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tal architecture in England； and the style had not been introduced into America。 〃I concluded to adopt it； and engaged a London architect to furnish me a set of drawings after the general plan of the pavilion； differing sufficiently to be adapted to the spot of ground selected for my homestead。 On my second return visit to the United States； I brought these drawings with me and engaged a competent architect and builder； giving him instructions to proceed with the work； not 'by the job' but 'by the day；' and to spare neither time nor expense in erecting a comfortable； convenient； and tasteful residence。 The work was thus begun and continued while I was still abroad； and during the time when I was making my tour with General Tom Thumb through the United States and Cuba。 Elegant and appropriate furniture was made expressly for every room in the house。 I erected expensive water…works to supply the premises。 The stables； conservatories and out…buildings were perfect in their kind。 There was a profusion of trees set out on the grounds。 The whole was built and established literally 'regardless of expense；' for I had no desire even to ascertain the entire cost。〃
Into this splendid place he moved on November 14； 1848； nearly a thousand fellow…citizens of Bridgeport； rich and poor alike； participating in the 〃housewarming〃 as his guests。 The estate was called； in reference to its Oriental appearance； Iranistan； which being interpreted means 〃a Persian home。〃 This name was the subject of many a joke； as the place itself was of much wonderment and admiration。
The next two years were spent by Mr。 Barnum chiefly at home with his family； though he paid frequent visits to his various places of business and amusement； business for him； amusement for the world。 He had for several years a fine Museum in Baltimore； which was afterward the property of John E。 Owens； the actor。 In 1849 he also opened a Museum in Philadelphia； at the corner of Chestnut and Seventh streets。 He spent some time in Philadelphia； until the Museum was profitably established； and then turned it over to a manager。 Two years later he sold it for a good price。 While he was running it； however； his old rival； Peale； conducted a strong opposition show in Masonic Hall； near by。 The competition between them proved disastrous to Peale； who failed and was sold out by the sheriff。 Barnum and his friend； Moses Kimball； purchased most of his effects and divided them between Barnum's American Museum in New York and Kimball's Museum in Boston。
Barnum took an active interest in the affairs of Bridgeport and of the State of Connecticut。 In 1848； soon after settling in Iranistan； he was elected President of the Fairfield County Agricultural Society。 He was not much of a practical farmer； although he had bought a hundred or more acres of farm land near his residence and felt a deep interest in agricultural affairs。 He had imported a lot of choice livestock； which he had at Iranistan； and had gone pretty deeply into fancy poultry raising。 So he was considered eligible to the office of President of the Agricultural Society。
In 1849 the Society insisted that he should deliver the annual address。 〃I begged to be excused on the ground of incompetency；〃 he said； 〃but my excuses were of no avail； and as I could not instruct my auditors in farming； I gave them the benefit of several mistakes which I had committed。 Among other things； I told them that in the fall of 1848 my head…gardener reported that I had fifty bushels of potatoes to spare。 I thereupon directed him to barrel them up and ship them to New York for sale。 He did so； and received two dollars per barrel； or about sixty…seven cents per bushel。 But； unfortunately； after the potatoes had been shipped； I found that my gardener had selected all the largest for market； and left my family nothing but 'small potatoes' to live on during the winter。 But the worst was still to come。 My potatoes were all gone before March； and I was obliged to buy； during the spring； over fifty bushels of potatoes； at 1。25 per bushel！ I also related my first experiment in the arboricultural line； when I cut from two thrifty rows of young cherry…trees any quantity of what I supposed to be 'suckers；' or 'sprouts；' and was thereafter informed by my gardener that I had cut off all his grafts！〃
A friend of Barnum's； Mr。 J。 D。 Johnson； had a fine place near Iranistan； and Barnum owned a couple of acres just beyond and adjoining his property。 This plot Barnum presently converted into a deer park； stocking it with fine animals from the Rocky Mountains。 From its location； however； everybody supposed it to be a part of Johnson's estate； and to confirm this notionin a waggish spirita member of Johnson's family put up in the park a conspicuous sign； which every passer…by on the street could read：
〃All persons are forbid trespassing on these grounds； or disturbing the deer。 J。 D。 JOHNSON。〃
Barnum 〃acknowledged the corn；〃 and was much pleased with the joke。 Johnson was delighted； and bragged considerably of having got ahead of Barnum； and the sign remained undisturbed for several days。 It happened； at length； that a party of friends came to visit him from New York； arriving in the evening。 Johnson told them that he had got a capital joke on Barnum； he would not explain； but said they should see it for themselves the next morning。 Bright and early he led them into the street； and； after conducting them a proper distance； wheeled them around in front of the sign。 To his dismay he discovered that I had added directly under his name the words 〃Game…keeper to P。 T。 Barnum。〃
Thereafter Mr。 Johnson was known among his friends and acquaintances as 〃Barnum's gamekeeper。〃
Johnson had his revenge； however。 Some time afterward Barnum became president of the Pequonnock Bank； and gave each year a grand dinner at Iranistan to the directors。 In preparing for these banquets he would send to the West for some boxes of prairie chickens and other choice game。 So； one day； Johnson saw a big case at the railroad station； addressed to Barnum； and marked 〃Game。〃
〃See here；〃 said he to the station…master； 〃I am Mr。 Barnum's game…keeper； and I'll take charge of that！〃
And he did so； taking it to his house； and then notifying Barnum that it could only be redeemed at cost of a new hat。 He knew very well that Barnum would rather give him a dozen hats than lose the box； and he added that unless he got the hat very soon he would give a game dinner on his own account！ Barnum sent an order for the hat in a hurry； and recovered his game； enjoying the whole joke as much as Johnson did。
In 1848； Mr。 Frank Leslie； afterward famous as a publisher； came to America； bringing letters of introduction to Barnum from friends in England； and Barnum gave him a start in business by employing him to prepare an elaborate illustrated catalogue of the American Museum。 This he did in an admirable manner； and hundreds of thousands of copies of it were distributed throughout the country。
CHAPTER XVI。 JENNY LIND。
DARING VENTUREBARNUM'S AMBASSADORUNPRECEDENTED TERMS OFFEREDTEXT OF THE CONTRACTHARD WORK TO RAISE THE GUARANTEE FUNDEDUCATING THE AMERICAN MIND TO RECEIVE THE F