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Barnum smiled； and said：
〃All right； my dear fellow； the longer you live the better I shall like it；〃
They parted； and Adams went to Charlton； Worcester County； Massachusetts； where his wife and daughter lived。 He took at once to his bed； and never rose from it again。 The excitement had passed away； and his vital energies could accomplish no more； The fifth day after arriving home； the physician told him he could not live until the next morning。 He received the announcement in perfect calmness； and with the most apparent indifference； then； turning to his wife； with a smile he requested her to have him buried in the new hunting…suit。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃Barnum agreed to let me have it until I have done with it； and I was determined to fix his flint this time。 He shall never see that dress again。〃 That dress was indeed the shroud in which he was entombed。
After Adams' death； Barnum incorporated the California Menagerie with the American Museum； for a time； but afterward sold most of the animals。 The Museum was now most prosperous； and Barnum was making steady progress toward paying off the debts that burdened him。
In the fall of 1860 the Museum was visited by the Prince of Wales and his suite； in response to an invitation from Barnum。 Unfortunately； Barnum himself had gone to Bridgeport that very morning； the invitation not having been accepted until about an hour before the visit。 Mr。 Greenwood； the manager； when he heard that the Prince was coming； caused the performance in the lecture…room to be commenced half an hour before the usual time； so as to clear the floors of a portion of the crowd； in order that he might have a better opportunity to examine the curiosities。 When the Prince arrived； there was a great crowd outside the Museum； and hundreds more were soon added to the numbers assembled within the building。 He was received by Mr。 Greenwood； and immediately conducted to the second story； where the first object of interest pointed out was the 〃What Is It？〃 in which his Royal Highness manifested much curiosity。 In compliance with his wish； the keeper went through the regular account of the animal。 Here； also； the party were shown the Albino family； concerning whom they made inquiries。 The Siamese twins； the sea…lions； and the seal were also pointed out； and some of the animals were fed in the presence of the Prince at his own request。 He was conducted through the building； and his attention was called to many objects of special interest。 At the close of a short visit； the Prince asked for Mr。 Barnum； and regretted that he had not an opportunity of seeing him also。 〃We have；〃 he said； 〃missed the most interesting feature of the establishment。〃
A few days later Barnum called on the Prince in Boston and was cordially received。 The Prince was much interested and amused at Barnum's reminiscences of the visits to Buckingham Palace with Tom Thumb。 He told Barnum that he had been much pleased with the Museum； and had left his autograph there as a memento of his visit。
CHAPTER XXXIII。 BUILDING A CITY。
AT HOME ONCE MOREGROWTH OF EAST BRIDGEPORTBARNUM'S OFFER TO MEN WANTING HOMES OF THEIR OWNREMARKABLE PROGRESS OF THE PLACEHOW THE STREETS WERE NAMED。
It was now about five years since Barnum had had a settled home。 The necessities of his business combined with the adversities of fortune had kept him knocking about from pillar to post。 Sometimes they lived in boarding…houses； and sometimes they kept house in temporary quarters。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Barnum were now alone； two of their daughters being married and the third being away at a boarding…school。 Mrs。 Barnum's health was much impaired； and it was desirable that she should have a comfortable and permanent home。 Accordingly； in 1860； Barnum built a pleasant house at Bridgeport； next to that of his daughter Caroline and not far from the ruins of Iranistan。
His unfortunate enterprise in the clock business had not discouraged him from further business ventures。 His pet city； East Bridgeport； was growing rapidly。 An enormous sewing…machine factory had been built； employing a thousand workmen。 Other large factories were springing up； many private residences were being erected； and there was a great demand for houses of all kinds； but especially for small cottages suitable for mechanics and other laboring men。 The farm…land which Barnum had purchased only a few years before was rapidly becoming a city。
It was characteristic of Barnum to place himself in the forefront in this city…building movement； and in the double role of speculator and public benefactor。 The enterprise which he undertook was calculated both to help those who were willing to help themselves to obtain independent homes； and at the same time to pay a handsome profit to Mr。 Barnum。 His scheme was described by himself as follows in the Bridgeport Standard：
〃NEW HOUSES IN EAST BRIDGEPORT。 〃EVERY MAN TO OWN THE HOUSE HE LIVES IN。
〃There is a demand at the present moment for two hundred more dwelling…houses in East Bridgeport。 It is evident that if the money expended in rent can be paid towards the purchase of a house and lot； the person so paying will in a few years own the house he lives in； instead of always remaining a tenant。 In view of this fact； I propose to loan money at six per cent。 to any number； not exceeding fifty； industrious； temperate and respectable individuals； who desire to build their own houses。
〃They may engage their own builders； and build according to any reasonable plan （which I may approve）； or I will have it done for them at the lowest possible rate； without a farthing profit to myself or agent； I putting the lot at a fair price and advancing eighty per cent。 of the entire cost； the other party to furnish twenty per cent。 in labor； material； or money； and they may pay me in small sums weekly； monthly； or quarterly； any amount not less than three per cent。 per quarter； all of which is to apply on the money advanced until it is paid。
〃It has been ascertained that by purchasing building materials for cash； and in large quantities； nice dwellings； painted； and furnished with green blinds； can be erected at a cost of 1；500 or 1；800； for house； lot； fences； etc。； all complete； and if six or eight friends prefer to join in erecting a neat block of houses with verandas in front； the average cost need not exceed about 1；300 per house and lot。 If； however； some parties would prefer a single or double house that would cost 2；500 to 3；000； I shall be glad to meet their views。 〃P。 T。 BARNUM。 〃February 16； 1864。〃
On this the editor of the paper commented as follows：
〃AN ADVANTAGEOUS OFFER。We have read with great pleasure Mr。 Barnum's advertisement； offering assistance to any number of persons； not exceeding fifty； in the erection of dwelling…houses。 This plan combines all the advantages and none of the objections of building associations。 Any individual who can furnish in cash； labor； or material； one…fifth only of the amount requisite for the erection of a dwelling…house； can receive the other four…fifths from Mr。 Barnum； rent his house； and by merely paying what may be considered as only a fair rent； for a fe