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secure a better home for his pets; he laid an iron pipe under the streets of the city; from his Museum clear out into New York bay。 Through this; by means of a steam…engine; he was able to secure a constant supply of genuine sea…water。 In order that the whales should have good air to breathe; he constructed for them another tank on the second floor of the Museum building。 This tank had a floor of slate; and the sides were made of French plate…glass; in huge pieces six feet long; five feet wide; and one inch thick。 These plates were imported by Barnum expressly for the purpose。 The tank was twenty…four feet square。 Two more white whales were soon caught in the same manner as before; and were conveyed in a ship to Quebec and thence by rail to New York。
Barnum was always proud of this enterprise; and it yielded him handsome profits。 The second pair of whales; however; soon died。 Barnum remarked that their sudden and immense popularity was too much for them。 But a third pair was quickly secured to take their place。 Envious and hostile critics declared that they were not whales at all; but only porpoises; but this did no harm。 Indeed; Barnum might well have paid them to start these malicious reports; for much good advertising was thereby secured。 The illustrious Agassiz was appealed to。 He came to see the animals; gave Barnum a certificate that they were genuine white whales; and this document was published far and wide。
The manner in which the showman advertised his curiosities may be seen from the following; taken from one of the daily papers of the time:
BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM。 After months of unwearied labor; and spending NEARLY TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS NEARLY TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS NEARLY TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
in capturing and transporting them from that part of the Gulf of St。 Lawrence nearest Labrador; the Manager is enabled to offer his visitors
TWO LIVING WHALES; TWO LIVING WHALES; TWO LIVING WHALES; TWO LIVING WHALES; TWO LIVING WHALES; TWO LIVING WHALES;
a male and a female。 Everybody has heard of WHALES
IN NURSERY TALES and 〃SAILOR'S YARNS;〃 IN NURSERY TALES and 〃SAILOR'S YARNS;〃
everybody has read of WHALES in story; song; and history; and everybody
WANTS TO SEE A WHALE; WANTS TO SEE A WHALE; WANTS TO SEE A WHALE; WANTS TO SEE A WHALE;
and now they have the opportunity。 Barnum has
CAPTURED TWO OF THE LEVIATHANS; CAPTURED TWO OF THE LEVIATHANS; CAPTURED TWO OF THE LEVIATHANS;
has built a small ocean in his Museum; filled it from the briny deep; and there
THE TWO LIVING WHALES; THE TWO LIVING WHALES; THE TWO LIVING WHALES; THE TWO LIVING WHALES;
measuring respectively fifteen and twenty feet in length; may be seen at all hours sporting in their native element。 Who will miss the opportunity of seeing them? Another may not offer in a lifetime。 Embrace this ere it be too late。 See Mr。 Barnum's card below。
LAST TWO DAYS OF WILLIAM TILLMAN AND WILLIAM STEDDING;
The Colored Steward and German Sailor of the
SCHOONER S。 J。 WARING;
Who slew three of the piratical prize crew; and rescued themselves and the vessel from their power。
WHAT IS IT? OR; MAN MONKEY。
MADAGASCAR ALBINOS; PURE WHITE NEGROES; OR MOORS。 SEA LION; MAMMOTH BEAR SAMSON; with a variety of other living Bears; MONSTER SNAKES; AQUARIA; HAPPY FAMILY; LIVING SEAL; WAX FIGURES; &c。
In the Lecture…Room; a great Dramatic Novelty is offered;
EMBRACING FARCE; VAUDEVILLE and BURLETTA; with a brilliant and talented company; including LITTLE LOLA; THE INFANT WONDER;
Mr。 and Mrs。 C。 B。 REYNOLDS;
Miss DORA DAWRON; DOUBLE…VOICED SINGER; LA PETITE ADDIE LE BRUN;
The favorite Juvenile Danseuse; always popular。
MARIE; THE CHILD OF SORROW;
With a laughable farce; every day at 3 and 7 3/4 o'clock。 Admission to all; 25 cents; Children under 10; 15 cents。 …A CARD FROM P。 T。 BARNUM。LIVING WHALES on exhibition。Having learned from fishermen and eminent naturalists; including the written statement of the celebrated Prof。 Agassiz; that the White Whale could be found in that portion of the Gulf of St。 Lawrence nearest to Labrador; I made a journey there in June last; accompanied by my agent。 I remained there a fortnight; and made every arrangement for capturing and keeping alive two of these monsters。 This arrangement included the service of thirty…five men; beside my special agent。 I then returned and had erected in the Museum a reservoir fifty feet in length and twenty…five feet in width; in which was placed sea…water; and arrangements made for a continual fresh supply。 I also made arrangements with steamers and railroads to convey these leviathans to New York at the fastest possible speed; without regard to the expense。
I am highly gratified in being able to assure the public that they have arrived safe and well; a MALE and FEMALE; from 15 to 20 feet long; and are now swimming in the miniature ocean in my Museum; to the delight of visitors。 As it is very doubtful whether these wonderful creatures can be kept alive more than a few days; the public will see the importance of seizing the first moment to see them。 P。 T。 BARNUM。
AMERICAN MUSEUM; Thursday; August 8; 1861。
〃A real live whale;〃 said an editorial writer in the New York Tribune of that date; 〃is as great a curiosity as a live lord or prince; being much more difficult to catch; and far more wonderful in its appearance and habits。 After all people are people; and have much the same ways of feeling and doing。 But when we get among the whales; we catch glimpses of a new and neat thing in nose; recall the narrative of Jonah without throwing a shadow of a doubt upon its authenticity; and appreciate keenly the difficulties with which mermaid society must have to contend。
〃We owe the presence of two whales in our midst to the enterprise of Mr。 P。 T。 Barnum。 He has had them in tow for a long while; but has kept his secret well; and it was not until his own special whaler telegraphed from Troy that he had come so far into the bowels of the earth with his submarine charge; and all well; that he felt warranted in whispering whale to the public。 The public was delighted; but not surprised; because it feels that the genius that is equal to a What Is It is also equal to the biggest thing; and would experience no unusual thrill of wonder if a real iceberg; or a section of the identical North Pole; should be announced on the bills of the Museum。
〃But flocks of the public sought the Museum yesterday; and were not disappointed。 They saw not; as Polonius; something 'very like a whale;' but the original animal in its original element。 The bears; and the anacondas; the hatchet; and the seal; sank into merited insignificance; although they will have their day again if the whales should expire。 The transfer of the fish was neatly effected。 They travelled the whole distance in first…class hermetical boxes; filled with water and thickly lined with seaweed; and were landed; if the expression may be used; in the new and excellent tank provided for them in the basement of the Museum。 This tank is fifty feet deep and twenty…five in width; has seven feet of sea…water in it; and seems to suit the whales eminently。 Mr。