those who were unable to buy. I find this the
most unpleasant part of my connection with the new
city. The interest on the investment, the taxes, repairs,
wear and tear, and insurance render tenant-houses the
most unprofitable property to own ; besides which the
landlord is often looked upon by the tenants as an over
bearing, grasping man and one whose property it is
their highest duty to injure as much as possible; for all
concerned therefore, it is much better that every person
should somehow manage to own the roof he sleeps
under. Men are more independent and feel happier
who live in their own houses ; they keep the premises
in neater order, and they make better citizens. Hence
I always encourage poor people to become householders
if possible, for I find that oftentimes when they have
lived long in one of my houses they think it very hard if
the property is not given to them. They argue that the
landlord is rich and would never feel the loss of one
little place, not stopping to consider that the aggregate
of a great many " little places ? thus given away would
make the landlord poor, nor would the tenants be
benefited so much by homes that were given to them
as they would by homes that were the fruits of their
own industry and economy.
The land in East Bridgeport was originally pur
chased by me at from $50 to $75, and from those sums
to f^OO per acre ; and the average cost of all I bought
on that side of the river was $200 per acre. Some
554 EAST BKIDGEPOKT.
portions of this land are now assessed in the Bridgeport
tax-list at from $3,000 to $4,000 per acre. At the time
I joined Mr. Noble in this enterprise, the site we pur
chased was not a part of the City of Bridgeport. It is
now, however, a most important section of the city, and
the three bridges connecting the two banks of the river,
and originally chartered as toll-bridges, have been
bought by the city and thrown open as free highways
to the public. A horse railroad, in which I took one-
tenth part of the stock, connects the two portions of the
city, extending westerly beyond Iranistan and Linden-
croft, while a branch road runs to the beatiful " Sea-side
Park " on the Sound shore.
The eastern line of East Bridgeport, when I first pur
chased so large a portion of the property, was bounded
by a long, narrow swale or valley of salt meadow,
through which a small stream passed, and which was
flooded with salt water at every tide. At considerable
expense, I erected a dam at the foot of this meadow,
and thus converted this heretofore filthy, repulsive,
mosquito-inhabited and malaria-breeding marsh into a
charming sheet of water, which is now known as Pem
broke Lake. If this improvement had not been made,
in all probability the eastern portion of my property
would never have been devoted to dwelling houses ; as
it is, Barnum Street has been extended by means of a
bridge across the lake, and the eastern shore is already
studded with houses. The land on that side of the lake
lies in the town of Stratford, and the growth of the new
settlement promises to be as rapid as that of East
Bridgeport.
General Noble, in laying out the first portiofi of
our new city, named several streets after members
EAST BRIDGEPORT. 555
of his own family, and also of mine. Hence, we have
a "Noble" Street and a noble street it is; a " Bar-
num " Street ; while other streets are named " William,"
from Mr. Noble ; " Harriet," the Christian name of Mrs,
Noble ; " Hallett," the maiden name of my wife ; and
u Caroline," " Helen," and " Pauline," the names of my
three daughters. There is also the " Barnum School
District " and school-house ; so that it seems as if, for a
few scores of years at least, posterity would know who
were the founders of the new, flourishing and beautiful
city. We have yet another enduring and ever-growing
monument in the many thousands of trees which we set
out and which now line and gratefully shade the streets
of East Bridgeport.
Figures can scarcely give an appreciable idea of the
rapid growth and material prosperity of this important
portion of the City of Bridgeport ; but the city
records show that my first purchase of land on that
side of the river was appraised in the Bridgeport
assessment list, in October, 1851, at $36,000, while in
July, 1859, the same real estate, with improvements, less
the Washington Park, the Public School lot in Barnum
District, the land for streets, and four church lots, was
valued in the city assessment list at $1,200,000. When
we bought the property there were but six old farm
houses on the entire tract, when the centre bridge was
built and opened. Now there are on the same land
hundreds of dwelling-houses, some of them as fine as
any in the State. Three handsome churches, Methodist,
Episcopal and Congregational, front on the beautiful
Washington Park of seven acres, which Mr. Noble and
myself presented to the city, and which would be worth
$100,000 to day for building lots. This pleasant park
556 EAST BRIDGEPORT.
is enclosed by a substantial iron fence, and contains a
fine, natural grove of full-grown trees, while the
surrounding streets are lined with charming residences,
and, on one or more evenings in the week during the
summer, the city band, or the Wheeler & Wilson band,
plays in the Park for the amusement and benefit of the
citizens of East Bridgeport.
Some of the largest and most prosperous manufac
tories in the United States are located in the new city.
Among these are the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing
Machine Manufactories, which cover four entire squares,
with fire-proof buildings, are rapidly extending, and
employ more than one thousand operators ; the Howe
Sewing Machine Factory is also an immense edifice,
employing nearly the same number of men ; Schuyler,
Hartley, Graham & Company s great cartridge and
ammunition works, almost supply the armies of the
world with the means of destruction ; besides these, the
Winchester Arms Manufactory for making the " twenty-
shooter breech-loader " ; a large brass manufactory ; an
immense hat manufactory ; and Hotchkiss, Sons &
Company s Hardware Manufactory, are among the more
prominent establishments, and other and like concerns
are constantly adding. Indeed, at this time (186 9) one-
fourth of the population and three-fourths of the man
ufacturing capital and business of Bridgeport are located
on the east side within limits which, in 1850, contained
only six old farm houses.
The following details respecting the business of some
of the largest establishments will give an idea of the
manufacturing industries of East Bridgeport. The
Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Company employ
more than $4,000,000 in their business. Their
EAST BRIDGEPORT. 557
employees number ten hundred, and they manufacture
an average of three hundred sewing machines per day ;
the total number of machines manufactured up to July 1 ,
1869, is over four hundred thousand, and the factories
cover six and one-half acres of ground. The Union
Metallic Cartridge Company, Messrs. Schuyler, Hartley,
Graham & Co., have a capital of $350,000, employ
two hundred and fifty men, and manufacture cartridges
and primers of Berdan s patent military and sporting
caps, and elastic gun waddings, at the rate of 1,000,000
cartridges, 720,000 primers, and 720,000 caps per week,
and to July 1, 1869, they had manufactured 50,000,000
cartridges. The Bridgeport Brass Company employ
two hundred men, have a capital of $150,000, and
manufacture rolled brass wire and tubing, kerosene
burners, lamp goods, corset steels, oil cans, etc., and roll
and use in these goods 1,000,000 pounds of brass a
year. The Winchester Arms Company have a capital
of $450,000, employ three hundred men, and manufac
ture the Winchester rifle, cartridges and ammunition.
The Howe Machine Company have a capital of $300,-
000, employ five hundred men, and manufacture sewing
machines at the rate of one hundred and fifty per day.
Messrs. Hotchkiss and Sons, with a capital of $162,500,
and one hundred and twenty-five men, manufacture
hardware, currycombs, game traps, and harness snaps
to the amount of $20,000 per month. The Bridgeport
Manufacturing Company, with fifty men, and a capital
of $300,000, manufacture the American submerged
pump. The Odorless Eubber Company, with fifty men,
and $200,000 capital, manufacture soft rubber goods,
hose, clothing, etc. The American Silver Steel
Company, manufacture steel from the Mine Hill, Roxbury,
558 EAST BBIDGEPOKT.
Connecticut, Spathic ore, and employ two hundred and
fifty men, and a capital of $500,000. Messrs. Glover
Sanford and Sons, employ two hundred and fifty
men, and manufacture two hundred and fifty dozen
wool hats per day. The New York Tap and Die
Company, with a capital of $150,000, and one hundred
men, manufacture taps, dies, drills, bits, etc. These
companies thus employ about six and one-half millions
in capital, and nearly twenty-seven hundred men, and
expend more than $2,000,000 a year in wages to the
operatives.
In addition, there are several substantial brick blocks
devoted to business ; there are book stores, drug stores,
dry goods stores, jewelry stores, boot and shoe shops
and stores, tailoring and furnishing establishments, more
than twenty grocery stores, six meat markets, three fish
markets, coal, wood, lumber and brick yards, steam
flouring mills, and a large brick hotel. The water and
gas supplies are the same as those afforded on the other
side of the river. It is quite within the bounds of
probability that in the course of twenty years, the east
side will contain the larger proportion of the inhabitants.
A post-office and a railway station will soon be built
on that side of the river. A new iron bridge is about
to connect the two parts of the city, affording additional
facilities for inter-communication. In 1868, March 2,
a special committee of the Common Council reported
the census of the City of Bridgeport as follows : First
ward, 7,397; Second ward, 4,237; Third ward, East
Bridgeport, 5,497 ; total, 17,131. In this enumeration,
our new city contained nearly one-third of the entire
population, and its increase since has been far more
rapid than that of any other part of Bridgeport.
EAST BRIDGEPORT. 559
The entire City of Bridgeport is advancing in popula
tion and prosperity with a rapidity far beyond that of
any other city in Connecticut, and everything indicates
that it will soon take its proper position as the second,
if not the first, city in the State. Its situation as the
terminus of the Naugatuck and the Housatonic rail
ways, its accessibility to New York, with its two daily
steamboats to and from the metropolis, and its dozen
daily trains of the New York and Boston and Shore
Line railways, are all elements of prosperity which are
rapidly telling in favor of this busy, beautiful and
charming city.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
MOKE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
ANOTHER RE-OPENING A CHERRY-COLORED CAT THE CAT LET OFT OF THU
BAG MY FIRST WHALING EXPEDITION PLANS FOR CAPTURE SUCCESS
OF THE SCHEME TRANSPORTING LIVING WHALES BY LAND PUBLIC EX
CITEMENT THE GREAT TANK SALT WATER PUMPED FROM THE BAY TO
THE MUSEUM MORE WHALES EXPEDITION TO LABRADOR THE FIRST
HIPPOPOTAMUS EN AMERICA TROPICAL *FISH COMMODORE NUTT AND HIS
FIRST "ENGAGEMENT" THE TWO DROMIOS PRESIDENT LINCOLN SEES
COMMODORE NUTT WADING ASHORE A QUESTION OF LEGS SELF-DECEP
TION THE GOLDEN ANGEL FISH ANNA SWAN, THE NOVA SCOTIA GIANT
ESS THE TALLEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD INDIAN CHIEFS EXPEDITION
TO CYPRUS MY AGENT IN A PASHA S HAREM.
ON the 13th of October, 1860, the American Museum
was the scene of another re-opening, which was, in fact,
the commencement of the fall dramatic season, the
summer months having been devoted to pantomime. A
grand nourish of trumpets in the way of newspaper
advertisements and flaming posters drew a crowded
house. Among other attractions, it was announced
that Mr. Barnum would introduce a mysterious novelty
never before seen in that establishment. I appeared
upon the stage behind a small table, in front of which
was nailed a white sack, on which was inscribed, in
large letters, " The cat let out of the bag." I then
stated that, having spent two of the summer months in
the country, leaving the Museum in charge of Mr.
Greenwood, he had purchased a curiosity with which
he was not satisfied ; but, for my part, I thought he
had received his money s worth, and I proposed to ex-
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 561
hibit it to the audience, for the purpose of getting their
opinion on the subject. I stated that a farmer came in
from the country, and said he had got a " cherry-colored
cat " at home which he would like to sell ; that Mr.
Greenwood gave him a writing promising to pay him
twenty-five dollars for such a cat delivered in good
health, provided it was not artificially colored ; and that
the cat was then in the bag in front of the table, ready
for exhibition. Whereupon, my assistant drew from
the bag a common black cat, and I informed the audi
ence that when the farmer brought his " cherry-colored
cat," he quietly remarked to Mr. Greenwood, that, of
course, he meant " a cat of the color of black cherries."
The laughter that followed this narration was uproar
ious, and the audience unanimously voted that the
" cherry-colored cat," all things considered, was well
worth twenty-five dollars. The cat, adorned with a
collar bearing the inscription, "The Cherry-colored
Cat," was then placed in the cage of the " Happy
Family," and the story getting into the newspapers, it
became another advertisement of the Museum.
In 1861, I learned that some fishermen at the mouth
of the St. Lawrence had succeeded in capturing a living
white whale, and I was also informed that a whale of
this kind, if placed in a box lined with sea-weed and
partially filled with salt water, could be transported by
land to a considerable distance, and be kept alive. It
was simply necessary that an attendant, supplied with a
barrel of salt water and a sponge, should keep the
mouth and blow-hole of the whale constantly moist. It
seemed incredible that a living whale could be " ex
pressed" by railroad on a five days journey, and al
though I knew nothing of the white whale or its habits,
562 MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
since I had never seen one, I determined to experiment
in that direction. Landsman as I was, I believed that I
was quite as competent as a St. Lawrence fisherman to
superintend the capture and transportation of a live
white whale.
When I had fully made up my mind to attempt th?
task, I made every provision for the expedition, and
took precaution against every conceivable contingency,
I determined upon the capture and transport to my Mu
seum of at least two living whales, and prepared in the
basement of the building a brick and cement tank, forty
feet long, and eighteen feet wide, for the reception of
the marine monsters. When this was done, -taking
two trusty assistants, I started upon my whaling expe
dition. Going by rail to Quebec, and thence by the
Grand Trunk Railroad, ninety miles, to Wells River,
where I chartered a sloop to Elbow Island (Isle au
Coudres), in the St. Lawrence River, and found the
place populated by Canadian French people of the most
ignorant and dirty description. They were hospitable,
but frightfully filthy, and they gained their livelihood
by farming and fishing. Immense quantities of maple-
sugar are made there, and in exploring about the island,
we saw hundreds of birch-bark buckets suspended to the
trees to catch the sap. After numerous consultations,
extending over three whole days, with a party of twenty-
four fishermen, whose gibberish was almost as untrans
latable as it was unbearable, I succeeded in contracting
for their services to capture for me, alive and unharmed,
a couple of white whales, scores of which could at all
times be discovered by their " spouting " within sight
of the island. I was to pay these men a stipulated
price per day for their labor, and if they secured the
whales, they were to have a liberal bonus.
MOKE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 563
The plan decided upon was to plant in the river a
* kraal," composed of stakes driven down in the form
of a V, leaving the broad end open for the whales to
enter. This was done in a shallow place, with the
point of the kraal towards shore ; and if hy chance one
or more whales should enter the trap at high water, my
fishermen were to occupy tlj,e entrance with their boats,
and keep up a tremendous splashing and noise till the
tide receded, when the frightened whales would iiud
themselves nearly " high and dry," or with too little
water to enable them to swim, and their capture would
be the next thing in order. This was to be effected by
securing a slip-noose of stout rope over their tails, and
towing them to the sea-weed lined boxes in which they
were to be transported to New York.
All this was simple enough " on paper" ; but several
days elapsed before a single spout was seen inside the
kraal, though scores of whales were constantly around
and near it. In time, it became exceedingly aggravating
to see the whales glide so near the trap without going
into it, and our patience was sorely tried. One day a
whale actually went into the kraal, and the fishermen
proposed to capture it; bat I wanted another, a\)4fvrinle
we waited for number two to go in, number one,,kii$W
ing the proverb, probably, and having an eye to his own
interests, went out. Two days afterwards, I was awak
ened at daylight by a great noise, and :amid the clamor,
of many voices, I caught thq cheering news: that two
whales were even then within.. the .kraal,, /and- hastily
dressing myself, I took a, boat : for., the, ; .exciting scene.
The real difficulty, which , was to get the whaJeSrinfcQ the
trap, was now oye,i , r an^ the 4^ tails of capture
portation could safely bet left to my teusty .
564 MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
the fishermen. What they were to do until the tide went
out and thereafter was once more fully explained ; and
after depositing money enough to pay the bill, if the
capture was successful, I started at once for Quebec.
There I learned by telegraph that both whales had been
caught, boxed, and put on board sloop for the nearest
point where they could be transhipped in the cars. I
had made every arrangement with the railway officials,
and had engaged a special car for the precious and
curious freight.
Elated as I was at the result of this novel enterprise,
I had no idea of hiding my light tinder a bushel, and I
immediately wrote a full account of the expedition, its
intention, and its success, for publication in the Quebec
and Montreal newspapers. I also prepared a largo
number of brief notices which I left at every station on
the line, instructing telegraph operators to " take off "
all " whaling messages " that passed over the wires to
New York, and to inform their fellow townsmen at
what hour the whales would pass through each place.
The result of these arrangements may be imagined ; at
every station crowds of people came to the cars to see
the whales which were travelling by land to Barnum s
Museum, and those who did not see the monsters with
their own eyes, at least saw some one who had seen
them, and I thus secured a tremendous advertisement,
seven hundred miles long, for the American Museum.
When I arrived in New York, a dozen despatches
had come from the " whaling expedition." and they
continued to cornc every few hours. These I bulletined
in front of the Museum and sent copies to the papers.
The excitement was intense, and, when at last, these
marine monsters arrived and were swimming in the tank
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 565
that had been prepared for them, anxious thousands
literally rushed to see the strangest curiosities ever
exhibited in New York.
Thus was my first whaling expedition a great
success ; but I did not know how to feed or to take care
of the monsters, and, moreover, they were in fresh
water, and this, with the bad air in the basement, may
have hastened their death, which occurred a few days
after their arrival, but not before thousands of people
had seen them. Not at all discouraged, I resolved to
try again. My plan now was to connect the water of
New York bay with the basement of the Museum by
means of iron pipes under the street, and a steam engine
on the dock to pump the water. This I actually did at a
cost of several thousand dollars, with an extra thousand
to the aldermanic "ring" for the privilege, and I con
structed another tank in the second floor of the building.
This tank was built of slate and French glass plates
six feet long, five feet broad, and one inch thick,
imported expressly for the purpose, and the tank, when
completed, was twenty-four feet square, and cost $4,000.
It was kept constantly supplied with what would be
called Hibernically, " fresh " salt water, and inside of
it I soon had two wiiite whales, caught, as the first had
been, hundreds of miles below Quebec, to which city
they were carried by a sailing vessel, and from thence
were brought by railway to New York.
Of this whole enterprise, I confess I was very proud
that I had originated it and brought it to such success
ful conclusion. It was a very great sensation, and it
added thousands of dollars to my treasury. The whales,
however, soon died their sudden and immense popu
larity was too much for them andj then despatched
566 MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
agents to the coast of Labrador, and not many weeks
thereafter I had two more live whales disporting them
selves in my monster aquarium. Certain envious people
started the report that my whales were only por
poises, but this petty malice was turned to good account,
for Professor Agassiz, of Harvard University, came to
see them, and gave me a certificate that they were
genuine white whales, and this indorsement I published
far and wide.
The tank which I had built in the basement served
for a yet more interesting exhibition. On the l 2th of
August, 1861, I began to exhibit the first and only gen
uine hippopotamus that had ever been seen in America,
and for several weeks the Museum was thronged by the
curious who came to see the monster. I advertised
him extensively and ingeniously, as " the great behe
moth of the Scriptures," giving a full description of
the animal and his habits, and thousands of cultivated
people, biblical students, and others, were attracted to
this novel exhibition. There was quite as much ex
citement in the city over this wonder in the animal
creation as there was in London when the first hippo
potamus was placed in the zoological collection in lie-
gent s Park.
Having a stream of salt water at my command at
every high tide, I was enabled to make splendid addi-
1 tions to the beautiful aquarium, which I was the first
to introduce into this country. I not only procured
living sharks, porpoises, sea horses, and many rare
fish from the sea in the vicinity of New York, but in
the summer of 1861, I despatched a fishing smack and
crew to the Island of Bermuda and its neighborhood,
whence they brought scores of specimens of the beau-
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 567
tiful " angel fish," and numerous other tropical fish of
brilliant colors and unique forms. These fish were a
great attraction to all classes, and especially to natural
ists and others, who commended me for serving the
ends of science as well as amusement. But as cold
weather approached, these tropical fish began to die,
and before the following spring, they were all gone.
I, therefore, replenished this portion of my aquaria
during the summer, and for several summers in suc
cession, by sending a special vessel to the Gulf for
specimens. These operations were very expensive,
but I really did not care for the cost, if I could only
secure valuable attractions.
In the same year, I bought out the Aquarial Gardens
in Boston, and soon after removed the collection to the
Museum. I had now the finest assemblage of fresh as
well as salt water fish ever exhibited, and with a stand
ing offer of one hundred dollars for every living brook-
trout, weighing four pounds or more, which might be
brought to me, I soon had three or four of these
beauties, which trout-fishermen from all parts of the
country came to New York to see. But the trout de
partment of my Museum required so much care, and
was attended with such constant risks, that I finally
gave it up.
In December, 1861, 1 made one of my most " palpable
hits." I was visited at the Museum by a most remark
able dwarf, who was a sharp, intelligent little fellow,
with a deal of drollery and wit. He had a splendid
head, was perfectly formed, was very attractive, and, in
short, for a " showman," he was a perfect treasure. His
name, he told me, was George Washington Morrison
Nutt, and his father was Major Eodnia Nutt, a sub-
568 MOfiE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
etaxitial farmer, of Manchester, New Hampshire. I was
not long in despatching an efficient agent to Manchester,
and in overcoming the competition with other showmen
who were equally eager to. secure this extraordinary
pigmy. The terms upon which I engaged him for three
years .were so. large that he was christened the $30,000
Nutt ; I, in..the mean time, conferring upon him the title
of Commodore. As soon as I engaged him, placards,
poster* and "the columns of the newspapers pro
claimed ; the presence of "Commodore Nutt," at the
Museum. I also procured for .the Commodore a pair
of Shetland ponies, miniature coachman and footman, in
livery, gold-mounted harness and an elegant little
carriage, whiehi when, closed, represented a gigantic
English walnut. The little Commodore attracted great
attention and grew rapidly in public favor. General
Tom Thumb was then travelling in the South and West
For some years he had. not been exhibited in New York,
and during these years he had increased considerably in
rotundity and had changed much in his general appear
ance. It was ,a singular .fact.,, however, that Commodore
Nutt was almost a fac-simile of General Tom Thumb, as
he looked half-a-dozen years before. Consequently,
very many of my patrons, not making allowance for the
time which had elapsed since they had last seen the
General, declared that I was trying to play "Mrs.
Gamp" with my "Mrs. Harris"; that there was, in
fact, no such person as " Commodore Nutt" ; and that I
was exhibiting my old friend Tom Thumb under a new
name. The mistake was very natural, and to me it
was very laughable, for the more I tried to convince
people of their error, the more they winked and looked
wise,, and said, " It s pretty well done, but you can t
take me in.*
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 569
Commodore Nutt enjoyed the joke very much. He
would sometimes half admit the deception, simply to
add to the bewilderment of the doubting portion of
my visitors. After he had been in the Museum a few
weeks, I took the Commodore to Bridgeport to spend
a couple of days by way of relaxation. Many of the
citizens of Bridgeport, who had known Tom Thumb
from his birth, would salute the Commodore as the
General Tom Thumb. The little fellow would return
these salutes, for he delighted in keeping up the illusion.
Going into a crowded barber-shop one morning with
the little Commodore, we met my friend Mr. Gideon
Thompson, who was sitting there, and who called
out:
" Good morning, Charley; "u.ow are you] When did
you get home ] "
" I m quite well, thank you, and I arrived last night,"
responded the Commodore, with due gravity.
" I ve got a horse now that will beat yours," said Mr.
Thompson.
" He must be pretty fast, then."
" Well, Charley, I ll drive out by your mother s the
first fine day, and give you a trial."
" All right," said little Nutt, " but you had better not
wager too much on your fast horse, for you know mine
is some pumpkins."
"Well, Uncle Gid.," I exclaimed, " you are had
this time ; this little gentleman is not General Tom
Thumb, but Commodore Nutt."
" What ! " roared friend Gid. ; " do you think I am an
infernal fool? Why, I knew Charley Stratton years
before you ever saw him, did n t I, General ? "
No one in the room suspected that my little friend
26*
570 MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
was any other than General Tom Thumb, till Mr.
William Bassett, the General s brother-in-law, came in
and remarked the " wonderful resemblance to our little
Charley, as he looked years ago."
"Is not this the General?" inquired half a dozen
astonished men, who were speedily assured he was not,
but was quite another person. This gave rise to a
proposition to exhibit the Commodore to the General s
mother, and a coach was procured, and Mr. Bassett, the
Commodore, and I went to Mrs. Strattoifs house.
When we arrived, the Commodore shouted out:
" How are you, mother] "
the mother, of all persons in Bridgeport, was
not to be deceived, though she expressed her astonish
ment at the very striking likeness the Commodore bore
to her son as he once looked. Mrs. Bassett concurred
in the testimony and said the Commodore looked so
much like her brother that she was loth to let him go.
It is no wonder that other people were deceived by the
resemblance.
It was evident that here was an opportunity to turn
dLL do"obts> into hard cash by simply bringing the two
dwarf Dromios together, and showing them on the
teame;-piyform. I therefore induced Tom Thumb to
bring -Ms- Western engagements to a close, and to appear
for four weeks, beginning with August 11, Ib62, in
my Mt&gflrav Announcements headed "The Two
fiD?ri3nA0K/^ -Qhd^ u Two Smallest Men, and Greatest
Curiosities Living," as I expected, drew large crowds
My and many came especially to solve their
Regard to the genuineness of the " Nutt."
But here I was considerably nonplussed, for astonishing
as it may seem, tfke doubts of many of the visitors were
MOKE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 571
confirmed! The sharp people who were determined
" not to be humbugged, anyhow," still declared that
Commodore Nutt was General Tom Thumb, and that
the little fellow whom I was trying to pass off as
Tom Thumb, was no move like the General than he was
like the man in the Moon. It is very amusing to see
how people will sometimes deceive themselves by being
too incredulous.
As an illustration the " Australian Golden Pigeons "
which deceived Old Adams were the occasion of another
ludicrous incident. A shrewd lady, one of my neigh
bors in Connecticut, was visiting the Must/urn, and after
inspecting the " Golden Angel Fish" swimming in one
of the aquaria, she abruptly addressed me :
" You can t humbug me, Mr. Barnum ; that fish is
painted ! "
" Nonsense ! " said I, with a laugh ; u the thing is
impossible."
" I don t care, I know it is painted ; it is as plain as
can be."
" But, my dear Mrs. II., paint would not adhere to a
fish in the water ; and if it would, it would kill him."
She left the Museum not more than half convinced,
and in the afternoon of the same day I met her in the
California Menagerie. She knew I was part proprietor
in the establishment, and seeing me in conversation
with Old Adams, she came to me, her eyes glistening
with excitement, and exclaimed
" Oh, Mr. Barnum, I never saw anything so beautiful
as those elegant " Golden Pigeons " ; you must give me
some of their eggs for my own pigeons to hatch ; I
should prize them beyond measure."
"Oh, you don t want c Golden Pigeons/ I said;
" they are painted."
572 MOKE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. j
" No, they are not painted," said she, with a laugh,
" but I half think the Angel Fish is."
I could scarcely control my laughter as I explained :
" Now, Mrs. H., I never spoil a good joke, even when
the exposure betrays a Museum secret. I assure you,
upon honor, that the " Australian Golden Pigeons," as
they are labelled, are really painted ; I bought them for
the sole purpose of giving Old Adams a lesson ; in their
natural state they are nothing more than common white
ruff-neck pigeons." She was convinced, and to this
day she blushes whenever any allusion is made to the
" Angel Fish " or the " Golden Pigeons."
In 1862, I sent the Commodore to Washington, and
joining him there, I received an invitation from Presi
dent Lincoln to call at the White House with my little
friend. Arriving at the appointed hour I was informed
that the President was in a special cabinet meeting, but
that he had left word if I called to be shown in to him
with the Commodore. These were dark days in the
rebellion and I felt that my visit, if not ill-timed, must
at all events be brief. When we were admitted Mr.
Lincoln received us cordially, and introduced us to the
members of the cabinet. When Mr. Chase was intro
duced as the Secretary of the Treasury, the little
Commodore remarked :
" I suppose you are the gentleman who is spending
so much of Uncle Sam s money 1 "
" No, indeed," said Secretary of War Stanton. very
promptly : " I am spending the money."
" Well," said Commodore Nutt, " it is in a good cause,
anyhow, and I guess it will come out all right."
His apt remark created much amusement. Mr.
Lincoln then bent down his long, lank body, and taking
Nutt by fee hand, }IQ gaid;
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 573
" Commodore, permit me to give you a parting word
of advice. When you are in command of your fleet, if
you find yourself in danger of being taken prisoner, I
advise you to wade ashore."
The Commodore found the laugh was against him,
but placing himself at the side of the President, and
gradually raising his eyes up the whole length of Mr.
Lincoln s very long legs, he replied :
. " I guess Mr. President, you could do that better than
I could."
Commodore Nutt and the Nova Scotia giantess, Anna
Swan, illustrate the old proverb sufficiently to show how
extremes occasionally met in my Museum. He was the
shortest of men and she was the tallest of women. I
first heard of her through a quaker who came into my
office one day and told me of a wonderful girl, seventeen
years of age, who resided near him at Pictou, Nova
Scotia, and who was probably the tallest girl in the
world. I asked him to obtain her exact height, on his
return home, which he did and sent it to me, and I at
once sent an agent who in due time came back with
Anna Swan. She was an intelligent and by no means
ill-looking girl, and during the long period while she
was in my employ she was visited by thousands of
persons. After the burning of my second Museum, she
went to England where she attracted great attention.
For many years I had been in the habit of engaging
parties of American Indians from the far West to
exhibit at the Museum, and had sent two or more
Indian companies to Europe, where they were
regarded as very great " curiosities." In 1864, ten or
twelve chiefs of as many different tribes, visited the
President of the United States at Washington. By a
574 MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
pretty liberal outlay of money, I succeeded in inducing
the interpreter to bring them to New York, and to pass
some days at my Museum. Of course, getting these
Indians to dance, or to give any illustration of their
games or pastimes, was out of the question. They
were real chiefs of powerful tribes, and would no more
have consented to give an exhibition of themselves than
the Chief Magistrate of our own nation would have
done. Their interpreter could not therefore promise
that they would remain at the Museum for any definite
time ; " for," said he, " you can only keep them just
so long as they suppose all your patrons come to pay
them visits of honor. If they suspected that your
Museum was a place where people paid for entering,"
he continued, " you could not keep them a moment after
the discovery."
On their arrival at the Museum, therefore, I took
them upon the stage and personally introduced them to
the public. The Indians liked this attention from me,
as they had been informed that I was the proprietor of
the great establishment in which they were invited and
honored guests. My patrons were of course pleased to
see these old chiefs, as they knew they were the " real
thing," and several of them were known to the public,
either as being friendly or cruel to the whites. After
one or two appearances upon the stage, I took them in
carriages and visited the Mayor of New York in the
Governor s room at the City Hall. Here the Mayor
made them a speech of welcome, which being
interpreted to the savages was responded to by a
speech from one of the chiefs, in which he thanked the
great " Father " of the city for his pleasant words, and
for his kindness in pointing out the portraits of his
MOKE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 575
predecessors hanging on the walls of the Governor s
room.
On another occasion, I took them by special invita
tion to visit one of the large public schools up town.
The teachers were pleased to see them, and arranged
an exhibition of special exercises by the scholars, which
they thought would be most likely to gratify their
barbaric visitors. At the close of these exercises, one
old chief arose* and simply said, " This is all new to us.
We are mere unlearned sons of the forest, and cannot
understand what we have seen and heard."
On other occasions, I took them to ride in Central
Park, and through different portions of the city. At
every street corner which we passed, they would
express their astonishment to each other, at seeing the
long rows of houses which extended both ways 011
either side of each cross-street. Of course, between
each of these outside visits I would return with them to
the Museum, and secure two or three appearances upon
the stage to receive the people who had there congre
gated " to do them honor."
As they regarded me as their host, they did not
hesitate to trespass upon my hospitality. Whenever
their eyes rested upon a glittering shell among my
specimens of conchology, especially if it had several
brilliant colors, one would take off his coat, another his
shirt, and insist that I should exchange my shell for
their garment. When I declined the exchange, but on
the contrary presented them .with the coveted article,
I soon found I had established a dangerous precedent.
Immediately, they all commenced to beg for everything
in my vast collection, which they happened to take a
liking to. This cost me many valuable specimens, and
576 MOBE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
often " put me to my trumps " for an excuse to avoid
giving them things which I could not part with.
The chief of one of the tribes one day discovered an
ancient shirt of chain-mail which hung in one of my
cases of antique armor. He was delighted with it, and
declared he must have it. I tried all sorts of excuses
to prevent his getting it, for it had cost me a hundred
dollars and was a great curiosity. But the old man s
eyes glistened, and he would not take " no " for an
answer. "The Utes have killed my little child," he
told me through the interpreter; and now he must
have this steel shirt to protect himself; and when he
returned to the Rocky Mountains he would have his
revenge. I remained inexorable until he finally brought
me a new buckskin Indian suit, which he insisted upon
exchanging. I felt compelled to accept his proposal ;
and never did I see a man more delighted than he
seemed to be when he took the mailed shirt into his
hands. He fairly jumped up and down with joy. He
ran to his lodging room, and soon appeared again with
the coveted armor upon his body, and marched down
one of the main halls of the Museum, with folded arms,
and head erect, occasionally patting his breast with his
right hand, as much as to say, " now, Mr. Ute, look
sharp, for I will soon be on the war path ! "
Among these Indians were War Bonnet, Lean Bear,
and Hand-in-the-water, chiefs of the Cheyennes;
Yellow Buffalo, of the Kiowas ; Yellow Bear, of the
same tribe ; Jacob, of the Caddos ; and White Bull, of
the Apaches. The little wiry chief known as Yellow
Bear had killed many whites as they had travelled
through the " far West." He was a sly, treacherous,
blood-thirsty savage, who would think no more of
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
-
scalping a family of women and children, than a butcher
would of wringing the neck of a chicken. But now
he was on a mission to the " Great Father " at Wash
ington, seeking for presents and favors for his trib^ ;
and he pretended to be exceedingly meek and humble,
and continually urged the interpreter to announce him
as a " great friend to the white man." He would fawn
about me, and although not speaking or understanding
a word of our language, would try to convince me
that he loved me dearly.
In exhibiting these Indian warriors on the stage, I
explained to the large audiences the names and charac
teristics of each. When I came to Yellow Bear I
would pat him familiarly upon the shoulder, which
always caused him to look up to me with a pleasant
smile, while he softly stroked down my arm with his
right hand in the most loving manner. Knowing that
he could not understand a word I said, I pretended
to be complimenting him to the audience, while I was
really saying something like the following :
" This little Indian, ladies and gentlemen, is Yellow
Bear, chief of the Kiowas. He has killed, no doubt,
scores of white persons, and he is probably the meanest,
black-hearted rascal that lives in the far West." Here
I patted him on the head, and he, supposing I was
sounding his praises, would smile, fawn upon me, and
stroke my arm, while I continued : "If the blood-thirsty
little villain understood what I was saying, he would
kill me in a moment ; but as he thinks I am compli
menting him, I can safely state the truth to you, that he
is a lying, thieving, treacherous, murderous monster.
He has tortured to death poor, unprotected women,
murdered their husbands, brained their helpless little
578 MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
ones ; and he would gladly do the same to you or to
me, if he thought he could escape punishment. This is
but a faint description of the character of Yellow Bear."
Here I gave him another patronizing pat on the head,
and he, with a pleasant smile, bowed to the audience, as
much as to say that my words were quite true, and that
he thanked me very much for the high encomiums I had
so generously heaped upon him.
After they had been about a week at the Museum,
one of the chiefs discovered that visitors paid money for
entering. This information he soon communicated to
the other chiefs, and I heard an immediate murmur of
discontent. Their eyes were opened, and no power
could induce them to appear again upon the stage.
Their dignity had been offended, and their wild, flashing
eyes were anything but agreeable. Indeed, I hardly felt
safe in their presence, and it was with a feeling of relief
that I witnessed their departure for Washington the next
morning.
In the spring of 1864, the United States Consul at
Larnica, Island of Cyprus, Turkish Dominions, wrote
me a letter, declaring that he and the English Consul,
an American physician, resident in the island, and a
large company of Europeans as well as natives, had
seen the most remarkable object, no doubt, in the
world, a lusus naturce, a feminine phenomenon. This
woman was represented to have " four cornicles on her
head, and one large horn, equal in size to an ordinary
rani s horn, growing out of the side of her head " ; and
the consistency of the horns was represented to be
similar to that of cows or goats horns. This singular
story continued : " These horns have been growing for
ten or twelve years, and were carefully concealed by the
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 579
woman until a few weeks since, when a vision appeared
in the person of an old man, and warned her to remove
the veil she wore, or God would punish her. She sent
to the Greek priest (she being of that persuasion), and
confessed to him, and was ordered to uncover her head,
which she at once did." She was subsequently seen by
the entire population, and the French consul, in com
pany with others, offered her fifty thousand piastres to
go to Paris for exhibition. The English consul, I was
further informed, had pronounced this woman to be
" worth her weight in gold " ; and I was assured that if
I wished to add her to my " wonderful Museum, and
present to the American public the -most remarkable
object yet exhibited," I had only to " send an agent im
mediately to secure the prize."
Informing myself of the trustworthiness of my cor
respondent (who also wrote a similar account to the
New York Observer), I was not long in making up my
mind to secure this freak of nature ; and I despatched
Mr. John Greenwood, Jr., in the steamer a City of Bal
timore," for Liverpool, April 80, 1864. He went to
London and Paris, and thence to Marseilles, where he
took a Syrian and Egyptian steamer to Palermo, and
from thence proceeded to Cyprus. On arriving, if he
could have seen the woman at once, he could have re-
embarked on the steamer, which sailed again in a few
hours for other islands ; but unfortunately, the woman
was a few miles in the interior, and poor Greenwood
was detained a month on the island before he could
take another steamer to get away. Worse yet, the
woman, spite of the impression she had made upon so
many and such respectable witnesses, was really no curi
osity after all, as it proved upon examination, that
580 MOKE ABOUT THE MUSEUM.
her " horns " were not horns at all, but fleshy excres
cences, which may have been singularly shaped tumors,
or wens. It is needless to add that my agent did not
engage her ; and after a month of discomfort and hard
living, he succeeded in getting away, and sailed for
Constantinople, mainly to see what could be done in the
way of securing one or more Circassian women for ex
hibition in my Museum.
On his way through the Mediterranean, he had the
following adventure : On board the steamer, the harem
of a Turkish Pasha occupied one side of the quarter
deck, which was divided off from the rest by a hurdle
fence run longitudinally through the middle of the deck.
Greenwood was one day sitting in an easy chair with
his back to these women and their attendants, when,
feeling his chair move, he turned and saw one of the
Pasha s wives getting over the hurdle, and as there was
scarcely room for her to squeeze herself between the
chairs in which passengers were sitting, he moved his
own chair but of the way and rising, offered his hand
to assist the woman over the fence. She indignantly
jumped back, and Greenwood was immediately seized
by two of the Pasha s attendants, violently shaken, and
taken to task in Turkish for daring to offer to touch the
hand of one of his Excellency s women. Greenwood had
that day formed the acquaintance of a fellow-passenger,
a young Greek from Scio, who was going to Beyrout to
act as clerk for a merchant in that place. He spoke
good English, and seeing Greenwood in trouble among
the Turks, and knowing that he could speak neither
Greek nor Arabic, he went to the rescue, and demanded
an explanation of the difficulty.
Upon hearing what was the trouble, he informed the
MORE ABOUT THE MUSEUM. 581
turbulent fellows that Greenwood had no motive in his
act beyond simple common courtesy. The prisoner,
however, was still detained in the grasp of the Turks, till
the will of the insulted Pasha could be known. On
deck soon came the irate Pasha, in company with an old
gentleman who was said to have been tutor, formerly,;
to the present Sultan of Turkey. When the two heard
the charge and the explanation, and had consulted to
gether a little while, Greenwood was released. But
for the friendly interposition of the Greek, he might
have been bastinadoed, or even bowstrung.
During the remainder of the voyage he was closely
watched, but he was very careful to be guilty of no
act of " politeness," and he went on shore at Constan
tinople without so much as saying good-by to the Pasha.
In Constantinople he had some very singular adven
tures. To carry out his purpose of getting access to
the very interior of the slave-marts, he dressed himself
in full Turkish costume, learned a few words and
phrases which would be necessary in his assumed char
acter as a slave-buyer, and, as the Turks are a notably
reticent people, he succeeded very well in passing him
self off for what he appeared, though he ran a risk of
detection many times every day. In this manner, he
saw a large number of Circassian girls and women,
some of them the most beautiful beings he had ever
seen, and after a month in Constantinople and in other
Turkish cities, he sailed for Marseilles, then went to
Paris, picking up many treasures for my Museum, arid
returned to New York, after a journey of 13,112 miles.
boowc
flO .nv/Qfn[ od jjIfKo .sifcw;*! LoiJii^-ii
CHAPTER XXAvn
.
. MR. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
LAVTNIA WARREN A CHARMING LITTLE LADY SUPPOSED TO F.E THE
$30,000 NUTT IN DISGUISE HER WARDRoiiE AXD PHKSKNTtJ STORY OF A
K1XG THE LITTLE COMMODOUE IX LOVE TOM THUMB SMITTEN RIVALRY
OF THE DWARFS .IEAIX)USY OF THE GENERAL VISIT AT BRIDGEPORT
THK GENERAL S STYLISH TTRN-OUT MI*S WARREN IMPRESSED CALL OF
THE GENERAL A ULIPLf flAN LOVE SCENE ToAI TH UJMi? 9 INVENTORY OF
HIS PROPERTY HE PROPOSES AND IS ACCEPTED ARRFVAL OF ( THE. COM
MODORE HIS (iRIEF EXCI1EMEMT OVKR THE ENGAGEMENT -r- THE WED^
DING IN GRACE CHURCH REVEREND .TUNIUS \TILLEY A SPICY LETTER BY
DOCTOR TAYLOR GRAND RECEPTION OF MR. AXD MRS. STKATTON THE
COMMODORE IN SEARCH OF A GREEN COUNTRY GIRL.
/ If r jn fli -! V*tC> / yf:l r< H JJOli Oil Oil"[O/IlJiIt*t^UO ^
IN 1862 I heard of an extraordinary dwarf girl,
named Lavinia Warren, who was residing with her
parents at Middleboro , Massachusetts, and I sent an
invitation to her and her parents to come and visit me
at Bridgeport. They came, and I found her to he a
most intelligent and refined young lady, well educated,
arid an accomplished, beautiful and perfectly-developed
woman in miniature. I succeeded in making an engage
ment with her for several years, during wliic-h she con
tracted as dwarfs are said to have the power to do
to visit Great Britain, France, and other foreign lands.
Having arranged the terms of her engagement, I took
her to the house of one of my daughters in New Y\ork,
where she remained quietly, while 1 was procuring her
wardrobe and jewelry, and making arrangements for her
debut. As yet, nothing had been said in the papers
about this interesting young lady, and one day as I was
MR. AND MBS. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 583
taking her home with me to Bridgeport, I met in the
cars the wife of a wealthy menagerie proprietor, who
introduced me to her two daughters, young ladies of
sixteen and eighteen years of age, and then said :
" You have disguised the little Commodore very
nicely."
" That is not Commodore Nutt," I replied, " it is i
young lady whom I have recently discovered."
" Very well done, Mr. Barnum," replied Mrs. B , with
a look of self satisfaction.
" Really," I repeated, " this is a young lady."
" Thank you, Mr. Barnum, but I know Commodore
Nutt in whatever costume you put him ; and 1 re
cognized him the moment you brought him into the
car."
" But, Mrs. B.," I replied, " Commodore Nutt is now
exhibiting in the Museum, and this is a little lady whom
I hope to bring before the public soon."
" Mr. Barnum," she replied, " you forget that I am a
showman s wife, conversant with all the showman s
tricks, and that I cannot be deceived."
Seeing there was no prospect of convincing her, I
replied in a confidential whisper, for such chance for a
joke was not to be lost :
" Well, I see you are too sharp for me, but I beg you
not to mention it, for you are the only person on board
this train who suspects it is the Commodore."
" I will say nothing," she replied, " but do please
bring the little fellow over here, for my daughters have
never seen him."
I stepped and told Lavinia the joke and asked her
to help carry it out. I then took her over where she
got a seat in the midst of the three ladies.
27"
584 MB. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
"Ah, Commodore," whispered Mrs. B., " you hava
done it pretty well, but bless you, I knew those eyes
and that nose the moment I saw you."
" Your eyes must be pretty sharp, then," replied
Lavinia.
" Oh, you see people in our line understand these
things, and are never deceived by appearances ; but
let me introduce you to these two young ladies, my
daughters."
" We are happy to see you, sir," said one of the
young ladies. They then enjoyed a very animated con
versation, in the course of which they asked the " Com
modore " all about his family, and Lavinia managed to
answer the questions in such a way as to avoid sus
picion. The ladies then informed the " Commodore "
that there was a sweet little lady living in their town
only sixteen years old, and if he would visit them, they
would introduce him ; that her family was highly re
spectable, and she would make him a capital wife !
Lavinia thanked them and promised to visit them if
it should be convenient. As the ladies left the car,
they shook hands with Lavinia, kissed her, and in a
whisper said " good morning, sir." Meeting the hus
band of the lady, some weeks afterwards, I told him
the joke, and he enjoyed it so highly that he will prob
ably never let his wife and daughters hear the last of it,
I purchased a very splendid wardrobe for Miss War
ren, including scores of the richest dresses that could
be procured, costly jewels, and in fact everything that
could add to the charms of her naturally charming little
person. She was then placed on exhibition at the
Museum and from the day of her debut she was ai?
extraordinary success. Commodore Nutt was on exhi_
MB. AND MBS. GENEBAL TOM THUMB. 585
bition with her, and although he was several years her
junior he evidently took a great fancy to her. One day
I presented to Lavinia a diamond and emerald ring, and
as it did not exactly fit her finger, I told her I would
give her another one and that she might present this
one to the Commodore in her own name. She did so,
and an unlooked-for effect was speedily apparent ; the
little Commodore felt sure that this was a love-token,
and poor Lavinia was in the greatest trouble, for she
considered herself quite a woman, and regarded the
Commodore only as a nice little boy. But she did not
like to offend him, and while she did not encourage, she
did not openly repel his attentions. Miss Lavinia War
ren, however, was never destined to be Mrs. Commodore
Nutt,
It was by no means an unnatural circumstance that I
should be suspected of having instigated and brought
about the marriage of Tom Thumb with Lavinia War
ren. Had I done this, I should at this day have felt no
regrets, for it has proved, in an eminent degree, one of
the " happy marriages." I only say, what is known to
all of their immediate friends, that from first to last
their engagement was an affair of the heart a case of
" love at first sight " that the attachment was mutual,
and that it only grows with the lapse of time. But I
had neither part nor lot in instigating or in occasioning
the marriage. And as I am anxious to be put right
before the public, and so to correct whatever of false
impression may have gained ground, I have procured
the consent of all the parties to a sketch of the wooing,
winning and nuptials. Of course I should not lay these
details before the public, except with the sanction of
those most interested. In this they consent to pay the
586 ME. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
penalty of distinction. And if the wooings of kings
and queens must be told, why not the courtship and
marriage of General and Mrs. Tom Thumb ? The story
is an interesting one, and shall be told alike to exonerate
me from the suspicion named, and to amwoe those and
they count by scores of thousands who are interested
in the welfare of the distinguished couple.
In the autumn of 1862, when Lavinia Warren was
on exhibition at the Museum, Tom Thumb had no busi
ness engagement with me ; in fact, he was not on exhibi
tion at the time at all ; he was taking a " vacation " at
his house in Bridgeport. Whenever he came to New
York he naturally called upon me, his old friend, at the
Museum. He happened to be in the city at the time
referred to, and one day he called, quite unexpectedly
to me, while Lavinia was holding one of her levees.
Here he now saw her for the first time, and very natur
ally made her acquaintance. He had a short interview
with her, after which he came directly to my private
office and desired to see me alone. Of course I com
plied with his request, hut without the remotest suspi
cion as to his object. I closed the door, and the General
took a seat. His first question let in the light. He
inquired about the family of Lavinia Warren. I gave
him the facts, which I clearly perceived gave him satis
faction of a peculiar sort. lie then said, with great
frankness, and with no less earnestness :
" Mr. Barnum, that is the most charming little lady
I ever saw, and I believe she was created on purpose to
be my wife ! Now," he continued, u you have always
been a friend of mine, and I want you to say a good
word for me to her. I have got plenty of money, and I
want to marry and settle down in life, and I really feel
as if I must marry that young lady."
ME. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 587
The little General was highly excited, and his general
manner betrayed the usual anxiety, which, I doubt not,
most of my readers will understand without a descrip
tion. I could not repress a smile, nor forget my joke ;
and I said :
* " Lavinia is engaged already."
" To whom Commodore Nutt I " asked Tom Thumb,
with much earnestness, and some exhibition of the
" green-eyed monster."
"No, General, to me," I replied.
" Never mind," said the General, laughing, " you can
exhibit her for a while, and then give up the engage
ment ; but I do hope, you will favor my suit with
her."
I told the General that this was too sudden an affair ;
that he must take time to think of it ; but he insisted
that years of thought would make no difference, for his
mind was fully made up.
" Well, General," I replied, " I will not oppose you
in your suit, but you must do your own courting. I tell
you., however, the Commodore will be jealous of you,
and more than that, Miss Warren is nobody s fool, and
you will have to proceed very cautiously if you can suc
ceed in winning her affections."
The General thanked me, and promised to be very
discreet. A change now came suddenly over him in
several particulars. He had been (much to his credit)
very fond of his country home in Bridgeport, where he
spent his intervals of rest with his horses, and especially
with his yacht, for his fondness for the water was his
great passion. But now he was constantly having occa
sion to visit the city, and horses and yachts were
strangely neglected. He had a married sister in New
588 ME. AND ME3. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
York, and his visits to her multiplied, for, of course, he
came to New York " to see his sister ! " His mother,
who resided in Bridgeport, remarked that Charles had
never before shown so much brotherly affection, nor so
much fondness for city life.
His visits to the Museum were very frequent, and it
was noticeable that new relations were being established
between him and Commodore Nutt. The Commodore
was not exactly jealous, yet he strutted around like a
bantam rooster whenever the General approached Lavi-
nia. One day he and the General got into a friendly
scuffle in the dressing-room, and the Commodore threw
the General upon his back in " double quick " time.
The Commodore is lithe, wiry, and quick in his move
ments, but the General is naturally slow, and although
he was considerably heavier than the Commodore, he
soon found that he could not stand before him in a per
sonal encounter. Moreover, the Commodore is natur
ally quick-tempered, and when excited, he brags about
his knowledge of " the manly art of self-defence," and
sometimes talks about pistols and bowie knives, etc.
Tom Thumb, on the contrary, is by natural disposition
decidedly a man of peace ; hence, in this, agreeing with
Falstaif as to what constituted the " better part of valor,"
he was strongly inclined to keep his distance, if the
little Commodore showed any belligerent symptoms.
> In the course of several weeks the General found
numerous opportunities to talk with Lavinia, while
the Commodore was performing on the stage, or was
otherwise engaged ; and, to a watchful discerner, it was
evident he was making encouraging progress in the
affair of the heart. He also managed to meet Lavinia
on Sunday afternoons and evenings, without the knowl-
MR. AND MKS. GENEEAL TOM THUMB. 589
edge of the Commodore ; but he assured me he had not
yet dared to suggest matrimony.
He finally returned to Bridgeport, and privately
begged that on the following Saturday I would take
Lavinia up to my house, and also invite him.
His immediate object in this was, that his mother
might get acquainted with Lavinia, for he feared oppo
sition from that source whenever the idea of his mar
riage should be suggested. I could do no less than
accede to his proposal, and on the following Friday, while
Lavinia and the Commodore were sitting in the green
room, I said :
" Lavinia, you may go up to Bridgeport with me
to-morrow morning, and remain until Monday."
" Thank you," she replied ; " it will be quite a relief
to get into the country for a couple of days."
The Commodore immediately pricked up his ears, and
said:
" Mr. Barnum, I should like to go to Bridgeport
to-morrow."
"What for?" I asked.
" I want to see my little ponies ; I have not seen them
for several months," he replied.
I whispered in his ear, " you little rogue, that is the
pony you want to see," pointing to Lavinia.
He insisted I was mistaken. When I remarked that
lie could not well be spared from the Museum, he said :
" Oh ! I can perform at half past seven o clock, and
then jump on to the eight o clock evening train, and
go up by m^elf, reaching Bridgeport before eleven,
and return early Monday morning."
I feared there would be a clashing of interests
between the rival pigmies ; but wishing to please him,
590 MR. AND. MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
I consented to his request, especially as Lavinia also
favored it. I wished I could then fathom that little
woman s heart, and see whether she (who must have
discovered the secret of the General s frequent visits
to the Museum) desired the Commodore s visit in order
to stir up the General s ardor, or whether, as seemed
to me the more likely , she was seeking in this way to
prevent a denouement which she was net inclined to
favor. Certain it is, that though I was the General s
confidant, and knew all his desires upon the subject,
no person had discovered the slightest evidence that
Lavinia Warren had ever entertained the remotest sus
picion of his thoughts regarding marriage. If she had
made the discovery, as I assume, she kept the secret
well. In fact, I assured Tom Thumb that every indica
tion, so far as any of us could observe, was to the eifect
that his suit would be rejected. The little General
was fidgety, but determined ; hence he was anxious to
have Lavinia meet his mother, and also see his posses
sions in Bridgeport, for he owned considerable land and
numerous houses there.
The General met us at the depot in Bridgeport, on
Saturday morning, and drove us to my house in his
own carriage his coachman being tidily dressed, with
a broad velvet ribbon and silver buckle placed upon his
hat expressly for the occasion. Lavinia was duly
informed that this was the General s "turn out"; and
after resting half an hour at Lindencroft, he took her
out to ride. He stopped a few moments at his mother s
house, where she saw the apartments wh^h his father
had built expressly for him, and filled with the most
gorgeous furniture all corresponding to his own
diminutive size. Then he took her to East Bridgeport,
MR. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 591
and undoubtedly took occasion to point out in great
detail all of the houses which he owned, for he de
pended much upon having his wealth make some im
pression upon her. They returned, and the General
stayed to lunch. I asked Lavinia how she liked her
ride ; she replied :
" It was very pleasant, but," she added, " it seems as
if you and Tom Thumb owned about all of Bridgeport ! "
The General took his leave and returned at five
o clock to dinner, with his mother. Mrs. Stratton
remained until seven o clock. She expressed herself
charmed with Lavinia Warren ; but not a suspicion
passed her mind that little Charlie was endeavoring to
give her this accomplished young lady as a daughter-in-
law. The General had privately asked me to invite
him to stay over night, for, said he, " If I get a chance,
I intend to pop the question before the Commodoro
arrives." So I told his mother I thought the General
had better stop with us over night, as the Commodore
would be up in the late train, adding that it would be
more pleasant for the little folks to be together. She
assented, and the General was happy.
After tea Lavinia and the General sat down to play
backgammon. As nine o clock approached, I remarked
that it was about time to retire, but somebody would
have to sit up until nearly eleven o clock, in order to let
in the Commodore. The General replied :
" I will sit up with pleasure, if Miss Warren will
remain also."
Lavinia carelessly replied, that she was accustomed
to late hours, and she would wait and see the Commo
dore. A little supper was placed upon the table fK
the Commodore, and the family retired.
27*
592 ME. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
Now it happened that a couple of mischievous young
ladies were visiting at my house, one of whom was to
sleep with Lavinia. They were suspicious that the
General was going to propose to Lavinia that evening,
and, in a spirit of ungovernable curiosity, they deter
mined, notwithstanding its manifest impropriety, to wit
ness the operation, if they could possibly manage to do
so on the sly. Of course this was inexcusable, the
more so as so few of my readers, had they been placed
under the same temptation, would have been guilty of
such an impropriety ! Perhaps I should hesitate to use
the testimony of such witnesses, or even to trust it.
But a few weeks after, they told the little couple the
whole story, were forgiven, and all had a hearty laugh
over it.
It so happened that the door of the sitting room, in
which the General and Lavinia were left at the back
gammon board, opened into the hall just at the side of
the stairs, and these young misses, turning out the
lights in the hall, seated themselves upon the stairs in
the dark, where they had a full view of the cosy little
couple, and were within easy ear-shot of all that was
said. .
The house was still. The General soon acknowl
edged himself vanquished at backgammon, and gave it
up. After sitting a few moments, he evidently thought
it was best to put a clincher on the financial part of his
abilities ; so he drew from his pocket a policy of insu
rance, and handing it to Lavinia, he asked her if she
knew what it was.
Examining it, she replied, "It is an insurance policy.
I see you keep your property insured."
44 But the beauty of it is, it is not my property," re-
ME. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 593
plied the General, " and yet I get the benefit of the
insurance in case of fire. You will see," he continued,
unfolding the policy, " this is the property of Mr. Wil
liams, but here, you will observe, it reads loss, if any,
payable to Charles S. Stratton, as his interest may ap
pear. The fact is, 1 loaned Mr. Williams three thou
sand dollars, took a mortgage on his house, and made
him insure it for my benefit. In this way, you per
ceive, I get my interest, and he has to pay the taxes."
" That is a very wise way, I should think," remarked
Lavinia.
" That is the way I do all my business," replied the
General, complacently, as he returned the huge insur
ance policy to his pocket " You see," he continued,
" I never lend any of my money without taking bond
and mortgage security 9 then I have no trouble with
taxes ; my principal is secure, and I receive my interest
regularly."
The explanation seemed satisfactory to Lavinia, and
the General s courage began to rise. Drawing his chair
a little nearer to hers, he said :
" So you are going to Europe, soon! "
" Yes," replied Lavinia, " Mr. Barnum intends to take
me over in a couple of months."
" You will find it very pleasant," remarked the Gen
eral ; " I have been there twice, in fact I have spent six
years abroad, and I like the old countries very much."
" I hope I shall like the trip, and I expect I shall,"
responded Lavinia ; " for Mr. Barnum says I shall visit
all the principal cities, and he has no doubt I will be
invited to appear before the Queen of England, the Em
peror and Empress of France, the King of Prussia, the
Emperor of Austria, and at the courts of any other
594 ME. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
countries which we may visit. Oh ! I shall like that, it
will be so new to me."
" Yes, it will be very interesting indeed. I have
visited most of the crowned heads," remarked the Gen
eral, with an evident feeling of self-congratulation. " But
are you not afraid you will be lonesome in a strange
country?" asked the General.
" No, I think there is no danger of that, for friends
will accompany me," was the reply.
t; I wish I was going over, for I know all about the
different countries, and could explain them all to you,"
remarked Tom Thumb.
" That would be very nice," said Lavinia.
" Do you think so ] " said the General, moving his
chair still closer to Lavinia s.
" Of course," replied Lavinia, coolly, " for I, being a
stranger to all the habits and customs of the people, as
well as to the country, it would be pleasant to have
some person along who could answer all my foolish
questions."
"I should like it first rate, if Mr. Barnum would en
gage me," said the General.
" I thought you remarked the other day that you had
money enough, and was tired of travelling," said La
vinia, with a slightly mischievous look from one corner
of her eye.
" That depends upon my company while travelling,"
replied the General.
" You might not find my company very agreeable."
" I would be glad to risk it."
" Well, perhaps Mr. Barnum would engage you, if
you asked him," said Lavinia.
" Would you really like to have me go 1 " asked the
MR. AND MES. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 595
General, quietly insinuating his arm around her waist,
but hardly close enough to touch her.
" Of course I would," was the reply.
The little General s arm clasped the waist closer as
he turned his face nearer to hers, and said :
" Do n t you think it would be pleasanter if we went
as man and wife ] "
The little fairy quickly disengaged his arm, and
remarked that the General was a funny fellow to joke
in that way. **;:,]
" I am not joking at all," said the General, earnestly,
" it is quite too serious a matter for that."
44 1 wonder why the Commodore don t come ? " said
Lavinia.
" I hope you are not anxious for his arrival, for I am
sure I am not," responded the General, " and what is
more, I do hope you will say 4 yes, before he comes at
all ! "
44 Really, Mr. Stratton," said Lavinia, with dignity,
44 if you are in earnest in your strange proposal, I must
say I am surprised."
44 Well, I hope you are not offended" replied the
General, 44 for I was never more in earnest in my life,
and I hope you will consent. The first moment I saw
you I felt that you were created to be my wife."
" But this is so sudden."
44 Not so very sudden ; it is several months since we
first met, and you know all about me, and my family,
and I hope you find nothing to object to in me."
44 Not at all ; on the contrary, I have found you very
agreeable, in fact I like you very much as a friend, but
T have not thought of marrying, and "
" And what] my dear," said the General, giving her
596 MR. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
a kiss. " Now, I beg of you, don t have any huts 01
ands about it. You say you like me as a friend,
why will you not like me as a husband] You ought
to get married ; I love you dearly, and I want you
for a wife. Now, deary, the Commodore will be
here in a few minutes, I may not have a chance
to see you again alone ; do say that we will bo
married, and I will get Mr. Barnum to give up your
engagement."
Lavinia hesitated, and finally said :
" I think I love you well enough to consent, but I
have always said I would never marry without my
mother s consent."
" Oh ! Ill ask your mother. May I ask your mother I
Come, say yes to that, and I will go and see her next
week. May I do that, pet I "
Then there was a sound of something very much like
the popping of several corks from as many beer bottles.
The young eaves-droppers had no doubt as to the char
acter of these reports, nor did they doubt that they
sealed the betrothal, for immediately after they heard
Lavinia say :
" Yes, Charles, you may ask my mother." Another
volley of reports followed, and then Lavinia said,
"Now, Charles, don t whisper this to a living soul ; let
us keep our own secrets for the present."
" All right," said the General, fc I will say nothing ;
but next Tuesday I shall start to see your mother."
" Perhaps you may find it difficult to obtain her con
sent," said Lavinia.
At that moment a carriage drove up to the door, and
immediately the bell was rung, and the little Commo
dore entered.
ME. AND MES. GENEEAL TOM THUMB. 597
" You here, General?" said the Commodore, as he
espied his rival.
" Yes," saidLavinia, " Mr. Barnum asked him to stay,
and we were waiting for you ; come, warm yourself."
" I am not cold," said the Commodore ; " where is Mr.
Barnum?"
" He has gone to bed," remarked the General, " but a
nice supper has been prepared for you."
" I am not hungry, I thank you ; I am going to bed.
Which room does Mr. Barnum sleep in? " said the little
bantam, in a petulant tone of voice.
His question was answered ; the young eaves-drop
pers scampered to their sleeping apartments, and the
Commodore soon came to my room, where he found me
indulging in the foolish habit of reading in bed.
"Mr. Barnum, does Tom Thumb board here?" asked
the Commodore, sarcastically.
" No," said I, " Tom Thumb does not board here. I
invited him to stop over night, so don t be foolish, but
go to bed."
" Oh, it s no affair of mine. I don t care anything
about it ; but I thought he had taken up his board
here," replied the Commodore, and off he went to bed,
evidently in a bad humor.
Ten minutes afterwards Tom Thumb came rushing
into my room, and closing the door, he caught hold of
my hand in a high state of excitement and whispered :
" We are engaged, Mr. Barnum ! we are engaged !
we are engaged ! " and he jumped up and down in the
greatest glee.
" Is that possible 1 " I asked.
" Yes, sir, indeed it is ; but you must not mention it,"
he responded ; "we agreed to tell nobody, so please
598 MR AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
don t say a word. I must tell you, of course, but 6 mv*n
is the word/ I am going, Tuesday, to get her mother s
consent."
I promised secrecy, and the General retired in as
happy a mood as I ever saw him. Lavinia also retired,
but not a hint did she give to the young lady with whom
she slept regarding the engagement. Indeed, our family
plied her upon the subject the next day, but not a breath
passed her lips that would give the slightest indication
of what had transpired. She was quite sociable with
the Commodore, and as the General concluded to go
home the next morning, the Commodore s equanimity
and good feelings were fully restored. The General
made a call of half an hour Sunday evening, and man
aged to have an interview with Lavinia. The next
morning she and the Commodore returned to New York
in good spirits, 1 remaining in Bridgeport.
The General called on me Monday, however, bring
ing a very nice letter which he had written to Lavinia s
mother. He had concluded to send this letter by his
trusty friend, Mr. George A. "Wells, instead of going
himself, and he had just seen Mr. Wells, who had con
sented to go to Middleborough with the letter the fol
lowing day, and to urge the General s suit, if it should
be necessary.
The General went to New York on Wednesday, and
was there to await Mr. Wells arrival. On Wednesday
morning the General and Lavinia walked into my office,
and after closing the door, the little General said :
" Mr. Barnum, I want somebody to tell the Commo
dore that Lavinia and I are engaged, for I am afraid
there will be a row when he hears of it."
" Do it yourself, General," I replied.
MB. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 599
44 Oh," said the General, almost shuddering, " I would
not dare to do it, he might knock me down."
" I will do it," said Lavinia ; and it was at once
arranged that I should call the Commodore and Lavinia
into my office, and either she or myself would tell him.
The General, of course, " vamosed."
When the Commodore joined us and the door was
closed, I said :
" Commodore, do you know what this little witch has
been doing 1 "
" No, I do n t," he answered.
" Well, she has been cutting up one of the greatest
pranks you ever heard of," I replied. " She almost
deserves to be shut up, for daring to do it. Can t you
guess what she has done 1 "
He mused a moment, and then looking at me, said in
a low voice, and with a serious looking face, " En
gaged 1"
" Yes," said I, " absolutely engaged to be married to
General Tom Thumb. Did you ever hear of such a
thing!"
" Is that so, Lavinia ? " asked the Commodore, look
ing her earnestly in the face.
"That is so," said Lavinia; " and Mr. Wells has
gone to obtain my mother s consent."
The Commodore turned pale, and choked a little,
as if he was trying to swallow something. Then, turn
ing on his heel, he said, in a broken voice :
" I hope you may be happy."
As he passed out of the door, a tear rolled down his
cheek.
" That is pretty hard," I said to Lavinia,
" I am very sorry," she replied, "but I could not help
600 ME. AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
it. That diamond and emerald ring which you bade me
present in my name, has caused all this trouble."
Half an hour after this incident, the Commodore came
to my office, and said:
" Mr. Barnum, do you think it would be right for
Miss Warren to marry Charley Stratton if her mother
should object ?"
I saw that the little fellow had still a slight hope to
hang on, and I said :
" No, indeed, it would not be right."
" Well, she says she shall marry him any way ; that
she gives her mother the chance to consent, but if she
objects, she will have her own way and marry him," said
the Commodore.
" On the contrary," I replied, " I will not permit it.
She is engaged to go to Europe for me, and I will not
release her, if her mother does not fully consent to her
marrying Tom Thumb."
The Commodore s eyes glistened with pleasure, as he
replied :
" Between you and me, Mr. Barnum, I don t believe
she will give her consent."
But the next day dissipated his hopes. Mr. Wells
returned, saying that Lavinia s mother at first objected,
for she feared it was a contrivance to get them married
for the promotion of some pecuniary advantage ; but,
upon reading the letter from the General, and one still
more urgent from Lavinia, and also upon hearing from
Mr. Wells that, in case of their marriage, I should can
cel all claims I had upon Lavinia s services, she con
sented.
After the Commodore had heard the news, I said tt
him:
ME. AND MftS. GENERAL TOM THUMB. 601
" Never mind, Commodore, Minnie Warren is a bet
ter match for you ; she is a charming little creature, and
two years younger than you, while Lavinia is several
years your senior."
" I thank you, sir," replied the Commodore, pom
pously, " I would not marry the best woman living ; I
don t believe in women, any way."
I then suggested that he should stand with little Min
nie, as groom and bridesmaid, at the approaching w r ed-
ding.
" No, sir ! " replied the Commodore, emphatically ;
" I won t do it ! "
That idea was therefore abandoned. A few weeks
subsequently, when time had reconciled the Commodore,
he told me that Tom Thumb had asked him to stand as
groom with Minnie, at the wedding, and he was going
to do so.
" When I asked you, a few weeks ago, you refused,"
I said.
" It was not your business to ask me," replied the
Commodore, pompously. " When the proper person
invited me I accepted."
Of course the approaching wedding was announced.
It created an immense excitement. Lavinia s levees at
the Museum were crowded to suffocation, and her
photographic pictures were in great demand. For
several weeks she sold more than three hundred dollars
worth of her cartes de visite each day. And the daily
receipts at the Museum w r ere frequently over three
thousand dollars. I engaged the General to exhibit,
and to assist her in the sale of pictures, to which his
own photograph, of course, was added. I could afford
to give them a fine wedding, and I did so.
602 MR AND MRS. GENERAL TOM THUMB.
The little couple made a personal application to
Bishop Potter to perform the nuptial ceremony, and
obtained his consent ; but the matter became public,
and outside pressure from some of the most squeamish
of his clergy was brought to bear upon the bishop,
and he rescinded his engagement.
This fact of itself, as well as the opposition that
caused it, only added to the notoriety of the approach
ing wedding, and increased the crowds at the Museum.
The financial result to me was a piece of good fortune,
which I was, of course, quite willing to accept, though
in this instance the " advertisement," so far as the fact
of the betrothal of the parties with its preliminaries
were concerned, was not of my seeking, as the recital
no\y given shows. But seeing the turn it was taking
in crowding the Museum, and pouring money into the
treasury, I did not hesitate to seek continued advantage
from the notoriety of the prospective marriage. Accord
ingly, I offered the General and Lavinia fifteen thousand
dollars if they would postpone the wedding for a month,
and continue their exhibitions at the Museum.
" Not for fifty thousand dollars," said the General,
excitedly.
" Good for you, Charley," said Lavinia, " only you
ought to have said not for a hundred thousand, for I
would not ! "
They both laughed heartily at what they considered
my discomfiture, and such, looked at from a business
point of view, it certainly was. The wedding -day
approached and the public excitement grew. For
several days, I might say weeks, the approaching mar
riage of Tom Thumb was the New York " sensation."
For proof of this I did not need what, however, was
MR. A 
