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clock factory which I built in Bridgeport for the purpose of bringing hundreds of workmen to that city; has been purchased and quadrupled in size by the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing…Machine Company; and is now filled with intelligent New England mechanics; whose families add two thousand to the population; and who are doing a great work in building up and beautifying that flourishing city。 So that the same concern which prostrated me seems destined as a most important agent toward my recuperation。 I am certain that the popular sympathy has been with me from the beginning; and this; together with a consciousness of rectitude; is more than an offset to all the vicissitudes to which I have been subjected。
〃In conclusion; I beg to assure you and the public that my chief pleasure; while health and strength are spared me; will be to cater for your and their healthy amusement and instruction。 In future; such capabilities as I possess will be devoted to the maintenance of this Museum as a popular place of family resort; in which all that is novel and interesting shall be gathered from the four quarters of the globe; and which ladies and children may visit at all times unattended; without danger of encountering anything of an objectionable nature。 The dramas introduced in the Lecture Room will never contain a profane expression or a vulgar allusion; on the contrary; their tendency will always be to encourage virtue and frown upon vice。
〃I have established connections in Europe; which will enable me to produce here a succession of interesting novelties otherwise inaccessible。 Although I shall be personally present much of the time; and hope to meet many of my old acquaintances; as well as to form many new ones; I am sure you will be glad to learn that I have re…secured the services of one of the late proprietors; and the active manager of this Museum; Mr。 John Greenwood; Jr。 As he is a modest gentleman; who would be the last to praise himself; allow me to add that he is one to whose successful qualities as a caterer for the popular entertainments; the crowds that have often filled this building may well bear testimony。 But; more than this; he is the unobtrusive one to whose integrity; diligence; and devotion I owe much of my present position of self…congratulation。 Mr。 Greenwood will hereafter act as assistant manager; while his late co…partner; Mr。 Butler; has engaged in another branch of business。 Once more; thanking you all for your kind welcome; I bid you; till the re…opening; 'an affectionate adieu。' 〃
The speech was received with wild enthusiasm; and after the re…opening of the Museum the number of visitors was at once almost doubled。
Among the many newspaper congratulations he received; none gave Barnum more pleasure than a poem from his old admirer on the Boston Saturday Evening Gazette。
ANOTHER WORD FOR BARNUM。
Barnum; your hand! The struggle o'er; You face the world and ask no favor; You stand where you have stood before; The old salt hasn't lost its savor。 You now can laugh with friends; at foes' Ne'er heeding Mrs。 Grundy's tattle; You've dealt and taken sturdy blows; Regardless of the rabble's prattle。
Not yours the heart to harbor ill 'Gainst those who've dealt in trivial jesting; You pass them with the same good will Erst shown when they their wit were testing。 You're the same Barnum that we knew; You're good for years; still fit for labor; Be as of old; be bold and true; Honest as man; as friend; as neighbor。
At about this period; the following poem was published in a Pottsville; Pa。; paper; and copied by many journals of the…day:
A HEALTH TO BARNUM。
Companions! fill your glasses round And drink a health to one Who has few coming after him; To do as he has done; Who made a fortune for himself; Made fortunes; too; for many; Yet wronged no bosom of a sigh; No pocket of a penny。 Come! shout a gallant chorus; And make the glasses ring; Here's health and luck to Barnum! The Exhibition King。
Who lured the Swedish Nightingale To Western woods to come? Who prosperous and happy made The life of little Thumb? Who oped Amusement's golden door So cheaply to the crowd; And taught Morality to smile On all HIS stage allowed? Come! shout a gallant chorus; Until the glasses ring Here's health and luck to Barnum! The Exhibition King。
And when the sad reverses came; As come they may to all; Who stood a Hero; bold and true; Amid his fortune's fall? Who to the utmost yielded up What Honor could not keep; Then took the field of life again With courage calm and deep? Come! shout a gallant chorus; Until the glasses dance Here's health and luck to Barnum; The Napoleon of Finance
Yet; noOUR hero would not look With smiles on such a cup; Throw out the winewith water clear; Fill the pure crystal up Then rise; and greet with deep respect; The courage he has shown; And drink to him who well deserves A seat on Fortune's throne。 Here's health and luck to Barnum! An ELBA he has seen; And never may his map of life Display a ST HELENE!
It is of interest to observe that the phrase 〃Napoleon of Finance;〃 which has in recent years been applied to several Wall Street speculators; was first coined in honorable description of Phineas T。 Barnum; because of his honesty as well as his signal success。
CHAPTER XXXII。 THE STORY OF 〃GRIZZLY ADAMS。〃
BARNUM'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FAMOUS BEAR HUNTERFOOLING HIM WITH THE 〃GOLDEN PIGEONS〃ADAMS EARNS 500 AT DESPERATE COSTTRICKING BARNUM OUT OF A FINE HUNTING SUITPROSPERITY OF THE MUSEUMVISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES。
The famous old American Museum was now the centre of Barnum's interests; and he devoted himself to its development with such energy as never before。 His enterprise in securing new curiosities; and his skill in presenting them to the public in the most attractive light; surpassed all previous efforts。 To his office; as to their Mecca; flocked all the 〃freaks〃 of the land; and all who possessed any objects of rare or marvelous nature。 Foremost among these visitors was one veteran frontiersman; who had attainedand well deservedmuch fame as a fighter of the most savage wild beasts。 His name was James C。 Adams; but he was universally known as 〃Grizzly Adams;〃 from the fact that he had captured a great many grizzly bears at the risk and cost of fearful encounters and perils。 He was brave; and with his bravery there was enough of the romantic in his nature to make him a real hero。 For many years a hunter and trapper in the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains; he acquired a recklessness; which; added to his natural invincible courage; rendered him one of the most striking men of the age; and he was emphatically a man of pluck。 A month after Barnum had re…purchased the Museum; Adams arrived in New York with his famous collection of California animals; captured by himself; consisting of twenty or thirty immense grizzly bears; at the head of which stood 〃Old Samson;〃 together with several wolves; half a dozen different species of California bears; California lions; tigers; buffalo; elk;