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air rent； for a few years； find himself at last the owner； and all further payments cease。 In the meantime； he can be making such inexpensive improvements in his property as would greatly increase its market value； and besides have the advantage of any rise in the value of real estate。 It is not often that such a generous offer is made to working men。 It is a loan on what would be generally considered inadequate security； at six per cent。； at a time when a much better use of money can be made by any capitalist。 It is therefore generous。 Mr。 Barnum may make money by the operation。 Very well； perhaps he will； but if he does； it will be by making others richer； not poorer； by helping those who need assistance； not by hindering them； and we can only wish that every rich man would follow such a noble example； and thus； without injury to themselves； give a helping hand to those who need it。 Success to the enterprise。 We hope that fifty men will be found before the week ends； each of whom desires in such a manner to obtain a roof which he can call his own。〃
A considerable number of men immediately availed themselves of Barnum's offer； and succeeded after a time in paying for their homes without much effort。 There were many others； however； who did not fully accept his proposals。 They would not sign the temperance pledge； and they would not give up the use of tobacco。 The result was； that they continued month after month and year after year to pay rent on hired tenements。 〃The money they have expended for whiskey and tobacco；〃 remarked Mr。 Barnum； moralizing upon this topic； 〃would have given them homes of their own if it had been devoted to that object； and their positions； socially and morally； would have been far better。 How many infatuated men there are in all parts of the country who could now be independent； and even owners of their own carriages； but for their slavery to these miserable habits！〃
This East Bridgeport land was originally purchased by Barnum at an average cost of about 200 per acre。 A few years after the above…described enterprise； a considerable part of it was assessed in the tax list at from 3；000 to 4；000 per acre。 It was presently annexed to the city； and connected with it by three bridges across the river。 A horse…railroad was also built； of which Mr。 Barnum was one of the original stockholders。
This part of the city was laid out by General Noble and Mr。 Barnum； and various streets were named after members of the two families。 Hence there are Noble street； Barnum street； William street （General Noble's first name）； Harriet street （Mrs。 Noble's name）； Hallett street （Mrs。 Barnum's maiden name）； and Caroline street； Helen street； and Pauline street； the names of Barnum's three daughters。 A public school was also named for Mr。 Barnum。 The streets were lined with beautiful shade trees； set out by thousands by Barnum； and Noble； and the same gentlemen gave to the city its beautiful Washington Park of seven acres。
CHAPTER XXXIV。 GREAT YEAR AT THE MUSEUM。
CAPTURING AND EXHIBITING WHITE WHALES NEWSPAPER COMMENTSA TOUCHING OBITUARYTHE GREAT BEHEMOTHA LONG 〃LAST WEEK〃COMMODORE NUTTREAL LIVE INDIANS ON EXHIBITION。
The year 1861 was notable in the history of the American Museum。 Barnum heard that some fishermen at the mouth of the St。 Lawrence river had captured alive a fine white whale。 He was also told that such an animal； if packed in a box filled with sea…weed and salt water； could be transported over land a considerable distance without danger to its life or health。 He accordingly determined to secure and place on exhibition in his Museum a couple of live whales。 So he built in the basement of the building a tank of masonry； forty feet long and eighteen feet wide； to contain them。 Then he went to the St。 Lawrence river on a whaling expedition。 His objective point was the Isle au Coudres； which was populated by French Canadians。 There he engaged a party of twenty…four fishermen； and instructed them to capture for him； alive and unharmed； a couple of the white whales which at almost any time were to be seen in the water not far from the island。
The plan decided upon was to plant in the river a 〃kraal；〃 composed of stakes driven down in the form of a V； leaving the broad end open for the whales to enter。 This was done in a shallow place； with the point of the kraal towards shore； and if by chance one or more whales should enter the trap at high water； the fishermen were to occupy the entrance with their boats； and keep up a tremendous splashing and noise till the tide receded； when the frightened whales would find themselves nearly 〃high and dry；〃 or with too little water to enable them to swim； and their capture would be next thing in order。 This was to be effected by securing a slip…noose of stout rope over their tails； and towing them to the sea…weed lined boxes in which they were to be transported to New York。
Many times fine whales were seen gliding close by the entrance to the trap； but they did not enter it； and the patience of Barnum and his fishermen was sorely tried。 One day one whale did enter the kraal； and the fishermen proposed to capture it； but Barnum was determined to have two； and while they waited for the second one to enter the first one went out again。 After several days of waiting； Barnum was aroused early one morning by the excited and delighted shouts of his men。 Hastily dressing； he found that two whales were in the trap and were sure of being captured。 Leaving the rest of the task to his assistants； he hurried back to New York。 At every station on the route he gave instructions to the telegraph operators to take off all whaling messages that passed over the wires to New York； and to inform their fellow…townsmen at what hour the whales would pass through each place。
The result of these arrangements may be imagined； at every station crowds of people came to the cars to see the whales which were travelling by land to Barnum's Museum； and those who did not see the monsters with their own eyes； at least saw some one who had seen them； and thus was secured a tremendous advertisement； seven hundred miles long； for the American Museum。
Arrived in New York； dispatches continued to come from the whaling expedition every few hours。 These were bulletined in front of the Museum and copies sent to the papers。 The excitement was intense； and； when at last； these marine monsters arrived and were swimming in the tank that had been prepared for them； anxious thousands literally rushed to see the strangest curiosities ever exhibited in New York。
Barnum's first whaling expedition was thus a great success。 Unfortunately he did not know how to feed or take care of the animals。 A supply of salt water could not be obtained； so they were put into fresh water artificially salted； and this did not agree with them。 The basement of the Museum building was also poorly ventilated and the air was unwholesome。 As the result of these circumstances the whales died within a week； although not until they had been seen by thousands of people。 Barnum immediately resolved to try again。 In order to secure a better home for his pets； he laid an iron pipe under the streets of the city； from his Muse