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！
nkee； whom he named 〃Phineas Cutecraft。〃 The wink came at the time he introduced Phineas in the Cologne church； and made him say at the end of the sexton's story about the virgins' bones：
〃Old fellow； what will you take for that hull lot of bones？ I want them for my museum in America！〃
When the question had been interpreted to the old German； he exclaimed in horror； according to Albert Smith：
〃Mine Gott！ it is impossible！ We will never sell the virgins' bones！〃
〃Never mind；〃 replied Phineas Cutecraft； 〃I'll send another lot of bones to my museum； swear mine are the real bones of the Virgins of Cologne； and burst up your show！〃
This always excited the heartiest laughter； but Mr。 Smith knew very well that Barnum would at once recognize it as a paraphrase of the scene wherein they； too； had figured in 1844； at the porter's lodge of Warwick Castle。 〃In the course of the entertainment；〃 says Barnum； 〃I found he had woven in numerous anecdotes I had told him at that time； and many incidents of our excursion were also travestied and made to contribute to the interest of his description of the ascent of Mont Blanc。〃
When they dined together at the club that day； Smith introduced Barnum to several of his acquaintances as his teacher in the show business。 He also remarked to Barnum that he must have recognized as old friends many of the incidents and jokes in the lecture。 Barnum replied that he did。 〃Well；〃 said Smith； 〃of course you as a showman； know very well that； to win popular success。 we have to appropriate and adapt to our uses everything of the sort that we can get hold of。〃
By thus engrafting his various experiences upon this Mont Blanc entertainment； Albert Smith succeeded in serving up a salmagundi feast which was relished alike by royal and less distinguished palates。
When William Makepeace Thackeray first visited this country； he brought a letter of introduction to Barnum； from Albert Smith； and called on the showman at his New York museum。 He spent an hour or more there； asking much advice of Barnum in regard to the management of the course of lectures on 〃The English Humorists of the Eighteenth Century；〃 which he proposed to deliver； as he did afterwards； with very great success； in the principal cities of the Union。 Barnum gave him the best advice he could as to management； and the cities he ought to visit； for which he was very grateful； and he called on Barnum whenever he was in New York。 Barnum also saw him repeatedly when he came to America the second time with his lectures on 〃The Four Georges；〃 which； it will be remembered； he delivered in the United States in the season of 1855…56； before he read them to audiences in Great Britain。 Barnum's relations with this great novelist were cordial and intimate； and now； when he called upon him； in 1857； at his own house； Thackeray grasped him heartily by the hand； and said：
〃Mr。 Barnum； I admire you more than ever I have read the accounts in the papers of the examinations you underwent in New York courts； and the positive pluck you exhibit under your pecuniary embarrassments is worthy of all praise。 You would never have received credit for the philosophy you manifest if these financial misfortunes had not overtaken you。〃
Barnum thanked him for his compliment； and he continued：
〃But tell me； Barnum； are you really in need of present assistance？ For if you are you must be helped。〃
〃Not in the least；〃 the showman replied； laughing 〃I need more money in order to get out of bankruptcy； and I intend to earn it； but so far as daily bread is concerned； I am quite at ease； for my wife is worth L30；000 or L40；000。〃
〃Is it possible！？？〃 he exclaimed； with evident delight； 〃well； now； you have lost all my sympathy； why； that is more than I ever expect to be worth； I shall be sorry for you no more。〃
During his stay in London； Barnum met Thackeray several times； and on one occasion dined with him。 He repeatedly expressed his obligations to Barnum for the advice and assistance he had given him on the occasion of his first lecturing visit to the United States。
Soon after Barnum arrived in London he was visited by Mr。 Otto Goldschmidt； who had married Jenny Lind。 They were then living in Dresden； but Madame Goldschmidt had insisted on his hurrying over to England to see her old manager； and ascertain whether he really was in want。 Barnum assured him that he was getting on comfortably； though he had to exercise economy； and that his family would presently come over and live with him in London。 Goldschmidt urged him to come to Dresden to live。 〃It is much cheaper living there；〃 he said； 〃and my wife will be so glad to find a suitable house for you。〃 But Barnum declined the offer。 His business prospects would be better in London than in Dresden。
Barnum's old friends； Julius Benedict and Signor Belletti； also called on him frequently； and made him feel much at home。 Among others whom he met in London； some of them quite frequently at dinners； were Mr。 George Augustus Sala； Mr。 Edmund Yates； Mr。 Horace Mayhew； Mr。 Alfred Bunn； Mr Lumley； of Her Majesty's Theatre； Mr。 Buckstone； of the Haymarket； Mr。 Charles Kean； our princely countryman； Mr。 George Peabody； Mr。 J。 M。 Morris； the manager； Mr。 Bates； of Baring Brothers & Co。； Mr。 Oxenford； dramatic critic of the London Times； Dr。 Ballard； the American dentist； and many other eminent persons。
He had numerous offers from professional friends on both sides of the Atlantic； who supposed him to be in need of employment。 Mr。 Barney Williams； who had not then acted in England； proposed； in the kindest manner； to make him his agent for a tour through Great Britain； and to give him one…third of the profits which he and Mrs。 Williams might make by their acting。 Mr。 Pettengill； of New York； the newspaper advertising agent； offered him the fine salary of 10；000 a year to transact business for him in Great Britain。 He wrote： 〃When you failed in consequence of the Jerome clock notes； I felt that your creditors were dealing hard with you； that they should have let you up and give you a chance； and they would have fared better； and I wish I was a creditor； so as to show what I would do。〃 These offers； both from Mr。 Williams and Mr。 Pettengill； Barnum felt obliged to decline。
Mr。 Lumley； manager of Her Majesty's Theatre； used to send him an order for a private box for every opera night； and Barnum frequently availed himself of his courtesy。
Meanwhile the showman was by no means idle。 Cordelia Howard as 〃Little Eva；〃 with her mother as the inimitable 〃Topsy；〃 were highly successful in London and other large cities； while General Tom Thumb； returning after so long an absence； drew crowded houses wherever he went。 These were strong spokes in the wheel that was moving slowly but surely in the effort to get Barnum out of debt； and； if possible； to save some portion of his real estate。 Of course； it was not generally known that he had any interest whatever in either of these exhibitions； if it had been； possibly some of the clock creditors would have annoyed him； but he busied himself in these and in other ways； working industriously and making much money； which he constantly remitted to his trusty agent at home。