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hearty round of applause。 Barnum was quite delighted with his success； but when he came to imitate Forrest and Hamblin； necessarily representing them as drunk also； the audience could be no longer deluded； the hissing was almost deafening； and Barnum was forced to lead the actor off。 It was his last appearance on that stage。
Barnum always denied that the 〃Feejee Mermaid；〃 which attained such lasting notoriety； was an invention of his own。 It was first exhibited in London in 1822； where it was purchased by Mr。 Moses Kimball； of the Boston Museum； who sold it to Barnum。 The creature was really most ingeniously constructed； probably by some Japanese。 It drew like magic； and afterward served as a good advertisement； sent throughout the country for exhibition； the posters reading； 〃From Barnum's Great American Museum； New York。〃
Barnum believed in making his place of exhibition as attractive as possible； and the building was decorated with flags and banners； the posters were of the most sensational character； and the first 〃Drummond Lights〃 ever seen in New York were placed on top of the Museum； flooding the streets around with brilliance。
CHAPTER IX。 INCREASED POPULARITY OF THE MUSEUM。
THE AMERICAN FLAG AND ST。 PAUL'SST； PATRICK'S DAYTHE BABY SHOWGRAND BUFFALO HUNTN。 P。 WILLISTHE FIRST WILD…WEST SHOW。
The fame of the American Museum rose higher and higher。 It is doubtful if any place of entertainment ever attracted such enthusiastic crowds。 It was the first place visited by strangers in the city。
The small Lecture Room had been converted into a large and beautiful theatre； and in it many afterward celebrated actors and actresses made their first appearance； Sothern； Barney Williams； and the charming Mary Garmon。 On holidays there were lecture performances every hour。 The actors kept on their stage clothes from eleven o'clock in the morning until ten at night； their meals were served in the green…room； and the company received extra pay。
The 4th of July； 1842； was a great day in the history of the Museum。 Barnum had planned a magnificent display of American flags； as one of the outside attractions； and applied to the vestrymen of St。 Paul's Church； opposite the Museum； for permission to attach his flag…rope to a tree in the church…yard。 Their reply was an indignant refusal。 Returning to the Museum； Barnum directed that his original order concerning the disposition of the flags be carried out to the letter。
The morning dawned； and the crowds on Broadway were admiring the display； when two representatives of the baffled vestry rushed into the office and demanded that the ropes be taken down。 〃The Church of St。 Paul's； where Washington worshiped； attached to a Museum！ Sacrilege！〃
Barnum assumed a conciliatory tone； reminding them that he always stopped his band playing during their week…day services； and suggesting the fairness of the obligation being made mutual。
〃If those flags are not down in ten minutes；〃 cried one of the vestrymen； 〃I will cut them down。〃
Then Barnum sprang to his feet and exclaimed loudly enough for the crowd to hear：
〃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 down the Stars and Stripes on this great birthday 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 the ruse； smiled faintly and said； 〃Oh； of course it is all right；〃 and he and his companion quietly edged out of the crowd。
By one o'clock that day； the Museum was so densely packed that no more visitors could be admitted； and the proprietor saw with despair the crowds being turned away from the door。 Rushing down…stairs； he directed the carpenter to cut down the partition and floor in the rear and to put in a temporary flight of stairs。 The egress was ready by three o'clock； and people poured out into Ann Street； while the crowd from Broadway poured in。 After that； the egress was always ready on holidays。 One of Barnum's most amusing reminiscences related to this egress。
〃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 morning。' 'All right；' said I to my carpenter； 'get your egress ready for March 17th；' 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 thousands 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。'
〃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； 'you 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 you can thus pass by these rear stairs into Ann Street； and thus avoid all danger。'
〃 'Sure；' replied the woman； indignantly； 'an' I'm not going out at all； at all； nor the children either； for we've brought our dinners and we are going to stay all day。'
〃Further investigation showed that pretty much all of the 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 hundreds were waiting at the 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；
｛pointing finger｝ TO THE EGRESS。'
〃Seizing his brush； he finished the sign in fifteen minutes； and I directed the carpenter to nail it over the door leading to the back stairs。 He did so； and as the crowd； after making the entire tour of the establishment； came pouring down the main stairs from the third…story； they stopped and looked at the new sign； whil