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！
〃Doctor； it may be dangerous for you to tell of this incident when you get on shore； for it would be a pretty strong draught upon the credulity of many of my countrymen if they were told that my zeal to hear an orthodox minister preach was so great that it came near getting me into solitary confinement。 But I am not prejudiced； and I like fair play。〃
The old doctor replied： 〃Well； you have not lost much； and； if the rules of this ship are so stringent I suppose we must submit。〃
The captain afterwards came to Barnum and apologized for the rude manner in which he had carried out the rules of the ship。 Barnum was not at the time a teetotaler； and the two men 〃washed down〃 their differences in a bottle of champagne； and were excellent friends from that moment。
CHAPTER XV。 AT HOME。
PARTNERSHIP WITH TOM THUMBVISIT TO CUBAIRANISTAN； HIS FAMOUS PALACE AT BRIDGEPORTAGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCESBARNUM'S GAME…KEEPER AND THE GREAT GAME DINNERFRANK LESLIE。
One of Barnum's principal objects in returning to America at this time was to insure the permanence of his 〃American Museum。〃 He had a lease of the property； which had yet three years to run。 But he wanted to make sure of it after that term had expired。 Mr。 Olmsted； the former owner； was now dead； and It was not certain that the new proprietor would renew the lease。 If not； another home for the great show must be secured； and Barnum decided that in that event he would buy land on Broadway and erect a building to suit him。 The new owner of the old property was persuaded； however； to renew the lease for a term of twenty…five years。 The building covered an area of fifty…six by one hundred feet and was four stories high。 Barnum agreed to pay for it a rental of 10；000 a year in addition to the taxes and all assessments。 Then； as the place was not large enough for his purposes； he rented and connected with it the upper floors of several adjacent buildings。 The Museum was at this time enormously prosperous； and was thronged with visitors from morning to late at night。
Tom Thumb's European reputation was of course a great advertisement； and it was 〃worked for all it was worth。〃 He appeared at the Museum daily for four weeks； and drew such crowds of visitors as had never been seen there before。 He afterwards spent a month in Bridgeport with his kindred。 To prevent being annoyed by the curious； who would be sure to throng the houses of his relatives； he exhibited two days at Bridgeport； and the receipts； amounting to several hundred dollars； were presented to the Bridgeport Charitable Society。
Barnum's contract with Tom Thumb had expired on January 1； 1845； while they were in England； and they had then formed a partnership； dividing equally between them the profits of their enterprise； excepting during the first four weeks of their return to New York； during which time the General waived his partnership rights and exhibited himself for a salary of 50 a week。 Mr。 Stratton； Tom Thumb's father； was now a rich man； and he settled a handsome fortune upon his tiny son。
Soon a tour of America was arranged； the party consisting of Mr。 Barnum and Tom Thumb and his parents。 They began at Washington； in April； 1847； where they visited President and Mrs。 Polk at the White House。 Thence they went to Richmond； to Baltimore； and to Philadelphia； where they took in 5；594。91 in twelve days。 Next they visited Boston and Lowell； Providence； where they received nearly 1；000 in a day； New Bedford； Fall River； Salem； Worcester； Springfield； Albany； Troy； Niagara Falls； Buffalo and various other places。 During the whole year's tour their receipts averaged from 400 to 500 per day； and their expenses only from 25 to 30。 On their way back to New York they stopped at all large towns along the Hudson river； and then went to New Haven； Hartford； Portland and some other New England cities。
Absence did not make them forgotten in New York； however； but only increased public interest in them。 When he returned to his Museum Mr。 Barnum found that he himself had come to be regarded as one of its chief curiosities。 〃If I showed myself about the Museum； or wherever else I was known； I found eyes peering and fingers pointing at me； and could frequently overhear the remark； 'There's Barnum。' On one occasion； soon after my return； I was sitting in the ticket…office； reading a newspaper。 A man came and purchased a ticket of admission。 'Is Mr。 Barnum in the Museum？' he asked。 The ticket…seller； pointing to me； answered； 'This is Mr。 Barnum。' Supposing the gentleman had business with me； I looked up from the paper。 'Is this Mr。 Barnum？' he asked。 'It is；' I replied。 He stared at me for a moment； and then； throwing down his ticket； exclaimed； 'It's all right； I have got the worth of my money；' and away he went； without going into the Museum at all。〃
In the fall of 1847 they went South； visiting and giving exhibitions at Charleston； Columbia； Augusta； Savannah； Milledgeville； Macon； Columbus； Montgomery； Mobile and New Orleans。 At the last…named place they spent three weeks； including the Christmas holidays。 After New Year's they went to Cuba； and were received at Havana by the Captain…General and the aristocracy of the city。 For a month they gave exhibitions in Havana and Matanzas with great success。 The only serious drawback was the hotels； which they did not find good； indeed； it was difficult for them to get enough to eat。 The Washington House； at Havana； where they lived for some time； was characterized by Mr。 Barnum as 〃first…rate bad！〃
From Cuba they returned to New Orleans； and thence to New York by way of the Mississippi river； St。 Louis； Louisville； Cincinnati and Pittsburg。 And then； in May； 1848； it was agreed that Barnum should travel no more with the little General。 〃I had；〃 says Barnum； 〃competent agents who could exhibit him without my personal assistance； and I preferred to relinquish a portion of the profits rather than continue to be a travelling showman。 I had now been a straggler from home most of the time for thirteen years； and I cannot describe the feelings of gratitude with which I reflected that； having by the most arduous toil and deprivations succeeded in securing a satisfactory competence； I should henceforth spend my days in the bosom of my family。〃
Barnum had selected the city of Bridgeport； Conn。； for his home； and thither he now repaired。 He wanted to be near New York； and he considered the northern shore of Long Island Sound the most beautiful country he had ever seen。 Bridgeport was about the right distance from New York； and was well situated。 It was also an enterprising place； with the promise of a prosperous future。 Some three or four years before this time Barnum had purchased seventeen acres of land at the western side of the city； and for two years had been building a palace upon it； the famous 〃Iranistan；〃 which was now nearly ready for him to occupy。
In telling how he came to erect this gorgeous and eccentric home； Barnum once said that in visiting Brighton； England； he had been greatly pleased with the pavilion built there by George IV。 It was at that time the only specimen of Oriental architecture in England； and the style had not been introduced into A