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lieved the spirit of their departed friend came daily for its supply； and these dishes were renewed every morning during the stay of the Indians at the Museum。
CHAPTER X。 GIANTS AND DWARFS。
SCIENCE FOR THE PUBLICMESMERISM EXTRAORDINARYKILLING OF A RIVALTHE TWO GIANTSDISCOVERY OF 〃TOM THUMB〃SEEKING OTHER WORLDS TO CONQUERFIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND。
Barnum would never submit to being outdone by a rival。 In 〃poker〃 parlance； he would 〃see him and go one better。〃 His chief competitor now was Peale； who was running Peale's Museum； and proudly proclaiming it to be a more scientific institution than Barnum's。 Thus； he said； he was catering to a higher class of patrons。
〃Science； indeed！〃 said Barnum。 〃I'll give him science to his heart's content！〃
Mesmerism was then a great novelty； and Peale was given exhibitions of it。 He had one subject on whom he operated daily； with most surprising results； though at times she was unimpressionable； and the people who had paid to come in and see her performances complained loudly that they were being swindled。 Barnum saw here a great opportunity to squelch a rival and increase his own fame at a single stroke。 He engaged a bright little girl who was exceedingly susceptible to such mesmeric influences as he could induce。 That is； she learned her lesson thoroughly； and when he had apparently put her to sleep with a few passes and stood behind her； she seemed to be duly 〃impressed；〃 as he desired； raised her hands as he willed； fell from her chair to the floor； and if he put candy or tobacco into his own mouth； she was duly delighted or disgusted。 She never failed in these routine performances。 Strange to say； believers in mesmerism used to witness her performances with the greatest pleasure； and adduce them as positive proofs that there was something in mesmerism； and they applauded tremendouslyup to a certain point。
That point was reached when； leaving the girl 〃asleep；〃 Barnum called up some one in the audience； promising to put him 〃in the same state〃 within five minutes； or forfeit fifty dollars。 Of course； all his 〃passes〃 would not put a man in the mesmeric state； at the end of three minutes he was as wide awake as ever。
〃Never mind；〃 Barnum would say； 〃looking at his watch； 〃I have two minutes more； and meantime； to show that a person in this state is utterly insensible to pain； I propose to cut off one of the fingers of the little girl who is still asleep。〃 He would then take out a knife and feel of the edge； and when he turned around to the girl whom he left on the chair； she had fled behind the scenes； to the intense amusement of the greater part of the audience； and to the amazement of the mesmerists who were present。
〃Why！ where's my little girl？〃 he asked； with feigned astonishment。
〃Oh！ she ran away when you began to talk about cutting off fingers。〃
〃Then she was wide awake； was she？〃
〃Of course she was； all the time。〃
〃I suppose so； and； my dear sir； I promised that you should be 'in the same state' at the end of five minutes； and as I believe you are so； I do not forfeit fifty dollars。〃
Barnum kept up this performance for several weeks； till he quite killed Peale's 〃genuine〃 mesmerism in the rival establishment。 At the end of six months he bought Peale's Museum； and the whole； including the splendid gallery of American portraits； was removed to the American Museum； and he immediately advertised the great card of a 〃Double Attraction；〃 and 〃Two Museums in One；〃 without extra charge。
Barnum was now devoting all his attention and energy to this enterprise； and was achieving great success。 He made everything contribute to its popularity。 When a politician asked him for what candidate he was going to vote； he would answer； 〃For the American Museum；〃 and this was an index of his whole demeanor。
Among the genuine and literally 〃great〃 features of his show were several giants。 They often gave both the showman and his patrons food for much amusement as well as wonder。 The Quaker giant； Hales； was quite a wag in his way。 He went once to see the new house of an acquaintance who had suddenly become rich； but who was a very ignorant man。 When he came back he described the wonders of the mansion； and said that the proud proprietor showed him everything from basement to attic； parlors； bed…rooms； dining…room； and； said Hales； 〃what he calls his 'study'meaning； I suppose； the place where he intends to study his spelling…book！〃
He had at one time two famous men； the French giant； M。 Bihin； a very slim man； and the Arabian giant； Colonel Goshen。 These men generally got on together very well； though； of course； each was jealous of the other； and of the attention the rival received； or the notice he attracted。 One day they quarreled； and a lively interchange of compliments ensued； the Arabian calling the Frenchman a 〃Shanghai；〃 and receiving in return the epithet of 〃Nigger。〃 From words both were eager to proceed to blows； and both ran to the collection of arms； one seizing the club with which Captain Cook； or any other man； might have been killed； if it were judiciously wielded； and the other laying hands on a sword of the terrific size which is supposed to have been conventional in the days of the Crusades。
The preparations for a deadly encounter； and the high words of the contending parties； brought a dozen of the Museum attaches to the spot； and these men threw themselves between the gigantic combatants。 Hearing the disturbance； Barnum ran from his private office to the dueling ground； and said：
〃Look here！ This is all right； if you want to fight each other； maiming and perhaps killing one or both of you； that is your affair； but my interest lies here： you are both under engagement to me； and if this duel is to come off； I and the public have a right to participate。 It must be duly advertised； and must take place on the stage of the Lecture Room。 No performance of yours would be a greater attraction； and if you kill each other； our engagement can end with your duel。〃
This proposition； made in apparent earnest； so delighted the giants that they at once burst into a laugh； shook hands； and quarreled no more。
From giants to dwarfs。 None of Barnum's attractions has been more famous than 〃Tom Thumb。〃 The story of his discovery and engagement is dated in November； 1842。 Barnum was then at Bridgeport； Conn。 One day he heard that there belonged in one of the families of the place a phenomenally small child； and he got his brother； Philo F。 Barnum； to bring the little fellow to his hotel。 〃He was；〃 Barnum afterward said； 〃not two feet high； he weighed less than sixteen pounds； and was the smallest child I ever saw that could walk alone； he was a perfectly formed bright…eyed little fellow； with light hair and ruddy cheeks； and he enjoyed the best of health。 He was exceedingly bashful； but after some coaxing； he was induced to talk with me； and he told me that he was the son of Sherwood E。 Stratton； and that his own name was Charles S。 Stratton。 After seeing him and talking with him； I at once determined to secure his services from his parents and to exhibit him in public。 I engaged him for four weeks； at three dollars a week； with all traveling and boar