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ame 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 haven't seen；' and the throng began to pour down 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。〃
Barnum had planned to expend the entire profits of the first year in advertising； but so fast did the money pour in； that he was often embarrassed to devise means to get rid of it； according to his first idea。 One of the most expensive advertisements consisted of a large number of oil paintings of every animal in zoology。 These paintings were prepared secretly； and were put between the windows of the building at night。 The town was paralyzed with astonishment； and the daily receipts took an upward jump of nearly a hundred dollars。
Flower shows； dog shows； poultry and bird shows； with prizes to the best specimens； had long been features of the Museum； and at last Barnum rashly decided on a baby show。 There was a prize of one hundred dollars attached； and a committee of ladies were appointed to decide on the best baby。 The unsuspecting Barnum stepped into the circle and announced the prize winner； but to his astonishment the verdict did not suit anybody but the mother of one baby。 The other ninety…nine indignant mothers 〃jumped on〃 to Mr Barnum and the committee； and denounced the whole proceeding as impartial and unjust。 Barnum offered to let them select a new committee； and even agreed to give another hundred dollar prize； but the storm raged with unabating fury。 There were baby shows after that； but the verdict was delivered in writing； and Mr。 Barnum never gave the prize in person。
In June； 1843； a herd of yearling buffaloes was on exhibition in Boston。 Barnum bought the lot； brought them to New Jersey； hired the race…course at Hoboken； chartered the ferry…boats for one day； and advertised that a hunter had arrived with a herd of buffaloes； and that august 31st there would be a 〃Grand Buffalo Hunt〃 on the Hoboken race…courseall 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 the 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 with 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 the balcony band； which was 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 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？〃 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 their laugh over the Buffalo hunt； Barnum let it become known that he was the author of the joke。 Of course； their cry of 〃charlatan；〃 〃humbug；〃 and 〃swindler〃 was louder than ever from that time； but Barnum never objected to being celled names。 The more advertising the better。
About this time Barnum engaged a band of Indians from Iowa。
The party comprised large and noble specimens of the untutored savage； as well as several very beautiful squaws； with two or three interesting 〃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 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； Barnum had a high rope barrier placed between them and the savages on the front of the stage。
Barnum counted one incident in connection with his Indian show as notable； being one of the few occasions when he played the losing card。
〃After they had been a week in the Museum；〃 he said； 〃I proposed 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 whatever 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 woolen 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 interpreter； 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 performances per day； I was out of pocket 120 for twelve 'wedding blankets' that week。〃
One of the beautiful squaws named Do…humme died in the Museum。 She had been a great favorite with many ladies。 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