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Dinner was ordered at twelve o'clock and was duly prepared and eaten。 As soon as the table was cleared； supper was ordered； at half past twelve。 After eating as much of this as their dinner had left room for； the whole company went to bed at one o'clock in the afternoon。 Each man insisted upon taking a lighted candle to his room； and the whole thirty…six of them undressed and went to bed as though they proposed to stay all night。 Half an hour later they arose and dressed again and went down to breakfast； which Turner had ordered served at two o'clock sharp。 They could eat but little of this meal； of course； but they did the best they could； and at half past two in the afternoon were on their way to Richmond。 Throughout the whole absurd proceedings the landlord was furiously angry。 Turner was as solemn as a corpse； and the rest of the company were convulsed with laughter。
After the performance one evening at Richmond； Barnum tried to pay Turner for that practical joke about the Rev。 Mr。 Avery。 A score of the company were telling stories and singing songs in the sitting room of the hotel。 Presently somebody began propounding some amusing arithmetical problems。 Then Turner proposed one； which was readily solved。 Barnum's turn came next； and he offered the following； for Turner's especial benefit：
〃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 therefore 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 you 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 live long 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 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 enoughsay； a thousand years； or sofor the race。 But an old gentleman gravely remarked that the idea of a son becoming as old as his father while both were living； was simply nonsense； and he offered to bet a dozen of champagne 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 Barnum's arithmetic； though at last he acknowledged that it was a fair offset to the Avery trick。
From Richmond they went to Petersburg； and thence to Warrenton； North Carolina； and there； on October 30； Barnum and Turner separated； Barnum's engagement having expired with a clear profit to himself of about 1；200。 Barnum took Vivalla； a negro singer and dancer named James Sandford； several musicians； horses and wagons； and a small canvas tent。 With these he proposed to carry on a travelling show of his own。 His first stop was on Saturday； November 12； 1836； at Rocky Mount Falls； North Carolina。 The next day； being Sunday； Barnum set out for church。 〃I noticed；〃 he says； 〃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 distance 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 announcement； 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 little 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 privileges 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 cannot 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。〃
Barnum proceeded in this strain with various scriptural quotations and familiar illustrations； for three…quarters of an hour。 At the end of his address several persons came up to shake hands with him； saying that they had been greatly pleased and edified by his remarks and asking to know his name。 He went away feeling that possibly he had done some good by means of his impromptu preaching。
The negro singer and dancer； Sandford； abruptly deserted the show at Camden； South Carolina； and left Barnum in a bad plight。 An entertainment of negro songs had been advertised； and no one was able to fill Sandford's place。 Barnum was determined； however； that his audience should not be disappointed； and so he blackened his own face and went on the stage himself； singing a number of plantation melodies。 His efforts were received with great applause； and he was recalled several times。 This performance was repeated for several evenings。
One night after thus personating a negro； Barnum heard a disturbance outside the tent。 Hastening to the spot he found a man quarreling with one of his company。 He interfered； whereupon the man drew a pistol and pointing it at Barnum's head； exclaimed； 〃you black scoundrel！ How dare you use such language to a white man？〃 He evidently took Barnum for a real negro； and in another moment would have blown his brains out。 But quick as a flash the showman exclaim； 〃I am as white as you！〃 and at the same moment rolled up his sleeves showing the white skin of his arm。 The other man dropped his pistol in consternation and humbly begged Barnum's pardon。
〃On four different occasions in my life；〃 said Mr。 Barnum not long before his death； 〃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 preservation from the degradation of li