按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 afterward； at least five hundred people were watching his mysterious movements。 He had assumed a military step and bearing； 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 afterward returning to his round。 This was repeated every hour until 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 daysthe curious people who followed the man into the Museum considerably more than paying his wagestill finally the policeman； to whom Barnum had imparted his object； complained that the obstruction of the sidewalk by crowds； had become so serious that he must call in his 〃brick man。〃 This trivial incident excited considerable talk and amusement； it advertised Barnum； and it materially advanced his purpose of making a lively corner near the Museum。
Barnum realized above all that to have people pleased with his attractions was the best advertisement he could possibly have； and he tried honestly to keep the Museum supplied with every novelty。 A curiosity which possessed some merit； and considerable absurdity was the celebrated model of Niagara； 〃with real water。〃
One day the enterprising proprietor was called before the Board of Water Commissioners； and informed that he must pay a large extra compensation for the immense amount of water that supplied his Niagara。 To the astonishment of the Board Mr。 Barnum gave his assurance that a single barrel of water per month served to run the machine。
Apropos of this wonderful model； Barnum used to tell how he got even with his friend； Louis Gaylord Clark； editor of the Knickerbocker； an inveterate joker； and who was fond of guying the Museum。 The first time Clark viewed 〃Niagara〃 he assumed great admiration。
〃Well； Barnum； I declare； this is quite an idea； I never saw the like of this before in all my life。〃
〃No？〃 inquired Barnum； quite pleased。
〃No；〃 said Clark； fervently； 〃and I hope to the Lord； I never will。〃
Barnum might have forgiven this； but Clark's next joke was too much to bear。 He came in one day and asked Barnum if he had the club with which Captain Cook was killed。 The Museum boasted a large collection of Indian curiosities； and Barnum showed one warlike weapon which he assured Clark was the identical club and he had all the documents to prove it。
〃Poor Cook！ Poor Cook！〃 said Clark； musingly。 〃Well； Mr。 Barnum；〃 he continued； with great gravity； at the same time extending his hand； 〃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 confident 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 without it。〃
But Barnum's turn came。 A few weeks afterward； he wrote to Clark that if he would come to his office he was anxious to consult him on a matter of great importance。 He came； and Barnum said：
〃Now； I don't want any of your nonsense； but I want your sober advice。〃
Clark assured him that he would serve him in any way in his power； and Barnum proceeded to tell him about a wonderful fish from the Nile； offered 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。
Barnum assured him that there was no doubt of it。
Thereupon Clark advised Barnum 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。 Barnum told him that he thought well of the speculation； only he did not like the name of the fish。
〃That makes no difference whatever；〃 said Clark； 〃what is the name of the fish？〃
〃Tadpole；〃 Barnum replied； with becoming gravity； 〃but it is vulgarly called 'pollywog。' 〃
〃Sold； by thunder！〃 exclaimed Clark； and he left。
Another story is illustrative of some of the trials incident to theatrical management。
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 excellent； Barnum 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！ Barnum called an assistant； and they took La Rue 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 they 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 them that he should be able to give his imitations 〃to a charm。〃
〃You drunken brute；〃 said Barnum； 〃if you fail； and disappoint my audience； I will throw you out of the window。〃
He declared that he was 〃all right；〃 and Barnum led him behind the scenes； where he waited with considerable trepidation to watch his movements on the stage。 La Rue began by saying：
〃Ladies and gentlemen： I will now give you an imitation of Mr。 Booth； the eminent tragedian。〃
His tongue was thick； his language somewhat incoherent； and Barnum had great misgivings as he proceeded； but as no token of disapprobation came from the audience； he 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。 Barnum lost all patience； and； going on the stage and taking the drunken fellow by the collar； apologized to the audience； assuring them that he should not appear before them again。 Barnum was about to march him off； when he stepped to the front； and said：
〃Ladies and gentlemen： Mr。 Booth has 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 Richard； Shylock； or Sir Giles Overreach； he received a hearty round of applause。 Bar