LIBRARY OF THE

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IN MEMORY OF

STEWART S. HOWE

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LIFE

OF

P. T. BARNUM

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF,

INCLUDING HIS

GOLDEN RULES FOR MONEY-MAKING.

BROUGHT UP TO 1888.

ILLUSTRATED.

" a map of busy life.

Its fluctuations and its vast concerns."

" And see what I can show in this * ' * • * •

Strange eventful history."

—Shakespeare. The noblest art Is that of making others happy.

—P. T. Barnum.

BUFFALO : The Courier Company, Printers.

1888.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!

AN EXACT FACSIMILE OF THIS BOOK SOLD AT COST ! ^ REDUCED FROM $1.50 TO ONLY FIFTY CENTS I

Desiring to bring this History of My Life (of which over a million copies have already been sold) within the reach of the poorest purchaser, I have determined to have them sold without a profit. By printing many thousand copies at one time I have brought the cost down to Fifty cents, er Sixty cents, including postage, when sent by mail. Every book will be printed on the same quality of paper, have the same binding, the same illustrations, and be, in fact, a perfect facsimile of this volume.

These books may be procured by mail or otherwise from Leggatt Brothers, 81 Chambers street, New York, H. E. Bowser, Bridgeport, Ct., and in the tents of " The Greatest Show on Earth."

The Public's Obedient Servant,

P. T. BARNUM.

N. B. — This book is not copyrighted. Any and all persons are at liberty to publish all or any parts of it.

P. T. BARNUM.

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PREFACE.

Written originally in 1869, this book is my Recollections of more than Fifty 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 American people, and, therefore, having had opportunities for garnering an ample storehouse of incident and anec- dote, while, at the same time, needing a sagacity, energy, foresight and fortitude rarely required or exhibited in financial affairs, my struggles and experiences (it is not altogether vanity in me to think) cannot 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 pro- posals, together with the partiality of friends and kindred, have constrained me to put in a permanent form what, it seems to me, may be instructive, entertaining and profitable.

Thirty years since, for the purpose, principally, of advancing my interests as proprietor of the American Museum, I gave to the press some personal reminiscences and sketches. They were, however, very hastily, and therefore imperfectly, prepared. Though including, necessarily, in common with them, some of the facts of my early life, in order to make this autobiography a complete and continuous narrative, yet, as the latter part of my life has been the more eventful, and my recollections so various and abundant, this book is new and independent of the former. It is the matured and leisurely reviewing of more than 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, cap- tivating narratives, novel experiences, and remarkable interviews — the sunny and sombre so intermingled as not only to entertain, but convey useful lessons to all classes of readers.

n PREFACE.

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 triumphantly regained — would be a help and incentive to the young man, struggling, it may be, with adverse fortune, or, at the start, looking into the future with doubt or despair.

All autobiographies are necessarily egotistical. If my pages are as plentifully sprinkled with "I's," as was the chief ornament of Hood's peacock, " who thought he had the eyes of Europe on his tail," I can only say, that the " I's " 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 principal 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 promi- nent part in human affairs. But an autobiography has attractions and merits superior to those of a "life" written by another, who, however intimate with its subject, cannot know all that helps to give interest and accuracy to the narrative, or completeness 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 incidents, and even the recital of some very practical jokes, is simply because my natural disposi- tion 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 integrity, energy, industry, 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

Waldemekb, Bridoepobt, Conn., 1888

CONTENTS

Chajter I.— My Blrtb -Going to School— First Visit to New York— My Landed Property —Trading Moral*— The Bethel Meeting- hooae— Sunday School and Bible Clasa— The " One Thing Needful," 17

Chapter El.— Death of my Grandmother— My Father— Hia Death— Beginning the World Barefooted— The Tin Ware and Green Bottle Lottery—" Charity " Hallett— A Norel Fur Trade— Country Store Experiences— Old M Uncle Bibblns," 23

Chapter HI.— My Clerkship in Brooklyn— Opening a Porter-house— Selling Out— My Clerk- ship in New York— My Habits— In Bethel Once More— Beginning Business on My Own Account— The Lottery Business— Wits and Wags— First Appearance at the Bar— A Model Love-letter, 87

Chapter IV.— Pleasure Visit to Philadelphia-My Marriage— A New Field— My Editorial Career— Danbury Jail— My Liberation— Removal to New York— Keeping a Boarding- house, 88

Chapter V.— The Amusement Business — Joice Heth— Beginning Life as a Showman- Second Step in the Show Line— Connecting Myself with a Circus— An Abusive Clergyman —A Terrible Practical Joke, 87

Chapter VI.— An Unreasonable Landlord— Turning the Tables— Leaving the Circus— My First Traveling Company— Preaching to the People — Escapes from Danger— Outwitting a Sheriff— " Lady Hayes1 "—Joe Pentland as a Savage— A Nonplussed Legerdemain Per- former—Disbanding my Company— A New Partnership —The Steamboat "Ceres"— Sudden Marriage on Board— Arrival at New Orleans, 43

Chapter VTI.— Advertising for an Associate— A New Business — Swindled by my Partner- Diamond, the Dancer— A New Company— Desertions — Success at New Orleans — Back to New York— From Hand to Mouth— Fortune Opening Her Door— The American Museum, 60

Chapter Vm.— I Become Proprietor of the American Museum— Extraordinary Advertising —Incidents and Anecdotes— Pleasing my Patrons— A Wilderness of Wonders— Niagara Falls with Real Water— The Fejee Mermaid— Wholesale Advertising Again— Drummond Lights 55

Chapter IX.— The Most Popular Place of Amusement in the World— Afternoon and Holi- day Performances — Fourth of July Flags— Victory Over the Vestrymen — St. Patrick's Day in the Morning— Inpouring of Money— Zoological Eruption— Baby Shows— Grani Buffalo Hunt— The Woolly Horse— American Indians— P. T. Barnum Exhibited— A Curi- ous Spinster, 62

Chapter X.— Peale's Museum— Mysterious Mesmerism— The Rival Museums— My Mania— My First Interview with Charles S. Stratton— General Tom Thumb In New York— An Apt Pupil— Free From Debt^In Search of a New Field— Arrival at Liverpool— Exhibition of General Tom Thumb in Liverpool, 70

Chapter XI.— Arrival In London— Enormous Success— Dally Levees for the Nobility and Gentry— At Buckingham Palace — A Royal Reception— Favorable Impression— Amusing Incidents of the Visit— Second Visit to the Queen— The General's Watch— Napoleon and the Duke of Wellingtoa— Third Visit to the Queen 74

X CONTENTS.

Chapter XII.— In France— The General and Party In Paris— Visit to King Louis Phillippe— A Splendid Present— Long Champs— The General's Equipage— All Paris in a Furor- Second, Third and Fourth Visits to the King of the French— "Tom Police" Every- where— The General as an Actor 81

Chapter XIIL— In Belgium— Professor Pinte— At Brussels— Presentation to King Leopold —The General's Jewels Stolen— The Field of Waterloo — An Accident — Losing an Exhi- bition—The Custom of the Country— How Relics are Planted at Waterloo— From Brussels to London, 88

Chapter XIV. — In England Again— Levees in Egyptian Hall— Going to America — Samuel Rogers— An Astonished Railway Superintendent — Business and Pleasure — Albert Smith— Stratford-on-Avon— Albert Smith as a Showman— The Road from Warwick to Coventry —The Yankee Go-ahead Principle, 87

Chapter XV.— The Wizard of the North— Second Visit to the United States—" The Rules of the Ship "—Three Years in Europe— Warm Personal Friends— Our Last Performance in Dublin— Departure for America— Note— Deaths of Friends 92

Chapter XVI.— Renewing the Lease of the Museum Building— Tom Thumb in America- Tour Through the Country— Ceasing to be a Traveling Showman— Return to Bridgeport — Search for a Home — Building and Completion of lranistan— The Baltimore and Phila- delphia Museums— My Agricultural and Arborcultural Doings, 95

Chapter XVTL— The Jenny Lind Engagement— Musical Notes in Wall street— A Friend in Need .100

Chapter XV III.— Arrival of Jenny Lind— Tremendous Throng at the Wharf— " Welcome to America "'— The Prize Ode by Bayard Taylor— First Concert in Castle Garden— Un- bounded Enthusiasm, 105

Chapter XEX.— Managing Public Opinion— Miss Lind's Charities— The Nightingale at lranistan— Avoiding Crowds— In Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington— Visit to Mt. Vernon— Christmas and New Year— We go to Havana— A Happy Month in Cuba, . Ill

Chapter XX.— A Magnificent Triumph— Benefit for the Hospitals— Vivalla and his Dog- Voyage to New Orleans— The Editor of the New York Herald on Board— Arrival at the Crescent City— Up the Mississippi— Amusements on Board, 117

Chapter XXI.— Arrival at St. Louis— A Surprising Proposition— Temperance Lecture- Sol. Smith— Unique Dedication— Jenny Lind's Character and Charities, 123

Chapter XXH— Visit to the " Hermitage "— " April-fool " Fun— The Mammoth Cave— Ruse at Cincinnati— Return to New York— The Final Concerts in Castle Garden and Metro- politan Hall— Jenny's Concerts on Her Own Account— Her Marriage to Mr. Otto Gold- tschmidt— At Home Again— Total Receipts of the Concerts, 127

Chapter XXIII.— Another Venture— General Tom Thumb— Elephant Plowing— Side-shows and Various Enterprises— Catherine Hayes— lranistan on Fire— My Eldest Daughter's Marriage, 132

Chapter XXTV.— Vacations at Home— Country Agricultural Society— Philosophy of Hum- bug—A Chop-fallen Ticket-seller— A Deluded Hack-driver — Pequonnock Bank— The Hiustrated News— The Crystal Palace, 137

Chapter XXV.— The East Bridgeport Enterprise — Clock Company in Litchfield — The Jerome Clock Company— A Ruined Man— Paying Honest Debts— My Failure— Down in the Depths, 143

Chapter XXVI.— Friends to the Rescue— Citizens' Meeting in Bridgeport— My Letter on the Situation— The Silver Lining to the Cloud— Our New Home in New York, . . 148

Chapter XXVH.— Sale of the Museum Collection— Supplementary Proceedings of my Cred- itors—The Summer Season on Long Island— A Black Whale Pays my Summer's Board —The Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine Company Remove to East Bridgeport— The Cause of my Ruin Promises to be my Redemption— Setting Sail for England, . . . 154

CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XXVHL— Old Friends in Old England— Otto Goldachmidt and Jenny Lind Gold- schmidt— My Exhibitions in England, 167

Chapter XXTX.— From London to Baden-Baden— Strasbourg — Scene in a German Custom- house— Golden Prices for the General — A Call from the King of Holland— Down the Rhine— Departure for Holland, 180

Chapter XXX.— The Finest and Flattest Country in the World— Habits and Customs— The Hague — August Belmont— Back to England — I Return again to America — Fun on the Voyage— Cold Shoulders in New York— Iranistan Burned to the Ground, ... 168

Chapter XXXX— Back Once More to England— Tour Through Scotland and Wales— How I Came to Lecture— How to Make Money and How to Keep it— Lecturing in the Prov- inces, 168

Chapter XXXTL— An English Yankee— Dinner to Tom Thumb and Commodore Nutt— Measuring a Monster— The Steam-engines "Barnum" and "Charity," 192

Chapter XXXIH.— At Home — Barnum on his Feet Again — Re-purchase of the Museum— My Reception by my Friends— Museum Visitors— Old and Fast Friends, 196

Chapter XXXIV.— A Remarkable Character— Old Grizzly Adams— Tour of the Bear-tamer Through the Country— A Life and Death Struggle for a Wager — Old Adams Wins — His Death— The Prince of Wales Visits the Museum— I Call on the Prince in Boston— The Museum Flourishing, 202

Chapter XXXV.— East Bridgeport— Another New Home— Lindencroft— Progress of my Pet City— Inducements to Settlers— Situation of Bridgeport— Its Advantages and Pros- pects .... 207

Chapter XXXVI.— More About the Museum— My First Whaling Expedition— Transporting Living Whales by Land— The First Hippopotamus in America — Commodore Nutt — Indian Chiefs, 211

Chapter XXXVTL— Miss Lavinia Warren— The Little Commodore in Love— Tom Thumb Smitten— Jealousy of the General— Miss Warren Impressed— Popping the Question— The Engagement— The Wedding— A Spicy Letter— Grand Reception of Mr. and Mrs. Stratton —The Commodore in Search of a Green Country Girl, 217

Chapter XXXVTH.— My Political Principles— Lindencroft— My Election to the Legislature —My War on Railroad Monopolies— The XIV. Amendment 229

Chapter XXXIX.— Burning of the American Museum— A Public Calamity— Detention to Retire to Private Life — The New Up-town Museum, 241

Chapter XL.— Propositions for a New Capital of Connecticut— The Railroad Controversy— My Victory— Again Elected to the Legislature— Friends at Lindencroft, . , . .247

Chapter XLL— The American Museum Lease— Its Value— Bennett of the Herald Buys it for $200,000— The Herald's Influence and Hard Experience— Bennett Refuses my Adver tisements— Bennett Humbled— Damage to Bennett's Establishment— Peace, ... 253

Chapter XLTL— At the West— A Ride on a Locomotive— Tricks to Secure Seats in the Ladies' Car— How I Became a Teetotaler— Lecturing Throughout the Country, . . 257

Chapter XLIII.— A Gigantic Amusement Company — Curiosities from Everywhere— A Superb Menagerie— Destruction of my Second Museum by Fire— Foot Races at the White Mountains, .264

Chapter XLTV.— Popular Superstitions— Number Thirteen— Thirteen in Every Hotel, 269

Ohapter XLV.— Interest in Public Improvements— The Eye of Faith— Opening of Sea-

Side Park

274

Chapter XLVL— Plans for the Public Benefit in Bridgeport— Sale of Lindencroft— Living in a Farm-house — Waldemere %jq

Xll C0NTE*TT8.

Chajtzb XLVTL— A New Experience— M Doing Nothing"— A Failure — Excitement De manded— Visit of English Friends— I Show Them Our Country— Trip to California— Salt Lake City— Brighmm Young — Sacramento and San Francisco — Admiral Dot — Wild Buffalo Hunt in Kansas— My Great TraTeling Show— Trip to Colorado — Fourteenth Street Hip- podrome— A Brilliant Audience— Departure for the South— News of the Conflagration- Speech at the Academy— An Expensive Exhibition— A Pleasant Episode— An Ocean Voyage— The Vienna Exhibition— Death of Mrs. Barnum, 281

Chapter XLVHL— The Roman Hippodrome— An Enthusiastic Reception— Resting at Wal- demere — A Complimentary Dinner— Interesting Letters and Speeches, 299

Chaptm XLIX.— Success of my Traveling Hippodrome — My Second Marriage — P. T. Barnum Exhibiting a Live King— Elected Mayor of Bridgeport— The Centennial— Pro- fessor Donaldson— Close of the Season— The Hippodrome Sold at Auction — The New Traveling Show — My Valedictory Message as Mayor of Bridgeport 80ft

Chapter L.— Breakfast with Lord Rosebery and Mr. Tupper— My Show in Nova Scotia and elsewhere— My New Book "Lion Jack" — Death of my Youngest Daughter— Mi- Visit to England— Lecturing there— The London World's Description of my Home and Habits in Bridgeport— Fatal Accident to the Advertisers of my Great Show— Visit to Colorado — My third Election to, and Doings in, the Connecticut Legislature— Building a Dyke— Byronic Poetry thereon— My fourth Election to the General Assembly of Con- necticut, 315

Chapter LI.— Bergh Vanquished— Transformation Scene — Baby Elephant — The Great Alii ance— Winter Quarters of the Great Barnum-London Show— Valley of the Shadow of Death— Four Pullman Carloads of Editors— Torch-light Procession and Grand OpeniDg — Testimonials from Garfield and Arthur— My Voyage to Europe— Presentation of Foun- tain to Bethel 223

Chapter LH.— Another Baby Elephant— Jumbo, the Greatest of the Great— Visit to England— Irving Dinner— George Augustus Sala— Barnum more than half English, 330

Chapter LIII— Visit to Europe— Sir Charles Lees— Mackay, the Millionaire— Death of Tom Thumb— Enormous Show Receipts— " Barnum inJMtishland" — Almost my Obituary— The Sacred White Elephant— The Show in 1884— How a Mean Town got Left— Opening of the Barnum Natural History Museum, at Tuft's College, Boston— I offer Geu. Grant One Hundred Thousand Dollars and Valuable Inducement— Reception of Letter from Burmah addressed, " Mr. Barnum, America." 335

Chapter LIV.— The Show in 1S85— Elephant Albert Sentenced to Death and Shot— Death of Jumbo— His Skin Stuffed and His Skeleton prepared for Exhibition— Jumbo's Size- Purchase of Aliee, Jumbo's Widow— I visit the Show incognito— Withdrawal of my Partners, Messrs. Hutchinson, Cole and Cooper— Death of Jenny Lind, .... 344

Chapter LV.— The Church and Circus— The Mission of the Circus— Morality of Employees —Speaking in Church— Indorsed by the Clergy and Religious Press— Bust for the Smith- bonian Institute — Mr. Henry Bergh's Indorsement, 34^

Chapter LVI— Burning of the Winter Quarters at Bridgeport, Conn.— Mrs. Gilligan and the Lion— Death of the White Elephant and Alice— Growth of the City of Bridgeport- Inauguration of Bridgeport Hospital— I give two Gold Prize Medals annually to Students in Bridgeport High School— Opening of Sea Side Institute— My Gift to Sea Side Park, £52

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

1. PORTRAIT OF P. T. BARNUM Frontispiece.

2. MY BIRTHPLACE 17

3 PEINE AS TAYLOR 24

4. MY PROPERTY AND MY TENANT 32

5. MY DELIVERY FROM IMPRISONMENT 36

6. THE COWARD AND THE "BRAVE" 40

7. VICTORY OVER VESTRYMEN 48

8. SQUALLS AND BREEZES 56

9. THE AUTHOR TRAINING TOM THUMB 72

10. TOM THUMB AND THE POODLE W

11. ROYAL HONORS TO THE GENERAL 81

12. MANURE CART EXPRESS 85

13. PUT ME IN IRONS 88

15. IRANISTAN 97

15. PORTRAITS OF JENNY LIND AND P. T. BARNUM IN 1851 100

16. WELCOME TO JENNY LIND 105

17. THE PRINCE IN THE MUSEUM 112

18. THE ITALIAN AND HIS DOG 120

19. ELEPHANTINE AGRICULTURE 13-2

20. MOUNTAIN GROVE CEMETERY 144

21. THE "CUSTOMS " OF THE COUNTRY 156

22. THE GREAT DUKE AND THE LITTLE GBKERAL 168

23. THE MUSEUM BUILDING 180

24. '-THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT" 193

25. GRIZZLY ADAMS AND HIS FAMILY. . 200

26. EAST BRIDGEPORT 208

27. CAPTURING WHITE WHALES 216

28. THE FAIRY WEDDING GROUP 225

29. MARRIAGE IN MINIATURE 228

30. ALARM AT LINDENCROFT 240

31. THE GREAT UNKNOWN 252

32. AFTER THE FIRE 204

S3. SEA SIDE PARK. 276

34. WALDEMERE 278

85. BARNUM FIVE SECONDS AHEAD 300

36. BRONZE FOUNTAIN PRESENTED TO MY NATIVE TOWN 328

37. WINTER QUARTERS OF THE GREAT LONDON-BARNUM SHOW 330

88. PROPOSED CHANGE OF ENGLISH COAT-OF-ARMS 33*

89. P. T. BARNUM'S MOTHER, IRENA 23

40. P. T. BARNUM'S WIFE. CHARITY 289

41. PRIVATE SHOW TO A SICK BOY 287

42. BURNING OF WINTER QUARTERS 352

illf m •;' l<::-~' ■ ;I|

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE.

1 was born in the town of Bethel, in the State of Connecticut, July 5, 1810. My iiaine, Phineas Taylor, is derived from my maternal grandfather, who was a great wag in his way, and who, as I was his first grandchild, handed over to his daughter Irena, my mother, at my christening, a gift-deed, in my behalf, of five arres of land, called "Ivy Island," situated in that part of the parish of Bethel known as the "Plum Trees."

My father, Philo Barnum, was the son of Ephraim Barnum, of Bethel, who was a captain in the revolutionary war. My father was a tailor, a farmer, and sometimes a tavern-keeper, and my advantages and disadvantages 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 time I handled the shovel and the hoe, and when I could do so I went to school.

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. I was a willing, and, I think, a pretty apt scholar. In arithmetic I was unusually ready and accurate, and I remember, at the age of ten 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 nis 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 sil- ver dollar, the possession of which made me feel far richer 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 holi- days 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. By the time I w s twelve years old, besides other property, I was the owner of 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, and put up for the night After supper hearing Mr. Brown say to my father that he intended to buy more

17

18 BAELY LIFE.

cattle, and that he would be glad to hire a boy to assist in driving them, I im mediately besought my father to secure the situation for me, and he did so. My mother's consent was gained, and at daylight next morning, I started on foot in the midst of a heavy snow storm to help drive the cattle. Before reaching Ridge- field, 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 complain lest my employer should send me back. We arrived at New York, in three or f our days, and put up at the Bull's Head Tavern, where we were to stay a week while the drover disposed of his cattle. 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 outlay 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 bar-keeper, 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 follows : 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, 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 fascinating toy shop, where I saw a beautiful knife with two blades, a gimlet, and a corkscrew, — a whole carpenter shop in nainiature, 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 direction, and before night even my beloved knife was similarly exchanged. My money and my goods all gone, I traded two pocket handker chiefs 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, si^hinc because there was no more molasses candy to conquer.

EARLY LIFE. 19

I doubt not that in these first wanderings about the city I often passed the eorner 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 thousand questions to answer, and for a long time I was quite a lion among my mates because I had seen the great metropolis. My brothers and sisters, how- ever, 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 ingloriously terminated my first visit to New York.

Previous to my visit to New York, I think it was in 1820, when I was ten years of age, I made my first expedition to my landed property, " Ivy Island." 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 ■trangers 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 neighbors 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 arrived and my father told me that as we were to mow an adjoining meadow, I might visit my property in company with the hired man during the " nooning." My grand- father 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, don'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 M 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 trees 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, and 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 the morass, I found myself half -drowned, hornet-stung, mud-covered, and out of breath, on comparatively dry land.

20 EARLY LIFE.

"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 discovered the use of Edmund's axe, for he felled a small oak to form a temporary bridge to my "Island" property. Crossing over, I pro- ceeded to the center of my domain. I saw nothing but a few stunted ivies and straggling trees. The tnith flashed upon me. I had been the laugh- ing-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 deplor- ing my sudden downfall, »» 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 1«st visit to " Ivy Island." My father asked me " how I liked my property ? " 8nd I responded that I would sell it pretty cheap.

As I grew older my settled aversion to manual labor, farm or other kind, was manifest in various wpys, which were set down to the general score of laziness. In despair of doing better with me, my father concluded to 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 rae as clerk in this country store.

We fcppt a cash, credit and barter store, and I drove 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. It ^as 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 perquisites 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 toat I should clothe myself.

There is a great deal to be learned in a country store, and principally this— lhat 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 measuring 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 the evenings and on wet days trade was always dull and at such bimes the story-telling and joke-playing wits and wags of the village used to tssemble in our store, and from them I derived considerable 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

♦See illustration, page 82,

dARLY LIFE. 21

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 in those days.

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 edifice, comfortable enough m summer, but my teeth chatter even now when I think of the dreary, cold, freez- ing 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 five coals covered with ashes. These stoves were usually replenished just before meeting time at some neigh- bor'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 wound, 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 conferenco ; and finally in general "society's meeting," in December, the stove was carried by a majority of one and was introduced into the meeting-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 tho cool air where they speedily returned to consciousness, especially when they were informed that owing to the lack of two lengths of pipe, no fire bad yet been made in the 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.

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 scripture and write a composition on the text, which compositions 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 needful?" My answer was nearly as follows :

" This question ' what is the one thing needful ? ' is capable of receiving various answers, depending much upon the persons to whom it is addressed. The mer- chant might answer that ' the one thing needful ' is plenty of customers, who buy liberally, without beating down and pay cash for all their purchases. ' The farmer might reply, that ' the one thing needful is large harvests 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 engaging in bickerings and litigations. ' The clergyman might reply, ' It is a fat salary with multitudes of sinners seeking salvation and paying large pew rents.' The bachelor might exclaim, ' It is a pretty wife who loves her husband, and who knows how to sew

22 EAELT LIFE.

on buttons.' The maiden might answer, 'It is a good husband, who will lore, 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 commandments, love our fellow-man, and embrace every oppor- tunity 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 vouch- safed 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 composition; but at the close of the reading I had the satisfaction of hearing Mr. Lowe say that it was a well written answer to the question, " What is the one thing needful? "

23

P. T. BARNUM'S MOTHER, IRENA,

AT THE AGE OF 78. See page 23.

CHAPTER II.

INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES.

Ik the month of August, 1825, my maternal grandmother met with an accident in stepping on the point of a rusty nail, and, though the incident 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 grandchildren 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 remem- ber 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.

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, what in our day would be called a Norwalk Express ; and he also kept a country store. With greater opportunities and a larger field for his efforts and energies, he might have